1998 Ford Escort Consumer Reviews

realibility plus

Written by: monty on 09/27/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr SE Wagon

Review

i purchased this auto from my employer 6 years ago with 74k on it. i now have 140k. i get 25mpg around town and 35mpg highway.the timing belt broke at 110k. did not cause any engine damage as with many autos. purchasd new belt for $20 at auto parts store.alternator went this year,very easy to replace. ($45used with 1 year warrenty)as with most drivers i would like a newer auto but the escorts reliability and very reasionable replacement parts cost will have me driving it for a few more years.

Favorite Features

realibility and gas mileage and low cost maintenance.

Suggested Improvements

maybe a little more horesepower but not at the sacrifice of gas mileage

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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cabin car

Written by: Jerry on 08/06/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr SE Wagon

Review

Purchased 5 years ago at 29000 miles. It had been dealer maintained, driven as second car, never in salt, paid $3600. I have alloy wheels (I had on a Mazda)and hi performance tires. We drive summers only as our (2 people) only car during that time. Now with 86000 miles replacement tires and front brake pad only. Nothing has failed. It is a great car for local use. Mileage with automatic, driven in a spirited manner is 30mpg locally, 33-4 at 73mph using cruise. On extended interstate trips it is acceptably comfortable, shifts out of lockup on hills when using cruise. Very reliable, economical utilitarian vehicle. Nowhere as comfortable, peppy, sporty handling as our 2004 Mazda 3.

Favorite Features

Reliability, utility, excellent mileage

Suggested Improvements

More power (or better gear ratio?) at highway speeds, better front seats

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Can't be killed

Written by: jaxson on 07/18/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 2 Dr ZX2 Hot Coupe

Review

This car is ridiculous. Got this in 11/01 used from some dude who wanted a car with cruise control. Had 56K miles on it, almost 8 years later I have 143K on it. No problems at all with this thing. Runs as smooth as it did the day i took it over. Oil is always clean, probably dont even have to get an oil change every 5k miles. I still have to replace the timing belt. The tie rods had to be occasionally replaced every now and then. But thats it. I wish this thing would die already so I can feel justifed to get a new car already!

Favorite Features

Peppyness, quick off the draw.

Suggested Improvements

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Good for 6 years only

Written by: DarthSodomus on 07/13/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 2 Dr ZX2 Cool Coupe

Review

I purchased this as my first car way back on Halloween 1998. This car was very good to me for the first 6.5 years. I did all the required maintainance. Then the transmission went after 110K miles - expensive repair. After repairing that, the engine went 2 years later - expensive repair. I have had to replace the alternator twice as well replace the water pump and some drive pulleys all expensive repairs. Finally, just now, the AC compressor went and had to install an aftermarket AC delete pulley. I've gotten 11 years so far out of it but the repairs have been expensive over the last 4 years ~$8000. But (unfortunately) still cheaper than new car payments so I could not justify a new car

Favorite Features

Nice acceleration. Good handling. Lots of features for price. As for reliability go buy a Honda civic instead. A CON is no resalve value. The car is now worthless.

Suggested Improvements

Increase the reliability. Now I'm waiting for a cash for clunkers bill in canada to replace it with a civic. If the Canadian government gives me $3500 for a $500 car I'm gonna laugh all the way to the Honda dealership to get a civic. Buy honda for resale value.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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1998 ZX 2 cool coupe

Written by: Mike on 06/10/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 2 Dr ZX2 Cool Coupe

Review

I bought this car with 91K it now has 170K just replaced timming belt, water pump, regular belts and pulleys, still has original clutch (5 speed) and some of the vacume lines are starting to crack but it is a very reliable car . Parts are cheap and avalible. down fall is it is a very hard car to work on as it is very tight in the engine compartment. All above work was done as preventive maintenace not corrective. This car also wears tires a little funny and somtimes you will get a woomp woomp woomp from the under carrage as the tires wear though that phase of wear I guess. Anyway I wish more companies made cars like this they would be in less trouble now.

Favorite Features

Fun to drive overhead cam engine has nice pickup and great ecomomy 36+ MPG

Suggested Improvements

Since its not in production this would be a mute point

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167,000 miles and still going strong!

Written by: EHWRYN on 06/08/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 2 Dr ZX2 Cool Coupe

Review

I bought this car used with around 70k miles on it and so far in the past 5 years only have had 1 major break-down ( pullies for the serpentine belt broke)since this is a non-interference engine - no engine damage. Other than that I have had very little trouble (alternator went out and a PC valve - around 120k miles). It is very reliable and starts every time! For a 11 yr old car, it still has power and is fun to drive. The engine has never overheated, even when charging up a hill with the A/C on full blast while it is over 100 degrees outside. I never worry when I have to drive long distances - And a mechanic told me it was a "throw-away car not built to last".

Favorite Features

Reliable, well constructed, (no door handles breaking or knobs falling off) and AMAZING gas mileage. Back seat size is fine for me - never get chosen to be the driver on a long road trip with friends!

Suggested Improvements

Ford needs to manufacture them again, with the added feature of an interior trunk release.

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This pony won't quit

Written by: Dennis on 05/26/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I have put on 40,000 miles after the first owner's 206,000 miles. The engine still runs perfectly with surprising mileage --30-32 mpg in my daily 45 mile commute through and around Detroit and up to 40 mpg in slower highway driving. The body has not a squeak or rattle. Snow traction is great. I've driven through a foot of snow without any problem other than ice getting jammed in the suspension. The AC failed last year; estimates were for more than I paid for the car so I am living with that. I replaced rear struts at about 230,000 miles. Looking ahead, I see only months left on the clutch and 3rd gear is down to a nub so I have to decide soon whether to see if I can get another 200k.

Favorite Features

Fun to drive. I loved it on Kentucky mountain roads; no problem with potholed Detroit alleys. So reliable and durable. Still no oil use. This is a much better car than my previous six Fords.

Suggested Improvements

The padding in the seats is not designed for a 600 mile day.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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1998 Ford Escort

Written by: 1998 Ford Escort on 03/28/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

Very Reliable vehicle. Great gas mileage 40 HWY miles. This vehicle was subjected to a MN winter- 30 days in a row of zero degrees. The car started EVERY morning without a problem. Vehicle is just now starting to show a little rust. Dependable, great gas mileage. feels solid when driving during a MN winter...

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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GREAT

Written by: tink on 03/07/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 2 Dr ZX2 Hot Coupe

Review

I bought this car used 3 years ago i had to do very little mechanical work the major thing that went wrong was the timing jumped i am getting ready to buy a 2nd ford escort if that tells ya how much i loved this car my son(teenager) drives the one i bought 3 years ago and loves it i would reccommend this car it very realiable and trustworthy

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

a cd player and make it a lil more roomier on the inside

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Excellent Small Wagon

Written by: senior citizen on 02/09/2009

Vehicle

1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr SE Wagon

Review

Bought this car new for my late wife. I've used it as an around-town car since she died. It's been a great small wagon for that purpose. Very dependable, good quality, minimal repairs, great gas mileage, still looks good and drives well. (I keep it garaged and regularly serviced at the Ford dealer.) I expect to keep it until I die or wreck it.

Favorite Features

Economical, good handling, good utility (I usually keep the back seat folded down), good quality, minimum need for repairs (only replaced the starter and the interior blower motor in 50,000 miles).

Suggested Improvements

Front seat cushions too short to give good thigh support on long trips (I'm 5'9"), road noise at freeway speeds.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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