Ford Escort Mk6 1.8TD - was I wrong about this generation?

We revisit the Mk6 Ford Escort with this stunning 1.8TD LX. It has covered just 25,000 miles from new!

The 90bhp engine was the top diesel offering with such posh things as an intercooler. We also offer some personal experience of the Mk6 Escort as we put this one through its paces.

#ford #automobile #testdrive

[MorristheMinor]

My memory of the Mk. 5 Escort was when a police version of the car crashed through the garden wall and into our front lawn at 6 am. I peeked out of the curtains to see it sitting there, looking like someone had removed it's dentures, the blue lamp slowly revolving on the roof and three young, ashen faced PCs coming trembling out the doors. I heard my Dad run through from the downstairs bedroom, open the living room curtains and exclaim 'Expletive! It's the expletive police this time!!!'

[BernardSamson-hffc]

That also has the "Braille" on the horn button, so blind drivers can beep horn.

[bigjohno]

I bought a white 1997 1.8 TD estate in 2006 as a tip car / runaround. My wife loved it to bits, and used it as her art stall / jewellery stall car .
The fuel pump packed up, but that was the only thing that went wrong. We kept it for 4 years and had it serviced every year. We then sold it to a young painter and decorator starting out and he came to collect it with his little boy, who loved it also ! Fond memories . I hope the car gave him good service and helped him get his business running successfully.

[bentullett]

The best looking version of this generation Escort was the estate car variant. My Uncle had one as a company car in one of the top trim levels, in white. He actually said he preferred driving it to the VW Golf MK4 that followed.

[TheMentalblockrock]

The MK-I Focus was a HUGE update over the Escort, so much so that the Escorts feel like 1980's cars and the Focus isn't far behind the modern Focus (in some ways better!)

[hamstirrer]

Fond memories of this car, the first car I ever drove in a field at 14 years old, was my dad's N reg 1.6 16v Escort, I learned about clutch control, and remember him panicking as I raced towards a fence braking just in time! A rare sight nowadays but one I always look at fondly.

[micbarker]

I bought an R reg (1997) 1.6LX in 1999 from Skyway Ford in Speke just down the road from Halewood. Took it with me to Finland and drove it for 14 years sold it when I moved to Italy. Wonderful car, saw it a couple of years later, they'd tinted the windows, slammed it to the ground and installed a boy racer exhaust. Broke my heart 😢😅

[CauliflowerMcPugg]

Was never drawn to Ford as a teenager. I didn't buy Ford until I lived in Aussie and NZ. Great review and nice to hear why Miss HubNut has a soft spot for the escort.

[Timico]

7:45 I remember that in a german Ford magazine from 1990 they bragged about that the wiper mechanic of the MK5 was directly taken over from the Ford Scorpio, as if that was a sign of superior quality and not just a cost cutting measure.

[Grez]

A 96 N Escort 1.6 LX was my dad's first new car, a 40th birthday present from grandad bought at a heavy discount through his Barclaycard (£8999 if I remember rightly).
It replaced a 89 F Maestro 1.3 Special.
Served the family well for 4 years and just short of 50k miles, despite dad crashing it within 3 weeks.
I never liked it, it wasn't really spacious enough for 2 rapidly growing teenagers. Once had a Mondeo courtesy car that I fell in love with.
Dad thought it was perfectly fine but now can't even remember owning it. Which says a lot about the experience, I think.

[jarthurs]

My Dad worked at Ford in Dagenham so we were a solid Ford family for many years. I have fond memories of my Mum's long series of Mk4 Escorts including a 3 and 5 door estate which proved very utilitarian. She had so many in fact that when I recalled a terracotta coloured 3 door escort she denied ever having one until I found photographic evidence.

[alextoft]

I love the stalks! Only channel you can say that on. Reminds me of my 1999 Fiesta Zetec. Was my first car, and I thought it was the best thing ever! I did love the sporty drive though. Interestingly, I now I have a 2002 Fabia Estate. Considering how close in age they are, the Fabia is so much better. Quite frankly, it makes the Fiesta look like a toy. You can carry 5 people in comfort. It's so smooth and easy to drive. Now I'm older, I'd definitely choose the Fabia! I love the indicator stalk in the Fabia too! Same as my Dad's Audi company cars of the time. I love the Audi-esque indicator tick and the satisfying click when they cancel!

[iainbruce]

Crazy to think how many of these were on the roads nack in the 90s. Now you would be lucky to see one.

[ozakki]

That diesel clatter brings back fond memories of my Apprenticeship days. The company I worked for bought a fleet of 51 plate vans with the 1.8 TD and to say they got a battering (the vans that is!) is an understatement. They all slowly but surely died of rot by about 2010. But to be fair, they never gave up otherwise, and handled very well for a van! Especially on the North Wales country roads.

[TheMondeozetec]

Massive foglight switch I think split in 2 for rear/front foglights..

[robertlambert]

A lovely example of an Escort. I remember working on these back in the 1990s. Generally, they were quite reliable. Totally agree with you about the suspension; I seem to remember the same complaint with the Mk 3! Low mileage cars are out there ; I MOT tested a 2005 Honda Jazz with 3500 miles from new, full history, and still owned by the original purchaser! Can anyone beat that? Great video, as always.👍

[paulallen]

The best thing about this series of Escort (I had one), was to demonstrate how far the game moved on with introduction of the Focus

[rawry]

I grew up with mk 3 and mk 5 escorts so many memories sitting in the back of them, I would love to get one 👌

[livc]

Another car I didn't care for 20 years ago but now it looks bloody lovely ❤

[allanfoster]

A lovely review from both of you. With the amount of history Carley has with this marque, I am totally surprised that there is not one in the fleet! ❤