1994 Escort Wagon

My wife may be getting another job that is 12 miles further than where she works now, making her commute about 35 miles each way. She usually drives our pick-up truck, and I usually drive our cargo van. Having a farm, we never wanted any passenger cars, how could we haul farm supplies, livestock, etc with them?

But now she decided that she wants to get a "beater" economy car just for her commute. I know someone selling a 1994 Escort Station Wagon with 110,000 miles on it. It seems to have been well maintained. He wants $1000 for it. Is this a decent deal if it's in good shape? The mileage listed on a used car website is 28mpg city and 33 mpg highway, and it'll be driven on 100% country roads and highway. Anyone have any opinions on Escorts? I usually only buy GMC's or Chevy's but so many people have told me that Escorts are almost indestructible. I also figure at least with a station wagon, if she wants to pick up any supplies on the way home she can. To me a sedan is pretty useless on a farm. Oh yeah, anyone know how Escorts are in the snow?

Thanks!!!

Rich, I bought a new '93 Escort station wagon in December '92, specifically to tow behind a motorhome because we were full time RVers at the time. And for that reason, I bought the manual 5-speed transmission. I kept pretty detailed records on a spreadsheet. In February '99, my wife rolled it and totalled it with 121,243.6 miles on the odometer. We had towed it 15,138.7 miles so we'd driven it a little over 106k, and it had averaged 32.585 mpg. It still looked and drove like new when she totalled it, and the insurance company paid me $3,500 for it.

So in February '99, I bought a new '99 Escort 4-door sedan, automatic transmission, since we were no longer traveling in a motorhome. We only drove it 48,307 miles averaging 33.015 mpg before my wife talked me into trading for an '01 Windstar minivan.

The '93 developed a clutch shudder and had the clutch replaced under warranty while it was nearly new (they said someone left some bolts out during assembly). And at 80k+, I had sychronizer in the transmission replaced, along with the timing belt, spark plugs, and plug wires. And I replaced the front brake pads although they really were not worn out. Otherwise, it was just oil, filters, a couple of wiper blades, and a couple of sets of tires.

The '99 was never back to the dealer from the time I bought it.

Both Escorts were top of the trim line, loaded with just about all the accessories except power windows, power seat, and power door locks, so I think you could say we had pretty good luck with Escorts.

Hi Rich, I posted a reply on TBN for you, but forgot one thing.

The snow.

As I said in the other post, this car is baced on the Mazda Protage platform. Being I work for a Mazda dealer, I have seen a TON of these cars. They are so good I had my sister buy one back in 94. [NO maintance at all. shes VERY hard on cars, her son has it now, and has about 250k on it]

These work well in the snow. For you, I would get a set of 4 snow tires though. Also being a low car, it will have a little tougher time in the BIG storms. But all in all, they are pretty good. Just do your self a favor, and get some nice snow tires for it.

Thanks for the responses, Bird and Paul. Even if I don't get ths Escort, I think I'll eventually get one for my wife's commuter car.

Paul, I keep snow tires on my van year round, and I keep off road tires on my pick-up. I'm a big believer in the value of snow tires. But why do you suggest getting four snow tires? It's only a two wheel drive vehicle (front wheel drive, right?)?

Sorry for the long wait Rich..


A lot of people think that on a front wheel drive car, the rear tires just kinda hold up the back end. Well, they do much more. Ya snows on the rear will not help you out of a snow bank if your stuck, BUT may keep you from getting there in the first place. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

They will improve traction on corners, during braking, and just incress you stablaty on the slippery stuff in your winter drive to work.

Wow!!!! [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I never knew that!!!

Is it the same on rear wheel drive vehicles, like my cargo van? Should they have snow tires on all 4 tires also? [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Ideally, yes. The drive wheels are the most important but as pointed out the other end needs tractiion to improve handling too.

I think rear wheel cars have an even greater need for snow tires all 'round due to the natural instability of having the rear wheels trying to get to the front and the front tires having to do the work of preventing that through steering.

This is in no way to detract from the advice to put snow tires all way 'round with front wheel drive, just that not doing so is not quite as bad as not doing it with rear wheel drive. In general, for most on-road driving, you want all tires to be alike.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]