Overview & Reviews

Packages are reshuffled on Ford's entry-level cars. Available this year as sedans, wagons or stylish coupes, the Ford Escort now qualifies as a low emissions vehicle, thanks to the car's split-port induction 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

• Economical, reliable transportation in a package that is vastly improved over the previous model.

• Poor resale value.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 116.00

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  98 wagon - 1998 Ford Escort
  By mdwalker13@comcast.net - October 22 - 7:39 pm

  Bought used in 1999 with 25,000 miles. Not a lot of power but fun to drive around town. Reliability has been better than average, interior and body/paint have held up well and average 30 - 32 mpg. A great second car and will keep it until it dies.

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  Loretta - 1998 Ford Escort
  By tbone0822 - October 4 - 4:11 am

  After having this car for a couple of years, we decided she deserved a name, Loretta. We bought her when she was already 12 years old but she only had 63,000 miles on her. Now shes got almost 150,000 and still going strong. The fuel pump has been replaced and a couple of other things, but shes never left me stranded. All of those were things that I needed to do, but she gave me the time to save the money and never quit on me. We love this car. She is now being passed down to my daughter who loves her just as much as I do.

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  escort 330 k miles - 1998 Ford Escort
  By dan299 - May 30 - 8:32 pm

  bought the car with 156000 miles about 6 years ago..im at 330000 and still running good had to replace the clutch,,but u should expect that with that mileage...other than that just regular maintenance.......

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  Broke all the time - 1998 Ford Escort
  By rose313 - August 23 - 3:53 pm

  I bought this Escort, my first car, with 55k miles on it and drove it until the transmission went at 210k miles. Every month from the time I bought it, it was in the shop. I had to replace everything, some things twice, such as the muffler and exhaust. I replaced the e-brake, shocks, struts, fuel injection system, intake valve, just about everything in this car. I loved it because it was my first car and the fact that it was so roomy, I loved having so much space in the back. I used to see these on the road all the time, but now I hardly ever see one, Im guessing its because they all fell apart.

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  Got me around - 1998 Ford Escort
  By usn_ht - March 2 - 3:34 pm

  One of Fords best for basic trasportation. Purch from original owner with 111k mi after sitting in yard for 2yr. Have driven it 65k miles since. Never left me stranded, only normal maint. items i.e. timing belt, brakes, tires, muffler. New England winters & excessive road salt have taken a toll on the body. Engine still runs strong and uses less that 1qt. of oil per 2k miles.

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  Fantastic City Car - 1998 Ford Escort
  By jhs7 - October 8 - 12:39 am

  Ive driven this car for the past 11 years and have had very few problems with it. It has enough power to be fun to drive, and to get you around slow trucks when you need to, while still getting good gas mileage. The best thing about it, though, is the amazing amount of cargo space for an economy coupe. Between the surprisingly roomy trunk, and the fold-down seats, you can actually haul quite a lot of stuff. I am regularly surprised at how much I can stuff into such a small car. On top of that, its one of the best-looking cars in its class, (IMHO), it turns on a dime, and it fits in almost any parking space. The only thing it doesnt do well is snow. But then, what little car does?

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  THIS CAR JUST KEEPS GOING! - 1998 Ford Escort
  By gradstudent99 - January 28 - 9:55 pm

  Bought this car back in 2005, have had it almost 6 years and have put close to 50,000 miles on it. This car has been through snow storms, and near floods. Has never left me stranded or broken down on me. Has never had a day where it didnt start. This has been the most low maintenance car Ive ever had. Over the past 6 years I cant say that Ive spend more than $1,200 on my car. Which is like an average of $300 a year including oil changes and tire replacements etc. Love this car, and at 140,000 its tickin like it just left the dealers lot.

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  LIKE THE ENERGIZER!!! IT JUST KEEPS GOIN AN GOIN!! - 1998 Ford Escort
  By mmfm - December 24 - 1:20 pm

  Ive had my 98 zx2 forever. She never lets me down. Im the third owner. The guy b 4 me literally drove the wheels off of it. didnt change the oil for 3 years over 41000 miles. when i got it did a tune up an a oil change.I only run the best. 93 octane ngk11 plugs an 8mm wires. castrol sytec fully sythetic. has 336,588 miles on it right now. still rips. took it to quaker drag strip ran a 15.3 at 91mph. bone stock. blew quite a few doors off it its time an will continue til it dyes on me. Its a fact if u take care of ur car ur car will take care of u. i have replace everthing on it once or maybe twice but i definatly got my moneys worth !!!!!5 STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Great Car - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Sandy Loam - September 27 - 2:00 am

  We had issues the very next day after driving it off the lot. The engine would die while driving. We took it back twice and when I demanded a free loaner while they fixed the problem, they replaced a sensor. At 30,000 miles, the transmission went and it took the Ford dealership in Sierra Vista, AZ 6 transmissions and 3 weeks to get the right one, they finally put in a Mazda transmission. AC went out, 2 dealerships could not find out why, it was never fixed.CD changer stopped working. After that, we had very little problems and we had to get rid of it after I hit a bear and totaled it out. It had well over 230,000 miles on it and was still going strong. Overall, great car & fun to drive.

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  zx2 - 1998 Ford Escort
  By mike - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this little car since I purchased it new in 1998. It has been a fun and economical. I have never had issues until the car reached over 200k. Then things started to break, typical stuff alternator, rear wheel cylinders, struts, just recently the fuel pump. The a/c works some times. Heck what do expect from a car with nearly 300k