im currently "in the market" and today found a 95 ford escort on the lot neer me, good condition only 50k, and hes asking $2500 out the door (tags plates taxes ect) test drove today, nice ride, needs some tweaking but nothing major, hes gonna replace the brake pads and the timing belt if we want it for no extra charge plus of course usual service/oil and other fun stuff. its also got a new (6 month old) exhaust. theres only 1 very minor blemish (looks like it got in a scufle with a shopping cart, but hes also gonna pop that back out for me (my dads bought from this guy before) otherwise nothing more than some tiny scratches. interiours nice, clean and well looked after.
automatic tranny, manual locks and windows though (no probs on my end on that side of things though)

guy told me this little car is good on gas and reliable, however id love to hear your opinions, sound like a good buy or ya think its more likely to give me problems in the neer future?

I have fixed a couple of those little buggies. One of which was the mercury version of an escort. They are a little difficult to work on but if you have a decent honest mechanic they can be pretty decent. I know the timing belt is a pain in the aspen to change and there are a couple little things on the car too that are a little hectic to work on as far as suspension and what not. What I would do if I were you is find out how long he has been trying to sell the car. Basically see how desperate he is.. I wouldn't go more than 2100 for that car even with a new timing belt and brakes. If you look at what the car is actually worth even if it is pristine.. I think 2k is even alot for what you have. And also.. be weary.. dealers that push used cars.. remember they are used for a reason.. Just be leary of it and do all the research you can.

Best of luck

thanks for the info, i apreciate it all, the car came onto the lot 2 days ago, hes a used car lot anyways, he bought it off the action motors lot down the road where it came in 2 days ago the woman that owned it traded it in for a newer escort but action didnt want it as its older than they like to sell (the oldest on their lot is a 2000)

weve bought our last 3 cars off this guy and his stuff has never given us any problems, the first was a little saturn sc1, had it for 2 years traded her in for my current 93 jeep, the only reason im getting rid of my jeep is i just cant afford the gas in the monster (it takes a full tank a week just for school and back plus another 1/2 a tank for other running round and i just cant afford close to $80 a week on gas.
my dad also bought his current jeep from this guy too, so far havent had a singal problem, and he offers a 1 month coverage free of charge for anything that might have been overlooked on the initial inspection.
(im going used car cause im broke lol, the joys of being a college student and have a top of $3000) is there a motor youd suggest in that kind of price range other than the ford?! i was also thinking of saturns and dodge neons, but its a bad time of year round here for cars and the pickings are rather slim...
we're gonna go back tomorrow as he has some more comming in in the morning, so we'll see what comes in...but again all help is much apreciated...ill admit to being car blonde. i take my dad with me to check out the engine and stuff that id be clueless about. but its good to have others opinions.
thank you!

oh and the suspension was done about a year back according to the cars history (it held up my 300 lb father in the back seat real well...)

Haha.. well if it passed the your dad in the driver's seat test then whooo. Sounds like you had a decent experience so far with this lot. That's a good thing. I would say if you want to check elsewhere.. I would say jump on autotrader.com you might see something locally that you might like on there for the price from a private seller. I replied on your other thread and said as far as the GM cars for the cash I like the 2.2 fwd cars like the sunfire/sunbird the cavaler and the saturn sc1. I have had pretty good experiences with all of them. My littlest sister has a cobalt now that has the ecotec engine in it and has come with rave reviews. My other sister has had a corsica a cavaler and now has a grand prix GT. I have the worst gas mileage in the family. I drive almost 1000 miles a week sometimes. Sometimes as little as 100.. but just one tank is almost 60 bucks to fill. And that happens sometimes 3 times a week.. so yeah I can understand where you are coming from. College is a killer for funds when you have to kina live on a budget.

Just remember even though you are out looking for a good car. Never settle.. even if it seems like a good deal. Research and time never hurt anyone. If it is the deal you want and need taking a few nights sleep on it the car will be there if it is the right one for you. I have done the impulse thing so have my siblings.. I have learned.

I own a 95, 94, and 91 Escort and I like them all. That is all I drive. My Lincoln just sits because I love my Escorts. BUY IT!

Just remember even though you are out looking for a good car. Never settle.. even if it seems like a good deal. Research and time never hurt anyone. If it is the deal you want and need taking a few nights sleep on it the car will be there if it is the right one for you. I have done the impulse thing so have my siblings.. I have learned.



Great advice

:( after looking round today seems im leaning towards this little escort...is there anyway to put power locks on the thing (manual locks can be such a pain in the backside) dont need power windows, but realy dont like leaning over seats to unlock the doors
also id love to see pics of other peoples escorts just to see what cool things i could do to her to make her more of a fun car.
my other options right now seem to be a 98 mercury sabre (aparently heavy on the gas and a little bigger than i wanted but only 75k on her and power doors and windows (ugly teal green vinyl interiour though!)) a 99 ford taurus (not as happy wiht the look of this car its curvy but again long and just seems not me 72k on her but power EVERYTHING ) and a 99 pontiac grandam (gorgeous but again long in the front with 90k and power everything)
another possible option would be a 00 hundai elantra but got a feeling hes gonna be asking alot for that one
today also looked at a 97 saab 900 (my ideal car absolutly loves but wants too much money for her *sigh* hes asking a good price but i cant afford her :( )
a 99 mercury mystique with 99k on her, nice but about 1500 over my budget a 98 ford taurus
this seems to be whats available within my price range... so which would you chose?
all mentioned above are in good shape!

knowing that

The power door locks can be put in for about 200 bucks figure the kit is about 110 or so and then figure 60-100 to get it installed. Out of what you lsisted.. the tarus and sable same car.. ford and mercury both use the same platform to build the cars just about everything is interchangeable. The grand am wouldn't be bad really it's not that big of a car at all. My sister has a Grand Prix..which is the grand am's bigger brother. the hundai I really can't comment on since I don't know much or anything about em. The mystique is still out of your range.
If I were you if the grand am seems like it was well taken care of and has power everything I would jump on that. They are really easy to maintain.

coolness, definatly gonan go back see if i can get the grandam on a test drive,
but we have a few more places to look tomorrow (weve expanded our search range and dads offering to help me out giving me $5000
so heres what were probaly going to take a look at tomorrow:
and there prices (all are around 90k)
1999 MAZDA PROTEGE DX 4995
1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE CONVERTIBLE $3,900 (this one looks real nice)
1993 TOYOTA CELICA $3,995
1993 NISSAN ALTIMA $2,995
1999 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE $4,500
1997 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GL $3,500
1997 CHRYSLER Sebring CONVERTIBLE $2,500

and if we have the extra time
2000 DODGE NEON $3,995
1999 SATURN SC2 $3,999 (like this one lots too)
1994 TOYOTA COROLLA $2,999
1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER $2,495
2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE $2,850
2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA $3,400
1999 FORD ESCORT LX $3,400
1997 HONDA CIVIC $3,900

(im betting im getting on your nerves now)
all seem to be charting up with pretty goos milage, im loving the look of the sunfire convertable...heard good things in another thread on the sunfires the saturn sc looks nice too...

You are not on anyone's nerves thats why we started this forum to help everyone and try and educate and be there.. that's what being passionate about something is about.. not only doing it but sharing it.

Bes of luck tomorow and keep us posted!

thanks muchly, were gonna definatly check out the sunfire and the celica and altima (im kinda leaning on the sunfire just because ive been given lot of good reveiws for them) so we'll see what happens
i cant tell you how apreciative i am. and im glad i took your advice on not jumping on the little escort, its still there as an option (and knowing that i can get power locks for only about 200 is perfect, theres also that grandam to take out tomorrow if i get a chance after seeing these and a 2000 hundai elantra so i have a few options as of right now, so thank you once more, ill keep ya updated.

so, the search is over, checked out the sunfire, absolutly gorgeous till we poped the hood, the ac unit was badly rusted and completly seized (would need brand new unit) the entire exhaust and muffler was rusted, would need entire new exhaust and muffler, it was leaking coolent and oil...and had over 150K on the clock...and he was asking 5500 out the door NOT included in that would be the cost to fix the exhaust and ac unit and the oil and coolant leaks...he wasnt even willing to negotiate and barely spoke english...(always look in person if you see a car for sale online lol) he wasnt going to tell us about the leaks exhaust or ac unit...if dad hadnt have lifted the hood, we wouldnt have known...shame because from the outside she looked ideal.

however upon giving up...dad isnt willing to drive me round looking for cars anymore and was gonna give it till spring (meaning id be at my parents mercy with a car) we got a phone call from the guy from the lot where we saw the origional 95 ford...and the grandam. told us hed got one in we might be interested in...

stopped by and took alook at this little hundai elantra, good-excelent body condition only 50K on the clock, cd player, power windows, cruise control, fast for the heating to kick in very clean inside and out, took her for a test drive, its perfect for me. the guy gave us a great deal (as this will be the 4th car we bought from him) hes giving it to us for $3500 including tax tags title, and before we pick it up itll have a full service all liquids and filters changed, breaks done (they dont NEED to be done but would need it wihtin the next month or 2) and one of the back windows has come off the runner or something so hes gonna fix that for me too...the window being the only and biggest problem with the car.
shes real nice, nothing uber special but got a nice line to her. think i can make her look real nice with very few mods.

my only complaint with her is theres no powere locks...but if its gonna cost about the same to get the power locks put in here as it would have been for the ford...then i think in gonna go that route...just to make her a little more convenient for me. now to figure out what kind of "personalization" i wanna do with her lol. any ideas?!