Hey car guys 91 Escort GT opinions

[BPTactical]

Looking for input from the gearheads. My youngest is in a hurt for a car and he found one for an affordable cost ($500). 91 Ford Escort GT-5 spd-
Typical $500 first beater needs some things like a battery but does start w a jump-pulled the battery cable while running and it stays running so the alternator should be GTG. The guy said it has a new clutch but if so it either needs adjustment or a master/slave cylinder. Shift lever has about 6 inches of vertical play, like a bracket is not bolted up or similar.
We did not get a chance to drive it tonight. Heading back up tomorrow in the daylight to check it out and possibly trailer it home.

Anybody here own/owned one or some of you wrenches aware of any real bombs on them?
Here it is http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/2599227547.html

Or does anybody have a lead on a cheap kidmobile?

[2XS]

The escort isn't a bad car check for rust in the rear shock towers. It probably burns oil. The shift lever is broken it can be welded back together I did that my first one. Good kids car if it is solid maybe change the timing belt depending on the mileage. My dad drove on as well for the longest time and never left him on the side of the rode mind you it used a quart of oil a week and he was putting used oil in it. Also it may need a clutch I'm almost a 100 percent sure that is a cable driven clutch. It the clutch cable should be self adjusting stick your toe under the pedal and pull back see if that helps that should adjust it. Good luck that is about all I know other then the pull the fresh air duct off in the winter or the carb likes to freeze up in cold weather.

[BPTactical]

Thank You- hooking up the trailer in a bit and going to scope it out in the daylight.

[Graves]

Well, I have some good news Bert! Ford did an awesome job by keeping you (the customer) in the boat by being right up front with their problem; they circled it right on the badge. [Beer]

[BPTactical]

[Stooge]
Well he is not brand specific on this one. Besides if my homework is right it is pretty much a Mazda 3. He just needs something to get back and forth to work until he can save up enough to get a righteous ride. I figure at worst we can always get the 500.00 back out of it in parts.

[Irving]

The Mazda 3 didn't exist back in 1991. Well, they had the 323. Let us know how it goes.

[Larry Ashcraft]

We bought A 1990 Escort brand new. It was a great little car, even for a slug. IIRC we would get about 36 MPG driving to Fort Collins where my daughter was a student.

Our three kids learned to drive a manual transmission in that car, and the clutch lasted well over 120,000 miles.

[BPTactical]

Well after finally getting the BIL's trailer wiring squared away went and picked it up without incident. Get it home and helped the kiddo for a bit. Dirty as hell but he is scrubbing away and my shop vac is getting a work out. Car ended up costing him 496.50- 4.50 in change under the seats and such.
The battery seems new but the cable ends are trashed, it is taking a charge just fine but we will see if it holds.
Acts like it needs a thermostat and has an erratic idle, no vacuum leaks that are obvious.
We will get it up on jackstands and figure out the shifter issue.

Thanks for the feedback guys-Stu you are correct, it is a sister of the 323.

[00tec]

Well after finally getting the BIL's trailer wiring squared away went and picked it up without incident. Get it home and helped the kiddo for a bit. Dirty as hell but he is scrubbing away and my shop vac is getting a work out. Car ended up costing him 496.50- 4.50 in change under the seats and such.
The battery seems new but the cable ends are trashed, it is taking a charge just fine but we will see if it holds.
Acts like it needs a thermostat and has an erratic idle, no vacuum leaks that are obvious.
We will get it up on jackstands and figure out the shifter issue.

Thanks for the feedback guys-Stu you are correct, it is a sister of the 323.
If you're bored and need help next weekend, myself and a buddy typically do 'work saturdays' where we find something to fix, and drink some beer doing it. We're both Ford guys, if that helps. [Neene3]

I can't guarantee his volunteered time, but I can mine.

A friend of mine had a '93 that was nicely damaged by a big rig to the point where it forced the rear strut through the tower. We put a few sheet metal screws in it and drove it for years.

[jerrymrc]

The parents have a 96 escort wagon (same gen as yours). It now has 200K on it. The only issues over the years. Brakes and motor mounts. It did get the tranny (auto) rebuilt at 150K but overall it is still going.

[jerrymrc]

If you're bored and need help next weekend, myself and a buddy typically do 'work saturdays' where we find something to fix, and drink some beer doing it. We're both Ford guys, if that helps. [Neene3]

I can't guarantee his volunteered time, but I can mine.

A friend of mine had a '93 that was nicely damaged by a big rig to the point where it forced the rear strut through the tower. We put a few sheet metal screws in it and drove it for years.

There ya go Bert. A Ford guy to boot! [Coffee]

[DFBrews]

I has a 98 zx2 escort and it had 210xxx when it finally died great little car even if the neighbor kids laughed at me in it.

ETA will wrench for beer and gunsmiffing as well[LOL]

[00tec]

There ya go Bert. A Ford guy to boot! [Coffee]

Learned my lesson long ago by working on GMs Chryslers and Imports. You know what they say, lesson hard learned.....

[ray1970]

I hear they make excellent planters. [Coffee]

Oh, and chicks dig them. Tell your kid that. [Coffee]

[BPTactical]

Thank you for the offers guys. My eldest child was a wrench at Firestone for 4 years and is pretty good friends with an ASE Master. He is going to slide by this week and we are going to compile a game plan.
We shall see.
I may rattle a couple of cages of yall!

[Atrain1]

Well, I have some good news Bert! Ford did an awesome job by keeping you (the customer) in the boat by being right up front with their problem; they circled it right on the badge. [Beer] That was exactly what I was going to say.