As you lot have always given stirling advice when I've had to do work on the old Escort, I thought I'd let you all know that it is about to go to the local scrap heap.
In prep for the MOT I carefully ran through my own MOT checks where possible and gave is a lovely service. It passed in every area where I usually worry. The tester found a couple of small splits in the underbody that needed a weld before he'd pass it. I cursed about having to weld upside down to old steel, took the thing home and had a proper look. Scrubbing with a wire brush to take off the worst of the crud showed up a bit of a problem. The small visible split on the right hand side ran a bit further once the crud was gone. I'd have to weld a plate on to get to stuff that would take a weld and the plate would need to be about 3 foot long.
A 1994 Ford Escort with 128,000 miles on the clock has a nominal value that fluctuates according to the amount of fuel in the tank.
So the task comes to replacing it. I'm not rich and want something cheap and chearful. Budget is less than a grand. Performance isn't something I care about. The only people who will be using the thing are me and the dog. Handling is fairly important as far as it goes when buying an old car.
I do 40 miles a day, most of it down quiet country roads.
I'm willing to be steered away, but it looks as though a Pug 306 TD 96-
98 (98 high miler) would fit the criteria as long as it hasn't been abused. I took one out for a test drive this afternoon and was impressed by everything but the lying second hand car dealer who told me it was a lovely driving car. Well it was until you put your foot down or lifted off at which point it lunged to the right or left. The nearside front panel was pretty new and the driver's mirror was wobbly so somebody has fixed up some accident damage on that one. To be that bad it was something pretty major. Their mechanic suggested tracking until he experienced it and then wanted it on the ramps so at least they had someone honest working for them.I know the turbo is going to be an expensive thing if it goes wrong but it gives me a car with a little bit of nudge when needed, 50mpg, still pretty easy to maintain and from what I've seen of pugs, not likely to rust away.
Any other suggestions? Any reasons not to?
Warwick