Nightmare with 2005 Escape with under 50 miles

Craig Shaffer · 2005-07-23T06:59:16+00:00

Buying a new car is suposed to be a happy experience, but unfortunately ithas turned into the worst nightmare I have ever had. I just pray that mywife is not killed in it. She has bought into the myth that SUV's aresafer. We took delivery of a new 2005 Ford Escape about 1:30 today, and by8:30 I was writing letters to my congressman, state senator, Ford CustomerRelations, and Bill Ford himself. I resisted buying it, because of all thenightmare stories I had heard about SUV's. I took the chance that somehowthey had gotten better, but then there is the Escape. We were in the turnlane on a six lane section of road, and were in the far right turn lane. Weturned onto the far right lane of another six lane road after the light hadchanged to green. We weren't going more than 20-25 mph, the Escape had somuch body roll and lean that I was sure it was going to end up on its side.What makes it even worse is that there was a great deal of torque steer, andyou could feel the vehicle wanting to go out of control. Thank God the sunwas out and the road was dry, and there were no bumps in the road. Had itbeen wet and had there been a bump we would have went into a unrecoverableskid, and most likely rolled over on the Escape's side. This vehicle has noredeeming qualities. It is about the size and shape of a Model T.Unfortunately a Model T has less body roll, a better ride, and doesn't haveto worry about torque steer. I was so shaken by the experience that I wouldnot ride home in it. I intended to take a taxi home rather than get intothat death trap again. My wife drove home in it, and got my car and cameback to get me. I prayed the entire time she was gone that she wouldn't behurt or killed. In college I had a 1973 Pinto, and at the time I knew theycought fire and could explode. I never felt as insecure about riding in acar as I did in the Escape. I had a much more secure feeling in the 1973Pinto. After this unpleasant experience I found something that scared...