Need advice about buying a 1997 Escort wagon, please.

I won't bore everyone with the details, but let's just say the local Ford dealership and I are arguing over what is covered by some recalls for my 1996 Contour, which has been bleeding me dry for a couple years.

I have to have a car to get back and forth to work (30 miles round trip) and I need something that's not likely to die every other month and cost $1000+ to fix. I found a 1997 Escort wagon with automatic and 130k miles.

Any opinions? Is the mileage going to be the downfall?

Thanks!

Geoffrey

the escorts were good cars - be sure to check the steering for the outer tie rods are very prone to wearing out and it's due for a timing belt if it hasn't has one but neither of these jobs are that costly or time consuming - the spit port engine is a more reliable option but very rough idle and more noise than the z-tech style engines but neither were really bad