Any common problems I should know before buying?

I'm considering either buying a mid 90's escort or a saturn S-series. I was somewhat turned off by the S series after I read horror stories about oil guzzling.

Are there any such similar problems plauguing escorts from the mid 90's? Any particular models or features to avoid or look for?

I'm looking to spend under $2,000, and escorts seem to pop up quite a bit.

Thanks for any help,

Steven Q.

Avoid Escorts with an automatic transmission. Struts have had a frequency of broken springs on all models. Automatics go at 100K or less. Other than these 2 things they are quite dependable. I have a third generation (97-02) 97 with 160k that has only needed brakes, battery and a timing belt. 2nd generation (91-96) are good , too. Some of us here have them with 240K miles. Overall I would say buy an Escort. They are good on gas and rarely break down.

I have a 92 Escort wagon and a 92 Saturn SL2. I do all of my own work. I have removed/repaired/replaced the engine and transmission from both cars. The Escort had 192,000 miles on its automatic tranny (most driving was on a long commute) when it went out. Its engine needed piston rings & its 2nd water pump - and nothing else! It also needed a starter.
At 125,000 when I bought the Saturn (for $300) it still seemed to run okay, but its engine needed a timing chain tensioner, and a junkyard tranny, due to a pinion shaft failure in the original transmission.
To me, the Escort seems slightly easier to work on under the hood. Not a big deal though.
I expect both cars to be in the family for many more years.

I wonder how many of the Escort transmissions that went out 'early' really just needed a new oil pump relief valve and a longer spring for it?

so basically its safe to say that, the biggest problem in the escort is the tranny like most early model fords in the 90's to late 90's.

I'm considering either buying a mid 90's escort or a saturn S-series. I was somewhat turned off by the S series after I read horror stories about oil guzzling.
Are there any such similar problems plauguing escorts from the mid 90's? Any particular models or features to avoid or look for?
I'm looking to spend under $2,000, and escorts seem to pop up quite a bit.
Thanks for any help,
Steven Q.

If you spend some time looking thru this Forum, Steven, I think you'll pretty quickly find NUMEROUS problems with 3rd generation Escorts (I would guess probably 2nd generation Escorts, as well). There seems to be quite a bit of trouble with the A/C (air conditioning), with the engine running roughly, with stalling, with Idle Vibrations (like my 2002 SE, SOHC engine has), and I'm sure there's many more MUCH TOO COMMON problems.
good luck (you might need it)!!!

if the car was maintained properly, it'll last nearly forever, either the ford or the saturn.

try to get a line on the previous owner, and see if they took good care of the car, or if they didn't know any better and let it slide, and are getting rid of it because their poor maintenance turned it into a moneypit timebomb...


-sarge

I have gone through two fuel pumps with my escort but that might just be me running the car on low. Fuel pumps arn't bad to replace.

The only really bad thing about certain types of Escorts is that they have a tendancy to drop valve seats.

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