Very good video! It seems to me that Ford designed the Mk5 Escort with the consumer in mind and did a very good job with that, but forgot that journalists like 'interesting' cars, and the impact that this has had on its image. Most consumers didn't drive an Escort like the journalists did anyway, so who cares if the engines sounded rough when approaching the redline?
It's like everything now being tuned for the "Nurburgring" as such. The emphasis on comfort has been totally lost in the quest for the highest G loadings when cornering. Cars should be a cosseting and comfortable place to be.
I very much enjoyed this video and I look forward to your comparison with Focus. You mentioned Top Gear. Do you remember 90s Top Gear presenter Steve Berry? He has a very entertaining new(ish) channel where he reviews 90s cars called 'Steve Berry's Big in the Nineties'. I am sure that you would find it interesting plus I bet he may wellinterested in reviewing your cars!
Always loved the 3dr estates from this era - there was an Astra one too. The Polo bread van was a smaller version - it was just take a 2 dr car and add more space in the shape of a box at the back. Simple but often elegantly done.
Same reason I enjoy driving my Caddy Maxi over anything else. Just simple, comfortable, analog, efficient. Cars of this nature are the best for every day motoring.
A very interesting and nuanced video. I've always thought it quite arbitrary how some cars get reputations for being puddings while others are hailed as instant "classics". Surely a familiar feeling to anyone used to going out to bat for some of British Leyland's finest.
What a beautifully balanced opinion piece. I learnt a couple of things I didn't know about the MK5 too. As we never got these over here in Australia it's always great to hear about UK market Ford's that we might have got if it wasn't for the Ford deal with Mazda. Excellent video!
I’ve owned a Mk 4 L, Mk 5 L and Mk 6 55 van. I think my order of preference would be actually that order right there. The mk4 was really comfy and cosy. The mk 5 a little less cosy and a little more functional (but still good, other that my example having been very badly maintained by previous owners) and the van was, well, a bit less inspiring. I like your analysis of it.
As a German I always was intrigued why the UK was so into Ford cars and not into national brands. When i visited the Uk in the 90s I was surprised how many Ford cars and vans where on the road compared to other European countries even without national car makers.
Heathen! 🤣😘 - Definitely need to have a drive of that at some point - as I said to you before my memories are all of the ones with the horrible CVH engines, but I was amazed how smooth and sweet yours sounded!
I Completely agree on all fronts! It's easy to go with the generic feeling that escort MK5's and the MK6 was a pretty poor product, a feeling which is still fairly strong today. But when you look a things more closely as you do in the video, it's a really good product design for a target audience and market. In that respect it did it's job well without being amazing in any department. The infastrtcure is a massive part of that with simple to fix mechanicals and robust engines. It's an example of Ford doing what Ford did best at that time - not spending a fortune, not moving the goalposts too much but just about ticking all the boxes the current market required. The Focus is just a special once-in-a-blue-moon car, so always an unfair comparison with the predecessors. Great video Sion!
I heard it 1st hand from a person high up in the tree at Ford Netherlands. The Escort Mk5 was a terrible car, he said. They even had people who had tearing body shells when towing a moderate caravan.
I've always always always liked the look of these, they have an almost Giugiaro design cue to them and I think they're a very attractive car and they have great proportions. The facelift that came in 93 really ruined it for me with it's hemorrhoid rear lights. The sweet spot for me was a late 92/early 93 when the 16v 'Zeta' (later renamed to Zetec) engines were introduced on the later pre-facelift cars that then came on the LX and Ghia engine as options (as well as XR and RS models). In fact one of my favourite specs is the 16v LX model as it had a deeper rear bumper over the 8v version by a cunning little clip on bit of rubber and a nice spoiler (which was standard on the 8v) although my absolute favourite was the Orion on a late 92/early 93 spec in Ghia trim with the rear wiper on. The interiors looked really nice, especially with the slightly medium spec velour fabric. Zeta (Zetec) engines were actually on the pre-facelift cars as well, albeit for a year. LX had a 16v option as did the Ghia. If they'd come with those engines from launch, the remarks at the time would have been a lot better.
I had a 1999 Finesse in Amparo Blue which looked a lot nicer, but was totally charmless to drive. At least the early versions managed their owners expectations a bit better!
Brilliant Video The Escort is great I remember these as a young boy you would see them everywhere. Affordable family car Great history & review Thank you
Very good video! It seems to me that Ford designed the Mk5 Escort with the consumer in mind and did a very good job with that, but forgot that journalists like 'interesting' cars, and the impact that this has had on its image. Most consumers didn't drive an Escort like the journalists did anyway, so who cares if the engines sounded rough when approaching the redline?
Yep, absolutely agreed. Decent car for average people.
It's like everything now being tuned for the "Nurburgring" as such. The emphasis on comfort has been totally lost in the quest for the highest G loadings when cornering. Cars should be a cosseting and comfortable place to be.
I very much enjoyed this video and I look forward to your comparison with Focus.
You mentioned Top Gear. Do you remember 90s Top Gear presenter Steve Berry? He has a very entertaining new(ish) channel where he reviews 90s cars called 'Steve Berry's Big in the Nineties'. I am sure that you would find it interesting plus I bet he may wellinterested in reviewing your cars!
Always loved the 3dr estates from this era - there was an Astra one too. The Polo bread van was a smaller version - it was just take a 2 dr car and add more space in the shape of a box at the back. Simple but often elegantly done.
Same reason I enjoy driving my Caddy Maxi over anything else. Just simple, comfortable, analog, efficient. Cars of this nature are the best for every day motoring.
I have rented the mk5 Escort (post facelift 1995) multiple times. A very comfortable cruiser. Nice to drive. Not a bad car at all.
A very interesting and nuanced video. I've always thought it quite arbitrary how some cars get reputations for being puddings while others are hailed as instant "classics". Surely a familiar feeling to anyone used to going out to bat for some of British Leyland's finest.
What a beautifully balanced opinion piece. I learnt a couple of things I didn't know about the MK5 too. As we never got these over here in Australia it's always great to hear about UK market Ford's that we might have got if it wasn't for the Ford deal with Mazda. Excellent video!
I’ve owned a Mk 4 L, Mk 5 L and Mk 6 55 van. I think my order of preference would be actually that order right there. The mk4 was really comfy and cosy. The mk 5 a little less cosy and a little more functional (but still good, other that my example having been very badly maintained by previous owners) and the van was, well, a bit less inspiring. I like your analysis of it.
As a German I always was intrigued why the UK was so into Ford cars and not into national brands. When i visited the Uk in the 90s I was surprised how many Ford cars and vans where on the road compared to other European countries even without national car makers.
Heathen! 🤣😘 - Definitely need to have a drive of that at some point - as I said to you before my memories are all of the ones with the horrible CVH engines, but I was amazed how smooth and sweet yours sounded!
I Completely agree on all fronts! It's easy to go with the generic feeling that escort MK5's and the MK6 was a pretty poor product, a feeling which is still fairly strong today. But when you look a things more closely as you do in the video, it's a really good product design for a target audience and market. In that respect it did it's job well without being amazing in any department. The infastrtcure is a massive part of that with simple to fix mechanicals and robust engines. It's an example of Ford doing what Ford did best at that time - not spending a fortune, not moving the goalposts too much but just about ticking all the boxes the current market required. The Focus is just a special once-in-a-blue-moon car, so always an unfair comparison with the predecessors. Great video Sion!
That means a lot coming from you, the king of the Focus!
Great video, your Escort might be due an MoT now
Great video! I always had a soft spot for the mk5 Escort, even though it was never a cool car at the time!
I heard it 1st hand from a person high up in the tree at Ford Netherlands. The Escort Mk5 was a terrible car, he said. They even had people who had tearing body shells when towing a moderate caravan.
Wow! I’d not heard that
I've always always always liked the look of these, they have an almost Giugiaro design cue to them and I think they're a very attractive car and they have great proportions.
The facelift that came in 93 really ruined it for me with it's hemorrhoid rear lights.
The sweet spot for me was a late 92/early 93 when the 16v 'Zeta' (later renamed to Zetec) engines were introduced on the later pre-facelift cars that then came on the LX and Ghia engine as options (as well as XR and RS models). In fact one of my favourite specs is the 16v LX model as it had a deeper rear bumper over the 8v version by a cunning little clip on bit of rubber and a nice spoiler (which was standard on the 8v) although my absolute favourite was the Orion on a late 92/early 93 spec in Ghia trim with the rear wiper on.
The interiors looked really nice, especially with the slightly medium spec velour fabric.
Zeta (Zetec) engines were actually on the pre-facelift cars as well, albeit for a year. LX had a 16v option as did the Ghia. If they'd come with those engines from launch, the remarks at the time would have been a lot better.
Great video. I owned a mk4 1.1 popular plus. An later a fiesta 1.8 diesel. M reg. No power steering.
I had a 1999 Finesse in Amparo Blue which looked a lot nicer, but was totally charmless to drive. At least the early versions managed their owners expectations a bit better!
Great video, I love the Mk5 escort ,had several mk5/6 's
Brilliant Video
The Escort is great
I remember these as a young boy you would see them everywhere.
Affordable family car
Great history & review
Thank you
Enjoyed that thanks
Love the steelies😍
We had an Orion 1.4lx F917MOO. Felt and looked way better