I love the mk2 escort but not the lame RS2000.
I had a mk2, was a 1.3auto to start with, but soon had a breathed on 1.7 xflow in there, but kept the 1.3 torque convertor.
I loved it's simplicity, ease of driving fixing, tail out fun esp in the wet, was not a patch on the twisties though compared with sierra, comfort was quite good, performance even from auto, which I revalved was excellent, beating my mates 2.0i ghia sierra manual with ease, absolutely slaughtered it.
Panels are not a problem as a large following still, easier to repair bodywise than sierra etc, but very basic features inside wise, better heater than my sierra though!!
I would have one as an everyday car, just put up with it's shortcomings for the grin factor.
I had spax gas adjusties on mine with uprated leaf and coil springs, poly all round, running a 40 DFI carburettor, got 35/40 mpg and around 125mph, on a 3.54:1 diff, from a escort 1.6GHIA.
tabetha