i didn't buy it for economy, but i have a strangely economical small turbo escort (standard performance wise bar mongoose and K&N cone). On long runs I've done well over 450 miles on £60. I filled it the weekend for the first time since last october (it don't get used much over the winter) and it had done 310 miles which cost £53 to fill - thats over 27mpg which isn't bad for just using it around town with no runs to stretch its legs. I filled it to the very brim and yesterday went to a car meet, 22 miles each way, 50% motorway and the gauge hasn't moved from above the full mark.

with regards to running costs, again if maintained then they needn't cost the earth - in 4000 miles / 18 months mines cost me a massive £200!! and that was only for an oil and filter change, a new oil filler cap plus two lower front arms. OK, so i've also added some samco's and polybushed the front but they were changed through choice, not through necessity.

the only fault i've had is that if i leave it for more than 3 weeks the battery goes flat, but i hear a few have this problem - to do with the ford alarm?