I'm just wondering if it's to do with the escort pedal box and the attachment point for the cable. It obviously doesn't have a ratchet-quadrant at the top like the Sierra, just a pin for the eye on the end of the cable.

I've a suspicion that the escort pedal isn't pulling the cable enough per-press, hence having to use the adjustment to take up all of the 'slack' and still only barely engaging the clutch at full travel.