As per title, can anyone who's lived with one give me any input? Are they reliable if well maintained? Decent enough on petrol? And perhaps most importantly of all, are they as much fun to drive as a MK2 XR2?
Thanks.

 

Great all round, just not speed bump friendly IMO

 

I had 2 years ago that I used daily and the were ok.Im talking iver 10 years ago now mind.


I still see a few when im out and about.

 

i had an orion as my first car and was thrashed nearly every time i drove it. as far as maintenence goes, it had regular services by me and the prev owner and never missed a beat. i was told to clear the long breather hose every so often as thats supposed to help. this was about ten year ago though so if it was alive today may have developed a few gremlins, but i suppose thats the risk with old donkeys. wish i still had mine and not got into the turbos

 

I've had loads and never had major problems with them. Pretty reliable just like any other car

 

Won't be as fun as an xr2. IMO too old for daily use

 

I was using my 85 escort running frst engine for two years as daily, same with all I've owned, but I suppose how well looked after they are n were? Only reason I don't use it now is coz I use work van or my 1.3 carb 90 escort haha

 

I also own an st220 and that's no where near as fun as the Rst or even my 1.3 carb escort. And xr's too and robs right fezzy are pretty fun

 

Mk2 xr2 will be a lot more fun,faster and way better handling.
Nothing wrong with a '3i as a daily though as long as you can live with no pas.
Found em ok on fuel back in the day as well.

 

mine was great, but was better with a 2.0 ZVH.... in hindsight it would have been better with a 2.0 zetec. fine as a daily hack though.

 

Totally wanky everyday choice IMO. Is it the ford blinkers that makes you fancy it?

They were rotten pieces of shit 10 years ago never mind now. They would've been fantastic new but considering now what you can pick up a fun and reliable clio 182 or the like for it doesn't make any sense what so ever unless you just want some ford kudos which gets you FA.

 

Im abit biased as i have one and they are okay to live with but i can think of alot better cars for the money.
I only like mine as i dont really see any around anymore!
They are low and slow though
Pick them up cheap enough though!
Xr2's are better!

 

If you want one as a daily you go for it dont be boring and follow the crowd and get a modern boring euro box. How many Older cars do you see getting driven about.I see MGB gts,minis(the proper ones) mk 1 n 2 vw golfs all the time.

There cars at the end of the day they were built/mad to be driven.

 

Mine was brilliant, but I had to replace all the suspension bits speed bumps killed it

 

To add mine was pretty shit on petrol 47L tank used to return about 260 miles

 

my mate still uses one as a daily and its a nice change seeing that instead of fooking clio's and corsas etc....

 

Thanks for all the replies. Not as much fun as an XR2 eh? Hmm, I suppose it depends on whether its going to be be expensive to repair this rust hole in my sunroof.

 

I used one as my daily in 1992 it was awfull then so 20 + years later can't imagine why you'd want one of these as a daily driver?!

No pas
Harsh suspension
Brakes not great
Not as fun to chuck around as an Xr2 was back in the day.