escortgti.com

Basically Im thinking of this as my next car

However the ONLY thing that puts me off is reliability issues !

Its a 20 year old car and though I would love to own one very very much , I need a car everyday for work and cant afford to have it give up on me

Also , running costs , general maintenance etc ?

Cheers

MattyRST

I drove my S2 on 60mile round trip to work and back today no problem

smitsturbo

end of the day mate if you buy a scabby thrashed 1 its bound to break down but if you buy an unmelested standard enough 1 with loads of history & clean example & you look after it well yourself it will run all day long

MattyRST

Mines a 83K example with MOTs backing to 1994, never been welded nor does it need welding !!!

escortgti.com

But how often do you come across an example like that

aaron147

Hi mate i personally would say if you need a reliable car to get you too and from work then dont buy a S2.
Like you say they are 20 yr old cars and things go wrong on them due to age.
I was like you i wanted one for ages and ended up getting one,but it just wasnt reliable enough to get me to work and back,but when it did i loved every second of it.

I ended up selling it, but now 8 months later i have just got another one,but i also have got a little fiesta to get me to work and back.Is this an option for you?

But dont get me wrong if the car is running sweet,it is such an enjoyable fun car to drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JimmyBoy

iTrader: (1)

Personally, wouldnt bother if it is for work everyday.

I done that, gave me lots of grief - almost got the sack because of the problems I had getting to work!

Unless you are willing to pay top money for a well maintained example which are hard to come by, and you will also need to look after it with a bit more care than you may be acustom to.

MattyRST

I had to travel to southampton for it and i took months to find 1 in this condition !!!! But its up for sale as i want more power in the form of a cossie

escortgti.com

Well , Im a joiner and could be doing with a van but at the age of 20 I'd rather have something fun to drive !

I have an escort GTi at present which i have had just over a month and love it , but feel that its just not got the fun factor my old car used to have

MattyRST

I dont use mine everyday just when i feel like it, but like everybodys saying they can be a pain in the arse if used everyday

JimmyBoy

iTrader: (1)

JUST TODAY ?

You dont do that everyday?

My S2 would do a 60 mile round trip no probelm, but had trouble when doing my 50 mile round trip EVERY day.

MattyRST

No i dont use it everyday just now and again............

JimmyBoy

iTrader: (1)

Dont get me wrong, they are fun cars to drive!

But, you will probablly run into problems if you become reliant on it for work.

I spent a small fortune keeping on fixing it, so I could use it everyday for work, but it was in vein, things just kept going wrong.

JimmyBoy

iTrader: (1)

This is my point, he wants it to get to work everyday.

MattyRST

I have a works van, the misses MG as a 2nd car and the RS gets used as a last resort when its sunny and dry so im lucky really that i dont have to use it for work. But id buy a shed to run to work in if i didnt have a van.

MattyRST

As i agreed with everbody else NOT ideal to use every day for work !!!

COSSIE CAL

nuy matts mint black s2,im thinking of bidding on it,£2600 is a good price,hes got a spare turbo for it too buy it
if you look after cars wel and know how to,the car in return will look after you

o n i o n

I use my S2 every day has only relly let me down a couple of times.

I think you need to be very knowledeable in order to keep on top of them.
Or at least have a good friend who is.

Power for pound and fun factor is good and if you want to get even more carried away, some of these boys get stonking power from them.

you get central locking, sun roof, trip comp, electric mirrors, heated screen, electric windows,great seats, most of which new cars today don't even have.

MattyRST

Cossie Cal cheers for the comments, im only asking £2600 for it and its well worth that as its solid, as i want it gone soon so i can make room for a cossie

Cossie Cal id even deliver it to you for £2600

RobL

my first rst i owned i used as an every day car for over 2 years 30 mile round trip for work and it never gave me much grief with the exception of an alternator and a couple other minor things,in fact it was more reliable than a lot of sensible daily drivers ive had
it had also done over 100k when i sold her with the original turbo still on and had never had a rebuild

Chris69

In genral when they are working they are great cars and smil per mile considering the initial outley i think there hard to beat
Wot i will say though is you will need a very well looked after example if u want it to be reliable- you also need to be over cautious with maintenance- if something sounds or feels dodgy when you drive, fix it pronto as it will break when you don't want it too otherwsie

COSSIE CAL

matt what condition are the arches in and whats the battery tray like?and what power is it atm?cheeRS

homer j

iTrader: (1)

mine has been pretty good so far. had it for just over a year now. it's over 113k miles, and runs sweet. no rebuild and no smoke or rattles. never been welded and doesn't need it. it's gone wrong twice so far. one was a split boost hose, the other my own fault as i broke the top bolt on the thermostat housing. only major thing at the mo is my neighbor reversed in to the passenger door and properly stoved it in, but thats hardly a reliability issue. when it's running properly it is the best car about imo for grin factor. it goes like a train, looks mint and sounds the pups swingers on or off boost!!! if you can get a shitter for every day use then get one but buy the best you can. if you can't and will need to run it every day then don't bother. get something newer because it'll probably bankrupt you. don't get me wrong, mine is the only car i own but i use it maybe a dozen times a month and then don't travel that far either. plus it's only a five minute walk to work and if me and the missus go anywhere at the weekend we take her car cos she hates doing any distance in mine

antony215

If you get a good well looked after example then you should have no problems using it everyday (i dont ) if you buy one for £1500 then you will soon find out why it was £1500

MattyRST

COSSIE CAL You have PM mate

r-s-turbo

id say anything mechanical isnt a problem on them you can do most things on your driveway and the parts are cheap enough compared to any other turbo motor........the only shit things bout them is the gearbox/clutch & bodywork, unless you get a mint 1 in the first place be prepared to take a trip to the body shop!
tbf the gearboxes are alright until you start tuning them and once you buy an uprated 1 you wont be replacing it in a hurry (my next step), i chipped mine im on 121k.......and it ate a clutch n gearbox within 2 weeks! and the one i replaced it with a month ago is now on its way out.......main shaft bearing again!
GET 1! even when mine lets me down i cant help but throw more money at it, you will not get more bang for buck! its a really satisfying drive......especially when you see the gutted subaru owners faces at 130 on the dual carriageway......... RATED!

MattyRST

r-s-turbo I couldnt agree more mate, mines in excellent condition for a 17 year old car. But for the money its one of the best cars ive had

homer j

iTrader: (1)

ditto the above. it's not just scoobys though. i've got a couple of porsche boxster's scalps too. now that is one pissed off face when you out run them only other thing i can think of thats even close is the renault 5 gt turbo. damn quick and ace fun but the bodywork really lets the side down. that and the fact they split the carbs and burst into flame

escrst

what you need mate is a standard ish 1600 in black genuine 1990 spec on a h plate, its got an exhaust chip couple of other bits fast enough to keep you happy while still drives good at slow speeds wont break down on you. check out the cars for sale adds

its right up your street

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Buy a decent one and look after it, and it'll look after you.. Just like any performance hatch

SafeChav

Ditto

And to add to that.........if it ain't broke, DON'T fix it

Oranoco

I ran mine as my daily drive for years and it never once let me down despite being tuned to 218bhp.

Don't buy a scabby wreck for a grand and look after it and treat it with respect and they are no more unreliable than anything else. The people that bleat on about them being shit and unreliable are those that buy at the bottom of the market, whack the boost up and then abuse them and when it all goes pop blame the car rather than admit they are at fault and are a complete retard

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

I bought one for £500 and expected it to be a complete crock of sh*te but it turned out to be surprisingly reliable