Would you be interested in one?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 08-02-2005, 04:37 PM

If Ford was to produce a modern version of a Mk 1 or 2 Escort, simular size to a Focus, RWD, modern engine (say base model being NA 1.6, then NA 2.0, perhaps turbo 2.0 and V6 varients as well, and I guess a 4wd/AWD varient would be good too), would you, or anybody you know possibly be interested?

As much as I like the BA Falcon (as well as most other Falcons) and the Focus, I really would like to be able to buy a brand new smallish car that drives the rear wheels, and is relatively light.

Falcons are too big for me (as those of you who have met me know, I'm not exactly a big guy), and while I do like the Focus, I'd like it a lot more if it was RWD.

I know, I know, I'm dreaming, but who else shares my dream of a modern, smallish, sporty, RWD/AWD Ford?

Sourbastard · 08-02-2005, 04:42 PM

I reckon, thats a great idea. Would love to see the escort name back again in an RWD/AWD turbo variant, give some serious competition to subaru impreza.

Edit: After some though though, if the escort name did come back, you would probably find it on a rebadged fusion or taurus being imported here and renamed to suit the locals. :( that would be a big dissapointment if that did happen.

Mike Gayner · 08-02-2005, 05:07 PM

Although I wouldn't really buy one, I think it would be cool if this did happen. I do love my big cars, but my first car ever was a MKII Escort panelvan and I miss it dearly

: So Escorts hold a special place in my heart, but if it ended up being front wheel drive I would be extremely dissapointed.

Twisted · 08-02-2005, 05:10 PM

If Holden can release a Torana concept and possibly produce it why cant we have an Eskie or Corty, im all for it. Something small and gutsy to fill that part of the market would be great!

The MaDDeSTMaN · 08-02-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourbastard

I reckon, thats a great idea. Would love to see the escort name back again in an RWD/AWD turbo variant, give some serious competition to subaru impreza.

Edit: After some though though, if the escort name did come back, you would probably find it on a rebadged fusion or taurus being imported here and renamed to suit the locals. :( that would be a big dissapointment if that did happen.

Agreed on both points.

As much as I (obviously) would love to see the Escort name back again kicking some @rse in the rally scene, I agree that if the name was brought back it would probably be expoited, just like Holden did with the 2 door Commodore "Monaro" - but that is just my opinion on the modern Monaro.

At the end of the day, as long as it was a smallish, sporty car with RWD (and possibly an AWD variant), I wouldn't really care what the badge said - although if it said Escort (with RS being on the sportier models) I wouldn't complain.

merlin · 08-02-2005, 05:15 PM

Id buy one in a heartbeat.

Whilst I love my BA I really dont require such a large car (and subsequent fuel bill).

LuvinmyEB · 08-02-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Id buy one in a heartbeat.

Whilst I love my BA I really dont require such a large car (and subsequent fuel bill).

I love my EB.. hence my username, but would love something a bit smaller with as much get up and go is RWD and takes less fuel. Unlike the Lancer I'm driving at the moment FWD and 300kms to a tank of fuel ... ewww..

:

I have two questions... how much and gimme!

buickman · 08-02-2005, 06:41 PM

I like the larger cars. Driving a Buick on Aussie roads is like navagating a land yacht not really pratical. But having owned a Escort Sundowner P/Van I do have a soft spot for them plus Capri's & Cortinas. But yes driving my wifes Mazda SP20 is a lot easier to manoevre around the city plus its nearly as quick as the VCT powered AU Ghia.

buickman

Kryton · 08-02-2005, 07:05 PM

i like the idea of a small RWD car but the name is just not good in my books. every time i see an escort i immediately think of 'slut' or 'prostitute'.
dont know if the name would be excepted these days.
can you imagine? "Have YOU been in an ESCORT lately"?

LuvinmyEB · 08-02-2005, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

i like the idea of a small RWD car but the name is just not good in my books. every time i see an escort i immediately think of 'slut' or 'prostitute'.
dont know if the name would be excepted these days.
can you imagine? "Have YOU been in an ESCORT lately"?

:

How about "Have you driven an Escort lately?"

"Oh what a feeling..."

tickford2001 · 08-02-2005, 07:54 PM

i think a small RWD car would be great, and id love to see the escort name revived in australia...and of course the RS name would have to be revived with it :hihi:

YuGoStaR · 08-02-2005, 09:19 PM

I would get one for sure, then I would turbo the beast and show all the 'Rex Boys' how it's done. LoL
Ahh its good to dream....

FordFan86 · 08-02-2005, 09:32 PM

I think it would be a grand idea, but like most things it probably isn't going to happen :\

The MaDDeSTMaN · 08-02-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickford2001

i think a small RWD car would be great, and id love to see the escort name revived in australia...and of course the RS name would have to be revived with it :hihi:

After seeing cars at Small Ford Sunday with EFI and/or turbo setups, be it EFI setups attached to the original OHC Pinto, or complete "retrotech" engine swaps, it got me thinking about this...

Two things that come to mind:

First one being revival of the Escort name. As has been mentioned, for some people, Escort is not exactly a flattering name. However, it does have quite an enviable history behind it in the World Rally scene, and still quite a following, not just here in Australia, but even more so in England and other places where they continued to sell Escorts after the last Mk II Escort rolled off the production line. Personally, even if Ford produced something like what I'm talking about (smallish, RWD, enough go to bring a smile to your face) and decided to call it the "Ford Pig" - although perhaps that name would be more suited to a heavier car, lol - I'd get it, and to me it would be the spiritual successor to the Escort, and thus I would call it an Escort, despite what the badges might say. To me, the name isn't as important as the ideal, although I'd love it to have the Escort RS badges on it.

Which leads me to the second thing. Personally, I would want a smallish, RWD sedan, but others might prefer a AWD sedan, or a AWD Hatch. Mini Falcon, or modified Focus? Or something totally different?

TIKFD6 · 08-02-2005, 09:47 PM

Where do i sign?
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease, Ford

The MaDDeSTMaN · 08-02-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFan86

I think it would be a grand idea, but like most things it probably isn't going to happen :\

Probably not, but it's nice to dream, and you never know, if Ford thought there was enough interest in it...

Besides, Ford are practically the only worldwide manufacturer who doesn't have anything like this in it's lineup. Mazda: MX5, Nissan: Silvia and variants, Mercedes: SLK230, etc...

The Mighty Red · 08-02-2005, 10:15 PM

Sorry but I just don't like small cars. Give me a big ford any day. I suppose they have there purpose but they're definately not for me.

champsky · 09-02-2005, 11:29 AM

do i really need to tell you my answer

if it were to come about twould need a cossie twincam turbo whacked in it hehehehe

if it was 4wd id take it in a snap and then enter in the first rally i could find bwhahahaha

XRated · 09-02-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

As much as I like the BA Falcon (as well as most other Falcons) and the Focus, I really would like to be able to buy a brand new smallish car that drives the rear wheels, and is relatively light.

BMW 1-series :hihi:

But I agree, if I was to ever own a small sports car, it would have to be rear wheel drive, and maybe AWD if I was desperate.

loxxr6 · 09-02-2005, 02:42 PM

Although I prob wouldn't buy a small car again, it'd be good to have a new small car pocket rocket. The Focus and Festiva while aesthetically are ok, just doesn't have the guts.

I'd be more than happy to see a modern day eskie come back. Bang on a turbo for a hi-po model too...

The MaDDeSTMaN · 09-02-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by our_blue_xr6

Sorry but I just don't like small cars. Give me a big ford any day. I suppose they have there purpose but they're definately not for me.

Fair enough, some people prefer big cars, some prefer small cars. I just wish I didn't have to drive a big Ford to have a new RWD Ford.

Just like some people would never buy a small car, there are other people who would never buy a big car. I happen to be one of them. I want a smallish Ford that drives the rear wheels, which is why I own a Mk II Escort. And if Ford Australia had something newer that fitted that description, I'd probably own that instead.

I happen to think that if they made a car with a modern 4 cyl engine producing around 100kw, put a decent 5 or 6 speed manual (with some intelligent ratios) behind it driving the rear wheels (of course, with a decent final drive ratio, say 3.7:1 or 3.8:1) and kept the weight as low as possible - say 1100kg - then they'd be on a winner. And of course turbo and AWD versions with more power.

I know it wouldn't appeal to everyone, but I can't help wonder how many Ford fans have ended up buying something with a different badge on it because there was nothing available from Ford that suited their needs or wants, who would have brought something like this if it was available. I'm sure a AWD turbo version might very well steal at least some sales from Subaru, for example, and a RWD turbo version might steal sales from Nissan Silvia's and other simular cars. Not only that, but it would be another way of getting buyers into Ford Dealerships, and getting them to see the rest of the Ford range.

I just think Ford have a hole in their line-up that would be filled nicely with something like I'm thinking of.

AUIII XR8 MAN · 09-02-2005, 09:31 PM

I think a AWD would be the better of the two. Something to put int the ARC.

Thunder Kiss · 09-02-2005, 09:38 PM

I would be very interested in a small to medium RWD Ford (BMW 3 series size) particularly in a performance version.
Even though I've owned Falcons in the past, I have no need (or desire) for such a big car.

The Mighty Red · 10-02-2005, 02:19 AM

I don't think they will go back to RWD but you never know, hang in there and you just might see an AWD Focus in a few years time. I drove a cortina 6 when i was younger and a few of my mates had 1.6 and 2.0 escorts .another mate had a 2.0 cortina. I don't know what the story was but simon's 2.0 escort was 4ever blowin diffs and yet greg who used to do brake liners from one end of a car park to the other in his 2.0 corty never had a problem. This has got nothing to do with why I don't like small cars I just thought it unusual. DID the corty and Escort have different diffs?
In about 1983 I went for a spin in a mate of a mates 2.0 Turbocharged Rally Pack Escort,( looked the same as the one in your avatar) It was a beautiful car and went like a rocket.

buickman · 10-02-2005, 10:16 PM

I blew 4 diffs in the Escort P/van . I used to go to pick a part and pull them out of 1.3 and the 1.6 escorts because all the 3.54 out of the 2lt were already gone. Have not been to Pick A Part for years now. So I gather Escorts by now would be getting rare there. Still got a soft spot for them.

buickman

darkfang888 · 14-04-2005, 08:50 PM

Hell yeah! The escort needs to come back strong and regain it's respect. Imagine a proper modern-day RS Escort. Ooooo... (drool)

Although I prefer Falcons, my first car was a '76 Escort L coupe and I'll always have a soft spot for them.

MrSparkle · 14-04-2005, 09:25 PM

I find this thread VERY interesting... considering what I am driving now! It doesn't have a blue oval badge but it meets the other criteria (small-ish, RWD, turbo, nimble, looks good... )

Now to wait for the "usual brigade" to come and rubbish it because it's not a Ford...

The MaDDeSTMaN · 14-04-2005, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

I find this thread VERY interesting... considering what I am driving now! It doesn't have a blue oval badge but it meets the other criteria (small-ish, RWD, turbo, nimble, looks good... )

Now to wait for the "usual brigade" to come and rubbish it because it's not a Ford...

I won't be rubbishing it mate, only question is, would you have considered something like a "modern day Escort" if it had been available at the time?

Yaw · 14-04-2005, 10:25 PM

You know what would be good,
If anyone at FF is a bit of an artist give us a sketch of a "modern escort"

However, I was never much of an escort fan, my first two cars were mk 1 cortina's.....
I personally think its just not gunna happen in todays climate with just about every manufacturer of cars having finacial troubles. Apperently (according to todays Courier Mail) Ford Australia had to just about beg and plead for the funds for the Territory. It was in with a story about Rover MG, there was a recent thread about that here.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 14-04-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaw

You know what would be good,
If anyone at FF is a bit of an artist give us a sketch of a "modern escort"

However, I was never much of an escort fan, my first two cars were mk 1 cortina's.....
I personally think its just not gunna happen in todays climate with just about every manufacturer of cars having finacial troubles. Apperently (according to todays Courier Mail) Ford Australia had to just about beg and plead for the funds for the Territory. It was in with a story about Rover MG, there was a recent thread about that here.

The sketch of a "modern Escort" would certainly be interesting, if anyone wants to have a go at it...

The reason I say "modern Escort" is because the Escort didn't get bigger and bigger as time went on in the way the Cortina did. But yes, Mk 1 Cortina, Mk 1 or 2 Escort, that is the sort of size I am thinking of.

I know it's probably not going to happen, too much of a gamble when they know the Falcon sells, but I honestly think if they took the plunge, they would be rewarded. I'm sure, if it was done right, it would sell like hot cakes. But I guess Ford Aus (or any branch of Ford for that matter) are not in a position to take a risk like that, and so the potential buyers will continue to buy cars made by other manufacturers who have already taken the risk of making something like this...

But hey, I can dream, can't I?

View Poll Results: Would you or anyone you know be interested if it was available?
Yes, definately, who do I annoy to make it happen?	73	56.59%
No, what's the point?	20	15.50%
I wouldn't be interested myself, but others would I think.	34	26.36%
Other opinion (please specify in thread)	2	1.55%
Voters: 129. You may not vote on this poll