mk1super Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Got my first ever drive of a mk1 escort, a stock 74 mexico,was so looking forward to it. And all wanting to buy one. Well after driving a one i now dont think i want one at all, i found the steering heavy , and the back end of the car felt quite skitish and twitchy, and the brakes were like a light switch on or off The acleration was cool though . This was the moment i had dreamed of and i felt disapointed. I'd heard so many tales of how you could chuck em around, how forgiving they could be etc, i went to overtake hit a damp white line and thought i were gonna end up dead, it just spun up the rear wheels I was scared shitless!!!! Ive never been scared of any machine, and have no fear of going fast at all but this car scared me, my previous driving expierece was all on diesels 307 a polo, Ldv crew cab and a old sherpa van. Ive only had my car liecence since november. Am i being a big poof or should i play it safe an just buy a ford ka or sumit? My heads now a complete mess
MightySprocket Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 I find that a bit of a surprise... mine is so stable on the road and very easy to drive like a mentalist, it must have been a bad car mate, try another
ZetecVan 2.0 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 My van can wheelspin in the wet at 70, and that scared me. It's my tyres. I've got some budget Nangkang Ditchfinders on, which I'm going to replace as soon as poss. It might be that you've got cheap tyres. What make are they?
Admin Mk2Jo Posted March 17, 2008 Admin Report Posted March 17, 2008 RWD in the wet can be a bit "skitish" even the std ones Not sure what you were expecting .... they are not like driving modern FWD cars .... and power steering - what's that and std brakes .... will stop you eventually maybe you should have a drive in another one for comparison
mk1super Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Posted March 17, 2008 The ride was rather firm think it may have uprated springs, and the tires looked like 185s though maybe wrong. I didnt expect it to be quite so twitchy i know it doesnt have a lsd or nowt
sambo Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Heavy steering, twitchy rear end...... Sounds like a perfectly fine mk1 escort to me mate!
mk14dr Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 I, too, am quite suprised to hear that. Mine is almost bone stock apart from the capri laser's and an 2" exhaust and even with shagged rear leafs mine feels quite comfy and stable, granted im not spinning the rear wheels (erm at all ) but even mine is controlable on and around the limit The first time i drove a mk1 was 10mins before i bought mine, then i had a 3 hour drive back from birmingham to get aquainted D
mk1super Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Posted March 17, 2008 Oh and all you nutters with big power mk1/2s you is all mental
sambo Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Oh and all you nutters with big power mk1/2s you is all mental Says the guy who rides bikes!
hotrodholty Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 i think your driving must be the problem,
flyingbanana Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Heavy steering, twitchy rear end...... Sounds like a perfectly fine mk1 escort to me mate! you need to drive them a bit more to get used to how they behave.... they are completely different to fwd cars find another one to drive and give them a chance to see how much fun they are
antz Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Oh and all you nutters with big power mk1/2s you is all mental mines only a 1.3 im suprised to hear what you said crap tyres could be a problem cos i used to use federals on mine and they were SHOCKING! binned them and got some decent yoko's...never looked back. id drive another one and see hwo that feels but rememerb the car is 25-40 years old so its not gonna ahndle like a new car with power steering, abs, traction conrol etc etc....its a raw machine. engine, 4 wheels and a seat give it another go. they do take some getting used to!
bmxdave Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 Its all part of the charm of old cars. I always hated driving newer stuff especially learning to drive in a 1300td corsa but as soon as i got in my triumph i felt perfectly at home. It takes me much longer to get used to a newer car then an older one. You can make them easier to drive though dont forget. Most driver aids such as PAS and servos are easily availible and retrofitted to your car. It just means your a bit of a cissy
MEXY867M Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 my mex mate its like a go kart on bents and roundabouts,she a hard ride hard steering etc but that the raw drive of alot of these motors and the fun,I ride bikes as well and they are great to the speed etc,I thought you would have loved a raw ride,get the taste for it mate.
Rick Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 same as changing between any cars really... they aint gonna be the same. remeber 35 years old... they didnt drive round at an average of 50mph back then and take off the line superquick. maybe your trying to keep up with traffic?? drive it slow careful and pose unless your on a big empty carpak
escort greg Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 This is similar to my first cossy experience...mate took me out and drive and drove like a pansy .well gutted until i bought one anyway..things soon changed when i got to put my foot down......what i would say is drive a few others before making your mind up as not all drive the same
tim Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 ive got a 74 mex and was standard when i got it last year and was great to drive,takes abit of gettin used to but after a mile or so its fine
over_head_cam Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 A1ex, for what it's worth I'd say try a few different cars. I've had some that are a dream to drive, and others that are a complete nightmare. Escorts are deffo not as easy to drive as a modern motor, but when you ace your first corner, the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up and you'll be grinning from ear to ear
J Elvy Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 well once you get used to em they are great. When i got my four door i haddnt driven one properly for a while as my 2 door one had only just been put together and id been driving a golf with coilovers etc which handled like it was on rails. The difference was amazing, it felt like i was driving a ragged old tractor or something!!! But Now ive sorted a few bits and got used to it again there is nothing better!! you just need to give them time!! its like riding a bike! Once you get used to it you love it!!! get one or borrow one!!!
beu_79 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 (antz: think we've got identical cars!) Jump in a 1.3 ghia and wallow along in the 70's comfort. You'll hit a speed bump and still be bouncing up and down a mile down the road, then when it's a bit damp you might get a little bid sideways but nothing to cause brown cloth, just cause a big smile.
Tom Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 As sambo said - sounds like a perfectly good escort to me
escortmad79 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 A1ex, for what it's worth I'd say try a few different cars. I've had some that are a dream to drive, and others that are a complete nightmare Know where you're coming from. I've had mk1 & 2 Escorts & have no problem with those. Took a 1600E Cortina out for a test drive & hated the damn thing!! Gearstick was a lot further forward than in an Escort! Didn't help the brakes were shot as well
Muttley MK2 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Posted March 17, 2008 All that you describe goes with the territory when you drive and own old cars. I learned to drive in cars with fifties and sixties heritage and they were ok at the time. Now some thirty plus years on they seem god fakin awful!! My 98 2.0 litre vectra is rock solid at 125mph and will out accelerate and out handle my 77 3.0 capper....but its a souless as a souless thing on souless thing day Now the capper on the other hand drinks petrol like it was the last day of time, loses the rear end at the drop of a hat, wont start in the wet etc etc....but it has soul and thats why it gets used more than the vectra
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