1998 Ford Escort ZX2

My parents know someone who is selling the car, they might get it for me, even though I dislike red and it doesn't have most of the extra features or powered windows and such. \

Was wondering if it's a good car or not.

Thanks.

How much $$$?

If you don't have a car, and your parents are buying it for you, then take it and be thankful. It's a free car.

^^ Amen. My first car my dad bought for me. Now I have a car payment. It sucks not to have extra money each month ?

[quote3e6c95463b="J4320"]How much $$$?[/quote3e6c95463b]
$4,500 | 60,000 miles. Pretty good deal if you ask me. )

60,000 miles aint bad at all for a 98 but in my opinion 4500 for an escort is too much...I just checked Cars.com for cars under 5000 and a couple 01-02 impalas came up, a few mustangs, monte carlos, cavaliers etc... and those are probably much better than the escort. Not to mention escorts are kinda chick cars, but if your parents are just gonna buy it for you then I guess you can't complain.

Escorts are chick cars? Ew. And you found cars on cars.com under $5,000 with 60,000 miles? Better than this deal?

If it's safe and gets you from A to B, who cares what it looks like?

It's not REALLY a penis extension.

kellybluebook.com it.

That will tell you if it is a good deal or not. My sister has that exact model and year and it has been pretty decent to her. I personally would stick with honda or toyota. You may be paying a little more than for a zx2 but it is well worth it in the long run. Better gas mileage and everything else.

dude, i had to buy my first car, be thankful if they get you one at all.

[quote12e6cacc53="TFOAF"]Escorts are chick cars? Ew. And you found cars on cars.com under $5,000 with 60,000 miles? Better than this deal?[/quote12e6cacc53]

Well I never see guys drivin escorts...maybe thats just around here or somethin idk

Yea I found cars for under 5 on there....just go to www.cars.com and search for whatever kinda car you want and you can set the price limit.

[quote12e6cacc53="theysayjump"]If it's safe and gets you from A to B, who cares what it looks like?[/quote12e6cacc53]

Some people do...

Kelley Blue Book says...

A '98 Ford Escort ZX2 with 60,000 miles, the original manufacturer's standard features and the condition being "Excellent" (meaning "Looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning") is $3,325 [at private party value].

According to KBB < 5% of used cars fall into the Excellent category. Most used cars fall into the Good category, in which case the KBB value would be $2,975.

Price also varies by location (I punched in Trenton, NJ for reference).

Hope this gives you an idea... You might want to fool around with some of their online tools at http//www.kbb.com

i had a ZX2 and it was a pretty decent car. I liked it while I had it and it was the car that I've owned the longest (2 years). It did however break down on me. I paid $4000 for it with 80,000 on it for a 2001. I know lots of miles but it got me around and I delivered pizza with it for a while. The timing belt broke at 130,000 miles and left the car pretty much junk. I sold it for $300, which kinda sucks. I looked around and found out that the timing belts often go bad between 90,000 and 120,000, especially for that car. So if you do get it, I would put the money out when you hit around that many miles to replace the belt. I didn't and I ended up with a blown motor because of it.

I had a 88 ford escort. lol. POS if you ask me, but it was a free car given to me when my grandmother passed away, so I couldn't complain. I dropped the tranny though within 4 months or so of having it. Junked it soon after. I'm sure they've made improvements since 1988 though haha.

[quote7c4c6b33e9="h3x"]Kelley Blue Book says...

A '98 Ford Escort ZX2 with 60,000 miles, the original manufacturer's standard features and the condition being "Excellent" (meaning "Looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning") is $3,325 [at private party value].

According to KBB < 5% of used cars fall into the Excellent category. Most used cars fall into the Good category, in which case the KBB value would be $2,975.

Price also varies by location (I punched in Trenton, NJ for reference).

Hope this gives you an idea... You might want to fool around with some of their online tools at http//www.kbb.com[/quote7c4c6b33e9]

So in other words FOAFYs dad is getting ripped off

[quoteea4daa05c2="bruman"]So in other words FOAFYs dad is getting ripped off[/quoteea4daa05c2]

Pretty much

I drive a 97 Escort. A solid, reliable car for sure. Nice cars are a total waste of money.

I've known several guys who drive Escorts, so I wouldn't call it a "chick" car. My bigger concern is being a Ford, reliability is going to come into question (my last 3 vehicles before my current Sequoia were Ford SUV's, and quality paled in comparison to my Toyo). And based on h3x's KBB research, it seems pricey. Has it had a lot of aftermarket mods? Some folks will trick out the sportier Escorts, which I assume the ZX2 is.

Those would be my only concerns. Not whether it's "cool" enough. Like I said, at your age and income level (or lack thereof), a free car is a free car. You've got some years yet before you can have the luxury of buying a car for the "cool" factor.

A few tips and secrets.

1.) In response to TheySayJump
A car may not be a PENIS extension, however Borat seems to think that some come equipped with a pussy magnet. but that's hearsay.

2.) My buddy once drove an escort but he pimped it out. For under $1 you can buy a Cadillac sticker and put it wherever you'd like and then refer to your vehicle as the "Escortillac" Once this is done, #1 on the list is accomplished as well.

All im sayin is if his parents are willing to spend a set price ($4500 or so in this case) why not check out other options before just settling for the first thing that comes up? Everyones so quick to say "who cares what it looks like or if its cool" but the truth is, a lot of people care and want to drive somethin that looks halfway decent and theres nothin wrong with that. Thats like sayin why buy nice clothes when they all do the same thing. And as for his age, just because hes a teenager doesn't mean his cars gotta be a piece of shit...if anything you want a nicer car as a teen just because thats how we are around this age.

i totally agree, I mean I'm pretty sure you can get an '07 Taurus for that price and those aren't nearly as, dare i say....... feminine?

I'd look around a bit, it blows having no car for the time being, but Jeremiah's right. The time is a non issue when compared to the fact that cars full of dudes are going to be pulling up to you at stop lights expecting a girl, but all they're going to get is a dude in his sister's car.

Hahaha. Just don't get a Geo with those awful awful pink lightning bolts, 'hell were they thinking with that???

[quote18152e3394="Jeremiah1218"]All im sayin is if his parents are willing to spend a set price ($4500 or so in this case) why not check out other options before just settling for the first thing that comes up? Everyones so quick to say "who cares what it looks like or if its cool" but the truth is, a lot of people care and want to drive somethin that looks halfway decent and theres nothin wrong with that. Thats like sayin why buy nice clothes when they all do the same thing. And as for his age, just because hes a teenager doesn't mean his cars gotta be a piece of shit...if anything you want a nicer car as a teen just because thats how we are around this age.[/quote18152e3394]
I think you miss the point. His parents, for whatever reason, seemed interested in buying THAT car. If his parents want to buy him THAT car, he should not only take it, but be thankful for it. If he has a choice in what car he gets, then all the better. But he didn't seem to say "my parent's gave me a $4500 budget to buy a car." He said "my parents want to buy me this car."

At the risk of starting one of those "when I was your age..." proverbs, the whole modern teenager "entitlement" thing is infuriating to us old-timers. And I'm not just addressing that to you personally. I've raised 3 teenagers and am almost done raising the last one (if a parent can lieverli be done raising their kids -- sometimes I wonder...). They were all that way too. Don't expect me to understand it, though. ;) When I was a teen, the few of us who were fortunate enough to even get a "free" car, got hand-me-downs or beaters. And we were thankful. My first decent car I paid for myself after I turned 18 and had a job, my mom just co-signed the loan.

Oh, and those of us who didn't have cars, had to walk uphill to school. Both ways. In the snow. On broken glass. With no shoes. I once killed a bear with my loose-leaf notebook.li P

li (credit to Bill Cosby)[/size18152e3394]

It's true, I've given you tips on how to pimp out your Escort, and I've also said that it may be embarrassing to drive one, however, DMorris is absolutely right. I may only be 22, but i was only entitled to the same things he was. Food and shelter. I got a job at 14, saved every penny, bought my first car, a '95 mercury mystique and still had $2,000 left over. Anyone 18 or older should have a job whether they're in school or not, and I suggest getting one sooner.

I learned responsibility at a very young age, not only because I started working so young, but because my parents didn't believe in just handing shit over. They had to work for it, so why shouldn't I? I never complained because I totally agree with them.

Responsibility and self-sufficiency are two very important things and the sooner they are learned, the better.

Dmorris, I completely agree with you that if they are set on buying him THAT car then yes he should be thankful and accept it, but I'm sure if he went up to them and said "hey I found this (insert car here) on cars.com for the same price as the escort you were gonna buy me and I like it more, would you consider getting me this one?" they probably wouldn't mind. Either way they'd be spending the same amount of money and as long as whatever car they buy him works fine then it shouldn't make a difference. I too don't get anything handed to me and I didn't even have my first car until I was 18 so I would have gladly taken just about anything if it were being given to me for nothing too. I was just trying to give him some info that there are other cars out there that he might want to consider, and besides that, we have already established that the KBB value is much less than what his parents would be paying for that car and thats if it were in PERFECT condition which it probably isn't.

For the price your dad wants to spend on that car, get a honda with 30,000 more miles on it and it will last you a lot longer.

^ Yeah Hondas are awesome first cars. They're super reliable, safe, and they look good too. P

for the money your dad wants to spend on a car, you could get one of those motorized scooters from toys r us with a few replacement batteries so you could get back and forth without breaking down.

don't forget your superman helmet, they're in the bike section.

Hilarious post. Watch out everyone, new joke man!

lol

Travman cracked a funny.

[quote8fd1d5c9a2="TravMan162"]I've also said that it may be embarrassing to drive one[/quote8fd1d5c9a2]

I am guessing you drive a big truck and it makes you feel good? I could go pay cash for any car you see on the street daily yet I know that cars are the WORST investment over, unless the goal of your investments is a bigger ego and to feel cool.

I feel more embarrassed for the guy that wasted all that money on a new car.

The older the Honda, the better the investment. You can buy an early 90's Accord (2 or 4 door, depending on your sportiness) for way less than $4500, and it will go for way more than 200K miles (assuming you change the timing belt).

[quotee584c43584="Gigante"][quotee584c43584="TravMan162"]I've also said that it may be embarrassing to drive one[/quotee584c43584]

I am guessing you drive a big truck and it makes you feel good? I could go pay cash for any car you see on the street daily yet I know that cars are the WORST investment over, unless the goal of your investments is a bigger ego and to feel cool.

I feel more embarrassed for the guy that wasted all that money on a new car.[/quotee584c43584]

I wouldn't even say cars are an investment to begin with...people go into buying a car knowing they're losin money on it, and not everyone wants a good car to feel "cool" some people would just rather have something nicer and they obviously think its worth it.

[quote4d3ddf3b0b="Jeremiah1218"]

I wouldn't even say cars are an investment to begin with...[/quote4d3ddf3b0b]

We have different ways of looking at our money. Every dollar spent is an investment. I ask myself, what am I investing in? If I am buying ice cream, I ask if I really wanna invest my money in fat. If I am buying a car, I ask myself what I am investing so much more $$ in than my friend down the block in something that functions the same (gets me where I need to be).

For around the same price, I can get a 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi. I love that car to death.

I spoke to my parents about it. They said it's not good to buy from a dealer or random people. It's only good to talk to a mechanic who knows of anything or people that my parents know directly. I don't get that. \

[quote276245b844="TFOAF"]For around the same price, I can get a 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi. I love that car to death.

I spoke to my parents about it. They said it's not good to buy from a dealer or random people. It's only good to talk to a mechanic who knows of anything or people that my parents know directly. I don't get that. \[/quote276245b844]

Well yeah, it's definitely better to talk to a knowledgeable mechanic, or someone that you trust. Usually certified used cars are good, but buying a car from a private party can be a crapshoot unless you know what to look for.

If you want to have a lot of say in what car you get, start saving your money. You're awfully lucky your parents are offering to buy it for you, so just take it and be happy.

Crap. Maybe not the STi. Maybe the RS, but anyways. I really like the huge spoiler on that baby.

They are right that you shouldn't just by it blindly from a random party but you can always have a mechanic look over any car before you buy it to make sure everything is good....of course it'll cost you a little money but its a smart thing to do.

do you realize that WRX's have some of the highest insurance of any regular car on the street. Take that into consideration on if you are paying for it or your parents are paying for the insurance...

Subaru? We are talking Ford here are we not?

I don't know if I agree with you parents saying not to buy from a dealer. My parents and I have had good experiences with it, although they have been buying from the same dealership for 30+ years, and I just bought my first car from there last year.

Dealers are good if you go to the right one and if you know how to handle them. You have to immediately let them know you're in charge in they aren't. You almost need to punk them immediately so that they get the picture or else they are going to pawn any piece of shit car they have off on you just to generate a sale to boost their inevitably sub-par quota.

Maybe if you get that Subaru you can ask that girl out finally. It'd be a way better idea to pick her up in that than in your brand new 94 escortillac

I disagree about the dealer comment, at least in a blanket sense. The fly-by-night, buy-here-pay-here used-car-only dealers can be certainly be risky. But reputable dealers (such as new car dealerships that sell used cars) are generally safe to buy from. They don't want eyesores on their lots and don't want a reputation for selling junk, it hurts their business image. That's not to say they might not try to screw you on the price, but you can educate yourself on what a car is worth and let them know it up front. Typically your new car dealerships will have higher quality used cars.

Unless you know the private party pretty well, private party sales are the riskiest of all, but as was mentioned you should always negotiate a mechanic inspection as a condition of the sale. $50-$75 to a mechanic for a once-over is a wise investment.