'85 Escort Wagon in MA (NMNA)

They're asking what I think is strong money, but when was the last time you've seen one in the wild? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/890664475514798/

Seems like a bargain. I would buy that car if it was close.

Incredibly clean 

No. E36 M3tiest car I've ever driven. Anything over 55 mph is aspirational, and your ambitions will NOT be rewarded. Enthusiastically rusts. Makes your daytimes sad and your nighttimes scary. No. Just no.

I owned a 1989. 

It was so bad it was comical. I'd probably do it again. 

Marjorie Suddard said:

No. E36 M3tiest car I've ever driven. Anything over 55 mph is aspirational, and your ambitions will NOT be rewarded. Enthusiastically rusts. Makes your daytimes sad and your nighttimes scary. No. Just no.

Thank you. These things were E36 M3boxes when they were brand new. You won't believe how badly they drive compared to a modern car. The cheapest POS you can buy today is light years ahead of a mid-80s Escort.

Just because something is old, that doesn't make it cool.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

Just because something is old, that doesn't make it cool.

That's not very RADwood of you lol

Can't we all just get along?  It can be an absolute piece of E36 M3 AND retro cool at the same time.  I grew up with these things so they are nostalgic for me.  No, I wouldn't buy it either but would admire the poor schmuck who did.

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

Can't we all just get along?  It can be an absolute piece of E36 M3 AND retro cool at the same time.  I grew up with these things so they are nostalgic for me.  No, I wouldn't buy it either but would admire the poor schmuck who did.

People buy yugos and we think it's awesome. These are less bad than yugos. 

I'm just amazed it's that clean.  We've been looking for a 10 year old car for our daughter and they all have bumpers hanging loose, peeling clear coat, and worse.  I'd expect an '85 Escort to have chickens living in it.  But that is as nice as an '85 Escort will get.

What a perfect car for a Lemons Rally. 

First guy in my crew to get licensed had a hand me down DIESEL Scort Wagon. If you think the gasser is slow,  try the diesel. I have very fond memories of that peice of E36 M3.

In reply to Appleseed :

Measure 0-60 with a sun dial?

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

Can't we all just get along?  It can be an absolute piece of E36 M3 AND retro cool at the same time.  I grew up with these things so they are nostalgic for me.  No, I wouldn't buy it either but would admire the poor schmuck who did.

I grew up with them, too. Maybe my memories aren't as positive. 

I'm not trying to gatekeep, like what you like. If this thing tickles your fancy, go for it. I'm just saying it's not for me.

As far as Yugos, they at least have a story. And a "so bad it's good" aspect. 80s Escorts were as common as cockroaches and they were made by one of the biggest car companies in the world. They just aren't that interesting.

I suspect a Yugo drives better than the Escort given the Fiat heritage. 

JoeTR6 said:

I'm just amazed it's that clean.  We've been looking for a 10 year old car for our daughter and they all have bumpers hanging loose, peeling clear coat, and worse.  I'd expect an '85 Escort to have chickens living in it.  But that is as nice as an '85 Escort will get.

Georgia!

Mndsm said:

In reply to Appleseed :

Measure 0-60 with a sun dial?

0-sure in 9.7 seconds.

If this isn't enough Escort for you, try this one in NH -https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/429558639328175/

I have fond memories of these, my first car was a 1983 baby blue escort 3dr with an automatic. It was one of the cars I learned driving fast in a slow car. 

dculberson said:

I suspect a Yugo drives better than the Escort given the Fiat heritage. 

I don't think a Ford escorts been blown off a bridge and killed someone due to wind. 

https://www.tctimes.com/news/remember-the-woman-in-the-yugo/article_5496a820-4159-11e7-b3ad-8391deb9664f.html

In reply to Mndsm :

Well as they say, that which does not kill you ... oh wait.

I doubt it being a yugo had much to do with it. Plenty of people get into stupid accidents in every kind of vehicle. 

dculberson said:

In reply to Mndsm :

Well as they say, that which does not kill you ... oh wait.

I doubt it being a yugo had much to do with it. Plenty of people get into stupid accidents in every kind of vehicle. 

Agreed. I remember that incident. I think any small, light vehicle would have been blown off the bridge at that second. There's a reason they close the bridge once the wind gets above a certain level these days.

Marjorie Suddard said:

No. E36 M3tiest car I've ever driven. Anything over 55 mph is aspirational, and your ambitions will NOT be rewarded. Enthusiastically rusts. Makes your daytimes sad and your nighttimes scary. No. Just no.

This^  My wife brought an ‘87 version into my life when we got married.  Comically underpowered with a 3 speed automatic, wanted to roll onto the door handles in a turn, phantom electrical drains, AC issues, the list goes on.   Taught her to drive stick in my VW Jetta GLI and we dumped it.  

I was gifted a red hatchback one when I got out of the Army by an Aunt and Uncle, at least it was a manual.  It had been through a couple of their kids and was not in the best shape but one day driving back from class the passenger rear strut/shock punched through the mount, thankfully I was close to home.  It was parked on the street and got towed for an expired registration, I signed the title over to the city and skipped out of the building free of that pile.