The Benefits of Buying a Used Ford Escort

I’m just going to throw the disclaimer out there: I’m no car expert. I can’t explain anything beyond the basics when it comes to horsepower, alternator belts, four wheel drive…but then, neither can a majority of the people out there in the market for a used car. We don’t have the time or the luxury to be super picky. Most people I know that are looking for a decent used car are concerned about the same attributes that I was: something in decent condition to get them to and from work, gets economical gas mileage (especially after the geyser in gas prices,) and something that is a safe and reliable vehicle. And oh yeah…one being sold at a price that fits their tight budget. Thus, it might be my status as a novice car buyer that will make this opinion piece helpful to others who, like me, lack automotive savvy. I bought a used 1999 Ford Escort and, two years later, could not be happier with my purchase.

My initial thought was to take a look at used Volkswagen Jettas and Honda Civics (I would have preferred one of the Minicoopers that were becoming so popular at the time, but that was definitely out the question.) I was talked out of pursuing a Jetta, however, by friends of mine that owned these vehicles. I had always been under the impression that the Jetta was a car that had a lot of satisfied owners. However, the three friend/Jetta owners that I talked with described their cars in this way: “junky,” “unreliable,” and “a piece of crap.” While I secretly felt that a piece of crap was unavoidable on my budget, the Jetta owners persuaded me to look for a vehicle that would give me more for my money.