Selling the Ford and getting the Dodge - the untold story.

"Tohru" (tohrurokuno) 08/17/2014 at 23:40 • Filed to: None

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So, there seems to be a lot of new faces on here compared to before. A lot of you might not know me, I've been gone awhile. For those who do remember me, you probably remember that I used to own an Escort:

Which died, and gave its motor to another Escort.

But now in my most recent pictures, you've seen me posting a (mini) Dodge Ram, and are probably going, "What's up with that?" (Actually, you're probably not. But humor me, okay?)

The truth is that I was tired of Escorts (shocking, I know). The purple one I had for close to two years, the red one was for two years before that, and before both of those was a Tracer wagon. I had owned Escorts/Tracers pretty much uninterrupted since mid 2007. Plus, the 'Scort was getting pretty rusty. It was time to sell it. First, though, I had to arrange for a replacement.

The Ram 50 came up on the Copart auction in Madison as a donated vehicle, run & drive certified. It's a 1988 model with the G63B carbureted engine - same block as the 4G63 EFI motor from an Eclipse. It's got a 5-speed, and 86k miles. My dad and I got the winning bid on it at $1560.10, including tax, title, and license. When we got the paperwork, we found it had been a one-owner truck bought new from Don Miller Dodge in Madison. It had been sold to a vehicle liquidation company for $300, and they tossed it on the Copart auction.

It came with a topper that didn't help its looks at all.

With the replacement secured, it was time to unload the 'Scort. I put it up on Craigslist to an underwhelming response, so I went the next step beyond and put it in Wisconsin Auto & RV. For the first week, it ended up on the front page even though I didn't pay for it.

It's seen here sporting '96 Escort GT wheels in teal, because they're always fucking teal . Also, they fucked up the word order royally. The intended order:

1997 Ford Escort
177,000 mi. on body, 150,000 mi 2.0L motor, 50,000 mi timing belt and clutch, fresh cylinder head, 5sp, 4dr, PS, PB, no AC, no ABS, good tires, great first car/college car! Comes with set of snow tires. $1800 obo.

I will admit, the price was high. I wanted haggle room. Oh, and the cylinder head story is for another time.

I sold the Escort to a guy that lives outside of town, who saw the Auto & RV ad. He got an oil well job in North Dakota, so he needed a car to go from here out to there and back every weekend. He had a week's notice to get a vehicle, thereby reinforcing my idea of Ford Escort ownership - you don't deliberately buy one, you end up owning one due to bad circumstances beyond your control. He bought it without the snow tires for $1250. To buy it, he had took a loan out from a company called World Finance. They charged him 273% APR on the loan.

He came by my house today, asking if I had any spare keys (I don't.)(His kid hid the keys to it to keep him from going back out to North Dakota. I assume the little bastard was beaten severely until they keys turned up.). The oil well job didn't work out just yet, and I imagine that APR is brutalizing his financial butthole. Not my problem though, because I no longer have the Barney car.

Rust in hell, you daft purple bastard.

mcseanerson > Tohru 08/17/2014 at 23:47

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He had a week's notice to get a vehicle, thereby reinforcing my idea of Ford Escort ownership - you don't deliberately buy one, you end up owning one due to bad circumstances beyond your control.

Sounds like how I came to own a Ford Aspire.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:03

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Seriously who thought that was a good idea?

Also how much is 273% on a 1,250 loan?

Tohru > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 00:04

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You poor bastard. If I had to pick between an Aspire and the cold embrace of death, it would be a very tough decision.

mcseanerson > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:07

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It was my mother in law's and she had it in the shop to have the transmission replaced. They took so long she bought another car. She told me if I paid off the remaining balance of $400 that I could have it. I needed a backup while my Volvo was down so I bought it. I always had it as a second car so I never worried about breaking it and I drove it as such.

The funny thing is if you drive a car you hate like you hate it and it doesn't die you start to like it. Redlining and sliding everywhere, 30,000 mile oil change intervals, J-turns and driving on two wheels. In a perverse way I miss it.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 00:08

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Ah, yes... The Assfire.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:13

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Funny, usually with those Escorts it's the motor that dies and gets swapped out, not the rest of the car.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:18

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You totally need to get a rollbar and some driving lights.

Tohru > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 00:21

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They were $100 with tires and I didn't feel like painting them. They came teal from the factory because 95% of all 91-96 Escort GT's came in that fucking teal color.

I did a little math on the loan. I'm not sure if it's an installment loan (like a normal loan) or a lump-sum loan (you pay it all back at once).

As a lump-sum loan:
If it takes 1 month to pay it off (he has ~2 weeks to go), he owes a total of $1723.
2 months, $2163.
3 months, $2713.
6 months, $5356.
12 months, $20,866.

As an installment loan (figuring 12 payments):
12 weekly payments: $1900. Payment of $158.
12 biweekly payments: $2545. Payment of $212.
12 monthly payments: $4493. Payment of $374.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:24

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That 50 is in great shape! I'm pretty jealous.

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 08/18/2014 at 00:24

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That's a Power Ram - the 4x4 model. This is a 2WD, they'd look goofy.

It's getting driving lights, but in the bumper.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:25

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I couldn't believe paying $21k in payments on a fucking Escort. Hopefully that's not the case. That's still an insane interest rate.

Hi there > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 00:26

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I don't do 30k oil change intervals but I did buy a $900 91 Civic DX hatch with a 5 speed some years ago with 224k miles. I put about 100k ridiculously hard miles on it with minimal maintenance besides oil changes, plugs and plug wires, dizzy cap and rotor, radiator hoses, timing belt) with j-turns and turning hard enough to get a pair of wheels off the ground. It refused to die so I replaced it's ac system (it didn't work, every part leaked so the whole thing got replaced), the suspension, brakes, the big wires, vacuum hoses, radiator, and some other shit. Currently on pace to hit 420k miles by this time next year, currently at 413k and it doesn't rack up the miles as hard since I bought a new car in December. I drove the piss out of it trying to kill it so I could make it less slow via a motor and gearbox swap but it didn't die so I've just learned to enjoy it's miserly gas consumption.

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 08/18/2014 at 00:27

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The red Escort blew a transmission (3-4 gear clutch), then the engine (overheated), then the transmission again (differential exploded).
The purple Escort was bought with a bad engine (dropped valve seat), then blew the replacement engine (dropped valve seat), then needed a remanufactured cylinder head for the second replacement engine (loose valve seat).

I was pretty tired of their shit.

Rainbow > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:27

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YOU HAD THESE WHEELS - IN BLUE, NO LESS - AND DIDN'T GIVE THEM TO ME? D:

I suppose it would have helped if I had ever, at any point, told Oppo that they're exactly the ones I want for my 'Scort. But.... You were supposed to read my mind, damn it.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:31

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Bam. Push bar and a camper shell.

mcseanerson > Hi there 08/18/2014 at 00:31

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I forgot, this thing had working AC. First car I ever owned that did. It never did die. I sold it for $300 to put towards a down payment on another car. I never did just accept it for being miserly on gas because truth be told it wasn't that great with a 3 speed automatic. I loved it for just driving the piss out of it and not blinking. At one job I had you had to enter by basically making a u-turn onto a parallel road. I followed another car one day bouncing off the rev limiter and sliding all four tires. To hear it you'd think I was about to run that car over, but if they looked in the mirror they would have seen me falling behind as they casually pulled away, oblivious to my antics. I could never go fast enough to actually get in trouble and the limits were so low I could drive it 10/10 everywhere.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:33

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Growing up my Dad had a previous gen one and it lasted him almost 300k miles on the original engine and transmission. I dunno know why they hate you so much.

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 08/18/2014 at 00:35

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Previous generation, and 4x4 again. Appreciate what you're trying to do though.

Tohru > Rainbow 08/18/2014 at 00:37

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Sell your 'Scort, you'll be much happier. Trust me.

Also, Ford made approximately 70 million teal Ford Escort GT's, so these wheels aren't rare.

Rainbow > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:39

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I got it from my grandpa, though. As such, it's in extremely good condition for a '94. It could be a Prius and I would keep it just because of how flawless it is mechanically.

Also, most EGTs had solid silver rims. I'm not sure what the numbers are, but the paint-matched ones are definitely less common.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 00:40

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That trucklet's a pretty nice find though. Usually they're beat to hell (and back!) because they're owned by people who just see them as tools.

Hi there > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 00:40

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Yeah, slick 5 speed in the old EF civic hatch. I usually can't shift badly and idk how old the clutch is but i do know I've put almost 200k miles on it myself and never replaced the clutch, just tightened the clutch cable (cable clutch, no hydraulic to leak!) because it was kinda loose. It had 92hp in 1991. Idk what it has now but my local shop that did the a/c job did a compression and leakdown test before they did the a/c repairs and it freaked them out. It scored better than the shop owner's 2012 Mustang. They call it a 'Wednesday Car'. It handles pretty well (lightweightium, double wishbone front, independent rear, etc) but it is slow. I have gotten some tickets for hauling in 25-35mph zones but they are always shocked to see it turning and not hitting anything or blowing up so if I do get a ticket it's for 5 or 6 mph over the limit instead of 2-3x the limit. I have never gotten worse than 20 MPG while actively checking it, maybe done worse but I didn't remember to do the math next time I got gas if I did. It has gotten 48 MPG on the interstate in absolutely ideal conditions on 5 separate occasions.

Zibodiz > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 01:00

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Wow. My '98 'Scort Wagon has been awesome to me. Got about 210k miles on it right now on the original everything. Only thing its needed was a new exhaust manifold & cat. Shame you've had so much trouble with yours, I love my wagon.

Tohru > Rainbow 08/18/2014 at 01:04

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I dunno what to tell you man - we had 4 sets of those at the salvage yard I used to work at. They were all teal, and nobody wanted the damn things. When the yard shut down in '08, they ended up going to the metal recyclers to be melted down.

This might help - it's a salvage yard search for those style wheels.
Car-Part.com search - 1992 Ford Escort Wheel

Tohru > Zibodiz 08/18/2014 at 01:06

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My wagon was a '91 Tracer, and it was very reliable... until the automatic ate itself. The guy I sold it too said the fluid looked like silver bass boat paint.

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 08/18/2014 at 01:10

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If you had a 91-96 with the 1.9L & a manual, and kept it away from road salt, you were good. They'd run as long as Hondas.

The automatics had glass jaws, and the road salt liked eating the rocker panels and (more worryingly) the rear strut towers.

A family friend had an Escort GT. He hit a bump one day, and both back struts ripped free of the strut towers. He spun into a farm field.

Tohru > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 01:13

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I did 30k oil changes on the '94 Probe I had... but I was running full synthetic in it at the time.

A friend of mine did a 30k *first* oil change on his brand-new '03 Kia Rio.

Zibodiz > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 01:15

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The Tracers and 1st Gen Escorts were Ford cars — I'm not personally too familiar with them. Mine's the 3rd gen like yours, with the all-Mazda drivetrain. From all I've read, they're supposed to be the most reliable (although the GTs are supposed to be a little better, since they have the Miata engine), but I wouldn't touch an automatic with a ten foot pole. I've never met an automatic I liked.

mcseanerson > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 01:16

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This was walmart quaker state changes for $18. I joked with them about how black the oil was.

Tohru > Zibodiz 08/18/2014 at 01:34

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The pre-91's were all first gen's. 91-96 was second gen. 97-02 (03 if you're including the ZX2) was the third gen.

I've never owned a first gen, so I don't know much about them. Wikipedia says they used a Ford platform with your choice of Ford gas or Mazda diesel motors and Ford transmissions.

The 2nd and 3rd gen cars all rode on the Mazda B platform, shared with the 323. The SOHC engines were Ford CVH motors, made at the Essex engine plant in England. The 2nd gens had the 1.9L version, while the 3rd gen was the 2.0L Split Port Injection (stroked-out 1.9L with active valving in the intake runners). The automatics were the glass-jawed Ford F-4EAT, while the manuals were Mazda - F-series in 2nd gens, G5M's in the 3rd gen.

I've never had an Escort GT, so I don't know much about the 1.8L DOHC motor they came with. Wikipedia says it's a Mazda BP engine, used in mid 90's Miatas.

The Mercury Tracer was mostly a badge-engineered Ford Escort throughout the production run. There were some notable differences between them though:
- Tracers had a nicer interior.
- Tracers had a different grille and front bumper.
- Tracer wagons had all-red taillights (Escorts had amber turn signals)

That's pretty much all I can think of right now.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 09:10

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thats a superclean truck oh OH OH drop in the turbo motor from an eclipse apparently its easy

Tohru > banjo cat ghost of oppo past 08/18/2014 at 09:22

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It's not hard, but it's not easy. It involves reshaping the firewall to clear sensors.

This truck is too clean to booger up with a motor swap.
Besides, if I were to motorswap it, it would get a Dodge V8 and become the Mini Red Express.

CalzoneGolem > mcseanerson 08/18/2014 at 09:27

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That is basically how I came to own a Ford Taurus. Maybe it is a Ford thing?

Tohru > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 09:41

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The $21k is if he waited a year before paying them back. Still crazy.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 10:12

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Despite your solid upgrade, I'm afraid you've owned too many Esc-rots for you to prevent us calling you Escort Rokuno until the end of time.

mcseanerson > CalzoneGolem 08/18/2014 at 10:19

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Maybe, especially considering I'm a GM guy.

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/18/2014 at 10:24

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Ramblin, how the hell are you? Didn't realize you had a death wish. Be more than happy to oblige you, though.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 10:27

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Doing pretty good. I seem to recall you had a trike project in the works way back when - did that ever get finished?

I've been cutting out firewall/doorpost/ rocker panel nosing pieces on a '63 Ranchero lately because lolrust. Yep, I got an Ameriute last August, and I'm putting a complicated go-faster V8 drivetrain in it.

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/18/2014 at 10:41

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It's still out in the shed - I didn't have the money to do it right so I haven't done it yet.

Sounds like your rustbucket is as bad as Dogapult's fuckin' "race car", which is in my yard dropping property values for the town.

http://i.imgur.com/w4Bqvoh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oUbWmj2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TwDTgjR.jpg

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 10:47

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I'll just leave this here:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/i…

And this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/i…

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/18/2014 at 10:48

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So about the same, really. The floors are gone on his too - it's just the sound deadening shit that you see.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 10:57

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Mustang floorboards, however, fit mine and not his - I got full both sides, toe boards, reinforcing rails, seat boxes and more for $290 shipped. They can be removed in a matter of hours with an air chisel - also I suspect an easier job than Dogapult's.

The rockers on mine are in good shape except for a cap on the end I've already cut out. Pretty much just down to fender rust, windshield frame rust, roof rust, bed rust, and the floorboards at this point.

Did I mention I have some rust? Cause... I've got some rust.

quarterlifecrisis > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 11:01

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273%. HOLY SHIT.

Tohru > quarterlifecrisis 08/18/2014 at 18:03

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Note to everyone: DO NOT GO TO A PAYDAY LOAN PLACE TO GET A CAR LOAN.

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/18/2014 at 18:07

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Yeah, his has rust too. Let's see... outer rocker panels, inner rocker panels (i.e. the main structure of a unibody car like that Celica), floorboards, firewall, fenders, doors, rear quarter panels, core support, stock battery mount...

I'm convinced the cage is the only thing holding it together... and even it is attached to rotten metal.

Basically, it needs the bottom 10" of the entire passenger tub replaced.

Zibodiz > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 18:45

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Cool, that is a lot of information! A lot of guys with Escorts swap the BP engine into their non-GT escorts, but that's about all I know about it. I do know that it's an awesome (if a little slow) engine in the Miata, so it must not be too bad in an Escort, even if the car is a bit heavier.

Man, my bad; for some reason I read 'Tracer' as 'Tempo'; I actually didn't realize there were any differences between the Tracer and the Escort. I know they're similar enough that they share an owner's manual lol. That's an interesting bit of trivia about the taillights, though. If they're a direct fit (I think they are, on the wagon), I might have to try and find a couple of Tracer taillights for the back of my car.

Tohru > Zibodiz 08/18/2014 at 18:55

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They are a direct fit. My wagon was red so I swapped in the Escort tails for better visibility. I still have the Tracer wagon tails in my garage. Pay for shipping and they're yours.

Zibodiz > Tohru 08/18/2014 at 23:39

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Oh wow, that'd be awesome! If you'd like to hit me up on Skype, we can exchange addresses there (so they're not published here for the world to see). My Skype name is the same as it is here.

Thanks!

quarterlifecrisis > Tohru 08/19/2014 at 07:47

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But, I was really planning on an 84 month loan from somewhere like that to buy a sweet E39 M5!

Tohru > quarterlifecrisis 08/19/2014 at 09:24

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$25,000 financed at 273% over 84 months comes to a total due of $544,914.22

quarterlifecrisis > Tohru 08/19/2014 at 09:51

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A perfectly reasonable sum...

Tohru > quarterlifecrisis 08/19/2014 at 16:51

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... for a used Zonda.