The Escape is now mine, Just a few thoughts.

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart)
08/10/2014 at 14:00 • Filed to: first car, ford, Escape, Ford Escape

Now, I just dropped $500 for this pile of paint, rust and dog hair, a few things I noticed about it for my first impressions:

The braking is surprisingly good, when ABS is off. Not sure how many times ABS has tried to kill me on an empty road under normal braking at 40 KM/H. I feel safer on my bike locking my front wheel at the same speed, thank you...

The only luxury is a 6 CD Changer, I WILL USE THAT. A LOT. The OEM head unit is awesome because of this.

The handbrake is useless. I still got the parking pawl, hopefully it still holds as well as it did 13 years ago.

Column shift FTW.

Visibility is much nicer than my mother's Odyssey, but is impossible to see below the beltline.

The tailgate is a paranoid little bugger.

My parents are overzealous over their control of my choices even more than ever. Now, my dad is pretty much pestering me to buy cheap Canadian Tire rotors like no tomorrow, instead of OEM spec ones.

Interior smells somewhat like wet dog, and I spent a whole afternoon scrubbing clean the owner's other car earlier this week.

After all, I feel like I screwed up a bit. I bought a dirt cheap SUV off of a family friend that can't pass safety. I promised myself to buy a "car". This is no "car", but a small truck. WHAT HAVE I DONE?! I'll have to blame my parents for this one into coaxing me into this shitbox.

I guess we need a name for this thing now, what shall it be?

DISCUSSION (27)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/09/2014 at 23:56

Once you get the headaches out of the way and really get an opportunity to really enjoy it, I think you arent gonna regret the decision to get the escape. Also I vote Jenny To be her name

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/09/2014 at 23:59

Why won't it pass safety?? Brakes???

At least it was cheap. You should call it the Red Bastard.

I'll let you know when my downstairs neighbour moves out, you can move in and we will have a Oppo house.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss
08/10/2014 at 00:03

Handbrake cable and brakes.

And I could use the space. Definitely not a practical way of getting to work though.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:04

I christen it Cheff. No, it's not a reference to anything, my mind just made a noise and I went with it

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:04

Where is the new shop you're working at?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss
08/10/2014 at 00:07

It's on Edgewater St., right off of Terry Fox.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:09

Ah, a fellow Ontario-goer? My $450 pile of tetanus gets delivered on Monday. Since one of my parents decided to mail away my passport so I can't go pick up the damn car myself. Parents are rarely helpful with automotive advise. Also, I'm sure you already know this, but it doesn't hurt to put it out there, but brakes are the worst place to skimp on. You don't always need exact OEM replacements, but a reputable brand from a jobber is adequate. Stay away from white box specials. Trust me. I've never seen a '92 Sable eat 2 brand new rotors in 3 weeks before it happened.

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:09

Oh ok. Yeah my house is a bit far...mind you when I lived on Castlefrank I worked downtown. I was also broke because of my fuel consumption. Lol.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
08/10/2014 at 00:13

Chheeefffff

Magister > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:16

What year is it?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Magister
08/10/2014 at 00:17

2001, and it's had 1 owner.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
08/10/2014 at 00:19

Oh yeah, good brakes have saved my ass a few times, I'm going to my local parts store to buy the replacement rotors and pads on Monday. I meant to go today though.

And yeah, my parents are very annoying when I want to do my own thing.

Magister > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:22

I have an '05 and while I love everything about it, it's in the shop right now having the transmission rebuilt for the third time. My understanding is that they changed to a different transmission in '06 and I don't know if they were using the same as mine in '01, but Ford's position is that people should get their transmission fluid changed regularly, something like every thirty thousand miles.

It sounds like you got yours cheap and maybe the transmission fluid is holding it together, so you might not want to take the risk, but you also might want to change it. Though a $500 car, you could be better-off leaving well enough alone.

Everything else though, except the transmission, has been fine.

Good luck.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Magister
08/10/2014 at 00:24

I got it cheap because the guy is moving away. It could probably fetch 1500 on Craigslist though, once the brakes are good.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
08/10/2014 at 00:31

Disregard my previous comment I like this name

Magister > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:34

They are great vehicles, except for the transmission.

My advice though, if it's an automatic (which re-reading your post it may not be), think about changing the transmission fluid. Ours was going fine until we got to 100k.

And again, good luck. (I really hope I didn't rain on your parade. First car, yay!)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Magister
08/10/2014 at 00:43

I got a bottle of ATF sitting in the garage actually. The car is an auto as well.

CB > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 00:50

Actually, at Canadian Tire right now, there are some rotors and pads on sale. Normally the top quality ones come up for half off (in different weeks, of course), meaning you'd pay about fifty bucks for each rotor and maybe fifty for pads (don't quote me for exact numbers). Keep an eye open.

/shameless self-promotion

Zibodiz > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/10/2014 at 02:21

I second this. We love my wife's Escape.

cnessel27 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 10:11

Willing to bet broken wheel speed sensor tone rings are the cause of your ABS issue.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > cnessel27
08/10/2014 at 10:22

One of them is put on the wrong way, according to the previous owner.

cnessel27 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 10:26

That sucks.

XJDano > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 14:08

2WD of 4?

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 14:17

How do you like the Escape as a whole? We're thinking about getting one for my sister since they're small but still high up.

Mosqvich > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
08/10/2014 at 14:25

I'd part it out if it can't pass "Safety". I'm not sure what that is, in Colorado you drive anything you want unless you live in Denver where they have emission testing. If you were my son, I would've politely told my friends that I'm passing on this. I wouldn't put you in a $500 or $1500 car. Your parents clearly don't love you ;-) Seriously though, we are looking at new or nearly new cars for our 11 year old. He'll be 16 before we know it. He's not getting a BMW though!

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
08/10/2014 at 15:22

Well, it's a truck. It's fairly small, but it works.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Mosqvich
08/10/2014 at 15:26

In its current state, it can't. I may have exaggerated on the rust though.