2001 Ford Escort ZX2

I bought my ZX2 almost 3 weeks ago. My '88 Volkswagon Golf GL decided to sulk and hit me with a potential $1,100 repair bill. I had already sunk over $2,000 in repairs on it in the two years I have owned it and I was always worried about something breaking. I was looking for an inexpensive new coupe and looked at the Chevy Cavalier, the Saturn SC2, and the Pontiac Sunfire.

The ZX2 offered the most for my money and it looks good, too. I had trouble finding 2000 models around here, it is a popular car! No wonder they extended the ZX2 into 2001 and dropped the Escort sedan. Even the "Escort" name is gone from the ZX2's bumper, though they still call it an Escort. So I got a 2001 after calling/visiting 10 dealers, almost all who were pushing the Focus on me, which is a fine car and all but I just didn't want one (there were plenty of 2000s sitting on the lots).

I got a Mineral Grey ZX2 with almost all the options: auto, air, abs, power and comfort groups, moonroof, leather, cd, and floor mats. I love it! I highly recommend getting the moonroof and leather if you can afford to. Both are great at making driving my ZX2 fun and comfortable. The moonroof gives lots of ventilation but doesn't blow on you, and is fun to look out at night. The leather (Medium Prairie Tan) feels great and really dresses up the car, makes it look expensive.

I also like the cd, though I plan on replacing it with an after market model since I'm not fond of the trunk mounted changer (don't like thinking of leaving my nice warm car to run to the trunk to change cds in -10 weather!). I am indecisive and like to have 10-15 cds on hand. I couldn't get all the other options without the cd unless I ordered one from the factory and I didn't have the luxury of time, I had to get a car soon! I love the keyless entry/trunk/anti-theft and power everything (my Volkswagon had power NOTHING).

I wish there was more storage. The door pockets are a bit small and there aren't many cubbyholes in the console, and the cup holders won't hold Big Gulps, although you can buy adapters (they will still hit the console, I think, since it sticks out). There are map pockets on my seats though, and the trunk is roomy with fold down rear seats. I also think the back seat is roomy for a coupe.

The performance is great, it zips around in traffic and is easy to maneuver. It sticks to corners and has a kick to it. It's great to park and is a blast on the expressway. It's a really nimble little car. The engine seemed a tiny bit noisy at first but it doesn't really now, it makes it sound like a little sports car (really it's not loud at all).

I think it looks really stylish and sporty, yet the price, even with options, is great. If you are a larger person you may feel cramped but at 5'7" I fit really well, and my 6'1" brother said driving it was fine. I highly recommend getting a ZX2, it looks good and drives great and is easy on the pocketbook!


Epilogue: I was rear-ended a week ago while stopped at a red light by a Jeep Grand Cherokee. (SOB!) I saw the woman coming in my rearview and she had her eyes off the road and on her dog and 2 young children running loose in the car.

I hope she got a citation for not having her kids properly restrained. There is a court date and I originally wasn't going to go but she lied to the cop and said she was at a dead stop and let her foot slip off the break (I wouldn't have that kind of damage then!) and also didn't file a claim with her insurance agency for 5 days til I called to see what was taking so long and my agency had to prod her into filing. She said she didn't think there was a lot of damage to my car and none to hers (just her plate fell off) so she didn't file. Well because of how she is behaving I'm showing up in court with my passenger (who had lower back pain but is fine now) so she will get fined. I was going to be nice about it but she's goofing around with me and trying to avoid her rates going up, which they will.

I got an estimate of $700 to repair my rear bumper. I was amazed and proud there were no dents, only gouges. She was doing 5-10 mph when she hit me. It wasn't even 2 weeks old then! Thus the "Reliability" rating below, totally not the car's fault. Well I guess you can say I "broke" it in!

Get a ZX2!