1995 Ford Escort- help!

Polola0628 · Feb 5, 2010

Could someone give me advice? Would you put your kids in this car?

My DH came home day with a title in his hands, he bought a 1995 ford escort hatchback from a friend of his father's. It's a manual. Anyways... we've been without a car and using MILs car since 9/1/09.. DH had a bad accident in our 98 VW Jetta.. see this thread for pictures, and you'll understand my utter fear of putting my kids in another small car.

What can you all tell me about this car? Any advice? would you put your kids in there? my seats are listed in my siggy. TIA.

littleangelfire · Feb 5, 2010

It wouldn't be my favored car, but it sounds like you guys sorely need one. Especially since both your kids are still rear facing, I wouldn't have a problem putting them in it. Its not a deathtrap - it just may not be as much ubersafe as the newest vehicles out there with side airbags and such.

kathysr98 · Feb 6, 2010

I agree with pp. It's not the latest, greatest car, but it is a very functional vehicle. I had one as my first car. I can say that I was rear ended at about 30 mph in mine by a Taurus of about the same age. The floor pan in the trunk area folded over, but I had no problems except a little bit of soreness the next day. The Taurus was totalled! I also think you'll be better off with something of your own instead of borrowing your MIL's car any longer. Situations like that tend to cause family problems, and IMO should be avoided if possible.

NannyMom · Feb 6, 2010

Does it have locking retractors? I had a 95 Escort 5 door (hatchback), but that was before I knew about carseat use. I just buckled the carseat in and called it done. If not, you'll need locking clips. You'll need to get TAs retrofitted when they go FF.

I would put my kids in it. Grandma has a 99 Escort that Sofi rides in.

Polola0628 · Feb 6, 2010

Thanks everyone

I don't know what kind of seatbelts it has yet (haven't checked it out yet) but I'm horrible with locking clips, so if I do put the kids in there I'll need to get a tech.

MIL actually lives upstairs from us, and we really only use her truck for groceries. She has made it clear that she feels much safer with the kids in her Explorer than in this little car, and that she needs to take a stick shift refresher because no way in tarnation would she allow the kids to ride in the little car. So we will see.. good to know that she's behind us using her truck. She's very involved in DDs life and we go to activities a few days a week.. would be in her truck anyhow as DH is at work and I don't drive.

And lets hope this isn't our car for a long time. DD2 looks like she'll continue rear facing until she's around 4.. which is 2 years away. I'm hoping we'll have my minivan by then, which will probably come with next year's taxes.

Again, thanks everyone

Just wanted your thoughts!

bobandjess99 · Feb 6, 2010

I have a 92 escort hatchback in my driveway, lol. It doesn't run anymore, but it ws my car for several years. We toted the kids around in it. Then again, atthe time, it was our "big" car, the other being a 2 door geo metro, LOL!!!! It's not a bad car for seats, although I wasn't as into seats back then, so I might have been making some mistakes, LOL!

mimieliza · Feb 6, 2010

I would without hesitation. My first car was a '95 Escort hatchback, and I often think back on how it would be a great small, fuel-efficient family car. I was never in an accident, but for the age of the vehicle, I think it is a safe choice. Mine at least had front driver and passenger airbags, which not all vehicles did at the time, so I think it was designed with safety in mind.

The transmission died on mine at 90,000 miles, so my one caveat would be - make sure your hubby didn't pay very much for it, since it may not live long.

urchin_grey · Feb 6, 2010

I had a '96 Escort. I wouldn't have had a problem putting DS in it. We replaced it before he was born though just because it had bad breaks and a lot of other issues and it was a HUGE pain to install seats in (I babysat my cousins as a teenager and it was a big workout getting their seats in).

1995 Ford Escort- help!

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