FocusCanada Forums

Well as the topic says. I'm considering trading the 01 ZTS for a 03 Escape. I have been reading bunch of stuff about the car and I can’t find anything bad about it. I was wondering if ppl here have the Escape and what do they think about it. How is the gas mileage compared to the Focus and also how is the ride quality? I have already read some comments about it, but I would rather listen to the ppl that can compare the Escape to the Focus. Lot of those car magazines compare the Escape to other small SUV’s, but I want to see how it is compared to what I currently have.

Thanks guys

The comparison...

you'll be sitting a lot higher up than in the focus
the road will seem a lot narrower than in the focus
bumps... what bumps? it's a truck(ish).. you'll never feel bumps
gas... it sucks a bit more than the focus... a week of driving cost me about $10-15/week more than the focus over a two week period (and I don't drive that much).
it has a bit more cargo space than the focus... not that I ever ran out of space in the focus tho...

Well, from what I've seen and briefly experienced, it's a small SUV that tries to be a car and somewhat fails at both.

In the SUV department, it can be found with AWD but the base offering has FWD - great for economy but terrible for SUV-ish stuff. In the car department, it has the weight of a (smaller) SUV to contend with at all times. Although it has a 200HP V6, the performance isn't exactly "sparkling". Fuel economy is 23 MPG on the highway, but that's the US's EPA rating, which is either better or worse than the subject vehicle in reality.

It seats 5 people, tops, and while it does well in crash ratings and can be found with a raft of options... does it really warrant moving away from a 2001 ZTS? Unless you're hauling a 2000-3000 lb trailer or in dire need of AWD, I'd say no.

If you want AWD with about the same performance, better fuel economy and much better handling, go find yourself a Subaru Impreza RS or TS.

It's also a good thing you're looking upscale in the offerings, because the 2.0L offered in base models is the Zetec (which performs even worse than in the Focus, obviously). 2005 and up models get the 2.3L Duratec from the Focus/Fusion with 153HP, which would make more sense for an economy / performance balance.

well the reason why we were looking at the Escape is bc of its price. Its lot cheaper compared to the Suburu and also I have lot more selection compared to the Suburu. I really do like the looks of it and also need some room when we start having kids(next year). This will be the primary car for the wife and i guess i can drive a s*** box around. We are looking at the Limited one bc of more toys for me :)

anyways keep the comments coming. its good.

Just don't drive in a puddle..lol..my buddy had a 01 Escape and last year in the flooding drove in a huge puddle and flooded the engine/snapped the rods.

other then that, it's ok.

Jays2000ZX3,Sep 27 2006, 01:28 PM Wrote:Just don't drive in a puddle..lol..my buddy had a 01 Escape and last year in the flooding drove in a huge puddle and flooded the engine/snapped the rods.

other then that, it's ok.
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wow that is interesting, how deep was the puddle? Thanks Jay, I have to remember that :)


its nice to see SUV's can handle stuff like that. I remember we had a flood in our parking lot couple of years ago and there was an explorer that screwed up the ABS bc of water. nice to see they are build tuff :) as long as they dont touch water :)

The nice part is that you could probably still supercharge/turbo it :P

I was actually thinking of this and then boosting it to tow around my focus to the track

My wife has an escape, I love driving it. Its got good power, good handling for a suv and very roomy.

The seats I find allot less comfortable than the focus seets because they are much harder, and feel more like truck seats. The stock tires it comes with, just as the focus suck in the winter(at least the ones on hers).

I think if I were to get rid of the focus and the escort I would probably pick up an escape. It is in my opinion a great value.

Edit: You can get a kenne bell supercharger, and run low 14's with your SUV easily.

well if we get it, it will be strictly a family car. No mods. well except compustar and a nice dvd package. But thats it :)

NOS2Go4Me,Sep 27 2006, 08:20 AM Wrote:Well, from what I've seen and briefly experienced, it's a small SUV that tries to be a car and somewhat fails at both.

In the SUV department, it can be found with AWD but the base offering has FWD - great for economy but terrible for SUV-ish stuff. In the car department, it has the weight of a (smaller) SUV to contend with at all times. Although it has a 200HP V6, the performance isn't exactly "sparkling". Fuel economy is 23 MPG on the highway, but that's the US's EPA rating, which is either better or worse than the subject vehicle in reality.

It seats 5 people, tops, and while it does well in crash ratings and can be found with a raft of options... does it really warrant moving away from a 2001 ZTS? Unless you're hauling a 2000-3000 lb trailer or in dire need of AWD, I'd say no.

If you want AWD with about the same performance, better fuel economy and much better handling, go find yourself a Subaru Impreza RS or TS.

It's also a good thing you're looking upscale in the offerings, because the 2.0L offered in base models is the Zetec (which performs even worse than in the Focus, obviously). 2005 and up models get the 2.3L Duratec from the Focus/Fusion with 153HP, which would make more sense for an economy / performance balance.
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Have you ever been in one? Driven one?
Becasue they are relatively comfortable for a cheap econobox entry level SUV.
They get decent gas mileage and are peppy enough (they'll out run an SPI anyday)
They are what they are. A simple vehicle. If you want more, pay more.

Yeah I drove one too (auto.. do they even have them manual?) and its a pretty good ride.. comfortable.. spacious.. nothing fancy but no need

I have heard ppl complaining about wind noise at highway speeds, how bad is it compared to the focus, can anyone answer that question?

i've driven an Escape XLT, basically one step down from a Limited, and I liked it. interior of confortable, towed things when it needed to. and fun to drive.

I did a little off roading with it one day in the summer, and it held up as well as in the snow. went though everything in 4X4 mode, its not a true all wheel dirve but you turn the knob to 4X4 and go through what you need to go through.

the gas milage for the V6, was a little harsh lucky to get 20 MPG. but then a it was always going fairly hard.

you could pm SVTZX503, she could tell you more about it.

mo_focus,Sep 27 2006, 12:36 PM Wrote:I have heard ppl complaining about wind noise at highway speeds, how bad is it compared to the focus, can anyone answer that question?
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The escape has some road noise, really it is due to the exterior design you hear a slight wooshing noise because its not exactly a torpedo. As for "road" noise I would say it is the same as a stock focus with the exception to the wooshing.

perfect thanks for all the info guys. Now i just have to wait until i can get one for a good price :)

meford4u,Sep 27 2006, 12:09 PM Wrote:Have you ever been in one?  Driven one?
Becasue they are relatively comfortable for a cheap econobox entry level SUV.
They get decent gas mileage and are peppy enough (they'll out run an SPI anyday)
They are what they are.  A simple vehicle.  If you want more, pay more.
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I've been in one several times. I actually admire Ford for making the Escape Hybrid. If it was feasible for a North Bay winter, I'd have one already.

As for outrunning the SPI - have fun with that :) I'll get much better gas mileage in the meantime. I have no problem being slow when a tank will last me almost 3 weeks around town, minimum.

The V6 consumes more gas than it is worth (to me) and all the wonderful Zetec design flaws (DPFE, thermostat housing, etc) will come to pass in the base models. Like I said, the Duratec-powered models will likely be the sweet spot for current Escapes.

As for driving one, I did briefly at Stockfish one day... down the highway and back while waiting for an oil change. That's as far as I wanted to go. They could have made that truck so much... more in terms of usability and versatility, but instead we got the stopgap Edge precursor.

Like I said... for what you'll need (Mo), a Subaru Impreza would be a runaway winner.

meford4u,Sep 27 2006, 12:09 PM Wrote:They get decent gas mileage and are peppy enough (they'll out run an SPI anyday)

It will blow the doors of a zetec also.

wife hates Station Wagons, she can't stand them. So anything like that is out of question.

I originally wanted an A4 Q3.0L Avant, but that was out the first day :(

Lofoci, congrats on picking up the car, let me know how it goes in the long run.

I was considering (maybe still are) getting 05 instead of 03. I like the centre shifter better then coloum shifter, also the 4x4 system is a bit better on the newer ones, but i just cant justify spending that much more just for those two items.

Before buying the ZTW we had an Escape for a weekend. It could't fit the stroller,dog and all the other crap into the cargo area. No problem with the wagon.