12 replies to this topic

[butlermatthew48]

hi im new here, just wondering, ive had a mk6 escort td before very reliable but so slow,just wondering how the mk3 astra 1.7 td compares to it like is it a better drive, or a bit quicker maybe?

[2007DBR9]

I doubt there is much difference really, I assume your Escort has the older 1.8 Endura turbo diesel engine in it?

The 1.7 is an Isuzu engine, not much goes wrong with them but they are not exactly refined. Unless there is something wrong with your Escort I wouldn't bother.

[Jammo]

The Astra isnt quick, but then, early diesels didnt have the performance like they do now, or refined like said, as now.
I would choose the Astra over the Escort, on many reasons.....
The 1.7 Isuzu lump is an old engine but a very good one,
The Astra has more room in it (assuming its either an estate or hatch?)
And finally, Im more biased towards Vauxhall and other GM products over Ford (even though I own a Focus estate!)

[Cliffy]

2007DBR9, on 15 November 2011 - 08:44 AM, said:

I doubt there is much difference really, I assume your Escort has the older 1.8 Endura turbo diesel engine in it?

The 1.7 is an Isuzu engine, not much goes wrong with them but they are not exactly refined. Unless there is something wrong with your Escort I wouldn't bother.

Some 1.7s are Isuzu engines (I had one of these) but there were also GM ones too. The formers were available only in turbo form, but the latter had non-turbo or turbo variations. The GM ones afre clearly marked as such also. The Isuzu was definitely the better lump though!

I have also had a Mk 5 Escort Diesel which was a 1.8-litre TD, and was also intercooled (not many were in 1994!). In complete opposite to Jammo, I'm more of a Ford man, lol. Fords always seemed better built in my opinion, and if you can discount some of the rust issues they had, they'll go on forever! Just hate that the Odometer only has space for 5-digits on older Fords though, lol.

If I had to choose though, I'd get an Escort Estate in diesel form I think...

Edited by Cliffy, 04 December 2011 - 12:33 PM.

[Jammo]

You know why older Fords has space for only 5 digits

[Cliffy]

Jammo, on 04 December 2011 - 01:58 PM, said:

You know why older Fords has space for only 5 digits

Shut up, lol....

I've had many a sub-100,000-miler lol.

[Jammo]

haha, well I have a Ford now too (even though im a Vauxhall person lol)

[Elite_Deforce]

Jammo, on 04 December 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

haha, well I have a Ford now too (even though im a Vauxhall person lol)

Looks like CF is going Ford!

[2007DBR9]

I wasn't aware that GM made the 1.7 at one point, thanks

These old diesels are generally known to go on forever, the bodywork will probably fall to pieces around the car. Rust on older Fords is not too bad if you keep on top of it, but if you leave it they can get very bad.

Doesn't really matter though as these cars are pennies now - you could buy a whole extra car and just use it for spares!

Edited by 2007DBR9, 05 December 2011 - 08:35 AM.

[Cliffy]

2007DBR9, on 05 December 2011 - 08:35 AM, said:

I wasn't aware that GM made the 1.7 at one point, thanks

These old diesels are generally known to go on forever, the bodywork will probably fall to pieces around the car. Rust on older Fords is not too bad if you keep on top of it, but if you leave it they can get very bad.

Doesn't really matter though as these cars are pennies now - you could buy a whole extra car and just use it for spares!

GM made a variation at the same time as they were also using the Isuzu lump. I assume they were toying with using their own engine to get rid of the Isuzu one eventually. Luckily they decided against it, lol. Bit like Rover using Honda engines in some of their 416s (and 420s?). Unfortunately though, Rover thought that their K-Series engine was better than the Honda one, and decided to keep using that instead...Muppets! Now look at them, hehe.

[2007DBR9]

Cliffy, on 06 December 2011 - 07:42 AM, said:

GM made a variation at the same time as they were also using the Isuzu lump. I assume they were toying with using their own engine to get rid of the Isuzu one eventually. Luckily they decided against it, lol. Bit like Rover using Honda engines in some of their 416s (and 420s?). Unfortunately though, Rover thought that their K-Series engine was better than the Honda one, and decided to keep using that instead...Muppets! Now look at them, hehe.

I thought the K series engine was generally regarded to be quite good? After all Lotus use it in the Elise. The head gaskets do have a tendency to pop but it must be one of the easiest HGs to fix

[Cliffy]

2007DBR9, on 06 December 2011 - 12:15 PM, said:

I thought the K series engine was generally regarded to be quite good? After all Lotus use it in the Elise. The head gaskets do have a tendency to pop but it must be one of the easiest HGs to fix

The Head Gaskets went every 10,000-miles or so and water pumps were weak. They weren't all that bad I guess, and the Head Gaskets were modified in later cars. They were used in everything from Rovers to Lotus', Freelanders and Caterhams......So durable if nothing else, lol.

[2007DBR9]

Cliffy, on 06 December 2011 - 05:48 PM, said:

The Head Gaskets went every 10,000-miles or so and water pumps were weak. They weren't all that bad I guess, and the Head Gaskets were modified in later cars. They were used in everything from Rovers to Lotus', Freelanders and Caterhams......So durable if nothing else, lol.

Every 10k?? I had no idea they were that bad! Just as well they are easy to fix