Failing Ford?

ford Escort 1997 1.6i 16v. Bought as a good car but it just looks to fall separately at the wrong time. it is due it is MOT mid Feb or so but it needs work and badly. I'd like to keep this car as it'll be cheaper in the long run for now than a new car. Sitting with over 100k+ miles on the clock, does miles travelling up and down between Edinb and Dundee lots. Needs clutch replaced, exhaust looked at, new brake pads for now. Can anybody propose where to start no I am not just binning it, Fords are supposed to be cheap and easy to fix and run or who to take it to to have it looked at etc.

pads ford about 70 quid non ford about 55 quid
exhorst depends on weather you need full sytem or not ford 150 quid
clutch ford 120 quid
this isn't as well as labour.

ford mechanic

Just purchase a new car..

Best thing is to purchase a fix manual and learn to do the work yourself. I do not recognize the towns you talk about Australia?, however you are right about Fords being dependable and cheap to fix.

well new break pads and exhaust is what you expect to shell out for if you have done the miles, a new clutch maybe once in a life time of a car.
i find fords cheap and if you find a back street garage someplace that is not completely legal they'll do it cheap.

You may also take it to your local Ford dealer tell them what you reckon it needs and ask them to price it. Then ask for the parts for the job and again price the parts. You could go to an independent but you won't get anybody who will do it properly for less but walk away, then go back. Your are better off with them in the long run.

Start with safty issues 1st. Brakes do them 1st. then for motion, clutch is obliged, but may be held off, unless the car goes nowhere., then lastly emmissions. When repairing a car and do not know where to start, start with safety, then basic mobility, emmissions will be helped based on what was done in the 1st two listed, then accessories. If you want to save money, do not take it to a dealer, take it to a private garage, NOT A BACKYARD MECHANIC. Private garages are just as good as any dealership. Dealer ships just work on the same cars all the time, but a good mechanic can work anywhere, I have know bad mechanics to work at dealers too, But I have also know good ones at dealers.

Go into a ford dealership and get a quote to have the work done, then verify with someplace like kwik fit or a local independant garage

It can be cheaper to purchase a newer car with a nice long MOT instead

start with the anchors 1st thought that was evident. attempt and get s/h exhaust from local scrap yard. then mot to learn if it is worth spending the cash on it as it may need a s#/t load of welding ask the mot garage for a quote the walk ouyside and phone around some more local garages. that's unless you know someone that can do the work for you

FORD means fix or fix daily parts are easy to get but they're shite on juice I have got a mondeo 2001 never get another one spent loads on it about £2500 in nine mths vw is the next car four me cost a more to purchase but lots more dependable

If you can not do the work go to a dependable mechanic and get a quote, friends should be questioned as to who they think is good and where they take their cars. Brake pads are easy to replace but the clutch could need a lift to make the job easy. By the way I feel that if the whole job costs less that £500 that it's worth doing as a new car will usually cost that a month in repayments..