2001 Ford Escort ZX2 S/R? [north america]

[JCE]

Anybody ever see one of these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(North_America)#ZX2_S.2FR

 

[006r]

No, have you? Never new they existed.

 

[Philly]

I want to say I have, but I can't be sure because an Escort is an Escort for me. And if I never knew it existed...

 

[Jim Prower]

Yeah, those were the last year of the bodystyle of the ZX2. Another example of Ford taking a platform WAY past it's due date. They tried (vainly) to put some "New Edge" cues on it to better match the Focus in lots, it failed.

EDIT: on the other hand, didn't know about that S/R package...I'm sure that idea thrilled most Police Departments...

That pictured doesn't look like an S/R, though. HERE's an S/R. (Autocross, numbers not standard )

The only way you can really tell is that little pink badge on the door.

 

[Tornado]

Yeah. There is one on the dealer lot in town.

 

[Keef]

You didn't know Ford made a ZX2? Round these parts we just call it a ZX2, not an Escort. Would you believe that the example you posted actually looks fantastic compared to its predecessor?

 

[Jim Prower]

I think it was the S/R package he was talking about.

 

[YSSMAN]

I know a kid who has one and he thinks hes a bad-ass because of it. Its not a horrible car, but personally speaking, if you can get a million-times-better-and-probably-more-reliable Focus for the same price, why not?

They're around. They're really rare in Yellow as I understand it. The "futuristic acid trip" body ones you have there at the top are kinda cool in blue, but yeah, very rare indeed.

 

[ND4SPD]

Wow I'm surprised you Americans got the car till 2003!

 

[JCE]

I think it was the S/R package he was talking about.

It was.

No, have you? Never new they existed.

Nope.

Yeah, those were the last year of the bodystyle of the ZX2. Another example of Ford taking a platform WAY past it's due date. They tried (vainly) to put some "New Edge" cues on it to better match the Focus in lots, it failed.

EDIT: on the other hand, didn't know about that S/R package...I'm sure that idea thrilled most Police Departments...

That pictured doesn't look like an S/R, though. HERE's an S/R. (Autocross, numbers not standard )

The only way you can really tell is that little pink badge on the door.

So what's the deal with the front bumper and grille on the pic I posted? I rather like that one.

 

[Jim Prower]

So what's the deal with the front bumper and grille on the pic I posted? I rather like that one.

They never offered the S/R package on it. They do look good, though, but they were only produced that last year they were built, 2003. However, The S/R was only produced in very small quantities in 1999 and 2000, according to that Wiki article.

 

[Philly]

So what's the deal with the front bumper and grille on the pic I posted? I rather like that one.

My guess is that it's just an attempt by Ford to make the old car new again. It's probably a small update they put on all trim levels of the car.

 

[JCE]

That front end looks amazing doesn't it though? Looks better to me than the Focus.

 

[Sniffs]

ah yes. the one with the square grill? if I remember right, they changed the nose on the ZX because it looked too much like somebody else's that was in a sue-mood?

ND4SPD: yup. sport coupe only after 2000, when the Escort was "fleeted". I actually like the last escy. but it's too small, nowadays.

 

[Philly]

That front end looks amazing doesn't it though? Looks better to me than the Focus.

It looks quite modern, and I like it too. Too bad the rest of the car looks like a 1990s jellybean.

 

[JCE]

It looks quite modern, and I like it too. Too bad the rest of the car looks like a 1990s jellybean.

I can live with it if it was all black. I might buy one so who knows.

 

[Philly]

Based on looks alone, I guess it's a pretty good car. Something tells me it's still an Escort, which don't seem like the best cars from what I've seen.

I'd say it's the same deal that Ford is going through with the Focus now. Just throw a new body on an old car and call it "all new."

 

[Dave A]

I'm sorry fellas, but that is not an Escort.
This is an Escort.

 

[JCE]

Don't rub it in.

 

[Philly]

Meanie .

Looks like that car is from British Columbia though .

And upon reviewing the Wiki article, the picture at the top of the page is nothing more than a face lifted version of the old ZX2.

 

[buickgnx88]

And this is a Merkur

 

[stumpydino]

merkur sounds more interesting than sierra i'll admit lol

The designation S/R is derived from the term "Street/Racer"

wow ford so down wit da kids

 

[Philly]

And this is a Merkur

I've seen a few of those in Seattle. They seem like pretty cool cars.

 

[Jim Prower]

merkur sounds more interesting than sierra i'll admit lol

That's because 'round here THIS is a Sierra.

Id've rather had yours than ours.

 

[Sniffs]

very true. the FORD sierra name couldn't be used because GM allready had the name copyrights.

we actually got two of ford's european performance minis. Nobody could figure out what "Merkur" meant. if theyda just plopped a hot rod name on them that americans would have recognised, or just called it a ford, mabey they woulda made it

 

[Tornado]

Or if they weren't marketed at the same time as the arguably-just-as-good-yet-far-cheaper Taurus and the far-more-powerful-and-faster-yet-cheaper Thunderbird and Mustang.
There was no room for Ford to build them at all under any brand name, except maybe Lincoln. Remember, Merkurs were sold in Mercury dealers next to the Sable. That may not sound like much today, but back then it meant giving up a chance to buy the car proven to be the best to buy an unknown that costs more.

 

[Dave A]

The Sierras wern't great over here, the Cosworths went like stink but they wern't the best built cars in thier time.