[bgadow]

One of my customers was a diesel mechanic and his grocery getter for many, many years was an Escort diesel. Had to be a rare bird! Early 80s. He may still have it. One thing I always used to notice about the (gas) Escorts was how buzzy the engine was. I'm guessing bad motor mounts? Never noticed it with the Focus.

I still see a fair number of K-cars on the road. Lots of older folks who don't run their cars too hard...one couple I know have been running a Reliant wagon forever. I probably see a half-dozen Aries/Reliants for every Citation these days.

Re: weak engines, I was dating this girl and she had a genetic disposition for lousy cars. (among the jewels she drove while I knew her were a Chevette, a turd-brown 4cyl/4spd 83 Ranger and a Buick Regal that must not have had any shock absorbers left at all-one of the most dangerous things I ever drove) At one point her parents managed to buy a used Geo Metro 4dr with a 3 cyl and AT. I remember us all piling in the car one night, they were going down the highway at maybe 50mph and decided to turn the AC on. Comical-it really was like throwing out an anchor. I think it lost 10mph!