FORD SCORPIO SALOON 1995-1999 Review
Good Points
- A big and impressive car
- A superb vehicle in the price bracket of under £1000
- Great level of comfort throughout
- Decent luggage space, especially in the estate version
Bad Points
- Prone to rust
- Wobbly suspension, especially at high speeds
- Prepare a good response for the endless "ugly car" jokes
Engines
There are plenty of engines available ‐ starting from outdated 2.0-litre units taken from the previous generation of the Scorpio and ending with the superb 2.9-litre V6 Cosworth. The older 2.0-litre 8-valve engine is not a good choice. There are also two 16-valve 4-cylinder engines available with a 2.0-litre or 2.3-litre displacement. The 2.5-litre turbo diesel is not bad, a bit smoky though, mainly due to the age. The best engine in the Scorpio range is the 2.9-litre Cosworth V-6 with 4 valves per cylinder. Don't mix this with the older 2-valve version, which is nowhere near as refined.
Considering the age of the car, there are only two engines that are worth your attention ‐ the 2.3-litre 145BHP and the 208BHP Cosworth.
Performance & Economy
Because of its controversial design, you can pick up a Scorpio for less than £500. If you get lucky and find an example with less than 120,000 miles on the clock, you are in for a treat.
Fuel economy is actually good for a car this big. The top of the range Cosworth will achieve 25mpg while the 2.3-litre engine will deliver 31mpg. The diesel is capable of 35mpg but it's not the most popular choice even among the diesel enthusiasts.
The older generation engines that still feature 2 valves per cylinder cannot provide fuel efficiency to match modern cars. They've been around since the 1970s and are lacking both in power and economy.
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Introduction
It is often called the Ford that doesn't look like a Ford. It depends where you stand ‐ it you're not a big fan of Ford design, you might actually like the Scorpio. However, the Scorpio is constantly making appearance in various "Top 10 Ugliest Cars" lists. For people who don't mind the controversial design, it's just an opportunity to purchase a large cheap car. After it was discontinued Ford left the executive size car market and hasn't returned since.
Exterior & Interior
It's not worth getting into too much detail about the exterior design of the car. Its front end is different but overall it is an elegant car, especially in dark colour. If you can see past the controversial front-end of the car, you'll realise that it is a well-proportioned executive car that you can afford for a fraction of the price that you'd pay for any other car of this size.
You are bound to like the interior of the Scorpio. Both in the saloon and estate version it provides excellent comfort and loads of space for 5 people and their luggage. Thanks to its length and clever layout, there's plenty of legroom. It has a superb driving position and ergonomically placed controls that you can reach intuitively.
Drive
It is a bit jerky at high speeds but very comfortable to drive in the city. The dimensions of the car will need getting used to as it is an unusual size. The suspension is a bit funny and it can sometimes feels like your sailing in a boat rather than driving along a road. Overall, the Scorpio is enjoyable to drive and you'll soon learn to appreciate the comfort and quality of this car.
Faults & Repairs
Given the number of the Scorpios made and considering it's an old car, any mechanic who knows what they're will be able to fix your Scorpio. Much of the platform and many parts were borrowed from the previous generation of the Scorpio, which means that spare parts are equal to their scrap metal prices. The Ford engines are reliable, and the little bits that go wrong are usually easy to repair. It's worth checking underneath the car because it suffered with rust as did most old Fords. Another point to check is the suspension.
FORD Links:
FORD Car Blogs | Get Car Finance for a FORD | Get Insurance for a FORD | Sell a FORD | Original FORD SCORPIO review
