Ford Orion

My tale is of a mk3 Orion - the ones that came out in 1990 and died around 1994 when they were rebranded an "Escort Saloon". I bought it from a main ford dealer in 1993, and it was a fully loaded car. It had done 10,000 miles from new (one owner) and was less than a year old. It's spec was alloy wheels, elec windows, tilt/slide sunroof, elec mirrors, CD & casette player, central locking, heated front & rear screens. I spent quite a bit of money in upgrading this car - I had a nice Ford painted spoiler fitted to the rear, changed the wheels for those which normally adorn the Ghia Si model, fitted front fog lamps with the genuine Ford kit, ...

I've owned two Orions so far, a 1987 1.6 GL and my current car a 1990 1.6i Ghia. Both cars are pretty solid with only wear and tear items such as brakes, exhaust and tyres giving me any expense. Each of them has done about 80,000 miles which is a crucial time in an Orion (or Escorts) life. At this age a properly maintained engine can go for another 40,000 miles plus but a less maintained example (such as my old GL) will have begun to sludge up. The sludging can be cured by blowing the oil galleries out with an air hose, but you can bet the damage has already been done before you notice it. If sludging has occurred then the camshaft and rockers will get ...

I am 21 years old and have just purchased my 4th Orion. When i was 17 i bought a 1987 Orion 1.4 ghia. It was a 1.4 with weber carburettor and it came with a host of luxuries for my first car, such as electric windows and mirrors, rear headrests and an amplifier. After owning this car for one trouble free year, i part exchanged it in and bought a 1990 Orion 1.6i ghia. This engine was 1.6 and was equipped with electronic fuel injection, this again came with a host of luxuries as listed above. Then after another year i stepped into the world of modified orions when i bought an Orion 1.6 Turbo (engine from an RS) with full bodykit, 16" Tsw Venoms etc. This ...