Conference terri::cars_uk

Have you tried a hack saw? 


	Ian

    
    Hmmmm, would that be noticed by Fleet I wonder ?
    
    Any other ideas .... ?
    
    
    	Trefor
    

    After a few phone calls to my local Ford Dealer, who had been
    chasing the technical guys at Ford himself. "The headrests do not come
    out Sir".
    
    So maybe the hacksaw is the solution !
    
    - Trefor (who selected the Escort 'cos of its flexibility in carrying
    large goods, amongst other things)
    
    
    

    
    How can they advertise that there are folding rear seats, then? (Or are
    the headrests an optional extra?)
    
    Elaine

    Is it a question of not being able to fold the rear seat backs forward
    if you have the front seats back too far??? I seem to remember driving
    some hatch or other a couple of years ago that I could not fold the
    rear seats on without having the front ones a significant way forward.
    
    Anyhow, what do you reckon to the Escort 1.8 Ghia? Is it one of the
    recent facelifted ones? Reason I ask is that I believe these 1.8s have
    the same engine as the 105 bhp Escort XR3i, and if so, then the 1.8
    Ghia ought to have a reasonable turn of speed, plus a pretty smooth
    motor.
    
    Also, I believe you can get air-con on the 1.8 Ghia, and ABS is a
    reasonably-priced option compared with some manufacturers', and both of
    those are 'musts' as far as I'm concerned for the driving I do.
    
    I drove a 1.4LX for a few days a couple of years ago while my car was
    off the road, and it was absolutely dreadful -- one of the worst cars
    I've ever had the misfortune to drive (and I worked for two summers at
    a British Leyland dealer when they were selling Marinas, Allegros and
    Princesses!!). Let me know what you think of the new Escort: I'd be
    interested in your experience with the 1.8 Ghia. 
    
    
    Regards,
    Stephen
                                                   

    I just happened to look last night in Autocar for sometime in Nove.
    1992, and the issue in question had a test of the Escort 1.6 Ghia. The
    pictures clearly showed rear headrests in place with the seat backs
    upright, and the seat backs completely flat when they were folded... so
    it's obviously possible, and I doubt whether Autocar sawed off the
    headrests to do it!!
    
    How about giving them a call to see how they did it??
    
    
    Regards,
    Stephen

	Here's a guess.  How about pushing the front seats forward, dropping
	the rear seats and then trying to push the front seats back
	again?   Maybe the seats have to be forward to clear the headrests...

	Dave

    
    I decided to roll my sleeves up last night and find out if the rear
    seat does come apart, and found the release mechanism ! In short, the
    headrests do come out, but it is not explained anywhere in the
    handbook.
    
    I removed the carpet material that is attached to the back of the rear
    seat (held in place by a plastic clip running length of seat) and found
    2 large rubber plugs in the metalwork, one per seat section.
    Pressing this plug releases a catch on one of the headrest support
    pillars, and hey presto, out it pulls! (and goes back in).
    I phoned the local agent who had been talking to the Ford techies just
    to let him know for other drivers benefit.
    
    So I guess the moral is, if at first you don't succeed..... don't ask
    Ford (slightly unfair since they were trying to help).
    
    As to what do I think about the car in general. Well I used to have an
    RS-turbo, so the changes are quite dramatic;
    - wheel spinning on take-off (no LSD),
    - limited acceleration at top end,
    - smoother ride (I guess this is a benefit),
    - easier parking due to power steering ( a real plus )
    - digital controlled radio ( I prefer real volume controls )
    - radio aerial mounted on roof (the RS had in mounted in rearscreen)
    - Full beam headlights don't dry the road infront like the RS did
    - 4 doors not 2 (easier for carrying passengers)
    - boy-racers now leave me alone.
    - lease cost is cheaper (great benefit)
    - runs on unleaded petrol
    
    I like the car, but miss some of the RS benefits.

     Thanks for the previous suggestions, now where is the nearest carboot
    sale?
    
    - Trefor
                   

    Funny you should mention the wheel spinning on take off...
    I hired an Escort 1.8i LX over the Christmas period, and it was the
    worst car I've ever driven in this respect.
    Not only did the wheels spin but the whole car seemed to 'bounce' forward 
    if you tried anything other than sedate acceleration. Terrible. 
    Given that Ford 'techies' dont even know if they made the rear headrests 
    removable or not, I can't say I'm surprised.