Mk6 GTi
1997–1998The last hot Escort, with a 115PS 1.8 Zetec. Cheap now, but survivors are getting rarer every year.
- 1796cc Zetec 16v
- 115 bhp
- 0–60 9.9s
- 122 mph
1995–2000 · The final chapter
Ford Escort Mk6
The last Escort got an oval grille, airbags and a sharper chassis. The RS2000 carried on until 1996 and the GTi arrived in 1997. The Flight and Finesse editions saw the Escort out alongside the Focus until July 2000, and the van stayed on sale until 2002.
Key facts
- Built
- Halewood (UK) and Saarlouis (Germany). Last car off the Halewood line in July 2000
- Layout
- Front engine, front-wheel drive
- Bodies
- 3/5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, estate, van, Cabriolet
- Engines
- 1.3 Endura-E; 1.4 CVH; 1.6 & 1.8 Zetec; 1.8 diesel and turbodiesel
- Trims
- Encore, LX, Ghia, Si, RS2000 (to 1996), GTi (1997–98), Cabriolet
- Farewell editions
- Flight and Finesse (1999–2000)
Parts supplyGood
Fake riskLow
Values trendBottomed out
What makes a good one
These were cheap everyday cars for years, so most survivors lived hard lives. The ones worth buying are low-mileage, one- or two-owner cars with full service history, especially Si, GTi and Ghia models and Cabriolets. The 1.8 Zetec is the engine to have.
Why a Mk6 can make sense
It's the cheapest way into Escort ownership. Any mechanic can work on it, most parts are still available, and airbags and better crash structures make it practical for daily use. Good ones are now rare, as most were scrapped.
Buy it right
Pay extra for condition and history rather than trim level. A £4,000 car that has lived in a garage will cost far less over five years than a £1,000 car that needs sills, arches, a cambelt and four tyres.
Models & specifications
Escort Mk6 models
Specifications are approximate period figures. Value ranges are indicative UK prices for good to excellent cars in 2026; see the full price guide.
£3k–£8k
Mk6 Flight / Finesse
1999–2000The farewell editions that closed 32 years of the Escort name. The Flight came only in white, blue or red.
- 1.6 petrol / 1.8 turbodiesel
- 90 bhp
- 0–60 11.5s
- 112 mph
Common faults
- Rear arches and sill ends, especially on cars kept outside
- Zetec cambelt and water pump history. An engine failure costs more than the car is worth
- Coolant leaks, thermostat housing and heater matrix faults
- Worn suspension bushes and rear beam mounts
- Cabriolet hood mechanisms and water leaks
- Faded paint, especially reds and blues
Walk-away signs
- No evidence of a recent cambelt change
- Mayonnaise under the oil cap or a pressurised coolant tank
- Structural rust on the sills or rear subframe mounts
- Mileage that doesn't match the MOT history
Where the Mk6 rusts
Check each of these areas, in this order, at any viewing.
- Front panel and wing edges
- Inner wings and strut tops
- Front subframe
- Sill ends and jacking points
- Door bottoms
- Rear wheel arches
- Rear beam mounts
- Tailgate lower edge
- Boot floor and spare wheel well
- Floor around fuel and brake lines
Free 46-page PDF
Don't buy a
Don't buy a
£40k mistake.
A fake Mexico or a rotten RS2000 can cost you more than the car. The Escort Buyer's Bible is 46 pages of what the specialists check, written for people about to hand over real money.
- Chassis and VIN checks to spot a genuine RS
- Rust maps for every generation, Mk1 to Mk6
- Price guide covering 31 models, from Harrier to Cosworth
- Printable inspection score sheet