 I purchased my Escort in 2000 with 
13,000 miles on it.  After 19,000 
miles of light duty, I was told that I 
needed new rear coil springs.  I spoke 
to several people that owned the same 
vehicle, and several mechanics 
(including the service manager at my 
local Ford dealership), and was told 
that this is a common problem that 
Ford is aware of, but not footing the 
bill for.  Otherwise, a reliable, but 
not very interesting, econobox.  Total 
lack of ergonomic ingenuity.