Ford escorts have been the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned hands down.
It is not common to find Escorts still running with 200k miles. It is common to find honda and toyota cars with 200k miles and running strong with only routine maintenance.
Of course parts are cheap, they made like 50 gazillion of them with oem, aftermarket and salvage parts flooding the market.
http://jalopnik.com/5852681/man-shows-remarkable-stamina-driving-honda-accord-for-one-million-miles?newlayout=on&typography=on&utm_expid=66866090-44.SjaDDoGFTVKn-lZpZf7rDQ.4&utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/Man shows remarkable stamina driving Honda Accord f
"Million Mile Joe" LoCicero finally hit one million miles in his 1990 Honda Accord this past weekend and the fine folks at Honda rewarded him
with a parade and, more importantly, a brand new Honda Accord. You know, so he'll stop giving people the wrong idea.
The key to LoCicero's staying power? He's a master auto technician who has to drive great distances across New England so he makes sure to change all fluids regularly. He has notebooks full of details on tire rotations, oil changes, and even every fill-up.
He claims the engine and transmission are original, but admits the fuel pump blew at 741,000 miles. Seeing his car towed apparently elicited laughter from his kids.
To make sure he took the new car and thus discourage other people from realizing their Hondas can drive so many miles with proper maintenance, Honda brought Miss Maine USA along to give him the keys.
Here's to another million miles Joe. Even if it is in another beige mid-size sedan.
***Didn't mean to get off topic...yeah, gas guzzler and poor traveler don't mix.