RE: PH Heroes: Ford Escort RS Cosworth

[richard300]

I'd like the RS2 (A LOT) but just because its an estate doesn’t mean that most people wouldn't notice the racy mirrors, big wheels, the fact that it wears a body kit, and is normally painted in a vivid shade of red or bright blue.... A dark colored late Escort Cosworth with the spoiler delete option and standard wheels would probably turn less heads..... I'd go for the RS2 though myself!

[monthefish]

Murcielago_Boy said:

I don't think I've ever wanted a car more.... Posters of it up on my bedroom wall circa 1994, I used to LOVE this car.
I'll get one, one day when I can be bothered.

I felt the same....until I drove one.

I was really disapointed, but then it probably wasn't the fault of the car - it was probably 'fast' in its day, but when I finally drove one in 2008 it just felt average.

Still a great looking thing though (I have a thing for cars with wider arches than standard e.g. RS4, 22B, SWB Quattro etc )

[Hellbound]

thewheelman said:

The Escort Cosworth never did anything for me, i couldn't stand that era of Ford cars, especially the idiots that called it a "Cossie". Owned one very briefly, & couldn't wait for it to sell.

Just out of curiosity, if it never did anything for you, why did you buy one?

[jameshayward]

I've always wanted one of these, ever since I first saw it on TV aged 6 years old! One day.....

[anything fast]

monthefish said:

Murcielago_Boy said:

I don't think I've ever wanted a car more.... Posters of it up on my bedroom wall circa 1994, I used to LOVE this car.
I'll get one, one day when I can be bothered.

I felt the same....until I drove one.

I was really disapointed, but then it probably wasn't the fault of the car - it was probably 'fast' in its day, but when I finally drove one in 2008 it just felt average.

Still a great looking thing though (I have a thing for cars with wider arches than standard e.g. RS4, 22B, SWB Quattro etc )

agreed, i have always loved cosworth's and have owned a fettled 3 door and a 400 bhp saff. I always wanted one for the performance, now i would want one for the looks and nostalgia.. funny how thats changed! I was looking for one 18 months ago but then stumbled across a yank beast with close to 600bhp, now most cars feel slow in comparison!

[*Al*]

I used to own a K reg 'large turbo' model tuned to stage 3.Proud to say i owned one of these iconic cars.

[Escort Si-130]

But wasnt K reg 1992/1993 so couldnt be 1991.

dave stew said:

I got to drive a few of these back in the day when I was the RS Owner's Club magazine editor. Ford brought a few along to the RS Owner's Club National Day in 1991 (K plate examples) and I still remember the impact they made. I had a few track laps with Francois Delecour in a road going example going sideways around Donington at a similar time.

Glorious cars, big turbo lag but nice to drive, would be as good as a current 'modern'.

Anyone remember the RWD RS2000 prototype from the early 90s? Escort Cosworth bodyshell, N/A 2.0 16v engine, Scorpio drivetrain.

[Escort Si-130]

Not suprised with a comment like that from you. There is more to a car than high BHP figures or bhp per tonne st, which doesnt mean much these days anymore. Aerodynamics play a far bigger role in what the car would perform like.

This is a true HERO, 10 out of 10 for me.

300bhp/ton said:

I can respect these, but if honest they did absolutely NOTHING for me.

Truly can't see the appeal of any Escort of this era, no matter what engine it had. It wasn't even very successful at top level rallying either.

Massive over-hype IMO.

[s m]

Escort Si-130 said:

But wasnt K reg 1992/1993 so couldnt be 1991.

dave stew said:

I got to drive a few of these back in the day when I was the RS Owner's Club magazine editor. Ford brought a few along to the RS Owner's Club National Day in 1991 (K plate examples) and I still remember the impact they made. I had a few track laps with Francois Delecour in a road going example going sideways around Donington at a similar time.

Glorious cars, big turbo lag but nice to drive, would be as good as a current 'modern'.

Anyone remember the RWD RS2000 prototype from the early 90s? Escort Cosworth bodyshell, N/A 2.0 16v engine, Scorpio drivetrain.

Went on sale to public in about May '92 so on a J-plate

[J4CKO]

Quite like but subject to the "RS/Escort Tax", i.e. where the RS brigade are so devoted and will pay 15 grand for some dust that used to be an RS1800 it means they are no longer a good proposition for a decent retro and quick car, they end up with chromed and painted undersides and kept in temperature controlled garages, then trailered to a field where shaven headed chaps salivate all over their padded rally jackets. The Integrale has gone the same way, i.e. massively expensive but the Celica GT4 that was equally big in rallying is still available for a couple of grand, don't understand it as they both did the Sega Rally gig.

Also, the original Impreza now has Chav writ large all over its reputation apart from perhaps a couple of the very special editions it shouts "Barry" very loud but a classic turbo, unmolested is an unassuming looking little thing really shorn of Lexus lights, big wheels, wings and bean can exhausts, ditto the various Evo's, plenty at £2000 or even less, the GTiR Nissan is pennies.

All these rally type things and the Cosworth seems expensive for what it is, I mean, they weren't all that fast as standard and wouldn't see which way an Evo went.

[epom]

thewheelman said:

The Escort Cosworth never did anything for me, i couldn't stand that era of Ford cars, especially the idiots that called it a "Cossie". Owned one very briefly, & couldn't wait for it to sell.

try not to read my comment, please

[s m]

J4CKO said:

Quite like but subject to the "RS/Escort Tax", i.e. where the RS brigade are so devoted and will pay 15 grand for some dust that used to be an RS1800 it means they are no longer a good proposition for a decent retro and quick car, they end up with chromed and painted undersides and kept in temperature controlled garages, then trailered to a field where shaven headed chaps salivate all over their padded rally jackets. The Integrale has gone the same way,

This applies to many old cars though - E30 M3, Miura, old Ferraris, 964RS

The latest new thing would be quicker than all of them....that's not the point to the people that pay the high prices

[Ayahuasca]

Nice - I ordered one of these as my company car way back when but it was blocked. 'Wrong image' or something. Ended up with a Probe instead. Rotters.

[iva cosworth]

Have not read the thread.

Mine is a pigging nightmare and is broken again.

[urquattro]

richard300 said:

I'd like the RS2 (A LOT) but just because its an estate doesn’t mean that most people wouldn't notice the racy mirrors, big wheels, the fact that it wears a body kit, and is normally painted in a vivid shade of red or bright blue.... A dark colored late Escort Cosworth with the spoiler delete option and standard wheels would probably turn less heads..... I'd go for the RS2 though myself!

Thats why the RS2 I bought is ragussa green with plain black leather recaros, it doesn't stand out, no one notices the porsche mirrors and red brakes (they think) they come from Halfords via a red paint can and stickers !!
It is only when you open it up that they think - what was that but by then a dirty old green estate car has vanished.

[dave escos]

J4CKO said:

Quite like but subject to the "RS/Escort Tax", i.e. where the RS brigade are so devoted and will pay 15 grand for some dust that used to be an RS1800 it means they are no longer a good proposition for a decent retro and quick car, they end up with chromed and painted undersides and kept in temperature controlled garages, then trailered to a field where shaven headed chaps salivate all over their padded rally jackets. The Integrale has gone the same way, i.e. massively expensive but the Celica GT4 that was equally big in rallying is still available for a couple of grand, don't understand it as they both did the Sega Rally gig.

Also, the original Impreza now has Chav writ large all over its reputation apart from perhaps a couple of the very special editions it shouts "Barry" very loud but a classic turbo, unmolested is an unassuming looking little thing really shorn of Lexus lights, big wheels, wings and bean can exhausts, ditto the various Evo's, plenty at £2000 or even less, the GTiR Nissan is pennies.

All these rally type things and the Cosworth seems expensive for what it is, I mean, they weren't all that fast as standard and wouldn't see which way an Evo went.

what a load of rubbish,heres a tv review you just cannot argue with by the god of all things motoring and especially escort cozzehs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV7TwGcYn50&fea...

[dave stew]

s m said:

Went on sale to public in about May '92 so on a J-plate

Yes, they were J plates and it was Sept 92. One car was J997 BPU and J990 BPU. Got the magazine at home!

[iva cosworth]

iva cosworth said:

Have not read the thread.

Mine is a pigging nightmare and is broken again.

Read it all now.

Lots of uninformed crap as usual and thanks to the fella who rolled out

the "its a Sierra underneath"

Why does that matter ?

And on the comment about painted underneath and heated garages.

Anyone see mine at SS @ MBW last December shortly before it lunched its transmission

on Christmas day with -12 temps recorded on outside temp guage.

[s m]

dave stew said:

s m said:

Went on sale to public in about May '92 so on a J-plate

Yes, they were J plates and it was Sept 92. One car was J997 BPU and J990 BPU. Got the magazine at home!

22nd May 1992 was the on-sale date over here hence the first cars on J-plates. K-reg was 1st Aug 1992

Tell us about the 2 litre rwd version you drove

[markcoznottz]

J4CKO said:

Quite like but subject to the "RS/Escort Tax", i.e. where the RS brigade are so devoted and will pay 15 grand for some dust that used to be an RS1800 it means they are no longer a good proposition for a decent retro and quick car, they end up with chromed and painted undersides and kept in temperature controlled garages, then trailered to a field where shaven headed chaps salivate all over their padded rally jackets. The Integrale has gone the same way, i.e. massively expensive but the Celica GT4 that was equally big in rallying is still available for a couple of grand, don't understand it as they both did the Sega Rally gig.

Also, the original Impreza now has Chav writ large all over its reputation apart from perhaps a couple of the very special editions it shouts "Barry" very loud but a classic turbo, unmolested is an unassuming looking little thing really shorn of Lexus lights, big wheels, wings and bean can exhausts, ditto the various Evo's, plenty at £2000 or even less, the GTiR Nissan is pennies.

All these rally type things and the Cosworth seems expensive for what it is, I mean, they weren't all that fast as standard and wouldn't see which way an Evo went.

Agree. An evo is far better, better gearbox and brakes for one, and much more sophisticated suspension. Well actually that isnt hard when you consider the sierra came out in 1982, so the tech is 30 years old. But the RS badge gives the ecsos protected status, and bomb proof residuals. Also whatever was built, that was it, there is never going to be a steady stream of import cars like there is with the evo and impreza.

Very strong engine the YB, almost invented the modern tuning scene in the Uk as we know it, and so easy to tune. Its difficult in these times to imagine the hype that surrounded this car, or the cosworth in general.