Friday 23rd January 2015

Escort RS v Focus RS v Focus RS: Time For Tea?

Focus RS Mk3 excitement running at fever pitch? Allow an old Autocar vid to help further!

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Fast Fords are always big news. Upcoming models, the price of classic heroes, making already fast ones even quicker still. If it's got an ST, RS or any such similar badge on it, we're interested. Everyone is interested.

So with the latest teaser vid of the third generation Focus RS racking up thousands and thousands of views, it seemed a good time to revisit the past masters. Conveniently enough Autocar has this vid from when the last RS was launched (six years ago now!) and it's just the thing to further whet the appetite for the new car.

Surprise number one: Escorts have got really expensive. Back in 2009 it was suggested £13-£15K could get you a Cossie. Today the entry point is £16K, with prices for RS Cosworths on PH reaching a ludicrous £45,000.

Surprise number two: Focus RS Mk1s haven't got expensive. At the time of the video £9K was enough for a good'n; in 2015 that still buys a very nice RS like this one. The cheapest RS Mk2s are now £17K, an incredible performance given they were £25,000 new.

And one last thing that could come as a shock. The Escort RS Cosworth may not be as good as you remember. But the video can explain that.

Watch it here.

 

[Tom1312]

I would hardly say the Escort isn't impressive.

Might not be the fastest, but at the traffic lights that jump off the line is still mega (compared to other two) and still more than fast enough.... Unless your up against one of the new uber hatches.

Edited by Tom1312 on Friday 23 January 16:13

[Magic919]

IBTT

[iva cosworth]

IBTT.

Mmmmm Cosworth content too.

[iva cosworth]

That blue Cosworth is not a representative car as its not well maintained by Ford.

It overheats half the time it comes out.

I may have got that mixed up with a crap yellow car Ford also have.

Edited by iva cosworth on Friday 23 January 18:28

[Limpet]

To be honest, I don't know what was he expecting. Car designed 17 years ago (then) feels less modern and "baggier" than a newly launched one. Not exactly a great shock.

Of course things develop and move on. If you consider each of these relative to what the "average" car was capable of at the time each was launched, the Cosworth is by far the most impressive achievement. And that shove off the line is still very impressive. I suspect there still isn't much on the road today that would beat one off the mark.

[B'stard Child]

Why can I never remember how to easily get in these threads with no title - too damn slow

[hwajones]

Id still have the Escort...

[W00DY]

I can't decide which is more old-school: the Escort or that road testing style. A disappointingly dull video.

[wokkadriver]

How typically Autocar. "We'd choose the cheapest, slowest, least inspiring version as our favourite…"

[Mark-C]

B'stard Child said:

Why can I never remember how to easily get in these threads with no title - too damn slow

I've only just worked it out!

[The Vambo]

IBTT

[wokkadriver]

How typically Autocar. "We'd choose the cheapest, slowest, least inspiring version as our favourite…"

[anonymous-user]

I hadn't realised the last Focus RS had 305bhp. I just don't see Ford giving the new one substantially more power whilst keeping the front wheel drive.

[750turbo]

That Vid is from 2009.

[leedsutd1]

"At 120 mph the focus catches the Escort Cosworth " The Escort looked a lot quicker out of the three 0-60
on that video , plus you can have stage 1 ,2 or 3 easily done on the Escort taking from 220BHP to 270 ,300 up to 400 BHP ,not bad for a 1995 car . The baggy suspension will be down to Ford leaving the original suspension on, it will be worn out ,if they just put on new standard suspension would be better .

[Tickle]

Escort please

[civicduty]

So who stole whose pattern of speach from whom, Andrew Frankel or Chris Harris you decide.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd like to see that test done against my brothers 375bhp at the wheels Escort Cossie with it's Koni Suspension all round I think it would have been a lot closer. The Escort used to lose out to the Sapphire Cosworth on top speed as it was one of the first road cars that had proper downforce.

It'd be the Cossie for me with some choice mods.

[xRIEx]

article said:

Conveniently enough Autocar has this vid from when the last RS was launched (six years ago now!)

750turbo said:

That Vid is from 2009.

[JohnClem88]

I'll stay with my Cossie