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

[monthefish]

Glad to hear someone else say it.
The Escort Cosworth was a dream car of mine, but when I finally got thrown the keys to one for a spirited drive about 5 years ago, I was totally disappointing. The perfect illustration of why to never meet your heroes.

And of course it got off the line first - it jumped the start!

[iva cosworth]

monthefish said:

And of course it got off the line first - it jumped the start!

It's the only car with some grip.

[jackh707]

monthefish said:

And of course it got off the line first - it jumped the start!

I'm glad somebody else noticed.

It was car length off the line before the front wheels even moved on the other 2!

[750turbo]

xRIEx said:

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.

I did notice that after I commented - DOH!

[s m]

iva cosworth said:

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

You might be thinking of the yellow 'Acropolis' test mule car that blew its head gasket when loaned to EVO.

[iva cosworth]

I should have deleted most of that post ,wasn't sure which car was the dodgy one,blue or yellow.

[s m]

leedsutd1 said:

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 .

Here's the SAME Ford Heritage ST Escos and a Focus RS Mk1 at Anglesey

Clickety

[GreenArrow]

Its funny all the cossie fans jumping to defend it, but to be fair, as the article says, the Cosworth was based on the Sierra, not the best base car to start with, whereas the Focus RS was based on the Mk1 Focus, a quite brilliant car to start with and yes, years ahead of the older stuff Ford made. I have the old Autocar road test from 1992 for the RS Cosworth and even back then they weren't that keen, whereas they always did love the Mk1 RS, even when EVO were slating it. Chris Harris was its biggest fan, called it his favourite long term test car ever. To be honest I would love a Mk1 Focus RS. They are criminally under-valued by fast ford standards and I guarantee you that ten years from now they will be worth 20 grand.

[Escort Si-130]

That is one of the advantages of 4WD for mega fast launches like that.

Tom1312 said:

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

[Blu3R]

monthefish said:

Glad to hear someone else say it.
The Escort Cosworth was a dream car of mine, but when I finally got thrown the keys to one for a spirited drive about 5 years ago, I was totally disappointing. The perfect illustration of why to never meet your heroes.

And of course it got off the line first - it jumped the start!

Can't really blame the car for that then.

The point is that by today's standards the Cossie isn't that quick, well mannered or even comfortable, but it was back in 2000 when I had my first of three. And the 'barn door' on the back could be deleted when specced, but that was a huge part of the appeal when it launched 23 years ago.

[DJRC]

The Escort RS was st when it was new. It remains st now. What has changed?

[iSore]

hwajones said:

Id still have the Escort...

Me too. One of the Monte versions in that lovely purply maroon metallic and without the vile Ford leather, about 250 bhp and some minor suspension tweaks. What a proper thing that would be, until some bd tried to nick it. The first Focus RS was tasty, but the current one looks like a pair of Chinese made trainers, bloody horrible.

[Escort Si-130]

Well how is a 375bhp modified EsCos a comparison. It is a bit obvious it would win as heavily modified. If you upped the other two Focus giving them +155bhp then it would be ok to compare.

ZX10R NIN said:

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.

[iva cosworth]

DJRC said:

The Escort RS was st when it was new. It remains st now. What has changed?

Cosworth haters have arrived with insightful views as ever.

Any actual experience to back this up ?

[Baryonyx]

The one I really want is the Escort Cosworth. It has something special that the others lack. Although I like the mk1 Focus RS, the second generation one does nothing me, maybe because it's so bulky looking.

[iSore]

iva cosworth said:

Cosworth haters have arrived with insightful views as ever.

Any actual experience to back this up ?

Probably got a lift in his Dad's mate's brothers' Escort Bonus 90 in 1994.

[clarki]

The Escort is miles cooler than either of the other 2 - a true cult car. I'd love one. Still stunning to look at today, aged very well IMO.

Not sure the Focus RS has ever been the best hot hatch - not even back in 2009 - and when I drove one it didn't feel anything like 300+bhp tbh.

[daytona365]

Without a doubt the Cossie, since nowadays no car is better than the one that preceded it in real world terms.......This is not a typo !

[Baryonyx]

clarki said:

The Escort is miles cooler than either of the other 2 - a true cult car. I'd love one. Still stunning to look at today, aged very well IMO.

Not sure the Focus RS has ever been the best hot hatch - not even back in 2009 - and when I drove one it didn't feel anything like 300+bhp tbh.

I believe Mountune lifted the lid on that when they revealed most of the ones they were getting in to tune were making significantly less than 300bhp, and none had ever made more than 270bhp in standard tune on their dyno.

[IanMorewood]

Had a ride in a 94 Cossie as it was pretty much out of the factory, made the Saphire Cossie that I had just been ragging about in that day seem pedestrian coming out of the bends. For that reason alone I would pick the Escort.