My RWD Escort RS Cosworth nick named "The Widow Maker"
Discussion
Well after a very long search stretched over years I am back in a RS Cosworth.
I sold my old M3 R238 GBH to a guy called Chris who was based in Estonia for the American Embassy... Sounds dodgy I know but a top guy, paid for the car and collected no problems. I was gutted to see that car go but I knew if I didnt get back in a RS soon they would all be too expensive for me to buy and keep without feeling guilty.
So that leads me to the Escort. Well as the title says, its RWD and anyone who has owned or even looked into 4x4 Cosworth will know that the 4x4 limits the power unless you spend £5,000 on diffs and gearbox, never going to happen for me. So it was either a stage 3 car (350 bhp) or a RWD car and in the future turn the power up.
I was lurking on M3 Cutters asking around etc and posted a thread saying how hard it is to find a Cosworth that is not silly money and in alright condition. When a guy I met on the M3 Cutters charity calander photo shoot said his old car was for sale. So I took a look, was a bit pricey for me so gave it a wide birth. Anyway a month or so later I emailed the guy with a cheeky offer and lucky for me it was accepted. So off I go, expecting to find a proper bag of spanners for the money and boy was I wrong.
The car was and is mint. Its in better condition than my old Escort which had 52,000 miles on the clock. The only bit of rust is a 5p size on the sill which wont take much sorting. Everything else is spot on. Paintwork is in good shape, few swirl marks but nothing you wouldnt expect. No major scratches, stone chips, dents etc.
The guy really undersold the car to be honest, his advert was rubbish and his photos again did not stand out.
So after going over the car and looking for all the bits I knew would be an issue I was lucky enough to find they had been sorted buy a previous owner.
The car started from cold and no piston slap which was a great sign. I knew the engine had been rebuilt less than 4000 miles ago so knew it would of been good. It sounded nice, loud but nice, pulled really well too. Only downside is the gearbox, its 20 year old technology so its pretty poor compared to new cars but it does what it says on the tin, selects gears fine and no whines or noises.
So after checking everything I bought the car. It has the odd little thing that needs doing but nothing major in my eyes.
List of things that I will change or do
1: Powerstearing pump is noisey, after getting home and checking its low on oil, either a leak or a top up needed
2: lid on the washer wiper bottle is loose and causing the fluid to come out the top
3: the exhaust is knocking on the floor or suspension, little bit annoying. Just needs a bracket changing
4: Oil leak from the sump plug, not massive bit something that needs sorting
5: It will need some rear tyres soon
6: Breaks squeek, some greese on the calipers should sort this. It breaks straight and true and no wheel wobble.
7: Change the gear gaitor to a nice new one to freshen it up
8: Get the hand break tightened
That is it, some might think that is a big list but trust me, for a Cosworth that is nothing
So I have had it now for 3 days and driven it everyday. Not given it the full beans yet as you can imagine its a handful and its wet.
Quick snap but still not cleaned and on a crap camera
This is about as close as I am going to get to my dream car, 964 911 Turbo 2 in black (bad boys car)
It has a wail tail
Its black
It goes like stink!
And it tries to kill you everytime you take it out.
If I manage to get a cool 100k though I would buy one
So no real pics yet, not cleaned it and the weather has been poor. Will give it a clean and get some photos up soon enough. Comments welcome on my one pic though haha
Enjoy
Mark
I sold my old M3 R238 GBH to a guy called Chris who was based in Estonia for the American Embassy... Sounds dodgy I know but a top guy, paid for the car and collected no problems. I was gutted to see that car go but I knew if I didnt get back in a RS soon they would all be too expensive for me to buy and keep without feeling guilty.
So that leads me to the Escort. Well as the title says, its RWD and anyone who has owned or even looked into 4x4 Cosworth will know that the 4x4 limits the power unless you spend £5,000 on diffs and gearbox, never going to happen for me. So it was either a stage 3 car (350 bhp) or a RWD car and in the future turn the power up.
I was lurking on M3 Cutters asking around etc and posted a thread saying how hard it is to find a Cosworth that is not silly money and in alright condition. When a guy I met on the M3 Cutters charity calander photo shoot said his old car was for sale. So I took a look, was a bit pricey for me so gave it a wide birth. Anyway a month or so later I emailed the guy with a cheeky offer and lucky for me it was accepted. So off I go, expecting to find a proper bag of spanners for the money and boy was I wrong.
The car was and is mint. Its in better condition than my old Escort which had 52,000 miles on the clock. The only bit of rust is a 5p size on the sill which wont take much sorting. Everything else is spot on. Paintwork is in good shape, few swirl marks but nothing you wouldnt expect. No major scratches, stone chips, dents etc.
The guy really undersold the car to be honest, his advert was rubbish and his photos again did not stand out.
So after going over the car and looking for all the bits I knew would be an issue I was lucky enough to find they had been sorted buy a previous owner.
The car started from cold and no piston slap which was a great sign. I knew the engine had been rebuilt less than 4000 miles ago so knew it would of been good. It sounded nice, loud but nice, pulled really well too. Only downside is the gearbox, its 20 year old technology so its pretty poor compared to new cars but it does what it says on the tin, selects gears fine and no whines or noises.
So after checking everything I bought the car. It has the odd little thing that needs doing but nothing major in my eyes.
List of things that I will change or do
1: Powerstearing pump is noisey, after getting home and checking its low on oil, either a leak or a top up needed
2: lid on the washer wiper bottle is loose and causing the fluid to come out the top
3: the exhaust is knocking on the floor or suspension, little bit annoying. Just needs a bracket changing
4: Oil leak from the sump plug, not massive bit something that needs sorting
5: It will need some rear tyres soon
6: Breaks squeek, some greese on the calipers should sort this. It breaks straight and true and no wheel wobble.
7: Change the gear gaitor to a nice new one to freshen it up
8: Get the hand break tightened
That is it, some might think that is a big list but trust me, for a Cosworth that is nothing
So I have had it now for 3 days and driven it everyday. Not given it the full beans yet as you can imagine its a handful and its wet.
Quick snap but still not cleaned and on a crap camera
This is about as close as I am going to get to my dream car, 964 911 Turbo 2 in black (bad boys car)
It has a wail tail
Its black
It goes like stink!
And it tries to kill you everytime you take it out.
If I manage to get a cool 100k though I would buy one
So no real pics yet, not cleaned it and the weather has been poor. Will give it a clean and get some photos up soon enough. Comments welcome on my one pic though haha
Enjoy
Mark
WANT Just got back from taking it for a blast, it really does go well. Second has little traction even in the dry with Toyo Proxys on the back but is very easy to control, does not go off at all angles. Getting really happy with the car now, no extra issues other than listed above which is great.
The alarm is playing me up though. Bloody battery gone on the remote which has made a world of difference and the ariel on it has broken (glue currently drying on that one)
I have got me a bargain
The alarm is playing me up though. Bloody battery gone on the remote which has made a world of difference and the ariel on it has broken (glue currently drying on that one)
I have got me a bargain
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