Sierra Sapphire Cosworth
Discussion
bigkeeko said:
Nice car mate. I had one as well. 4x4. The BHP figures don`t tell the whole story either, as there is not the tank like weight in them of modern cars. Rapid and very underrated machines.
Thank you,she's certainly lively enough for me although I think a trip south to get it on a rolling road and set up properly would make it even better.Bit of an update after some using and abusing.The poor old girl was starting to smoke on overrun,checked the usual things before handing it over to a professional for a full top end rebuild.The smoke I believe was caused by knackered stem seals,turbo seems ok and there's no sign of the bores being worn or damaged so that's a plus.
Before all that happened though,i managed to fit the new wheels,they still need a tidy up but the engine work took priority so I need to save a few more pennies for that once I get the bill for the engine or it'll be
for me from my so far understanding missus 
A few photos anyway,more to follow once I get it back and cracked on with the rest of the plans.
The squint number plate's been sorted since this was taken.Only noticed it when I looked at the photo
I pinched this photo from a facebook page,it was taken at the McRae rally challenge at knockhill the other week,I took plenty photos of everything else apart from my own one
Before all that happened though,i managed to fit the new wheels,they still need a tidy up but the engine work took priority so I need to save a few more pennies for that once I get the bill for the engine or it'll be
for me from my so far understanding missus A few photos anyway,more to follow once I get it back and cracked on with the rest of the plans.
The squint number plate's been sorted since this was taken.Only noticed it when I looked at the photo
I pinched this photo from a facebook page,it was taken at the McRae rally challenge at knockhill the other week,I took plenty photos of everything else apart from my own one
Edited by Stevenr on Monday 25th May 13:27
Nice looking Cossie, the new comps look much better. Keep the original wheels though as it maybe worth more looking standard.
I had 4 Cosworths between 1995 and 2006. First was a 2wd Saph then a 4x4 Saph followed by a black 3dr which was my favourite and kept for about 5 years. Final one was a J plate Saph with a GGR engine with RS500 8 injector setup and water injection tank in boot,AP brakes etc etc. Had RL7's on my 3dr in anthracite with big brakes coilovers etc,used it on many track days was great fun. Those were the days when I could actually drift around Clarke curve at Brands in the Cossie as you could never get the power down easily. My driving has gone down hill since as all the M cars I've had since have driver aids and now rely on these to do it all for me , was at Brands a couple of weeks ago in my M5 and too worried to turn off DSC ! The Cossie was and still is a proper drivers car, the seating position and pedals etc were just perfect.
Simon.
I had 4 Cosworths between 1995 and 2006. First was a 2wd Saph then a 4x4 Saph followed by a black 3dr which was my favourite and kept for about 5 years. Final one was a J plate Saph with a GGR engine with RS500 8 injector setup and water injection tank in boot,AP brakes etc etc. Had RL7's on my 3dr in anthracite with big brakes coilovers etc,used it on many track days was great fun. Those were the days when I could actually drift around Clarke curve at Brands in the Cossie as you could never get the power down easily. My driving has gone down hill since as all the M cars I've had since have driver aids and now rely on these to do it all for me , was at Brands a couple of weeks ago in my M5 and too worried to turn off DSC ! The Cossie was and still is a proper drivers car, the seating position and pedals etc were just perfect.
Simon.
Terminator X said:
Fell in love with them myself in the late 80's after seeing one in black with black leather interior parked up in Slough of all places! Never owned one in the end as love of all things Scoob took over!
TX.
I'd have another Impreza STI in a heartbeat.In fact I'll more than likely own another one soon enough when funds allow.TX.
I don't think I'd have another 2.5 though unless it's a rebuilt one,too many horror stories although I was lucky with mine and had no problems other than the rear suspension giving up.
Lovely car!
Would have been a natural progression from my 2nd Carpi Injection back in 1988 but they were sadly virtually uninsurable in those days.
A mate of mine had a traders policy and Cosworths were the only cars it wouldn't cover!
The way prices are now they are way out of budget but it's great to see them still on the road.
Enjoy yours!
Edited to say that in 1993 when I had a Sapphire GLSi I bought from the same mate that I mentioned he took a Sapphire Cosworth to a track day at Silverstone on the GP circuit and I was driving it when the head gasket let go (not great timing as I had just overtaken him in his XR4i)! He took 5 cars to that outing and only the XR4i drove home!
Happy days! It got fixed and sold for about £3,000 IIRC - might have bought it but insurance cost more than that each year!
Would have been a natural progression from my 2nd Carpi Injection back in 1988 but they were sadly virtually uninsurable in those days.
A mate of mine had a traders policy and Cosworths were the only cars it wouldn't cover!
The way prices are now they are way out of budget but it's great to see them still on the road.
Enjoy yours!
Edited to say that in 1993 when I had a Sapphire GLSi I bought from the same mate that I mentioned he took a Sapphire Cosworth to a track day at Silverstone on the GP circuit and I was driving it when the head gasket let go (not great timing as I had just overtaken him in his XR4i)! He took 5 cars to that outing and only the XR4i drove home!
Happy days! It got fixed and sold for about £3,000 IIRC - might have bought it but insurance cost more than that each year!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 13th June 23:27
A lovely crisp looking Sapph you have there matey
. I owned an Ebony 4x4 then a White 2wd mid/late 90's, always loved them. 14 years later I went and bought another, a clean late Smokestone Sapph back in 2011 but regrettably sold it to a mate last year. Started looking at them again recently
...
Enjoy it matey...
. I owned an Ebony 4x4 then a White 2wd mid/late 90's, always loved them. 14 years later I went and bought another, a clean late Smokestone Sapph back in 2011 but regrettably sold it to a mate last year. Started looking at them again recently...Enjoy it matey...
Edited by Fury RS on Wednesday 27th May 11:45
Thanks for the nice comments,can't wait to get it back now and make use of it.
Thinking about the brakes just now,I have a set of 6 pot calipers and massive discs that came with the wheels but it had new calipers all round late last year when it went back on the road so they're pretty good already.
The 6 pots would look good behind the big open spoked wheels,the standard wheels wouldn't fit back on the car then though.
Decisions!
Thinking about the brakes just now,I have a set of 6 pot calipers and massive discs that came with the wheels but it had new calipers all round late last year when it went back on the road so they're pretty good already.
The 6 pots would look good behind the big open spoked wheels,the standard wheels wouldn't fit back on the car then though.
Decisions!
Stevenr said:
Bit of an update after some using and abusing.The poor old girl was starting to smoke on overrun,checked the usual things before handing it over to a professional for a full top end rebuild.The smoke I believe was caused by knackered stem seals,turbo seems ok and there's no sign of the bores being worn or damaged so that's a plus.
I had exactly the same issue with a sapphire cosworth that I used to own, it required new valve guides (not just stem seals) to rectify smoking on the overrun.Looks a lovely example though.
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