We are all, every one of us, nothing more than a bunch of Simon Cowells.
Well if like me, you spend unhealthy amounts of time pondering the next big thing, then you too are engaged in a quest to look for what will excite the marketplace over the coming years. Mr Cowell does the same with peoples’ voices, which is more sinister and less interesting.
A 'good news car' says our man Harris
One of the most obvious ways to spot tomorrow’s hero is to identify today’s star and then attempt to guess what a prospective buyer of that car would choose should it be elevated to a price-point beyond their purse. According to this method, I present the Sierra Sapphire Cosworth. The one you’d want if you thought three-door Cossies were getting a bit too pricey.
The pragmatist in me sees this as a good-news car. It appears to be in standard specification, which on Planet Cossie places it in the rocking-horse-excrement category and it has covered only 75,000 miles.
White coachwork suits the Sapphire’s more subtle lines and those front Recaros make modern seat design appear frivolous. Of the Sapphires I have driven I much preferred the two-wheel-drive model, even if it didn’t have the same year-round performance as the later four-wheel-drive version. The pre-facelift machine also appears more comfortable without those snazzy wheels and detail chan
Grey plastic, velour Recaros - yup, Cossie tastic
Progress treats the Cosworth’s 204hp with little respect – most modern hot hatch fans wouldn’t bother with such a measly figure, but the four-door Sapphire was light on its feet (1,250kg) and relied on yesterday’s tyre technology to ensure maximum amusement. This is not a sophisticated car. The motor is coarse and noisy and the chassis is basic, but we mustn’t forget that in its day the Cosworth had no rivals. Faster and cheaper than either the E30 BMW M3 or the Mercedes 190E 2.5-16, its position at the head of the punch/practicality table was endorsed by one part of the demographic that really knows about this stuff: getaway drivers.
For the money, I can’t think of a car in the PH classifieds that would be as much fun to own and drive, and offer its owner more reassurance for future value.
FORD SIERRA SAPPHIRE COSWORTH
Engine:1993cc four-cylinder turbo
Power (hp): 204@6000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 204@4500rpm
MPG:35mpg (at constant 56mph)
CO2: N/A
First registered:1990
Recorded mileage: 75,000
Price new:£19,500
Yours for: £5,000