Mk4 Escort RS Turbo
Discussion
What are they like?
My over-riding memory is of when I was a small boy, knowing a 'bigger boy' from up the road who had a Grey RS Turbo, and as far as I was concerned it was the most expensive, fastest car in the world.
I've noticed that there's a fair few half tidy looking ones available for around 2-3 grand?
I know full well that they are basic, and a 205 GTI is far more sophisticated in the handling department, but isnt that part of the charm of these?
Now they are well past the boy-racer era, I think they look very good too in standard form. Good, Old school, cheap-ish fun? Nice laggy boooOOOST! A 'bit working class hero'? Up here in the barren north we love a good fast Ford.
Or just rubbish in every way?
This one for instance looks good, at least -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-FORD-ESCORT-RS-TURB...
My over-riding memory is of when I was a small boy, knowing a 'bigger boy' from up the road who had a Grey RS Turbo, and as far as I was concerned it was the most expensive, fastest car in the world.
I've noticed that there's a fair few half tidy looking ones available for around 2-3 grand?
I know full well that they are basic, and a 205 GTI is far more sophisticated in the handling department, but isnt that part of the charm of these?
Now they are well past the boy-racer era, I think they look very good too in standard form. Good, Old school, cheap-ish fun? Nice laggy boooOOOST! A 'bit working class hero'? Up here in the barren north we love a good fast Ford.
Or just rubbish in every way?
This one for instance looks good, at least -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-FORD-ESCORT-RS-TURB...
This one looks lovely too - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/88-F-FORD-ESCORT-RS-TURB...
By modern standards a decent 1.3 twin cam' shopping trolley will humiliate you and the insurance will be ridiculous because they are the easierst car in the world to steal. CVH valves are a pain in the cheeks, big end shells always go on number three instead of one or four for some reason (at least the three I've blown up did) and where the body kit was fitted rust in untreated holes will spread like an STI in an old folks home. Apart from that they are superb cars and well worth the effort. Think about how much the disposable Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts of twenty years ago are worth now.
Go fot it.
Go fot it.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Wednesday 16th November 21:48
Liquid Knight said:
By modern standards a decent 1.3 twin cam' shopping trolley will humiliate you and bthe insurance will be ridiculous because they are the easierst car in the world to steal. CVH valves are a pain in the cheeks, big end shells always go on number three instead of one or four for some reason (at least the three I've blown up did) and where the body kit was fitted rust in untreated holes will spread like an STI in an old folks home. Apart from that they are superb cars and well worth the effort. Think about how much the disposable Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts of twenty years ago are worth now.
Go fot it.
But not on classic insuranceGo fot it.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Wednesday 16th November 21:48
Negative Creep said:
Liquid Knight said:
By modern standards a decent 1.3 twin cam' shopping trolley will humiliate you and the insurance will be ridiculous because they are the easierst car in the world to steal. CVH valves are a pain in the cheeks, big end shells always go on number three instead of one or four for some reason (at least the three I've blown up did) and where the body kit was fitted rust in untreated holes will spread like an STI in an old folks home. Apart from that they are superb cars and well worth the effort. Think about how much the disposable Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts of twenty years ago are worth now.
Go fot it.
But not on classic insuranceGo fot it.
Classic line barely blinked at my modified classic car:-
1986 944 turbo
engine capacity increase 2.5-3.0 litre
Non standard ECU/Induction
Undisclosed power output
5K miles per annum
Parked on drive
Crap postcode
£300ish fully comp with european recovery
1986 944 turbo
engine capacity increase 2.5-3.0 litre
Non standard ECU/Induction
Undisclosed power output
5K miles per annum
Parked on drive
Crap postcode
£300ish fully comp with european recovery
Edited by james0 on Wednesday 16th November 22:22
I had one. Seats are still some of the most comfortable i've sat in.
Interior is a bit naff (other than the seats) Standard 80's ford malarkey but it all worked.
Engine is not the most refined in the world but it can be a lot of fun. Mine was tuned by Turbo Technics (don't ask me how but it had the badge on the dash and the power output to match) and it went really well.
So in summary, very much an 80's Ford in the build and fit/finish department but lots of fun and very easy to maintain.
Interior is a bit naff (other than the seats) Standard 80's ford malarkey but it all worked.
Engine is not the most refined in the world but it can be a lot of fun. Mine was tuned by Turbo Technics (don't ask me how but it had the badge on the dash and the power output to match) and it went really well.
So in summary, very much an 80's Ford in the build and fit/finish department but lots of fun and very easy to maintain.
Had mine 23 years. Sold it two months ago, was sad to see it go. Only 47000 miles from new with a full history too.
Just watch out for rot. Engine's aren't expensive in them and extra power can be easily found. Proper 80's hot hatch. Not the fastest, or the best handling, but will put a smile on your face.
Just watch out for rot. Engine's aren't expensive in them and extra power can be easily found. Proper 80's hot hatch. Not the fastest, or the best handling, but will put a smile on your face.
I had a red 90 spec turbo a good few years back and I loved it.
I'm not sure how good it would feel today, but I remember it to be great fun.
Proper old school turbo feel, loads of lag and a good kick when on boost.
Handling was pretty good, the LSD made it exciting when driving it hard.
The Recaro seats are still one of the best that I've sat in.
Its the only car that I regret selling.
If I had the space, I'd have another one.
I'm not sure how good it would feel today, but I remember it to be great fun.
Proper old school turbo feel, loads of lag and a good kick when on boost.
Handling was pretty good, the LSD made it exciting when driving it hard.
The Recaro seats are still one of the best that I've sat in.
Its the only car that I regret selling.
If I had the space, I'd have another one.
I like performance cars from the 80's and have recently been lucky enough to have owned lots of them (see list below)' however the Rs turbo mk2 was a big disappointment as it was a complete pile of junk which can't just be due to it's age as other 80's cars I had were great.
Read views on RsT s2 here
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Recent other 80's cars I've had that were really good:
Cosworth 3 door and 4 door 2wd
E30 325 manual
E30 M3 2.3
Golf gti 16 big bumper
944 2.5s and 3.0'S2
Mr2'mk1
Capri 2.8
Alfa 75
The escort was crap in every respect.
Read views on RsT s2 here
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Recent other 80's cars I've had that were really good:
Cosworth 3 door and 4 door 2wd
E30 325 manual
E30 M3 2.3
Golf gti 16 big bumper
944 2.5s and 3.0'S2
Mr2'mk1
Capri 2.8
Alfa 75
The escort was crap in every respect.
Only car I've regretted parting hard earned cash with. I paid top money (at the time) for a gorgeous one in mint condition.
It wasn't standard, suspension and a lot of engine mods (I believe it was well over 200bhp).
It was fun but always had a problem.
In the end I couldn't put up with it. In standard form I definitely would have slit my wrists.
IMO if you want smiles per miles hot hatch which is starting to become a bit 90's cool, get a Saxo VTS. I would say 106 GTI (which I had) but the VTS is the same and there is more choice and cheaper.
It wasn't standard, suspension and a lot of engine mods (I believe it was well over 200bhp).
It was fun but always had a problem.
In the end I couldn't put up with it. In standard form I definitely would have slit my wrists.
IMO if you want smiles per miles hot hatch which is starting to become a bit 90's cool, get a Saxo VTS. I would say 106 GTI (which I had) but the VTS is the same and there is more choice and cheaper.
I had both Series 1 & Series 2.
The Series 1 I regret selling to this day. The series 2, I couldn't get rid of quick enough. They're all trouble, either through rot or duff electrics, I think I just bought a duff series 2.
Good luck finding a standard one with low miles (where the money is), most have been chipped, diesel (yes really) boxes- check to see if it has an LSD in by jacking the front end up, if both wheels spin the same way you'll know it's genuine.
The engines can't take much more than 9psi with the standard set-up. Intercooler & chip will see a safe 14psi. This should give anywhere between 150-165bhp, add an exhaust, cam & 5 injector and you could see around 180+bhp. I had mine rigged up through the Amal valve so I could crudely run '2 maps'. At this point they really fly, however you will see problems with lunching the gearbox & the possibility of melting a piston unless you have uprated internals. I don't see much point in running past this level (unless things have changed in recent years) because of the relatively weak gearboxes.
If I was doing it again, I'd go 1.9 American block or ZVH depending on costs, standardish levels of boost, slightly larger replacement Alloy intercooler, EFI from a Fiesta & a Mongoose exhaust & leave the car looking standard elsewhere.
The 1600I would be less hassle (unless you need to replace one of the twin Coil packs) and probably a better investment.
I'd also echo the above that the 90s was a massive step forwards in terms of mechanicals. With that in mind, I'd probably keep my eye out for a G60 or VR6 Corrado.
The Series 1 I regret selling to this day. The series 2, I couldn't get rid of quick enough. They're all trouble, either through rot or duff electrics, I think I just bought a duff series 2.
Good luck finding a standard one with low miles (where the money is), most have been chipped, diesel (yes really) boxes- check to see if it has an LSD in by jacking the front end up, if both wheels spin the same way you'll know it's genuine.
The engines can't take much more than 9psi with the standard set-up. Intercooler & chip will see a safe 14psi. This should give anywhere between 150-165bhp, add an exhaust, cam & 5 injector and you could see around 180+bhp. I had mine rigged up through the Amal valve so I could crudely run '2 maps'. At this point they really fly, however you will see problems with lunching the gearbox & the possibility of melting a piston unless you have uprated internals. I don't see much point in running past this level (unless things have changed in recent years) because of the relatively weak gearboxes.
If I was doing it again, I'd go 1.9 American block or ZVH depending on costs, standardish levels of boost, slightly larger replacement Alloy intercooler, EFI from a Fiesta & a Mongoose exhaust & leave the car looking standard elsewhere.
The 1600I would be less hassle (unless you need to replace one of the twin Coil packs) and probably a better investment.
I'd also echo the above that the 90s was a massive step forwards in terms of mechanicals. With that in mind, I'd probably keep my eye out for a G60 or VR6 Corrado.
Edited by VB on Wednesday 16th November 23:01
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