Escort RS Cosworth as daily driver...?
Discussion
Having had a shocking insurance renewal quote for my Civic Type-R, I am on the lookout for a car to replace it with. Given I intend to start a new life abroad once my MBA is completed (around April 2007) I figured I'd try something a bit different as a road car before my time is up and I up sticks.
On the list at the moment is a range of stuff from a late model 1.3 MPI Mini Cooper through Nissan 350Z, Honda S2000 and Boxter all the way to a Cerbera.
Having spoken to the brokers that deal with my RS 500 insurance today, they have given me a great quote on an Escort RS Cosworth. Well, I say great - It's still £'s but massively cheaper than the quote for the Civic, so it's gone on the list.
I've been well and truly bitten by the Cosworth bug and as much as I'd like another Sierra as a runner, I can't help but think the later Escort is a more practical proposition. Jeremy Clarkson once told me it's the only car he ever regretted selling. Not sure if that's a good thing or not...!
What are they like to live with...? It'll be doing 6-10k miles a year and used 2-3 times a week, garaged and extremely well looked after by the wizards at MSD.
Same question I posted prior to buying the RS500 - am I an idiot for wanting one...?
>> Edited by Roop on Wednesday 15th February 19:58
On the list at the moment is a range of stuff from a late model 1.3 MPI Mini Cooper through Nissan 350Z, Honda S2000 and Boxter all the way to a Cerbera.
Having spoken to the brokers that deal with my RS 500 insurance today, they have given me a great quote on an Escort RS Cosworth. Well, I say great - It's still £'s but massively cheaper than the quote for the Civic, so it's gone on the list.
I've been well and truly bitten by the Cosworth bug and as much as I'd like another Sierra as a runner, I can't help but think the later Escort is a more practical proposition. Jeremy Clarkson once told me it's the only car he ever regretted selling. Not sure if that's a good thing or not...!
What are they like to live with...? It'll be doing 6-10k miles a year and used 2-3 times a week, garaged and extremely well looked after by the wizards at MSD.
Same question I posted prior to buying the RS500 - am I an idiot for wanting one...?
>> Edited by Roop on Wednesday 15th February 19:58
I had an Escort Cosworth (early Lux model 
) for 2 1/2 yrs. LOVED IT. For 6 months I used it as an everyday car doing 7 mile journeys to work and the car didn't like it at all - so I then started using it only as a weekend toy. My only regret is that I didn't drive it more than I did!!
EVERYDAY, I suggest not, every 2-3 days totalling 10k a year, should be absolutely fine!!!
(incidentally, have you seen how much prices have changed? In 2000 I bought my car for £13.5k. Sold it in 2002 for £15k, and an equivalent (plus avg miles) will now be £18k!!
) for 2 1/2 yrs. LOVED IT. For 6 months I used it as an everyday car doing 7 mile journeys to work and the car didn't like it at all - so I then started using it only as a weekend toy. My only regret is that I didn't drive it more than I did!! EVERYDAY, I suggest not, every 2-3 days totalling 10k a year, should be absolutely fine!!!
(incidentally, have you seen how much prices have changed? In 2000 I bought my car for £13.5k. Sold it in 2002 for £15k, and an equivalent (plus avg miles) will now be £18k!!
Thanks for the feedback Tony - good to hear that you enjoyed the car and had no nightmares with it. The prices are going up for sure - not quite RS500 fast but they are definitely climbing, so I figure if I get a good one at the right money and look after it, it's cheap motoring in a somewhat iconic car. I look at it as something similar to an Mitsi Evo or Impreza but with added rarity value. My insurance quote includes mods up to Stage 1, so that gives me some flexibility in the car that I get. Ideally I want a standard one, but a discretely modified one would be fine.
I assume if yours was an early one it was the big turbo model...? What state of tune was it in...?
I assume if yours was an early one it was the big turbo model...? What state of tune was it in...?
absolutely awesome car! great choice! 
one of my all time favourite hot hatches is the Escort Cossie. i think it would be fine as a daily driver as long as you don't cane it at every opportunity you get! (as tempting as it may be!) you'll be fine it's a great car. the best fast Ford ever alongside the Sierra RS500 IMO good luck with it!
FMC
one of my all time favourite hot hatches is the Escort Cossie. i think it would be fine as a daily driver as long as you don't cane it at every opportunity you get! (as tempting as it may be!) you'll be fine it's a great car. the best fast Ford ever alongside the Sierra RS500 IMO good luck with it!
FMC
I expect it is tempting to thrap it, but it's an old Ford so there has to be some care taken I expect...! Well, if it's anything like my other old Ford then it'll be wrapped up in cotton wool...!*
I looked at Sapphires as well, but the Escort values are climbing so I fancy getting in while it's still possible.
As for regular three doors (original whale-tail) it's too similar to what I have already so Escort it is...
*Then taken out and given a thrapping every so often
I looked at Sapphires as well, but the Escort values are climbing so I fancy getting in while it's still possible.
As for regular three doors (original whale-tail) it's too similar to what I have already so Escort it is...
*Then taken out and given a thrapping every so often
Mmm, Monte was a nice model. Wouldn't be up for sale would it...? (nudge nudge, wink wink) 
Bugger. Thought not
They seem to be fairing very well. Considering they are old Fords, they do seem to hang together well - I expect because they get looked after. Enough contacts through RSOC to make sure I get a sorted one as well, so no shockers hopefully...
Bugger. Thought not
They seem to be fairing very well. Considering they are old Fords, they do seem to hang together well - I expect because they get looked after. Enough contacts through RSOC to make sure I get a sorted one as well, so no shockers hopefully...
That's right, mine was the big turbo model and I had a 330conversion from MAD in it. The engine HATED the 7 miles journey to work and back, it felt so wrong, and clogged up and just went horribly. Never properly warmed up. That's why I would not recommend using it everyday for low miles - but a 100 mile round trip will be fine!
The car's don't like huge miles, and like all cars have things that go wrong. To say I had no troubles with it is an understatement; gearbox mashed to bits (had spent it's 60 of it's 70k mile life with the 330 conversion), a carrier for the cam came off (but luckily made absolutely no damage what-so-ever; a new carrier and job was a good'un), cv joints, clutch cable etc, headgasket started leaking, all sorts of things that go wrong around that age happened. Even had a drive shaft come out and bash into my newly bought gearbox!
So, I don't want to look back with rose tinted glasses and say it was a completely hassle free because it was not at all, however, it was glorious.
If you're going for a standard one then problems like the gearbox shouldn't be an issue. All that I've said above sounds like it's an unrelieable car; it's not at all, and I thoroughly enjoyed the car and WOULD do it all over again (even if it financially crippled me...I bought it at 19yrs old!), I just want to make sure you don't think I'm painting a mis-leading picture!
Hope that's all been of help to you!
Tony
PS: Gratuitous picture of my car because I'm reminiscing...
(I apologise they're crap pictures, they're all I could find, everything is on my other laptop)
The car's don't like huge miles, and like all cars have things that go wrong. To say I had no troubles with it is an understatement; gearbox mashed to bits (had spent it's 60 of it's 70k mile life with the 330 conversion), a carrier for the cam came off (but luckily made absolutely no damage what-so-ever; a new carrier and job was a good'un), cv joints, clutch cable etc, headgasket started leaking, all sorts of things that go wrong around that age happened. Even had a drive shaft come out and bash into my newly bought gearbox!
So, I don't want to look back with rose tinted glasses and say it was a completely hassle free because it was not at all, however, it was glorious.
If you're going for a standard one then problems like the gearbox shouldn't be an issue. All that I've said above sounds like it's an unrelieable car; it's not at all, and I thoroughly enjoyed the car and WOULD do it all over again (even if it financially crippled me...I bought it at 19yrs old!), I just want to make sure you don't think I'm painting a mis-leading picture!
Hope that's all been of help to you!
Tony
PS: Gratuitous picture of my car because I'm reminiscing...
(I apologise they're crap pictures, they're all I could find, everything is on my other laptop)
At the end of the day it's a Ford, and a Ford built when Ford's weren't built that well...! I do expect some hassles from such an old car but I'd like to thing the upsides of owning something like that would outweigh the downsides.
I hate to think what you paid to insure it at 19
Luckily, I have a great outfir in MSD to look after it - they certainly know their onions when it comes to the motors so hopefully (fingers crossed) I'd be OK.
Great pics BTW - they still do look good even after all these years...
I hate to think what you paid to insure it at 19
Luckily, I have a great outfir in MSD to look after it - they certainly know their onions when it comes to the motors so hopefully (fingers crossed) I'd be OK.
Great pics BTW - they still do look good even after all these years...
Roop said:
At the end of the day it's a Ford, and a Ford built when Ford's weren't built that well...! I do expect some hassles from such an old car but I'd like to thing the upsides of owning something like that would outweigh the downsides.
They were built by Karmann though, rather than down the same lines as every other Escort
I've just remembered that my parents car (at it's current 70k on the clock) is in need of some gearbox attention fairly soon. It's standard BTW. and not for sale
me, I never paid more than that for a car 'til 2003 (2001 Z3) Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff