Tuesday 24th January 2012

Spotted: Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth

Harris on why browsing the PH classifieds is like being an X-Factor judge ... bear with him

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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

ges.

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.

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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

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See the original advert here

 

[L100NYY]

I almost bought that funnily enough!

[Johnboy Mac]

If it's as good as it looks you picked a real value motor there Mr.Harris.

[chiefski26]

Love these and had quite a few back in the day.

[Frimley111R]

Potentially great buy but dire advert, not sure why they bothered. I'd want to see far more info that the car has its history, everything works etc..

[soad]

Nice find, affordable too!!

[Krikkit]

What a classic machine... That's a buy that can only appreciate if you keep it in nice condition.

[bluntededdie]

Not many standard sapphire cosworths left these days,could be worth a punt at that price.

[anything fast]

a five grand saff nowerdays will be hiding many issues or be in need of resto work..

A decent STANDARD cossie with a clean HPI, NO RUST and under 100k genuine miles will cost closer to 8-10k

a thrashed modified cossie will cost a lot less and as for rusty ones, forget it... not worth the pain and the cost..

But i love these cars, 5-6 years ago (when i had mine) they were brilliant to use day in day out.. there were lots of good ones for reasonable money.. now they are getting very sought after and too old to be a daily driver. Another Classic RS that will only ever go up in value

[V8 FOU]

35mpg at a constant 56mph??? Who the hell had to suffer that? Imagine having to do that test.......
I bet there isn't a Cossie that has seen the right side of 30mpg - at least I hope not.
Great car though, and it is good to see an unmolested example.

[s m]

The last couple of paragraphs of the 1988 "Fast Lane" mag test vs the M3 and Thema 8.32 sum this car up perfectly

[Carsie]

Well to continue the X Factor theme and as Cheryl would say "you're right up my street pet!! (Mr Harris )

My Cossie Sapphire was also in white, albeit it had the black leather and I loved it. It was, for me, one of the best cars that I've ever owned from the perspective of package,affordabililty and performance.

I bought mine with a really low mileage and then ran it upto circa 120K over the next few years. The only thing I ever needed to do was to put fresh P7 Zero's and change the synthetic oil- oh yes and a new back end where some twoc stuffed my 1/4 panel and boot floor.

I sold it shortly afterward to get a Jag (or dodgy XJ40 as I think you alluded to Mr H ) and then some oink stole that and set fire to it

Parked my ego after that and bought the first of three Omega v6's.and I see that they too featured recently; we apparently have the same taste. Different type of car but a change in job and with young family they were a good choice.

Later on bought a brand new MGZT 190 which was the closest in spirit to the Cossie, and in many ways it was it just lacked that final bit of uummphf and of course the rear wheel drive but nonetheless very good car - wouldn't surprise me to see those on your list in the future.

Now - anyone know where G185 WVU is?

[Ex Boy Racer]

Had a 4x4 when it was new (somehow blagged it as a company car)
Seemed like a rocket ship back then and I must admit I drove it like I was being chased by the police all the time! I remember driving to a meeting once, chatting to my Boss. He glanced at the speedo, saw that it was the wrong side of 160 and gave me a right bking.
The insurance stated quite specifically that I wasn't allowed to take it to Liverpool....
J52 HAB - where are you now?

[taaffy]

Ex Boy Racer said:

The insurance stated quite specifically that I wasn't allowed to take it to Liverpool....

Had a chuckle at that comment .....however probably not the best place to have lived and owned one

[2DDav]

Despite being a Vauxhall man, I really do have a rather large soft spot for the Sapphire Cosworth.

[gck303]

>>the four-door Sapphire was light on its feet (1,250kg)

That is little more than a 2012 fiesta!

I did also see a 1989 Mercedes 560SEL weighs the same as a modern VW Jetta. Equally insane.

[dave stew]

Loved these cars and got to drive quite a few back in the day as the RS Owners Club magazine editor.

[Alex]

"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."

I just bought an Impreza P1 for £5.5k. I reckon that gives the Cossie a run for its money on those criteria. Just need to save up for the engine rebuild...

[Fartgalen]

I really lusted after these when I were a lad !

A bloke who lived nearby had one of the first 3 door Cossies. I was so jealous of that guy. I was making do with a 1.1 Fiesta.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

As a young impressionable teenager I was given a ride in my bosses Cosworth Sapphire and I immediatley fell in love!
It had 'around 350BHP' and, to this day, is still the fastest car I've ever been in!?


Now I'm all grown up and junk I can't afford one
Tbh if I could I don't know if I'd want to 'live the dream' incase it wasn't as good as I remembered. They'll always hold a special place in my heart though.

[Henry Fiddleton]

Memories of my 4x4 magenta with black leather.

Good,simple times. Boosted.

HF