Cheaper Cosworths overseas- anyone bought?
Discussion
sortedcossie said:
Quite a few change hands without being advertised, so worth popping up a wanted advert along with an idea of spec required and your budget. The days of sub 20k usable cars have gone, can't even get a project for that really now 
I know, gutted! The ropiest one I’ve seen in this country is £25k.... seems to be some ok stuff at £34k (big money though, in my mind at least) I’ve joined various forums and clubs to see what comes up. I’ve never actually driven one- just living out a childhood dream. I hope it’s not one of those don’t meet your heroes jobs!
They're not THAT bad to drive but remember it's well over 20yo ,transmissions and electrics are weak.
Sold mine in 2015 and it was ropier than the ropiest thing you've ever seen, it didn't even run,
ETA.....2.5 years later it's still not been to an MOT yet ,unless it's been broken....
Sold mine in 2015 and it was ropier than the ropiest thing you've ever seen, it didn't even run,
ETA.....2.5 years later it's still not been to an MOT yet ,unless it's been broken....
Edited by Pericoloso on Saturday 10th February 00:10
Evolved said:
Drive one. Having spoken to people that have owned them, great to look at, s
t to drive!
Wheelbase is too short, squirrely under braking and in stock trim, not that quick.
Try before you buy, if you can of course.
What? Do you really think Ford ft to drive!Wheelbase is too short, squirrely under braking and in stock trim, not that quick.
Try before you buy, if you can of course.
ked up their sums and built a Group A and then WRC car with the wrong wheelbase! Go look it up, the wheelbase is longer than an Evo 6.Yes they are not that quick in standard trim (easily sorted), they are unrefined and need quite a bit of maintenance due to age and abuse, but they are an enjoyable drive.
Olivera said:
Evolved said:
Drive one. Having spoken to people that have owned them, great to look at, st to drive!
Wheelbase is too short, squirrely under braking and in stock trim, not that quick.
Try before you buy, if you can of course.
What? Do you really think Ford ft to drive!Wheelbase is too short, squirrely under braking and in stock trim, not that quick.
Try before you buy, if you can of course.
ked up their sums and built a Group A and then WRC car with the wrong wheelbase! Go look it up, the wheelbase is longer than an Evo 6.Yes they are not that quick in standard trim (easily sorted), they are unrefined and need quite a bit of maintenance due to age and abuse, but they are an enjoyable drive.
The Escos platform was only a modified Sierra chassis as we all know. Even at the time was fairly old tech, so I wouldn't expect anything too dynamic from it.
I did caveat my post, by saying it was what I’ve been told. Everyone is different though and should form their own opinions.
Don’t get me wrong, the Escos was a poster dream car for me. I had the yellow one featured in maxpower/fast car (can’t remember) on my wall around 92/93, and vowed like the OP I’d own one - one day. I worry that I’d be dissapointed if I did drive one.
I really lusted after one as a kid too as I was big into watching WRC at the time. I remember seeing the first rally car at Chatsworth and falling in love with it!
By modern standards though, I really suspect it would be pretty crap. More recent reviews I’ve read, all suggest that it’s really pretty slow, and is both uncomfortable and pretty average to drive. Top Gear did a quick group test of all the RS Fords about a year ago and rated the 3door Sierra Cossy as the best of them all. Light enough to make the most of the power and genuinely quite entertaining (I guess that’s why so many ended up in a ditch
)
By modern standards though, I really suspect it would be pretty crap. More recent reviews I’ve read, all suggest that it’s really pretty slow, and is both uncomfortable and pretty average to drive. Top Gear did a quick group test of all the RS Fords about a year ago and rated the 3door Sierra Cossy as the best of them all. Light enough to make the most of the power and genuinely quite entertaining (I guess that’s why so many ended up in a ditch
)I think late 20's is the starting point now to be honest. Biggest issue is lack of replacement parts and the old tin worm.
As a couple have said above, even the youngest ones are 20 years old and thus can't be compared to modern vehicles even with it's sub 6 second 0-60 time.
The brakes are marginal after a couple of heavy stops, the gear change is agricultural and the YB engine is not known for it's smoothness.
I've had mine 12 years this year, one of the last 65 cars off the production line - pretty much still standard but it oddly always produces 240hp on rolling road days. I didn't buy it for the performance, it was the looks, road presence and even back 12 years - the rarity. Today my e91 330d msport touring will out gun it especially once above 50mph however I still like driving it. It's small and go-kart like compared to more modern cars.
Hoping to do a few shows this year in mine after a couple of years of not being used much.
As a couple have said above, even the youngest ones are 20 years old and thus can't be compared to modern vehicles even with it's sub 6 second 0-60 time.
The brakes are marginal after a couple of heavy stops, the gear change is agricultural and the YB engine is not known for it's smoothness.
I've had mine 12 years this year, one of the last 65 cars off the production line - pretty much still standard but it oddly always produces 240hp on rolling road days. I didn't buy it for the performance, it was the looks, road presence and even back 12 years - the rarity. Today my e91 330d msport touring will out gun it especially once above 50mph however I still like driving it. It's small and go-kart like compared to more modern cars.
Hoping to do a few shows this year in mine after a couple of years of not being used much.
Regarding performance, it's pretty trivial and common to get more power out of them. In fact it's almost the norm to do so since the 90s!
A simple chip should give 270bhp, a very worthwhile improvement.
On the big turbo models you get an easy 330bhp by changing the injectors, chip and a few other small items. Easily done and reversible.
Driving on the oem map actually sounds far harsher and more strained then tuned cars, as Ford allegedly had Cosworth de-tune the engine from a higher figure.
A simple chip should give 270bhp, a very worthwhile improvement.
On the big turbo models you get an easy 330bhp by changing the injectors, chip and a few other small items. Easily done and reversible.
Driving on the oem map actually sounds far harsher and more strained then tuned cars, as Ford allegedly had Cosworth de-tune the engine from a higher figure.
Edited by Olivera on Monday 19th February 20:48
RacerMike said:
Top Gear did a quick group test of all the RS Fords about a year ago and rated the 3door Sierra Cossy as the best of them all. Light enough to make the most of the power and genuinely quite entertaining (I guess that’s why so many ended up in a ditch )
I had a 3 door back in the 90's, thought it was going to be yesterdays news when the Escos came out. I was quite pleased when the road tests said otherwise )
. I had a stage 3 tuned big turbo one for a couple of years before selling to a friend (who still has it) for what was the going rate at that point - Ten years ago nearly. It had 72k on the clock and had seen a stack of money thrown at it before I bought it, huge AP brakes front and rear, genuine Rondells, GGR suspension, chrome kit all over the engine bay, carbon bib, splitter and hockey sticks etc.
All I did was stick some nomad gauges in it, do some shows and rag it round the ring one long weekend.
Genuinely an icon of its day but if I was offered it back today I wouldn't pay a penny over the £13k I sold it for.
The idea that its worth over £20k is nuts. I know thats where the prices are, I'm well aware of the market for the RS back catalog, but its nuts. There are plenty around still and the bubble has to burst at some point!
All I did was stick some nomad gauges in it, do some shows and rag it round the ring one long weekend.
Genuinely an icon of its day but if I was offered it back today I wouldn't pay a penny over the £13k I sold it for.
The idea that its worth over £20k is nuts. I know thats where the prices are, I'm well aware of the market for the RS back catalog, but its nuts. There are plenty around still and the bubble has to burst at some point!
Edited by ALY77 on Tuesday 27th February 21:50
Pericoloso said:
They're not THAT bad to drive but remember it's well over 20yo ,transmissions and electrics are weak.
They did OK in some tests even compared to more modern stuff, even in mags like EVO who aren't the biggest fan and were surprised by it in the test below Like most cars of that age it depends a lot on the reviewer and the comparison cars
Having said all that any of the old rally reps as standard will struggle pace-wise against a cheap S3 with a bit of extra poke
Get a go in one if you can and see what you think.
My friend had a tuned one and it was a fantastic thing ( although I preferred his old Sierra for fun factor )
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