RE: Spotted: Ford Escort RS1600i...

[stevenr]

D200 said:

I still do not see what is so amazing about these cars and how someone could demand a price like that for one - a fwd 1.6 mk3 escort with c115BHP. I can't see how this car is so revered.

As stated in other reply if you could tell me why is so brilliant and worth so much money I could be swayed. But I have researched it by the way [the internet is full of info on it] and until someone convinces me otherwise that my honest view on it. Main view being £26k for that car is madness, but if people are willing to pay it good luck to them...

I fully agree that this particular car isn't worth 26k.It probably is however the best available example left in the country as an unrestored car and someone will pay top dollar to have it.

Old cars like this are an acquired taste IMO and if you don't like them then that's up to you but to say they are crap is a bit silly.

Mine still drives very well for a near 30 year old car,the only real issue is the brakes which were never very good anyway.

By todays standards it's not fast by any means or very easy to drive sometimes with no power steering etc but i wouldn't have it any other way.

[D200]

stevenr said:

D200 said:

I still do not see what is so amazing about these cars and how someone could demand a price like that for one - a fwd 1.6 mk3 escort with c115BHP. I can't see how this car is so revered.

As stated in other reply if you could tell me why is so brilliant and worth so much money I could be swayed. But I have researched it by the way [the internet is full of info on it] and until someone convinces me otherwise that my honest view on it. Main view being £26k for that car is madness, but if people are willing to pay it good luck to them...

I fully agree that this particular car isn't worth 26k.It probably is however the best available example left in the country as an unrestored car and someone will pay top dollar to have it.

Old cars like this are an acquired taste IMO and if you don't like them then that's up to you but to say they are crap is a bit silly.

Mine still drives very well for a near 30 year old car,the only real issue is the brakes which were never very good anyway.

By todays standards it's not fast by any means or very easy to drive sometimes with no power steering etc but i wouldn't have it any other way.

Agreed & point accepted. And I really didn't intend to diss the car in general and apologies as it came across wrong. All I meant was I think it crazy the price being asked for that car, as you agree. My point being it looks like some people taking advantage in the whole ‘ RS‘ thing and adding thousands to the asking prices of any with an RS Badge.

To a small extent I can understand that any classic, esp. a performance car, could be worth a lot of money if it was totally brand new, unused and zero miles and some museum wanted it - but for a used car, and whilst its extremely low miles it is same still 'used', to fetch such a price it taking the hand a bit. The cars should be used - and not put in a display

[Grovsie26]

So can someone please explain what makes it worth 26k? if there not even a rare car as well? I can at least understand cosworths going for what they do, but come on, is't it just an old escort?

[stevenr]

Grovsie26 said:

So can someone please explain what makes it worth 26k? if there not even a rare car as well? I can at least understand cosworths going for what they do, but come on, is't it just an old escort?

No it's not just an old Escort.Yes they are what you could call rare.This one is probably the best unrestored example left making it very special indeed.Again,not worth 26k IMO but still very special.

[aea730]

Wouldnt the people on here who describe the car as various things from old rubbish, old escort, crap or other similar adjectives be better sticking to their video games where the only knowledge required is which colour button is needed to stop/go/turn left/right.

I can accept that their will be various views on the value of the car and whether it is overpriced but we are not comparing the car to modern day stuff. Bear in mind it was being driven round when the average 0-60 time was 3 weeks and you were sat at traffic lights next to things like the Lancia Beta, vauxhall cavalier, morris Ital, mercedes 180 and the only other real contender was the Golf Gti.

No one is claiming it to be a supercar but having owned 3 of them I can say it was definately a super car

[Gary C]

At least is was a real RS (ie a car build as a basis for competition) rather than some of the later badge engineered RS's. (one thing, I thought they had Boge suspension, but I'm probably wrong)

Nice to see one in perfect condition, and it would be ideal for someone with an RS collection.

Its only worth what someone will pay for it, and if I was VERY rich, and I had built an RS collection this would be a no brainer.

[williamp]

aea730 said:

Wouldnt the people on here who describe the car as various things from old rubbish, old escort, crap or other similar adjectives be better sticking to their video games where the only knowledge required is which colour button is needed to stop/go/turn left/right.

I can accept that their will be various views on the value of the car and whether it is overpriced but we are not comparing the car to modern day stuff. Bear in mind it was being driven round when the average 0-60 time was 3 weeks and you were sat at traffic lights next to things like the Lancia Beta, vauxhall cavalier, morris Ital, mercedes 180 and the only other real contender was the Golf Gti.

No one is claiming it to be a supercar but having owned 3 of them I can say it was definately a super car

Thanks for the tip. Yes when new it was comparable to the Golf 1600, Astra GTE, Fiat Strada etc etc. But now, as the vendor has stated it is an investment at that price, it can be compared to other investmnts at the same price. Ferrari, aston, Porsche etc etc. And it is compelately out of its league as an invrstment compared to these

Plus, you can drive any of those and their value wont depreciate at all. Drive this Escort (are you aure its as good to drive as, say a Ferrari 328 or 348??) and it becomes worthless. Just another old ford. Its only redeeming feature is its lack of use and low mileage. Which means you cnat drive it. A super car or not...

[s m]

williamp said:

Thanks for the tip. Yes when new it was comparable to the Golf 1600, Astra GTE, Fiat Strada etc etc. But now, as the vendor has stated it is an investment at that price, it can be compared to other investmnts at the same price. Ferrari, aston, Porsche etc etc. And it is compelately out of its league as an invrstment compared to these

Plus, you can drive any of those and their value wont depreciate at all. Drive this Escort (are you aure its as good to drive as, say a Ferrari 328 or 348??) and it becomes worthless. Just another old ford. Its only redeeming feature is its lack of use and low mileage. Which means you cnat drive it. A super car or not...

If you were an RS collector and wanted an immaculate RS1600i it won't really be relevant that you can buy a faster cheaper Ferrari, BMW etc for less. You might not want to drive it at all, just collect it as part of a collection. Strange to you or I perhaps. There's a few collections like this, people even buy a second, cheaper version just to drive.
The 26k is an OFFER price, not necessarily what it will sell for.
Car A does not have to be twice as good as Car B for it to sell for twice as much.

[andy-integrale]

Certain cars have a value to some people that others will never understand.

Its about nostalgia either owning a model of car once again that you owned many years ago or finally being able to purchase a car that you idolised in its day.

I know as I finally got to own an integrale at 40. In the late 80's and early 90's i had Pug 205 and Golf GTI's but an integrale was a dream, a super car destroyer and completely unattainable.

I never really did the fast Ford thing apart from a MK2 XR2 but remember trying to convince my mum to get a Fiesta Supersport. However I did always consider the RS1600i to be way more special than an XR3i and Cooler than an RS Turbo.

£26k is a lot of money but its worth what it means to someone I guess.

[RS500 Registrar]

s m said:

If you were an RS collector and wanted an immaculate RS1600i it won't really be relevant that you can buy a faster cheaper Ferrari, BMW etc for less. You might not want to drive it at all, just collect it as part of a collection. Strange to you or I perhaps. There's a few collections like this, people even buy a second, cheaper version just to drive.
The 26k is an OFFER price, not necessarily what it will sell for.
Car A does not have to be twice as good as Car B for it to sell for twice as much.

At last , somone who can think outside of the box

Paul

[ac427]

stevenr said:

No it's not just an old Escort.Yes they are what you could call rare.This one is probably the best unrestored example left making it very special indeed.Again,not worth 26k IMO but still very special.

Ok it got some livelier cams and Koni suspension but why choose this over an RS Turbo apart from rarity.

How many RS1600i's were made?

[s m]

ac427 said:

stevenr said:

No it's not just an old Escort.Yes they are what you could call rare.This one is probably the best unrestored example left making it very special indeed.Again,not worth 26k IMO but still very special.

Ok it got some livelier cams and Koni suspension but why choose this over an RS Turbo apart from rarity.

How many RS1600i's were made?

If you were buying it for a collection of RS cars you'd probably want an RS Turbo as well. Mark Bailey who has a big RS collection certainly has both.

If you don't like old RS Fords you'd choose neither car and buy a BMW or Porsche or Honda or something else

[cragswinter]

Investment cars are funny things, but the one thing going for these cars (old ford rs' & the like) is that unlike old porsches & ferrari's they are attainable classics for the common man.

Look at the other thread on the 911 speedster, that is an investment grade Porsche & you're looking at 60k+ for one these days.

Ok that's not in the jay leno/ralph loren league but it's out of reach for a regular working man, with two grown up kids & a semi in the suburbs.

Yet for around 25 grand, said working man can have what is possibly the best of the best, in perhaps something that he lusted after when he was young. This best example will get you invited to concourse events, shows, even places like the goodwood festival of speed should someone like the rsoc have a display there & want a good car to put on the stand.

Would I buy it? No. Would I consider Leigh's restored example? Yes. Will someone out there treat themselves to a car that they can keep forever? Quite possibly.

[iva cosworth]

ac427 said:

Ok it got some livelier cams and Koni suspension but why choose this over an RS Turbo apart from rarity.

How many RS1600i's were made?

8659 made.

Why choose this over a turbo ?

A RS1600i is a much nicer car and not much slower in the real world.

I have owned 3 16i and 2 S1 turbo BTW

http://www.rs1600i.net/

[andrewjgriff]

This puts the valuation into some sort of perspective.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2277661.htm

I know which I'd choose.

Edited by andrewjgriff on Sunday 5th February 15:10

[stevenr]

ac427 said:

Ok it got some livelier cams and Koni suspension but why choose this over an RS Turbo apart from rarity.

How many RS1600i's were made?

Personal preference for me ,i think it looks a fair bit better and the interior is a nicer place to sit too.
It's nicer to drive too IMO and not all that much slower in the real world,i know for sure mine isn't anyway.

There were also only 250 stratos silver cars sold in the UK so like you say there's the rarity factor for me too.

[RS500 Registrar]

andrewjgriff said:

This puts the valuation into some sort of perspective.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2277661.htm

I know which I'd choose.

Edited by andrewjgriff on Sunday 5th February 15:10

That sure does put it in perspective

the Merc fans will chose the Merc , Higher miles but still very low and IMO a cheap car

the Ford Fans however im sure would chose the Ford

Its whatever floats your boat , I see split screen VW campers fetching big money , I wouldnt thank you for one but at the same time quite understand that the VW fans want and do pay the big bucks , Imagine a VW camper with less than 2,000 miles from new

Its all about what your interested in

I love fors RS and have a nice collection myself , somtimes i wonder if im round the bend what i pay to own them , but then think at least i have somthing i enjoy and that is going up in value not down

I do like that Merc tho and may even go have a look myself as i think its a cheap car

[s m]

andrewjgriff said:

This puts the valuation into some sort of perspective.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2277661.htm

I know which I'd choose.

Edited by andrewjgriff on Sunday 5th February 15:10

It would look a bit out of place in an RS Ford collection though

It would look fantastic in a Merc collection however

Chacun a son gout Rodders ......

[Splitpin2008]

ac427 said:

stevenr said:

No it's not just an old Escort.Yes they are what you could call rare.This one is probably the best unrestored example left making it very special indeed.Again,not worth 26k IMO but still very special.

Ok it got some livelier cams and Koni suspension but why choose this over an RS Turbo apart from rarity.

How many RS1600i's were made?

If it wasn't for the RS1600i, there would probably not have been the RS Turbo.
Many of the parts on the RSi, were used on the Series 1 Turbo.
That said, many of those parts were available through RS as upgrades, but the RSi definitely lead to the RS Turbo.

[porsche666]

If I remember there was also a very rare RS1800 made with a RWD configuration (It looked like the XR3i & RS) perhaps some one can en-lighten me ...
I also spent time working in South Africa where Ford built an XR5 it looked like an XR4 but with a big 5 litre motor big wheel
aches and Wing/Spoiler.............Perhaps someone has info on this also .