RE: Ford Escort RS Cosworth: PH Used Buying Guide

[cerb4.5lee]

Zetec-S said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I've always loved these and the rose tinted glasses are fully on.

+1

Considered buying one, probably about 15 years ago now. I think prices were around £10-15k for a decent example. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

(although it would have been used as a daily driver so the high mileage and running costs over the years would probably have gone a long way to offset any potential increase in value)

This was very similar for me when I purchased my 200SX back in 2002. I paid £12k for it and the dealer that was selling the 200 had a couple of Escort Cosworths for sale for similar money. I toyed with whether to go for the cossie(I love Ford's as it is), but I wanted something a little newer at the time.

Obviously with hindsight I made the wrong choice when you now look at the value of the Escort Cosworths. But as you mention I would have put plenty of miles on it and I wouldn't have probably kept it until now anyway. I'd be a rich man if I'd have brought one and stored it though!

[epom]

sortedcossie said:

I own car 7084 out of 7145 produced. Never bumped or stolen, has blue silicone hoses and a performance exhaust/air filter but have all standard parts bar the exhaust. It's never had the head off, or gearbox off. Owned it over 12 years now, not concours but it's a nice usable one with every receipt from day one.

Prices are a minefield though and sadly there is some right rubbish out there if you don't know what to look for. Corrosion and lack of some of the unique parts are a headache, and thus prices of parts have the "RS" tax on them.

Saying all that without a few pics is just downright rude

[cerb4.5lee]

s m said:

cerb4.5lee said:

s m said:

A standard 220bhp one will barely see you ahead of a GT86 these days which most on here find slow

I was browsing earlier for a GT86 because I still lust after one. The 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds and 151 ib/ft torque lead me to think it will be a world of disappointment...I need to drive one to see if the reality is better than how I imagine them to be performance wise.

They handle nicely Lee ( but nothing groundbreaking imho if you're used to things like your 200SX and feelsome cars of the 80s/90s like M3s/Cosworths ) but don't 'feel' like 200bhp to me. Coming down in price as well

Try one and see as there are plenty of ways to pep them up. For me the rear space was too small as a useable 4-seater

Thanks for the experience share I have considered putting £5k to one side to possibly Turbo or Supercharge one. I do like the Turbo thrust and I feel that in standard guise it would leave me flat. I love everything else about the GT86 though.

[CO2000]

A.J.M said:

I’ve wanted one for years.
Large turbo, Imperial blue with Raven leather interior.

Prices are going one way and unless my circumstances change big time. I’ll have missed the boat on them which is a sad thing to admit.

350bhp, 18” Rondalls and nice brakes and suspension would keep me happy for the summer use it would get.


Maybe one day.

I had exactly that for 5 years (97-02) and used it nearly every day rain or shine (& snow as I had a set of white OZs' with snow & Tyres!)
Probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have at the time, sold it for just under 10k too!

[sortedcossie]

epom said:

Saying all that without a few pics is just downright rude

This is the only one that I have to hand



I agree fully with the comments about performance, but for me that isn't what owning one was about. For me it's the rarity and presence. I think mines only done about 250 miles in the last 2 years due to other things going on on a weekend, but hoping to get more use next year.

[aaron_2000]

If I had about £40k to spend on a car, I'd be in an Escort Cosworth. Just like if I had £15k to spend, I'd be in the Sierra. Whether a new car is quicker or not doesn't matter, because no BMW, Audi or Merc outside of say an SLR will get the looks, or the praise of the Escort driving down the road. The massive airdam and the whale tail spoiler. Although, for the prices I mentioned, you'd probably be buying one that'd been tuned anyway. I'd go leather with the pregnant airbag steering wheel for the full 90s experience.

[redroadster]

Apart from civic no wild looking cars on road all sensible styling so it does bring back memories from my younger years .

[A.J.M]

CO2000 said:

I had exactly that for 5 years (97-02) and used it nearly every day rain or shine (& snow as I had a set of white OZs' with snow & Tyres!)
Probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have at the time, sold it for just under 10k too!

Git.



This.
Carbon fibre, those wheels, even the Morette headlights, smoked side and rear lights and 350bhp.

Can go keep my Land Rover series 1 company in the garage. Although, if life goes to Plan...
I’ll have a second Series 1 in the garage in a few years.

[Mikebentley]

Had one about 1996 believe it was a 93/94 car. Small turbo bought from a Police auction and on Q Plates. White car and had it striped with tiger stripe livery. Kept it about a year but the worry of theft was completely spoiling it for me. Also it was the worst Escort shape they ever made. The interior in even run of the mill escorts of the Mk was shocking. Now a 3 dr Cosworth Sierra......

[smig12345]

These were my dream car as a teenage school boy in the 90s too. 225 hp and 4 wheel drive was rare back then, this is before Evos and Imprezas were big in the UK. They had a great pumped up rally look to them too with the body kit, vents, alloys and spoiler.

From wiki. The Escort RS Cosworth was the first mass production car to produce downforce at the front and rear (at front 4.6kg/45Newton at 180 km/h (110 mph) with adjustable front splitter in middle position and 19.4kg/190Newton downforce with the rear large wing).

[s m]

smig12345 said:

From wiki. The Escort RS Cosworth was the first mass production car to produce downforce at the front and rear (at front 4.6kg/45Newton at 180 km/h (110 mph) with adjustable front splitter in middle position and 19.4kg/190Newton downforce with the rear large wing).

[Berkut666]

As with most on here I massively lusted after one of these, even up until the last few years. However it would only be for the looks, the conversations and the joy of owning it. I worked in the motor trade in my early 20's (about 20 years ago now.....) at a Mitsubishi Dealer and had the chance to drive a few. They were very average as a driving experience even then especially when compared to my own Integra Type R or the large amount of Evo 5/6/7 we use to see.

I get that some classic cars are appreciating in value but I honestly cant get away from the fact that if I got one, I would basically be paying such vast sums of money for what is essential a shortened Sierra in a skirt.

I love them, I really do. But I would rather spend £20K on an Evo for the performance/conversations then the rest of the £75K on a classic I could feel I was justified in and felt extra special.

That said, there is a lovely one on ebay at the moment without the Whale Tail....

search Ex Concours Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux - Aero Delete Model - 11K Miles

Edited by Berkut666 on Thursday 20th December 14:58

[alorotom]

I personally know of 3 cars (imperial blue, moonstone blue and mallard green) owned by 1 guy that claims them all to be ultra low milers and therefore worth more but actively clocks them all and has his own garage business where all the servicing and MOTs are carried out to support his puroported mileage claims

I hate to think when he does sell them what he’ll make off them knowing that they are actually worth a fraction due to their hidden past.

I’d still love one but wouldn’t pay what they’re commanding now

[rastapasta]

cerb4.5lee said:

s m said:

cerb4.5lee said:

s m said:

A standard 220bhp one will barely see you ahead of a GT86 these days which most on here find slow

I was browsing earlier for a GT86 because I still lust after one. The 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds and 151 ib/ft torque lead me to think it will be a world of disappointment...I need to drive one to see if the reality is better than how I imagine them to be performance wise.

They handle nicely Lee ( but nothing groundbreaking imho if you're used to things like your 200SX and feelsome cars of the 80s/90s like M3s/Cosworths ) but don't 'feel' like 200bhp to me. Coming down in price as well

Try one and see as there are plenty of ways to pep them up. For me the rear space was too small as a useable 4-seater

Thanks for the experience share I have considered putting £5k to one side to possibly Turbo or Supercharge one. I do like the Turbo thrust and I feel that in standard guise it would leave me flat. I love everything else about the GT86 though.

Are there any gains in going for the BRZ over the GT86 in terms of price?? Is one cheaper than the other like for like due to name/brand snobbery?

[markcoznottz]

Berkut666 said:

As with most on here I massively lusted after one of these, even up until the last few years. However it would only be for the looks, the conversations and the joy of owning it. I worked in the motor trade in my early 20's (about 20 years ago now.....) at a Mitsubishi Dealer and had the chance to drive a few. They were very average as a driving experience even then especially when compared to my own Integra Type R or the large amount of Evo 5/6/7 we use to see.

I get that some classic cars are appreciating in value but I honestly cant get away from the fact that if I got one, I would basically be paying such vast sums of money for what is essential a shortened Sierra in a skirt.

I love them, I really do. But I would rather spend £20K on an Evo for the performance/conversations then the rest of the £75K on a classic I could feel I was justified in and felt extra special.

That said, there is a lovely one on ebay at the moment without the Whale Tail....

search Ex Concours Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux - Aero Delete Model - 11K Miles

Edited by Berkut666 on Thursday 20th December 14:58

Definitely the king of the hill when the modified car magazine/club scene was huge. Also helped by the fact that evo/Impreza didn't have the same following, (well not yet anyway). Also with the rs club being so strong meant residuals were always strong. Very strong old fashioned engine, hugely tuneable. Gearbox in the 4wd cosworths always an issue, look good in white imho.

[greenarrow]

s m said:

cerb4.5lee said:

s m said:

A standard 220bhp one will barely see you ahead of a GT86 these days which most on here find slow

I was browsing earlier for a GT86 because I still lust after one. The 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds and 151 ib/ft torque lead me to think it will be a world of disappointment...I need to drive one to see if the reality is better than how I imagine them to be performance wise.

They handle nicely Lee ( but nothing groundbreaking imho if you're used to things like your 200SX and feelsome cars of the 80s/90s like M3s/Cosworths ) but don't 'feel' like 200bhp to me. Coming down in price as well

Try one and see as there are plenty of ways to pep them up. For me the rear space was too small as a useable 4-seater

Interesting comparison with the GT86 actually. I've got an old Autocar feature from 2012 when they tested a variety of performance cars at the infamous Millbrook Alpine Circuit, which is pretty similar to a B Road. They brought along a bog standard Escort Cosworth. The Cosworth lapped nearly 4 secs quicker than the GT86 on a 2 minute lap and was only 5 secs down on a Merc C63 AMG Coupe. So, the Escort was not so bad for an old car. The GT86 was voted Autocar's favourite however.

BTW, I'm hoping to buy a GT86 too one day. IMO its the nearest current equivalent of my first car, my Mk3 Ford Capri!

[s m]

greenarrow said:

Interesting comparison with the GT86 actually. I've got an old Autocar feature from 2012 when they tested a variety of performance cars at the infamous Millbrook Alpine Circuit, which is pretty similar to a B Road. They brought along a bog standard Escort Cosworth. The Cosworth lapped nearly 4 secs quicker than the GT86 on a 2 minute lap and was only 5 secs down on a Merc C63 AMG Coupe. So, the Escort was not so bad for an old car. The GT86 was voted Autocar's favourite however.

BTW, I'm hoping to buy a GT86 too one day. IMO its the nearest current equivalent of my first car, my Mk3 Ford Capri!

Indeed




They were of their time

[Pericoloso]

I had one ,I used to be "iva cosworth" ,it was a little unreliable.

Understatement of the year.



sold it for relative peanuts in 2015 ,still not been to an MOT since.

[rossub]

Berkut666 said:

As with most on here I massively lusted after one of these, even up until the last few years. However it would only be for the looks, the conversations and the joy of owning it. I worked in the motor trade in my early 20's (about 20 years ago now.....) at a Mitsubishi Dealer and had the chance to drive a few. They were very average as a driving experience even then especially when compared to my own Integra Type R or the large amount of Evo 5/6/7 we use to see.

I get that some classic cars are appreciating in value but I honestly cant get away from the fact that if I got one, I would basically be paying such vast sums of money for what is essential a shortened Sierra in a skirt.

I love them, I really do. But I would rather spend £20K on an Evo for the performance/conversations then the rest of the £75K on a classic I could feel I was justified in and felt extra special.

Edited by Berkut666 on Thursday 20th December 14:58

Seems to be a common opinion of those that drive them. No doubt a modified one would be far better, but you can say that about any 'working man's' performance car. Modify an Evo and it'll be far better than a modified Escort.

[s m]

rossub said:

Seems to be a common opinion of those that drive them. No doubt a modified one would be far better, but you can say that about any 'working man's' performance car. Modify an Evo and it'll be far better than a modified Escort.

True, progress waits for no car

This is a great vid imo of the Celica, Escos and Delta

https://youtu.be/FoH4OXsj5pw