RE: Dream-grade Ford Escort RS1600i for sale
Discussion
s m said:
That’s right - as mentioned above, the 5GT Turbo took over the fastest hot hatch mantle from the S1 RS Turbo for CAR magazine’s track lappery. Easy to say they’re all slow now but back in mid 80s they were affordable fun
Both the S1 RST and R5GTT were quicker than the Capri 2.8/Alfa GTV6 2.5 round the lap too so not surprising a Capri 2.8 struggled.
In fact, according to the timed tests these 40 year old hot hatches pretty much matched a modern GT86 off the mark and in- gear up to 80mph
That’s amazing ! Can you put the full test up please.Both the S1 RST and R5GTT were quicker than the Capri 2.8/Alfa GTV6 2.5 round the lap too so not surprising a Capri 2.8 struggled.
In fact, according to the timed tests these 40 year old hot hatches pretty much matched a modern GT86 off the mark and in- gear up to 80mph
SS427 Camaro said:
s m said:
Awesome, but is there a date to this test and what was this 5s registration number ?The Autocar one was March 86 - reg C39 TLY - not far off the CAR test car
SS427 Camaro said:
s m said:
In fact, according to the timed tests these 40 year old hot hatches pretty much matched a modern GT86 off the mark and in- gear up to 80mph
That’s amazing ! Can you put the full test up please.GT86 is around 1250kg - almost half a tonne heavier
KTMsm said:
SS427 Camaro said:
s m said:
In fact, according to the timed tests these 40 year old hot hatches pretty much matched a modern GT86 off the mark and in- gear up to 80mph
That’s amazing ! Can you put the full test up please.GT86 is around 1250kg - almost half a tonne heavier
). The XR4x4 weighed around 1275kg, whereas the R5 was properly light at under 800kg for sure. 
cerb4.5lee said:
KTMsm said:
SS427 Camaro said:
s m said:
In fact, according to the timed tests these 40 year old hot hatches pretty much matched a modern GT86 off the mark and in- gear up to 80mph
That’s amazing ! Can you put the full test up please.GT86 is around 1250kg - almost half a tonne heavier
). The XR4x4 weighed around 1275kg, whereas the R5 was properly light at under 800kg for sure. Always liked these, especially in red - reminds me of the famous Datapost Escorts. When I was a teenager a chap down my road had an immaculate red example (he'd previously owned a lovely RS1800). Like a lot of people have already mentioned these were much more than an XR3i with fancy stickers - a proper homologation model. I wonder if this one was ex Bonkers collection?
Evolved said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
Benzinaio said:
Classic FAST Ford?
Hardly. Wasn't even fast in it's day. Proof that Ford had a cynical view of it's own target market.
Put some stickers and Halfordsesque spot lights on and voila!
Yes I know it had a trick diff. Hardly a necessity with 115BHP though.............
I think the only thing that's been proven here is your lack of knowledge of the RS1600i. There was nothing cynical about it. It was developed for Group A homologation to allow Ford to enter the 1600cc class of touring car racing.Hardly. Wasn't even fast in it's day. Proof that Ford had a cynical view of it's own target market.
Put some stickers and Halfordsesque spot lights on and voila!
Yes I know it had a trick diff. Hardly a necessity with 115BHP though.............
It had entirely revised front suspension, bespoke wheels, a different camshaft, solid lifters, unique (at the time of launch) fuel injection, unique ignition, and revised front and rear spoilers for improved aerodynamics. It was anything but a set of stickers and spotlights.
If you're going to slate a car, at least make sure you know something about it first
internet experts, eh. Good info.Back in the day I always prefers the 1600i to the XR3i, it looked harder and had motorsport connections. The S1 turbo was always the one that everyone hankered over though. Even today they look so damn right. Dynamically way off compared to some of the competitors, but arguably nailed it in looks and vibe.
Edited by Evolved on Thursday 13th March 08:39
Those of us who moved on from RWD Escorts due to their age and stayed with Ford lusted more over the RS Turbo, but the RS1600i was a worthy second. But only the RST had an LSD.
Also, nobody at the time disputed that the 205/Golf GTI or Renault 5GTT were faster/better cars and many (many) of us moved that way and were happy driving those cars until the JDM/Rally Rep era when Skylines and 4sec 0=60 Family Saloons became available.
Edit. I bought and restored a Mk1 Escort and sold both an Evo and modern Renaulsport car to fund the build costs.
I didnt do it because I thought it was a better car than those I sold (it isn’t), I did it because I have the disposable income and simply wanted one. A lot of my long term friends from my school days are keen to borrow it over the summer and some of them have high end sports cars.
Edited by Hol on Friday 14th March 06:19
I don't think its overpriced at all. A new Focus ST now costs £42,905.00 before options.
Anyone who thinks its only worth a third of that, well this is what your budget would get you instead
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17642020
Anyone who thinks its only worth a third of that, well this is what your budget would get you instead
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17642020
elms said:
I don't think its overpriced at all. A new Focus ST now costs £42,905.00 before options.
Anyone who thinks its only worth a third of that, well this is what your budget would get you instead
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17642020
What has a new car got to do with anything? Anyone who thinks its only worth a third of that, well this is what your budget would get you instead
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17642020
If you were looking for a classic fast Ford, a very brief look at the classifieds, I'd far rather have this or similar
250bhp Cosworth
N.A.R.T Spyder said:
Always liked these, especially in red - reminds me of the famous Datapost Escorts. When I was a teenager a chap down my road had an immaculate red example (he'd previously owned a lovely RS1800). Like a lot of people have already mentioned these were much more than an XR3i with fancy stickers - a proper homologation model. I wonder if this one was ex Bonkers collection?
I really don't get the attraction, the series 1 Escort Turbo had pretty much the same front suspension. And the wheels look similar too, add in the LSD, and the fact most turbos were chipped to at least 160 bhp, and the 16i wouldn't see which way the turbo went. RSstuff said:
I really don't get the attraction, the series 1 Escort Turbo had pretty much the same front suspension. And the wheels look similar too, add in the LSD, and the fact most turbos were chipped to at least 160 bhp, and the 16i wouldn't see which way the turbo went.
However the 16i came along at least two years earlier than the Turbo, most 16is are on Y or A plates, most Turbos B or C. Lessons from one were very much applied to the next, both were homologated to the Group A regulations but I think two different classes due to the turbo equivalency format at the time. generationx said:
RSstuff said:
I really don't get the attraction, the series 1 Escort Turbo had pretty much the same front suspension. And the wheels look similar too, add in the LSD, and the fact most turbos were chipped to at least 160 bhp, and the 16i wouldn't see which way the turbo went.
However the 16i came along at least two years earlier than the Turbo, most 16is are on Y or A plates, most Turbos B or C. Lessons from one were very much applied to the next, both were homologated to the Group A regulations but I think two different classes due to the turbo equivalency format at the time. 
Evolved said:
Really? You can’t understand it and think they were all bought by council estate dwellers. Princess Dianna had a black one, someone should have told her!
What a blinkered, naive, and arrogant viewpoint.
Blinkered? I lived it. Arrogant? Get over yourself. I don't understand how a warm Escort commands such a price. There are so many better classic cars for less. What a blinkered, naive, and arrogant viewpoint.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff