Delta Integrale or Escort Cossie. Which would you choose?
Discussion
Two more iconic rally cars of the same era (although I`m not sure whether they ever actually competed head-to-head), although they did in the showroom! Both based on fairly average family cars (yes, I know the Escort was actually a Sierra underneath).
The Delta`s success and dominance in rallying is well documented, the Escort should have been more successful than the Sapphire it replaced but always struggled against the Celicas in rallying if I remember correctly (although these don`t seem to attract the same following and the associated strong values). No denying that it was a very desirable road car though and possibly the last time a Ford would be considered more desirable than a BMW or Audi by the masses.
Not driven either and I expect neither are that quick standard by modern standards but I expect the Escort would be the less fragile, more reliable and more easy car to live with of the two. I`d take the Integrale every time though, as there is something about it, that I find just so damn cool!
I might be wrong though, any anecdotal evidence based on actually driving the cars would be most welcome!
The Delta`s success and dominance in rallying is well documented, the Escort should have been more successful than the Sapphire it replaced but always struggled against the Celicas in rallying if I remember correctly (although these don`t seem to attract the same following and the associated strong values). No denying that it was a very desirable road car though and possibly the last time a Ford would be considered more desirable than a BMW or Audi by the masses.
Not driven either and I expect neither are that quick standard by modern standards but I expect the Escort would be the less fragile, more reliable and more easy car to live with of the two. I`d take the Integrale every time though, as there is something about it, that I find just so damn cool!
I might be wrong though, any anecdotal evidence based on actually driving the cars would be most welcome!
I owned an Evo1 'grale for 5 years, and funnily enough at the time worked for Cosworth ;-)
Whilst the Cossies look quite smart, if you park a 'grale next to the escort NO ONE even looks at the cossie, the 'grale is just too perfect.
Pretty much the only car i've ever owned where you just HAD to take a quick peak back over your shoulder to just look at it after you'd parked it
Whilst the Cossies look quite smart, if you park a 'grale next to the escort NO ONE even looks at the cossie, the 'grale is just too perfect.
Pretty much the only car i've ever owned where you just HAD to take a quick peak back over your shoulder to just look at it after you'd parked it
An Escort Monte is one of my dream cars but there is something about the Lancia that I love. I was lucky enough to have a good look around one recently and they are a special car.
I think I would have to spend time with the two back to back to make a judgement. Anyone willing to lend me one to help with this thread?
I think I would have to spend time with the two back to back to make a judgement. Anyone willing to lend me one to help with this thread?
At the time i would have said the Cosworth
Especially if it was fitted with some Azev A's, or maybe they were Rondells
I loved seeing them on the front of Max Power, all modified
But now the Integrale just looks class, and now doubt will look even better as it gets older
Especially if it was fitted with some Azev A's, or maybe they were Rondells
I loved seeing them on the front of Max Power, all modified
But now the Integrale just looks class, and now doubt will look even better as it gets older
Edited by mikebradford on Monday 16th March 19:50
E36Ross said:
I'm a massive Cosworth fan.... But it'd be the Lancia for me. 
Just such a cool car.
+1Just such a cool car.
The Escort needs a lot changing to take it from being a good car to a great one. With enough done the Escort will be amazing but there is just something about an Intergrale that the Ford cannot match.
The escort Cosworth was my dream car as a 17yr old when it first came out. I had posters and went to watch them race
Although having a load of fast fords (a couple of escort RS turbos, Fiesta XR2 and RS and later a 400bhp Cosworth Saphire), I never actually had an Escort Cosworth
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to get one to keep in the garage and just have as a 3rd car and to scratch the itch I'd had so badly as a teenager
I went to see a couple and I couldn't believe how crap and slow they were, so it never happened. I guess the moral of the story is never to meet your heroes
For that very reason, I'd have an integrale in full repsol colours and just look at how lovely it is, but never actually drive it
Although having a load of fast fords (a couple of escort RS turbos, Fiesta XR2 and RS and later a 400bhp Cosworth Saphire), I never actually had an Escort Cosworth
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to get one to keep in the garage and just have as a 3rd car and to scratch the itch I'd had so badly as a teenager
I went to see a couple and I couldn't believe how crap and slow they were, so it never happened. I guess the moral of the story is never to meet your heroes
For that very reason, I'd have an integrale in full repsol colours and just look at how lovely it is, but never actually drive it
Fittster said:
What I don't understand is the lack of love for the Celica.
Always worries me that these will be discovered one day by investors and I'll look bloody stupid for not buying one when they were cheap.
Buy one whilst they're cheap?Always worries me that these will be discovered one day by investors and I'll look bloody stupid for not buying one when they were cheap.
Edited by Fittster on Monday 16th March 20:52
Celica GT4, just to be awkward, they are undervalued and the other two ridiculous prices in comparison, have driven an early 8 valve Integrale and it was pretty damn good, drove a 4wd Sapphire Cosworth and it was ok, so out of those two, assuming that the Escort is nearer to the Sapphire Cosworth, being based on it, I would take the Lancia.
Escort for me. It was the poster I had on my wall when I was 10.
I dipped my toe in to Ford ownership a few years back with a S2 RST as a second car but it turned out to be a nightmare! If still love a Cosworth though!
As much as I love the Intergrale (used to be a dark red/burgundy one in Dorking with Perspex windows that I used to drool over) it would need to be RHD.
I dipped my toe in to Ford ownership a few years back with a S2 RST as a second car but it turned out to be a nightmare! If still love a Cosworth though!
As much as I love the Intergrale (used to be a dark red/burgundy one in Dorking with Perspex windows that I used to drool over) it would need to be RHD.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff