My RWD Escort RS Cosworth nick named "The Widow Maker"
Discussion
Well after a very long search stretched over years I am back in a RS Cosworth.
I sold my old M3 R238 GBH to a guy called Chris who was based in Estonia for the American Embassy... Sounds dodgy I know but a top guy, paid for the car and collected no problems. I was gutted to see that car go but I knew if I didnt get back in a RS soon they would all be too expensive for me to buy and keep without feeling guilty.
So that leads me to the Escort. Well as the title says, its RWD and anyone who has owned or even looked into 4x4 Cosworth will know that the 4x4 limits the power unless you spend £5,000 on diffs and gearbox, never going to happen for me. So it was either a stage 3 car (350 bhp) or a RWD car and in the future turn the power up.
I was lurking on M3 Cutters asking around etc and posted a thread saying how hard it is to find a Cosworth that is not silly money and in alright condition. When a guy I met on the M3 Cutters charity calander photo shoot said his old car was for sale. So I took a look, was a bit pricey for me so gave it a wide birth. Anyway a month or so later I emailed the guy with a cheeky offer and lucky for me it was accepted. So off I go, expecting to find a proper bag of spanners for the money and boy was I wrong.
The car was and is mint. Its in better condition than my old Escort which had 52,000 miles on the clock. The only bit of rust is a 5p size on the sill which wont take much sorting. Everything else is spot on. Paintwork is in good shape, few swirl marks but nothing you wouldnt expect. No major scratches, stone chips, dents etc.
The guy really undersold the car to be honest, his advert was rubbish and his photos again did not stand out.
So after going over the car and looking for all the bits I knew would be an issue I was lucky enough to find they had been sorted buy a previous owner.
The car started from cold and no piston slap which was a great sign. I knew the engine had been rebuilt less than 4000 miles ago so knew it would of been good. It sounded nice, loud but nice, pulled really well too. Only downside is the gearbox, its 20 year old technology so its pretty poor compared to new cars but it does what it says on the tin, selects gears fine and no whines or noises.
So after checking everything I bought the car. It has the odd little thing that needs doing but nothing major in my eyes.
List of things that I will change or do
1: Powerstearing pump is noisey, after getting home and checking its low on oil, either a leak or a top up needed
2: lid on the washer wiper bottle is loose and causing the fluid to come out the top
3: the exhaust is knocking on the floor or suspension, little bit annoying. Just needs a bracket changing
4: Oil leak from the sump plug, not massive bit something that needs sorting
5: It will need some rear tyres soon
6: Breaks squeek, some greese on the calipers should sort this. It breaks straight and true and no wheel wobble.
7: Change the gear gaitor to a nice new one to freshen it up
8: Get the hand break tightened
That is it, some might think that is a big list but trust me, for a Cosworth that is nothing
So I have had it now for 3 days and driven it everyday. Not given it the full beans yet as you can imagine its a handful and its wet.
Quick snap but still not cleaned and on a crap camera
This is about as close as I am going to get to my dream car, 964 911 Turbo 2 in black (bad boys car)
It has a wail tail
Its black
It goes like stink!
And it tries to kill you everytime you take it out.
If I manage to get a cool 100k though I would buy one
So no real pics yet, not cleaned it and the weather has been poor. Will give it a clean and get some photos up soon enough. Comments welcome on my one pic though haha
Enjoy
Mark
I sold my old M3 R238 GBH to a guy called Chris who was based in Estonia for the American Embassy... Sounds dodgy I know but a top guy, paid for the car and collected no problems. I was gutted to see that car go but I knew if I didnt get back in a RS soon they would all be too expensive for me to buy and keep without feeling guilty.
So that leads me to the Escort. Well as the title says, its RWD and anyone who has owned or even looked into 4x4 Cosworth will know that the 4x4 limits the power unless you spend £5,000 on diffs and gearbox, never going to happen for me. So it was either a stage 3 car (350 bhp) or a RWD car and in the future turn the power up.
I was lurking on M3 Cutters asking around etc and posted a thread saying how hard it is to find a Cosworth that is not silly money and in alright condition. When a guy I met on the M3 Cutters charity calander photo shoot said his old car was for sale. So I took a look, was a bit pricey for me so gave it a wide birth. Anyway a month or so later I emailed the guy with a cheeky offer and lucky for me it was accepted. So off I go, expecting to find a proper bag of spanners for the money and boy was I wrong.
The car was and is mint. Its in better condition than my old Escort which had 52,000 miles on the clock. The only bit of rust is a 5p size on the sill which wont take much sorting. Everything else is spot on. Paintwork is in good shape, few swirl marks but nothing you wouldnt expect. No major scratches, stone chips, dents etc.
The guy really undersold the car to be honest, his advert was rubbish and his photos again did not stand out.
So after going over the car and looking for all the bits I knew would be an issue I was lucky enough to find they had been sorted buy a previous owner.
The car started from cold and no piston slap which was a great sign. I knew the engine had been rebuilt less than 4000 miles ago so knew it would of been good. It sounded nice, loud but nice, pulled really well too. Only downside is the gearbox, its 20 year old technology so its pretty poor compared to new cars but it does what it says on the tin, selects gears fine and no whines or noises.
So after checking everything I bought the car. It has the odd little thing that needs doing but nothing major in my eyes.
List of things that I will change or do
1: Powerstearing pump is noisey, after getting home and checking its low on oil, either a leak or a top up needed
2: lid on the washer wiper bottle is loose and causing the fluid to come out the top
3: the exhaust is knocking on the floor or suspension, little bit annoying. Just needs a bracket changing
4: Oil leak from the sump plug, not massive bit something that needs sorting
5: It will need some rear tyres soon
6: Breaks squeek, some greese on the calipers should sort this. It breaks straight and true and no wheel wobble.
7: Change the gear gaitor to a nice new one to freshen it up
8: Get the hand break tightened
That is it, some might think that is a big list but trust me, for a Cosworth that is nothing
So I have had it now for 3 days and driven it everyday. Not given it the full beans yet as you can imagine its a handful and its wet.
Quick snap but still not cleaned and on a crap camera
This is about as close as I am going to get to my dream car, 964 911 Turbo 2 in black (bad boys car)
It has a wail tail
Its black
It goes like stink!
And it tries to kill you everytime you take it out.
If I manage to get a cool 100k though I would buy one
So no real pics yet, not cleaned it and the weather has been poor. Will give it a clean and get some photos up soon enough. Comments welcome on my one pic though haha
Enjoy
Mark
Just got back from taking it for a blast, it really does go well. Second has little traction even in the dry with Toyo Proxys on the back but is very easy to control, does not go off at all angles. Getting really happy with the car now, no extra issues other than listed above which is great.
The alarm is playing me up though. Bloody battery gone on the remote which has made a world of difference and the ariel on it has broken (glue currently drying on that one)
I have got me a bargain
The alarm is playing me up though. Bloody battery gone on the remote which has made a world of difference and the ariel on it has broken (glue currently drying on that one)
I have got me a bargain
Hi All.
The car has 2wd sierra running gear with a shortend prop. All rebuilt to a safe spec.
The car puts the power down much better in the dry but second is spinning no matter what you do. Its a great drive in the dry though and really pulls hard. I really am changing nothing. Its perfect for what I want. Just going to keep it tidy and made change a couple cosmetic bits to keep it looking nice.
Its not a straight swop though, the prop was shortened and although the sierra and escort floor pan are pretty much the same, the escort is slightly shorter hence the need to shorten the prop. It works so well. This car would be great on a track (in the dry)
The car has 2wd sierra running gear with a shortend prop. All rebuilt to a safe spec.
The car puts the power down much better in the dry but second is spinning no matter what you do. Its a great drive in the dry though and really pulls hard. I really am changing nothing. Its perfect for what I want. Just going to keep it tidy and made change a couple cosmetic bits to keep it looking nice.
Its not a straight swop though, the prop was shortened and although the sierra and escort floor pan are pretty much the same, the escort is slightly shorter hence the need to shorten the prop. It works so well. This car would be great on a track (in the dry)
MADRod said:
If he has then it aint going to take Big Power. 9" Motorsport, Supra or Jag diffs are known solutions. The T5 gearbox is chcolate above 450 but a Tremec TKO will cope. Dont start on the mods needed to get grip with big power rwd but a 6 deg beam, coilovers & chassis connectors are a good start.
Correct but I dont want big power. Its more than enough for me and it really never gets driven to its max... I think it would be silly to drive a car like this to the max. But it is certainly all I will ever want sturobturbo said:
Looks brilliant - a real, realistic, dream car for me.
I think it's time to get myself a 3dr in moonstone before they really ramp up in price.
I did look into them but you have to pay decent money to get a decent one. Anything under 12k and its not worth it unless you get lucky. You cannot get any parts for them now and the front wings are silly money when they come up and they tend to rust on them as well I think it's time to get myself a 3dr in moonstone before they really ramp up in price.
DanSaff said:
I had one for a few years 
good fun but they don't broadside like a Saff or 3dr they are little bit snappy but the main reason i got rid was I didn't like the attention they get - people staring and all that
Mine had 450bhp 6degree beam quaife box and a gripper diff
Sounds nice that. They do get lots of attention which. I dont mind the good stuff but tow trucks following you home is not a good thing. Sadly these cars are still hot property to steal so have to bolt them down. I have this one fully insured so if it happens it happens. You can only slow them down and not sure I would want it back if some chav got there ass in the drivers seat good fun but they don't broadside like a Saff or 3dr they are little bit snappy but the main reason i got rid was I didn't like the attention they get - people staring and all that Mine had 450bhp 6degree beam quaife box and a gripper diff
Hi Mat,
I came out of a M3 Evo Convertible to this one. I did run a E36 3.0 M3 saloon along side my last Escort Cosworth which worked well.
We have a E46 330i Sport now with lots of toys and its a great car.. But no presence, no rawness about it. I get into the Cosworth and its there to do one thing and one thing only. It does not try to hide its noise, its smell, its looks. It says bad ass which for some is not a good thing but I love it.
I love the 90's and late 80's cars. The musci from the 90's as well is great too. Love Prodigy and stuff like that. Chase and Status Blind faith on the radio while driving this car gives me a massive buzz.
Its hardwork to drive, gearbox is old tech, clutch is heavy... Too much turbo lag to talk about but.. and its a big but... it just makes sense. Its got something about it. That old Ford smell of oil and fuel burning away, the sucking noise from the massive air filter and the group b rally car sound of turbo stall/chatter. For me and in my budget, it really is the best car I could put my hands on for me.
An Evo and Scoobie would no doubt run circles around it etc but... how many people look at the Evo like they do with the cosworth. The attention it gets is crazy. I was following a Bright Yellow Ferrari 358 last night and the cars coming the otherway stared more at the cosworth than the Ferrari. I love it, its a boy hood dream to own another one of these and so glad I did it. Its a ford so no doubt it will break but that is all part and parcel of owning them
I came out of a M3 Evo Convertible to this one. I did run a E36 3.0 M3 saloon along side my last Escort Cosworth which worked well.
We have a E46 330i Sport now with lots of toys and its a great car.. But no presence, no rawness about it. I get into the Cosworth and its there to do one thing and one thing only. It does not try to hide its noise, its smell, its looks. It says bad ass which for some is not a good thing but I love it.
I love the 90's and late 80's cars. The musci from the 90's as well is great too. Love Prodigy and stuff like that. Chase and Status Blind faith on the radio while driving this car gives me a massive buzz.
Its hardwork to drive, gearbox is old tech, clutch is heavy... Too much turbo lag to talk about but.. and its a big but... it just makes sense. Its got something about it. That old Ford smell of oil and fuel burning away, the sucking noise from the massive air filter and the group b rally car sound of turbo stall/chatter. For me and in my budget, it really is the best car I could put my hands on for me.
An Evo and Scoobie would no doubt run circles around it etc but... how many people look at the Evo like they do with the cosworth. The attention it gets is crazy. I was following a Bright Yellow Ferrari 358 last night and the cars coming the otherway stared more at the cosworth than the Ferrari. I love it, its a boy hood dream to own another one of these and so glad I did it. Its a ford so no doubt it will break but that is all part and parcel of owning them
mat205125 said:
Absolutely. Not sure if it's just a UK thing, but the Cosworths have always had a massive attraction and following, without much of the stigma that the japanese cars have.
I can't wait for my Mk2 Escort to be finished, and for it to join my M3 on the driveway as the perfect road and track duo. My engine choice for the Escort is still up in the air, but some excessive Cossie bhp is mightily attractive.
They have become a bit more as a modern classic so not got the boy racer tattoo as much now.
For out and out pace and cornering, yes. For the whole package, no. It will vibrate your teeth out and deathen you.the gearbox is old so can't really quick change it and being rwd means being very careful with the power on corners. But its a Escort Cosworth in pretty much mint condition with plenty of grunt to uphold the cosworth name :-)
emicen said:
Huh?
I was supposed to put "on the road" to that.It is a proper track weapon. Put a cage in her, bigger brakes and take the interior out and its ready. Has twin fans, RS500 intercooler, all new sensors, strut braces, uprated suspension etc etc.
Think I have found a cure to my grip issue on the rear as well. The Engels are a 8.5 inch wide tyre and it has 225 stretched on the back. So I will up this to 245 which should give me that little bit extra and hopefully keep the ass in check. I have been driving it in the dry the last couple evenings and it does grip pretty good. Sadly in the wet its still no good.
Greg_D said:
THANK YOU, now why couldn't the OP just have said that....
If I am honest, I couldnt tell you exactly how many ponys it has. That is why I stated a good stage 3 Cosworth. This ranges from 300 bhp to over 350bhp. I would say this is a good Stage 3 as it pulls like a train and has a little bit less weight without the front diff etc and the aircon being stripped out of the old girl What sort of power will Gray injectors max out on, that could be my next move
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