A tale of two Escort Cosworths

Advantages: Image, Performance, Practicality
Disadvantages: Expensive to maintain, Difficult to source parts, Suspect reliability on earlier models

...I have had two of these babies, and I won't bore you all with the performance/handling aspects - suffice to say that the other reviews here are all pretty much bang on. What I think people should be aware of with these cars is the investment needed - not only to buy one, but to keep them on the road. I'll share my experiences of each car: 1994 Lux Model (big turbo) I owned this car from 1997-2000. It was a lux model, but did not have aircon or leather. It did however have elec windows, mirrors, central locking, heated screens etc., which set it apart from the standard model. I paid £19,000 for the car from a Ford RS dealer, and it had covered 20,000 miles when I bought it. It was my first performance car, and the first shock came quickly. I'd had it about 3 months, when I got a problem with a major electrical fuse blowing - 2 weeks...

137699 20.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort Cosworth

My Escort RS Turbo

Advantages: Rare, Tuneable, Desirable and Fast
Disadvantages: Addictive

..., but add them to the RS and you`re looking at about 200+ bhp. As I`ve stated before, I`ve had this car for 9 years and the respectful looks you get from both old and young people are unmatched in anything else. This is an enthusiast`s car for serious drivers. Treat them with respect and use decent oil and regular services and if you can ever bring yourself to sell it (I know mine`s not getting sold anytime soon!) it will at least give you what you paid for it, or more than likely more than what you paid. There`s also one more thing that I`d like to add. It`s nice to go for a drive and not see another RS Turbo on the road. There are far too many Subaru`s around and because they`re so common they are falling into the wrong hands. More often than not they`re being driven by inexperienced drivers or being bought by boy racers who like to add...

mokeyat 04.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort RS Turbo

Ford Escort : 'Not A Bad Car'

Advantages: Cheap to run, plenty of room, 5 seats, good first car, cheap parts, widely available, large boot
Disadvantages: no power steering, slow going up a steep hill

...The 1.4 Ford Escort is quite a car in many ways. Featuring 5 doors, a large boot and a sun roof, this spacious car certainly has all the features. It pretty much has everything you find in a standard car, except power steering which can make moving when stationary a hard task. Being quite an old car means the Ford Escort is an ideal first car because the insurance is only around £60-£70 a month for someone aged 20-22. I was fully insured for my first year, as this is when most people have a few minor scrapes and bumps as they're new to the road. Then I moved onto third party fire and theft for my second year, as I had gained good experience and confidence from driving solidly for a year. The insurance came down to around £50 a month for my second year of driving. The windows are manual along with the doors, which require a key to open...

f1insidetrack 29.10.2009 (30.10.2009) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.4 Hatchback

RS Shifts your money

Advantages: Shifty, a fast paced motor
Disadvantages: Expensive to drive in

...that Saturday morning I were accident free! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So I got comfortable in the seat and turned the banged up key. The engine starts really well, it has a certain ‘whommpppp’ to it. It’s a Mark5 Escort L-plate and is a RS Turbo! The exhaust is the original and it does half beat out a mean sound! So I took the car out to town via the causeway which is like a dual carriageway, then I went to town. Now being about 8pm at night, things were kind of hectic, the roads were fairly busy and I had to get back to go out. So it’s Mission Impossible, can I make it back from town within 40minutes??? I have no comment for mention of speeding, it’s something you do or don’t, or you just speed when there’s need...

chunka 15.07.2002 (02.08.2002) · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort RS Turbo

Ford Escort Finesse

Advantages: spacious family car
Disadvantages: RUST(common Ford problem) not very safe

...FORD ESCORT FINESSE This review is based on a Finesse model of an escort, this model is a 1.6 16v, and it was first registered in 2000 on a 'W' plate. PERSONAL OWNING I owned one of these cars from 2000 till 2006 unfortunately it was an insurance write off so had to be replaced. In the time I owned this car it had a few problems such as the head gasket going along with the cylinder head but this was at around 90,000 miles. It had general ware and tear bits replaced throughout its life but no other major engine problems, suspension problems etc. Being a ford they are prone to rust and at around about 4-5 years old this car did suffer quite badly from rust mainly noticeable around the arches or the car. I used this car as a family car in the time I had it I found it spacious for things such as family transporting, shopping...

raregreyastra 03.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort 1.6 Hatchback

RS 1600i

Advantages: it's an RS
Disadvantages: old, few parts

...Again, surprised to see that I could write a review for such a old car, I couldn't resist it. I own one of these and just want to share with you what I think about it. You can't just pop down to your local Ford dealer and ask for one of these. No doubt they would laugh in your face. A Ford Focus ST yes, Escort RSI no! The escort! Books have been written about this car, column inch in newspapers alone add to the importance of the 'scort. From the everyday run about that your granddad had to the World Rally, Touring Car, competition thrashing winners of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and even still today. The Escort is 'probably' the only car to boast such a heritage. The RS1600i is up there with others such as the RS2000 and Cosworth. Built in Germany by Ford this unique motor set a new standard when it was released. What you...

tazorii 29.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort RS1600i

Sierra RS 500 Cosworth.....3,2,1, lift off!!!

Advantages: Speed, power, torque, road hold, value
Disadvantages: Damage to neck on take off!!!!!

...than the BMW's E30 M3. As a result the car achieved a top speed of 150 mph with a sub six second run to sixty mph. Based in the RS Cosworth, 500 special RS500 models were built with a more powerful engine. Eventually the whole project evolved into the Escort Cosworth RS which was a more purpose built machine. As time progressed, so did the Sierra Cosworth, the RS500 rear wheel drive series ceased production on the D-plate and so began the birth of its successor the Saphire Cosworth! The Saphire or Saphie as it is better known as was the 5 door saloon shape, not the 2 door hatchback shape of the 500. As Ford began to realise, running 226 bhp through only two wheels as they did with the 500 was dangerous, they released the 4x4 model with the Saphie, however as we all know the only way to get good drift and fishtail fun is with a 2...

rovertomcat 11.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ford Sierra Cosworth

I love Cossie's!!!

Advantages: Fun to drive, awesome looks
Disadvantages: They don't make them any more

...Hi I?m Pete, Lyndsay?s partner, as she wanted me to write a review I?ll write about something I know, cars! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx A little history of the legend xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Sierra RS Cosworth was the first production turbo powered Ford which caused a huge impact on the world of motor sport from 1985 to 1992 when the last Sierra RS Cosworth was made. The mk1 Sierra RS Cosworth had no ABS (Anti Lock Braking) system, it was extremely raw (and somewhat prone to throwing you off the road on corners when the unexpected happens) this car was well known for the huge whale tail boot spoiler that you can?t forget. By the time the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth arrived in 1998 the development of car technology was excelling in leaps and bounds although this was still rear wheel drive the car was more manageable to drive. In...

lyndsayw 28.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort Cosworth

RS TURBO SHED!!!

Advantages: Quick Quick and Quicker
Disadvantages: Noisy noisy and Noisier still!!!

...When I was younger I always wanted to own a Ford Escort RS Turbo. When I was 25 I finally realised my dream and bought a clapped out G reg Black RS Turbo. What a shed and to think I sold my K Reg Fiesta RS 1800I to get it!!!It was quick but noisy, unreliable kept breaking down, etc. I bought a K & N air filter for it and it was exactly the same but noisier!!! No more performance!!!I sold it to some mug in the end for 3 grand which cheered me up no end. I now have a Nissan Primera which is comfy and large. Its a bit slow though!!!...

andycharger 02.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort RS Turbo

A mature car for an Old Man

Advantages: No deprecitaion. Bargain motoring
Disadvantages: Breakdowns are likely to occure

...Since Ive nearly reached retirement age, Im now looking for a small, spacious and economical car instead of in my youth when I went for cars wit the fastest 0 to 60 times and how much of a babe magnet the car was!!. Ive had Escort before, but mainly old Mark I and Mark II models because as people with rear wheel drive cars say, I like to do it sideways. Ive also had a Rs Cosworth, but because of stupid insurance and lack of will power to stay away from the beer to repay the load ,I had to give it up. Im now stuck, cos basically Im skint because Ive got a wedding to pay for in a castle , a honeymoon to the Bahamas and Orlando, and because some turd piniched by beloved Horny Hiesta after only 8 hours. Ive been looking at Mondeos and a New shape Primera but becuase I didnot really want to get myself further into debt, I decided to buy...

bazza1603 17.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ford Escort Cosworth