Ford ESCORT RS COSWORTH (1992 - 1996)
MODELS COVERED: 2.0-litre three-door hatch [RS Cosworth, RS Cosworth Lux]
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
The
Ford Escort Cosworth seems to have entered popular folklore as the car that, for a while at least, killed the hot hatch. Here was a car so quick, so capable and yet so desirable to neer-do-wells that the insurance industry threw a hissy fit, made it all but uninsurable and applied the same policy to anything with a GTi badge on it. Whilst history may record a black mark against the Escort Cosworth, anybody who ever drove it could almost understand frustrated young men wanting to get behind the wheel at any cost. It was that good.
Even by todays standards it more than shapes up, making tracking down a decent used example a fascinating experience.
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An icon. That and a supremely practical hatchback to go with the loud suit.
First off, ignore book prices when it comes to Escort RS Cosworths and bury yourself in the real world of publications like Auto Trader or Top Marques. Cosworths start at around £7,000 for the first of the late 1992 K plate cars. The first of the more desirable small turbo cars start at around £7,500 or £8,300 in Lux form. Due to the fact that the car is becoming collectible prices will fluctuate largely due to mileage and condition rather than age.
Avoid if you can cars that have been extensively modified and if you need to ask what insurance group the Escort resides in, chances are you cant afford it!
Plenty to look out for here. Early big turbo models have been known to blow their turbochargers, the evidence being a cloud of white smoke from the exhaust at start up and upon throttle load. Acceleration will also be reduced. The engine block is sound although be wary if the car has been chipped without any other modifications.
Clutches are good for around 300bhp, whilst the MT75 gearbox can handle 375bhp without too much difficulty. If the car has been modified above these thresholds without extensive accompanying work, walk away. Watch out for cars that have been lowered. Most owners opted for the no-cost Aero Pack, only to divest themselves of their front spoilers at the first sniff of a speed hump.
The major issue is bodywork. Pieced together painstakingly by men in white coats at the Karmann factory, the Escort RS Cosworth doesnt repair easily should you take an agricultural excursion. Look closely at seams, panel and gaps and check that the vehicle is HPI clear and not a stolen/recovered or a damaged repairable. When Cosworths spear off the Queens Highway, you can bet they werent dawdling.
(approx based on a 1994 Escort RS Cosworth) On the one hand you expect a premium performance car to cost yet on the other you remind yourself its a
Ford. Well, theres no such thing as a free lunch. Spares for the Cosworth are reassuringly expensive. If you get 8,000 miles out of the 225/45ZR16 tyres youre not driving it properly, and brake discs are around £150 a pair up front and £140 a pair at the back.
Brake calipers are around £90, ignition leads £45 and dont even ask about body panels
Superb. The only area in which the Escort RS Cosworth feels a little old fashioned is in its sit-up-and-beg driving position, but otherwise its still got the wherewithal to show any of todays hot hatch pretenders its chubby behind and that includes the cream of the crop like the
Audi S3 and the
Renault Clio V6. Chalking up performance figures of 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, the Escort feels beautifully balanced at all times, the four-wheel drive split with a rearwards bias to satisfy gung-ho drivers.
Few four-wheel drive sports cars are easy to balance in a drift but the Escort Cosworth makes such antics easy. The later small turbo cars are probably the drivers choice, despite only packing 220bhp up front. Top speed was 140mph with the rear wing in place or 147mph should you choose to remove it. Do bear in mind that driving an Escort RS Cosworth still appears to be viewed as an offence by many constabularies.
As long as you can afford the insurance and dont mind the slightly thuggish image, the Escort RS Cosworth is a car that can delight like few others. Despite being the car that temporarily killed the GTi genre, theres never been anything quite like it before or since. A classic in the making.
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