By rscharger on 29th Aug 2005
rscharger's Ratings| Year Manufactured | 1990 |
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| Length of ownership | 6 years |
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| Doors | 3 |
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| Performance | 8/10  |
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| Practicality | 9/10 |
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| Reliability | 8/10 |
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| Value for money | 10/10 |
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| Overall value | 9/10 |
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 rscharger's recommendation |
Good Points
Styling, power with tuning cababilites, still returning good MPG, exterior/interior, extra's like heated front & rear screens and heated door mirrors that some modern cars yet still don't have! overall I think its a truly great package for the money when then new and still.
Bad Points
Heavy steering, looked & mistaken for a XR3i too often, oil leaks, common on wheels going out of balance rear/front often.
General Comments
I own a grey H reg Escort RS Turbo had it for 6 years still going well, over the years I've nearly replaced everything you can think of just to get it perfect as new its in show room condition car as I always wanted one being my dream car when I was at high school back in 1991, I bought it bog standard keeping the original looks but uprating the engine, brakes and spax dampers using std springs. Its kicking out only 185 bhp 200 torque and believe me it kills wrx subaru's and I suprisingly killed a brand new BMW M3 doing 140mph lol!!!!
Rs turbo's seem to still be around compared to other cars in its time, there was lots of great styling options back in the early 90's like nice rattlesnake and F40 body kit from germany and many more...which are long gone now but bargin power gains is what keeps them still around to this date. However If your thinking of buying one take somecone down who has experience in these cars as I wouldn't recomend a complete novice to buy these cars as now theres a lot of sheds left around now you have to know what your doing to maintain a car like this and know what to look out for like common rust, piston slap etc...as I learnt the hard way believe I can read them like a book now lol!
By owning one and sorting things out myself and save on labour as what some garages charge only to rip you off.
Don't be put off though its a great car done well even if its 10-15 years old compared to cortina's which fell apart after 5 years, but still here knowing Ford weren't very good in the 80's for reliablity in them days but Ford had styling and looks, better quality than any plastic made French cars of its time. The RS turbo if you remember it was listed as one for the UK's most stolen car in the early 90's which rocketed the insurances sky high.
New Fords don't appeal to me as they lost and lack the styling aspect but known today for great quality and reliablity, I don't think they'll ever make a car like a Escort cossie...............
mboon
on 14th Mar 2006