Ford Escort RS Cosworth Review

Overall Rating

Looks, Performance, Exclusivity, Tunability.

Price, Availability.

You really have to experience driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth to appreciate it's true abilities and to look past it's awesome looks. The car is relatively difficult to drive quickly when compared to the latest breed of Japanese WRC derived competition, but ultimately more involving and rewarding. Overall the balance is good with an slight tendency to oversteer on the limit, but the grip levels are so high that this trait doesn't show unless you are really pressing on or being wreckless!

The performance is as expected with the push from the turbo coming in with an almighty kick (mine is an early large turbo version). I have compared the on road performance with large number of cars and as standard, cannot really keep up with the new cars such as the Impreza's and Evo's. I have upgraded mine to Phase III specification which costs around GBP1,000 when performed on an standard engine. This spec should produce around 320-330BHP depending on having the other complementary bits fitted. With this conversion, the car is no only keeps up with the competition, but eats them for lunch (well, after 3rd gear anywa), the newer cars are more responsive and can get off the line a bit quicker. In a straight line, the acceleration is on par with an Audi S4, which has over 380BHP and does 0-60MPH in under 5 secs!!!! Not bad for a car first conceived in the late 80's.

The draw backs are firstly cost related, i.e. high residual second hand prices, insurance and maintenance. As the last cars to come off the production lines are coming up to their 5th birthdays, parts are coming to their operational life and the ware and tear of such performance is catching up to most cars available.

As this is my Dream Car, I would highly recommend anyone wanting the performance and looks to go for and Escort Cossie, but go for an well maintained example as having to replace components on a regular basis can get costly an disheartening at times.

So what are you all waiting for, shop smart and get yourself behind the wheel of what must be one of the all time classics of the last century!

Members' Comments onbunjeeman.'s Review

• mick. on 18th Jan 2003

  The review was absolutely spot on, I was undecided about buying a cosworth but went ahead anyway after reading a few reviews, Now afer running it for a trouble free year it's the best thing I did, and if I wanted to sell it I'd probably get my money back.

• koty. on 24th Jan 2003

  i agree with everything said. helpful aswell

• Morpheus. on 14th Feb 2003

  You should try a super chip from www.superchips.com. On a Phase3 it gives you an additional +110hp and you really feel the difference.