[gerbil_b]

I am sorry to say i would go completely in the oppisite direction, Ford Escort Cosworth Lux Monte Carlo edition. Get an impecible one with less than 25k on the clock for £18k hahaha.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by gerbil_b

I am sorry to say i would go completely in the oppisite direction, Ford Escort Cosworth Lux Monte Carlo edition. Get an impecible one with less than 25k on the clock for £18k hahaha.

Thats now a collectors car mate. Kev would in all honesty be so dissappointed with the performance of it after the 335i.

He would break it within a week also.

(Coming from a Cossie Lover)

[feederz]

The Escort Cosworth is a nice car but 18G!! I never really understood how the Cosworth name holds such good value for a what is essentially a Ford Escort (worth max about £1,000 with very very low miles and in mint condition).

Mind you I did spot this whilst browsing...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1268345.htm

Surely not?

[Ham09]

I was in a similar (ish predicament to you). My other halves car blew up, so I was able to give her my current motor and decided I deserved an upgrade. I wanted somehting fast and had set a budget of £20k and ended up testing driving a Z4m coupe (at £23K way over my budget) great, but in the end really wanted a 335i after driving my friends and as this gave comfort, performance, reasonable mpg and insurance and good build quality. After owning Vauxhalls before I wanted a premium brand this time i.e. BMW, Audi, Merc, or Lexus.

I was able to get a fully spec'd Oct 56 335i SE from BMW UAC, Manual with just 22k miles on the clock. It drives like a new car and I think it's an incredible amount of car for the money (paid just a tad over £18k). Ok, I have only a week but it's makes me smile every time I drive it. I just really... really... hope I don't get any problems with it as you have (e.g. wastegate rattle, fuel pump etc etc) . There are quite a few similar age cars with 90k miles on the clock on auto trader. How many people post on these forums raving how little problems they have had with there 335i's?

Maybe you were unlucky and got a dud... If only we could get access to BMW's repair statistics to give us a fair/quantitive assesment of the realiability of these cars!!

For the record my other choices were going to be a 55 Reg E46 M3 (insurance to high and not as much luxury) , 135i (too expensive as they are still too new), 2007/2008 123d/130i (still too expsensive for what you are getting.) Alternatively I might have considered a £12k new ish hot hatch like an Astra VXR.

If I was doing a lot more commuter miles I'd would have probibly gone with the 123d or a fully spec'd 320d, but in the end the 335i just seemed the best value. No doubt this is why you chose your motor in the first place.

If you still looking for hardcore performance, which I think you are, perhaps an E46 M3 is good option. The engine seems to have it's bugs ironed out and it's a still a BMW. I suspect the residuals will be pretty good too !

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by feederz

The Escort Cosworth is a nice car but 18G!! I never really understood how the Cosworth name holds such good value for a what is essentially a Ford Escort (worth max about £1,000 with very very low miles and in mint condition).

Mind you I did spot this whilst browsing...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1268345.htm

Surely not?

Because it's a homologation rally car. It only shares rook skin and doors with cooking model escorts.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by Ham09

Maybe you were unlucky and got a dud... If only we could get access to BMW's repair statistics to give us a fair/quantitive assesment of the realiability of these cars!!

I was thinkin the same....would be good to know how often everyone gets an engine warning light! etc...and how many of us gets it...

[feederz]

True, but even so, the non homologation models in good condition and average miles go for £12,000+. You can buy a mint homologation Impreza Turbo with a very comparable performance for a fraction of that cost.

On paper both cars are very comparable...

- They are highly race tuned versions of extremely average and mundane everyday family cars

- Their styling maintains the original underpinnings of the boring model but adorns a tracksuit to look more sporty

- They have similarly high levels of performance and race pedigree

- They have similarly low levels of build quality, although the Subaru might have a slight edge on reliability(?).

For example you can buy this for £14,000

Mint Escort RS Cosworth 1996 (unstated miles, usually means high)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1047857.htm

or this for £12,500

Mint Subaru Impreza Turbo 2007 20,000 miles
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1346997.htm

So there is clearly something about the RS Cosworth badge that means people are prepared to pay a huge premium.

[dxb335d]

I can't stand Subaru. I would take cossie all day long. Looks the bollox. For years small turbo escos held high money. Now low mileage big turbos are worth loads. For tubing big turbo is a must.

[JonD]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I can't stand Subaru. I would take cossie all day long. Looks the bollox. For years small turbo escost held high money. Now low mileage big turbos are worth loads. For tubing big turbo is a must.

I have to agree, I've owned 3 escort cossies in the past and a few subraus. The cossie will always be a classic, the subrau will never be a classic, the subraus will continue to depreciate, decent cossies are worth as much now as they were 9 years ago.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Johnda

I have to agree, I've owned 3 escort cossies in the past and a few subraus. The cossie will always be a classic, the subrau will never be a classic, the subraus will continue to depreciate, decent cossies are worth as much now as they were 9 years ago.

John, I would love to see some pics of them. When/what year
did you have the bad boys ?

[JonD]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

John, I would love to see some pics of them. When/what year
did you have the bad boys ?

I try and dig some out, the first was a big turbo model which I bought around 1995, I then owned motorsport edition which was basically produced motorsport hence the name, it came without all the usual luxuries such as air con, electric windows etc essentially a lightweight version that must have been around 1997, had group N ecu fitted with anti lag (now that was fun). The third I had was in 1999 that was the monte in black with 18” Rondels looked the nuts !

I have to say though the fastest cosworth I owned was 2wd sapphire, I went to town on that one, it was rolling roaded at over 360bhp nothing special these days but back then, nothing could get anywhere near it on the road, god knows how i kept my licence.

[beemerbird]

'In for pics' of the Cossies............can't believe I just 'said that'

Actually, a variety of photographs of the Ford Escort Cosworths would be jolly nice.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

'In for pics' of the Cossies............can't believe I just 'said that'

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Actually, a variety of photographs of the Ford Escort Cosworths would be jolly nice.

That's more like it, darling

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

That's more like it, darling

A mere moment of stupidity Tony.

In before Sunny.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

In before Sunny.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

'In for pics' of the Cossies............can't believe I just 'said that'

Actually, a variety of photographs of the Ford Escort Cosworths would be jolly nice.

THIS!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Johnda

I try and dig some out, the first was a big turbo model which I bought around 1995, I then owned motorsport edition which was basically produced motorsport hence the name, it came without all the usual luxuries such as air con, electric windows etc essentially a lightweight version that must have been around 1997, had group N ecu fitted with anti lag (now that was fun). The third I had was in 1999 that was the monte in black with 18” Rondels looked the nuts !

I have to say though the fastest cosworth I owned was 2wd sapphire, I went to town on that one, it was rolling roaded at over 360bhp nothing special these days but back then, nothing could get anywhere near it on the road, god knows how i kept my licence.

Mate Im a Cossie god. (Just wished I owned one, have the whole model collection) No need to tell me about Motorsport Eds. Why did you own that then? Unless you were going to create a race/rally car or track car? PLS PLS dig out pics for me

360HP Saff would go like the clappers. I wanted a Saff and Escort for years. Test drove a few and was gutted.

Originally Posted by beemerbird

'In for pics' of the Cossies............can't believe I just 'said that'

Actually, a variety of photographs of the Ford Escort Cosworths would be jolly nice.

Thought you were a car enthusiast H? youmust know what a cossie looks like?!

The Radient Red one is a small turbo with 18" Rondell rims, a cossie mans favourite.

The little mallard green one is on OZ rims and the 2nd one on standard rims! and both big turbo's

[dxb335d]

Ah Fuck, I want one again now!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Ah Fuck, I want one again now!

Didn't you end up driving one and came away disappointed?

[SiKkBaSs]

I love Cossies...how can you not!!!

I remember sitting in one of my uncles mates ones when I was a young'un. It was black had the full works much like that red one. I swear it was fast as fook!!!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Didn't you end up driving one and came away disappointed?

Yes mate Majorly. First one I test drove was a stage 1 4x4 Saff (with a few other bits) 280HP. At the time I had 318is coupe and a 230HP Fiesta RS Turbo. So a fine handling car, and a car which was a monster in a straightline to compare with the cossies.

IT was quite expensive and drove badly. Abs wasnt working the bushes were worn (yes things that can be replaced) History was patchy also. Overall very underwhelming and not all that quick in a straightline. Id say my Fiesta Turbo would have run it rolling easy.

2nd one was also a Saff but a 2wd version, in the rarer than most colours Cystal blue, it had 310HP and had much work done. It drove a lot better than the first Cossie, with tighter handling and far better brakes, this due to all being uprated aftermarket parts. Accelerated very quickly. Considering it had proper Koni adjustable dampers and the like it still felt like a barge. This was quick over 100 for sure.
Neither Saff drove as well as my 6 year old bmw 3 series at the time.

Third one was finally an Escort Cossie, which had 360HP. The garage had it a while and it was good condition not mint. Again probably due to the 4wd didnt feel that quick accelerating, then promptly went into limp home mode whist overtaking a lorry at full chat. Interior wasnt mint etc. So walked away.


I then looked at a 18k Mile from new Small turbo Escort cossie in the stunning Imperial blue. The owner ( a dealer for cossies) wouldnt let me drive it.

It had been jacked up in the wrong place and had dented the floor, and for a low mileage 1 owner car with all history it was missing the all important first MOT... DEFFO Walked away also.


I then looked at a 310HP 1999 200sx which on all acounts made the Cossies feel old. Although I wasnt in love with Nissan's I was Ford Cosworths though.

Still lust after an Escort Cossie for sure. Wondeful cars. If I ever get to the stage to afford many many cars. I will want to own a version of all Cosworths in standard perfect condition.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Thought you were a car enthusiast H? youmust know what a cossie looks like?!

Think I'm more than old enough to know what a Cossie looks like. Or was that humour

I was taking the piss out of Sunny with his 'in for pics' saying. Everyone else got it.

Anyhow, nice pics Carl.