Hello all,
just getting some cold feet so I thought I'd post up.

I hope to be purchasing an 88-89 Sapphire Cosworth in Nov this year but I'm just weighing it all up.
To buy one in Aussie land it's going to cost around $24000 (9200pounds)
Thats to buy a smicky one though that would sell for about $6000 over in Pommy land.

Now how to do the Cossies compare to all the jap cars getting around?
The other cars I'm looking at are
Rx7 + great to drive +rwd - fuel usage and small cockpit
Mazda Familia + great looking handle well, good on fuel - gearbox woes
Don't want a skyline.
Toyota's are to heavy and the local Aussie cars are to big (the missus car will be a Falcon)

What I want to know is.

How reliable are the Cossies in mild tune (about 280hp)

How drivable are they (are we talking balls out racer thats a pig to drive in traffic like my old worked carbi mark II Escort?, or comfy driver with neck snapping just a right foot away?)

How much leg room for a bigger bloke? (I'm 6foot 3")

Thanks for the opinions guys.
From those that have been burned by a cossie experiance I'd like to hear from you. All I've heard so far is good things.

 

If you stick to 280hp, there's no reason the car won't be as reliable as standard - the original Cosworth development engines were designed around 300bhp out of the box, but Ford detuned them for production.
It's really about how the car has been looked after and how much work it's done, if the engine's had a rebuild then there really shouldn't be any problem.
A stage1 280bhp car will drive like standard in traffic, no worries on that front.
Plenty of room to fit you in too
You gotta pay some good money over there though..

 

yeah it is a heck of a lot to buy them over here.
The cost puts them in the price of r33 Skylines, Older WRX's and other jappy cars.
but BAH I want a Ford badge and a RWD turbo.
I figure the best way to get that is in a car that actually increases in value!
BTW What the heck is this guy doing???

 

i`m 6ft 2 and i fit in my saph with no problems at all just wind the seat down but you certainly have to pay real money for a car over there hey.

 

Yeah to be honest I'm seriously thinking of buying one from the Uk and shipping it here.
There is only one guy that I can find that sells them here.
www.chalker.com.au

Some crazy arsed prices there compared to autotrader.co.uk.

If I import I will most likly spend (below all in pounds)
4000 on the beasty.
1000 on shipping
750 on import duties.
575 in GST
so 6325 all up.

Thats $16k australia.

I know the folling question may have been posted here before... but because you bloody poms spell everything wierd (aka saff, cossie, scoobi) It's hard to search.....

How do the rwd saff's go against WRX STI's and R33 GTS-ts?? I must be able to crush these cars in a straight line to justify the price.

 

Will that be Jeff Chalker?? he uses this board here occasionally - username jeffchalker - 'spoken' to him a few times by email, seems like a straight guy..
If you are going to limit the cossie to 280bhp or so, Then I'd be looking carefully at STi's personally, at those sort of prices... performance probably isn't hugely different, but as a standard car the Sti will have better handling... and possibly aircon

Beware of prices in autotrader as an indication though - may look cheap, but you would be lucky if you find many nice ones at 'bargain' prices. Good reliable place to buy good cossies here is http://www.automotiveunlimited.co.uk/ he always seems to be able to find really nice cars, not cheap but probably one of the most reliable sources if you need someone to find you one.

 

Be grateful you're not in Norway, i've just been over there for a month working and you would not believe the prices they pay for cars........ ten year old saf cossies with over 120,000 miles on the clock are changing hands for around 130,000 norwegian krona, thats about 11 grand in uk money As for newer cars , they are mortgage money, i spotted an 04 subaru sti with prodrive upgrade for sale on a norwegian forecourt for half a million krona, thats about Ł46,000. We can buy the same car here for half that.
To answer your original question though, much as i love safs (I've owned mine for four years trouble free) I wouldn't consider one for the sort of money you're talking about , not if you are able to buy a newer jap model for the same money. As for importing from over here, uk cars have spent their lives on british roads where salt is used yearly and that means that rust will always be a problem given that the youngest ones are now 11 years old. Having said that, a well kept saf running stage 2 or mild stage 3 tune @ 280/300 bhp will outpace most things on the road and will be as reliable as any other car provided it is serviced regularly. Mine has suffered from the odd electrical gremlin over the years but mechanically is as fresh as the day it was built and even though it is only stage 1 and running about 260/270 @ 15 psi it is as quick as anything i've met on the road yet, especially in a straight line.

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Yeah Jeff Chalker seems like a reasonable guy but the prices he has the Cossies for prices himself out of the market IMHO.
Thanks for that link Richm

I've got mates with WRX's and to be honest while the seats are brilliant 4wd just really isn't my cup of tea.
At least with the cosworth if it's looked after they seem to appreciate over here.

 

I believe Duncan at Automotive will find a car for your needs, if that's the way you decide you want to go.. Everyone I've heard of that have dealt with him have been very happy AFAIK