Ive been looking for a 'Decent' Escort S2 90 spec RS for months. Every car i go and view have all been £2800 - £3500, and there all advertised as mint body doesnt need any attention, when i get there they have all been rotters, floor pans have gone, front panel gone sunroof bubbled up all way round, inner outer sills gone and the lists have been endless on some of them.

I restored my old one F440 0DF (if you have it and want to sell it me back PM me) to a high standard and i never got round to painting it due to money trouble and ended up selling it like a plank , i said id never do another project as they dont konw when to stop sucking money out of you and id buy a nice solid one or one thats been done, but as its turning out they dont exist and i dont have 5k+ to buy a minter.

So my question is fellow RS nuts do i buy a rotter and start all over again or keep viewing these immaculate 3k rot boxes, or do i just say sod it and move up into the world of Saph cosworths as ive never had one before...

 

It sucks. I'm grateful that although the bodywork of mine needs attention, that it is fundamentally a good basis. My floorpan, chassis, sills etc are in really good condition.

I am of the opinion that once a car is a snotter, it's next to impossible to bring it right back. They are out there, but sadly you're narrowing your odds by wanting a 90 spec car too. It's the right choice, but will make it massively more difficult.

Personally, I would be patient and wait for the right car, settling for a shit car will be a mistake that you will always regret, especially if you have been spoilt with a nice one.

 

Sadly 90% are rotters

 

pay for what you get and the good go for good money

 

Don't expect Saff Cossie's to be any better at the bottom of the market either!

 

i've looked at 3 mark four escorts over past couple of days which were described as 'really good examples' and i've personally scrapped better cars

gettin harder to find now

 

I dont mind doing a little work on it when i buy one as it comes with the territory, and it will get a fresh paint job, but i cant justify spending £2800+ on a rot box, maybe ive been out of the market to long and im expecting to much for a few grand.. but i thought id of been able to pick a tidy(ish)

Anyone got any ideas what needs to be spent to get what im after ?

 

this one recently sold for around 3000 ,looked good and a decent price
https://passionford.com/forum/pictures-video-and-photoshop-forum/224357-some-pics-of-my-s2.html

just got to wait for a good one to come along i suppose

 

I agree, at least 90% are rotters and would never dream of buying! Mine isn't though but everyone thinks I'm mad keep turning down £4000+ but I know I would just never replace it. Got a hard decision to make though as I ideally need to move on a car and it's between the S2 and the escos but don't wanna part with either

 

That would of been nice for me to buy i suppose ill just keep trolling these forums and stay away from E-bay because im getting nowhere with that site in my search..

Ford Fair next week going to have a good look round there for one, right place at the right time and all that

 

your looking at 5k now mate for a good one.

 

I think thats the best idea. That and National Day. At least you can see alot of cars that way.

 

I have turned down 6k! offers for mine because I knew how much hassle it is to find another as good ( I don't think its "worth" that but hey) I've only been tempted when a good one has turned up on here, you could easy waste hundreds in petrol and even more in time looking at sheds. not as easy living in scotland either. Looking back I sometimes think woah 6k but I would have bought another s2 with that maybe it would be a fast one tho

 

Borrow some money and buy a genuine 300+ bhp one LOL

 

I paid 3000£ for late 89 registered radiant red with all extras you can have. I think it is 90 spec all about but not the rear spoiler, maybe someone has change it. Car is newer been welded but overspray yes. When i stripped the car there was little rust under battery place and one little soft place in rear floor.
There is some pictures about the stripping process..

http://s2rst.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

The car itself was not so good that described in mobile.de advertisement, i bought the car from germany and imported it in Finland. Here in Finland there is no decent original S2 rst left, all boyraced.
I did think also to buy car from UK, but if the thing is that there is no left very many original and mint...+ i have to buy RHD vehicle (here in FI LHD cars)

Sometimes you have to wait even 1 year to find good one, that is good thing you have been looking 3 cars and wouldnt buy one yet.. if the condition was that.

 

why not go down the turbo bonus route like alot of people are now?
or even an orion. they're much easier to find in good nick

 

If you want a minter, hold in there and pay the good money it takes to get a cherished example.

Buying shitters with the hope of spending the difference getting it to a high standard always fails, its one thing after another and i don't give a toss what anyone says, a restored car is never the same as a solid looked after original shell. You can't "remove" rust from a car, once its in you can only get it out by removing the whole panel, and even then you can't weld new panels on to the same standards as a production line and make sure every ince of metal is painted. You chase the rust forever

hang in there you will find the car for you in good time