hutchy

Hi all,

I've always been a fan of the Cosworth in all its formats and grew up as a young lad dreaming of owning one at some point......I am 36 now! lol

I currently have a 2004 Subaru Impreza STI in world rally blue. It produces 265bhp as standard. A great car but I'm toying with the idea of selling the Subaru and getting myself a really good Cosworth. I wouldn't mind if it was a 3 door or 4x4 Saph.

I would be grateful if you could answer a few questions I have:

1. I would use the Cosworth car as my daily drive......is this recommended? If not Why?
2. What is the fuel consumption like? Standard ? and say a stage 1? I know what the STI is like
3. Any reliability issues?
4. Best Fuel for the car? I use Shell V Power for the Subaru
5. How much for servicing? Ford or a Specialist?
6. Who are the recommended specialists in Scotland?
7. Out of curiosity..how much is the tax these days for a Cosworth?
8. Good points?
9. The bad points?
10. Where to get the best car?
11. Prices? What would a 6k-7k car buy me?

Sorry for all the questions but I would appreciate all your comments and answers

Many thanks

adam151082

id keep the jap car for every day. but i'd sell both and get a diesel A4, golf for every day motoring.

KSA-Cossie

iTrader: (4)

1. I would use the Cosworth car as my daily drive......is this recommended? If not Why? I used mine daily for 2 yrs without hassle.
2. What is the fuel consumption like? Standard ? and say a stage 1? I know what the STI is like Vry good with closed loop ie 34 mpg
3. Any reliability issues? Not if looked after properly no.
4. Best Fuel for the car? I use Shell V Power for the Subaru Vpower.
5. How much for servicing? Ford or a Specialist? I use my m8's garage.
6. Who are the recommended specialists in Scotland? I'm from scotland and go to MSD in blackpool.
7. Out of curiosity..how much is the tax these days for a Cosworth? Ł190
8. Good points? Easy tuned to 400 bhp on standard internals.
9. The bad points? Rust lol
10. Where to get the best car?
11. Prices? What would a 6k-7k car buy me?A nice spec 4x4 saph.

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

if u want to use it as a dialy drive, honestly buy a newer focus rs or stick with subaru.
they cossys arent reliable daily drivers.
they do about the same mpg as the subaru. expect around 20mpg.
i always put vpower or tesco 99 in mine.
tax is Ł136 a year iirc
best place to get one would be from an enthusiast on here.
ul buy a scruffy 3door that needs alot doing to it for 6-7K and ul buy a reasonable saph.
reliablity issues- they rot out, people often bodge them and pervious owners may have ruined them. simply turning the boost up to make them quicker wrecks them.
if it has previously produced more than 400bhp it will be knackerd.

they are great cars for a hobby and an enthusiast, but arent as good as the subaru as a car to be used as a car.
if u want a change of car have u considerd an evo 5, rx7 or a mk1 focus rs

hutchy

Many thanks for the time you have taken to answers the questions. Very helpful indeed.

hutchy

Thanks for the honest answers mate...really appreciate your knowledge and experience!
I did consider an Evo before the Subaru but there are so expensive to run and service.....I chose the Subaru (the sound did sway my decision) lol but I have a desire to own a Cosworth..................

hutchy

Some pics of the subaru

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKB-Q-ilxsQ

MannheimAlex

The bad point is really the rust, as most old cars.

For the daily driver question. I use mine in the summer almost every day, also sometimes to drive to work and never really had a problem with. But as these cars are really geting old, there could be always someting go wrong.

hutchy

I had good fun this day with the Subaru........I'm sure a Cosworth can do the same!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InvNsR-e-7M

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

the cosworths are reliable, but no doubt at least once a week u will have the bonnet up and even if its a little niggle the fact is over a year you will have spent alot.
they get alot of electric problems as the terminals green up.
i love them tho. its strange how they have a sort of xfactor. i cant explain it to myself even, but i really love the sapphire. this 20 year old sierra. its bonkers

KSA-Cossie

iTrader: (4)

In 5 yrs ive only had to change a bad connection on the map sensor plug and replace a shit clifford alarm,if you buy a good one m8 it'll serve you well.

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Do not believe the "Unreliable" rubbish, this comes from people who are either incapable of looking after the cars or by being bodged. The only reliablity issues you need to be concerned about is the fan and fuel pump wiring, you want to make sure the fans work and ideally rewired as well as fuel pump. The best advise you can get is buy the best you can afford, as if you buy an old smoker it's going to cost the same amount if not more to sort it out.

Tax is as said Ł190 a year as they are pre March 2001 and above 1549CC.

Do not overlook a car with rusty arches which is mechanically sound opposed to a sound body with a tired engine as will be cheaper to get the former sorted than the latter.

Do all my work myself but if you wanted servicing etc there are plenty of reputable specilists depending on location the likes of MSD, SCS etc.

If you are after 400HP you want a 4x4 version ideally as they have the stronger 200 blocks or a 2WD with a 200 block fitted. You can run 400+ on a 205 (2WD standard block) it's just around this figure these blocks start cracking some are fine it really is a gamble, apart from this issue the internals will run 400 all day long, will need a bigger turbo though.

As for looking for one they appear on here all the time, theres also sites such as Pistonheads, if you do look at one it's good if you can take someone with you who knows about Cosworths.

Martin

KSA-Cossie

iTrader: (4)

Good advice there m8.

Mike1

+1000!

Some people aren't prepared to spend the same money on a 20 yo car that they would unthinkingly spend on a new car in maintenance.

I'd drive one first before you do anything else as you might not like the 'feel' of it compared to what you're used to in a Subaru/modern car.

Personally, I've had new BMWs ( 330s ) etc in the past and they've come and gone but I've still got my Sapphire. I've tried new Subarus and EVOs - they're very good to drive and dynamically better

It's very telling that when magazines do tests of all the M-cars/What is the best M-car ever etc they so very often end up picking out the E30 M3 as the one to get and keep even though it is much slower than modern offerings.

Then go back and read the magazine tests from 1988-early 90s. What was the car they ALWAYS put the E30 M3 up against on the road/track. What invariably beat the E30 M3 for driving rewards............? Clue : it wasn't the Mercedes 190E 2.3/2.5-16

That is probably why people come back to them so much....just as with the old E30 M3. They do have a certain something that is missing in most modern cars

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

Marty - the 4x4 gearboxes aint usually happy with 400bhp mate. Have done 32K in my standard 2wd saff.

Clutch, head gasket and rad going were the main issues - tho now I know I need to do the wiring for the pump and and fans before something goes wrong on that score.

Mike1

Very true - I have heard 330bhp is a good level in both 2wd and 4wd if you don't want standard power. If you are used to a modern 265bhp Subaru I'm sure you'd find that acceptable performance wise. If you can get one with sensible suspension mods ( Ahmed Bayjoo springs and Koni adjustables, a 6 degree rear beam etc ) it will be a nice useable everyday car providing it is well rust-proofed underneath

Tank Mike

LOL at all the people saying they can't be used as a daliy driver. i used mine for 9months with no problems.

The only time i ever broke my 4x4 was because i 6k lanched it.

It was a stage 3saph 4x4

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Very true forgot about the boxes on 4x4 also the diffs are weak as well.

Martin

Phil2002

iTrader: (3)

my first saff i had was a stage 1 2wd and i used it everyday work and back and on weekends ringing it neck in basildon and after about a year the engine was getting tired lifters getting noisey and turbo seals going. i now have a stage 3 2wd saff but it is a hobby so i don't drive every day last year it only done afew hundred miles i will definatly not bring it out if the grit lorries have been out.
as said above newer cars lack the thrill of driving a quick car i recently drove a brand new bmw 335 m sport twin turbo and i was honestly dissapointed.
In my opinion i would choose my saff over anything jap but wouldn't have it as my daily driver.
just buy one and see how you get on chances are you'll love, but you'll sell it again no probs(if you've bought a nice one) and won't acually loose any money think of it as an investment sti only gonna go down in value!

cheers,
Phil

tabetha

100% reliable if looked after correctly, I have 180,000+ miles on my bottom end, and it is seriously sweet, but certainly does not get pampered, used everyday, gets washed at least twice a year as well.
Fuel consumption, I can get 40MPG on a run without any trouble at all, but figure on average around mid to high twenties.
IMO the best thing to do is bin the oe ecu, I did and haven't looked back, had mine mapped on it's ecu, despite running greys(403's) the co is 0.97% idle with 137ppm, with 180,000+ miles on std bottom end(done head/turbo), some tuners won't even touch greys and beleive them "untuneable" for decent emissions/economy.
Any reliability issue is down to abuse from previous neglect, or bad maintenance normally, as you can appreciate a car like thgis attrtacts a lot of people who can't afford the upkeep.
I use V power also, most do.
Servicing, seriously struggle to think what there is to do, oil, oil filter, air filter, or clean if K&N(most are), plugs if needed, not sure on cost as so easy to do would be quicker doing your own in less time that it took to drive to a garage!!
Parts cost cheap as well.
Specialist in Scotland don't know.
Tax is Ł104.50 6 months, 12 months is Ł190
Good points, cheap for more power, unlike scoobys/evo, every other car you see is not a cossie, very rewarding to drive, esp the 2wd in the wet, the knowledge that the car you've just wasted cost at least 10 x yours(if you tune enough), fun leaving other seemingly faster cars behind.
A hike to around 275bhp from std 204 can be as little as Ł200, stage 3 330bhp or there abouts would be another couple hundred, most go for stage 3 right away, but even stage 1 over a std car gives a hefty boost in torque.
Bad points, be careful where you park it, always get the cossie paranoia, esp if someone mentions head gaskets!!
Get some abuse from other people in different cars.
I prefer cossie to scoobs, as don't like 4wd anyway, they all belong in Ipswich with the rest of the tractor boys!!
Interiors are a bit dull, and not exactly modern, even for their age, they tow caravans well.
tabetha

STUCOS

iTrader: (8)

Hutch were in scotland are you,have you a contact number

cheeRS stu

alanc

Hi hutchy
I own both a ‘55’ WRX300 and a RWD Sapphire cossie. Both are running at around 260 break. The WRX has the prodrive pack from factory and the cossie is running stage one.
I can tell you now that Subaru is a far, far better car – more reliable and easier to live with and if you are going to use the car daily, i wouldn’t swap it for a cossie.
I also bought the scoobie as i wanted a fast daily drive that i could give some hammer and didn’t want the cost of running an EVO (I have a friend who went through three clutches in 9 months on a standard 260).
I’m a firm believer that all cossie’s should now be used as weekend toys as they’re all old cars now.
However if i had to get rid of one........ The scoobie would go. Why? The driving experience on the Subaru is just too ‘playstation’ it has lost some of the real car feel (the older original scoobie is a better drive). I’d buy a daily hack and still enjoy my sometimes sunny weekends

wayne dowling

iTrader: (1)

I'v been running my 2wd saph for three years @ 330bhp as an every day car

opposite lock

iTrader: (3)

I have a saph and used to have an orion for daily mucking about stuff, i so miss it tbh was easier to drive and i felt more relaxed.
If i had an 04 scoobs i wouldn,t be swapping it for a cossie as a daily drive.
However as said above they provide the 'real drivers car' feel which you probably dont get in a suburu anywhere near as much as the sierra.
You need to drive one and keep in mind the era of the car.
I would of bought the cossie in the first place though lolpmsl

Mike1

Exactly right - if you want the fastest a-b car get a new GT-R or the latest EVO/Spec C Impreza whatever car.

Like an E30 M3, 1.9 205, Mk1 Golf Gti, Mk2 Escort Rs2000, F40 Ferrari etc, these cars give you something else......a much rawer, rough and ready feel than modern cars. You can either appreciate that or not.
Always laugh at the people that say they're so slow as standard these days. Bear in mind as standard they did 60 in 6 seconds and 100 in 15 or seconds I'd still say they can keep up with the majority of cars on a morning commute - obviously not the new M3s, EVOs, Ferraris etc....but where I live they constitute about 2% of cars

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Same here, don't know what they mean, perhaps they are comparing to tuned ones, there few modern cars that do can do 60 sprint and have same top speed leave alone be faster.

Martin

tabetha

F88k knows what people are doing to thier cars if they consider them unreliable, I did 38,400 miles in 2 years in mine, so does get used a lot, I've done 200 between monday and now.
I have never had a breakdown, and fail to how having MUCH more goodies on a modern car makes them more reliable, on balance there is more potential to go wrong as there is more to go wrong, despite being used originally in the days or wooden wheels the cossie doesn't spin shells and eat engines unlike scoobs, modern driving is so detached from the car, might as well be on the x box at least you get feedback there, just find most modern cars boring, and looking at reliability charts is interesting, doesn't seem there is that much advance.
Look at the veryon v the macci f1, so many years between the designs, massively different technologies and expense for what 5-6mph, what a joke, is that the best can be done in all those years ?
tabetha

cossiejay

i use mine everyday and never had a problem only time the bonnet is up is for weekly checks

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

my Transmission has proved unreliable.
my release bearing went, then both front wheel bearings, then the viscous couplink, then the front diff, then the prop donuts so it judders like a fooker above 112ish mph. then the CV boots perished and i didnt realise so i recked my driveshafts.
i then decided to strip the whole car down and rebuild it, and so to speak it has been reliable 15000 miles later.
but its a very good example of buy a badly maintained one and itl just be a sack of shit, buy one that has had the work done and has been really looked after itl be brilliant.
i really rag the fillings out of mine most days, and its reliable.

retro d

iTrader: (15)

This looks about 50/50 on the cosworth daily topic, I think you can easy run one everyday just weekly checks and have a mechanical mind that isnt worried about geting dirty under the bonnet on a saturday.
Lets face it if you do buy a cosworth its for the Bug and that feel you dont get with modern stuff, for me its a piece of history that Ive wanted since I was about 10 I just hope it lives up to it lol.

opposite lock

iTrader: (3)

i totally agree same for me !! well said

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

i sooo want another - been over 2 years now since i broke mine

onslack

iTrader: (2)

copied from the RSOC thread

welcome to the forum buddy, i'll answer some/all your questions based on my experience over the last year and a half of cossie ownership
my answers are in bold, based on my limited knowledge and exp over the last year and a half of ownership, so all the abve can be expanded on :rlmao:
i'll let the more experienced users answer the rest of your questions

JamesH

iTrader: (21)

Must say I completely agree with Tabetha, if you maintain it well and spend the money needed, it will not let you down. Ours hasn't in 5-6yrs of ownersship at 350bhp

Twellsie

iTrader: (1)

I had mine for 3 years and used it every single day, make sure you get it checked over by your preffered tuner when you first get it and so long as you keep on top of the servicing it shouldn't let you down