Azrael

I never said you didn't, I just replied two posts with one.

How would that be done? Another set of centre differential and VC switched with a lever? I can imagine them having 3 different differential options put there into gearbox on service but lever I can hardly imagine. rallycars of that era usually had lever for locking up centre diff and all describtions of RS200 I've encountered said that smaller lever On EVO's and rallycar RS200 was for that.

Gary F

iTrader: (1)

Anyone got any idea how much a rs200 evo would cost

GARETH T

milkman

about 100k for an evo

www.rs200.org

Kev.H

You can defo run an RS200 in RWD mode was added as they thought would be quicker on tarmac but it wasnt plus Pat Doran when he won sometimes would give it RWD donuts

awesome car but as said not a cheap car to run

Ps your Escort is awesome but I would take the RS200

Andreas

Pretty sure its only the cars built for rally and the Evolution model that had the extra gear lever to disengage the 4wd.

Kev.H

I think your right found this

"All the road cars, including the example in the Ford Heritage Vehicle Collection, have permanent four-wheel-drive. Rally versions could switch from two-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive at the throw of a lever on the transmission tunnel"

ESCYSCOTT

iTrader: (1)

Was talking to Will at our show at the weekend about his RS200 and he says its a twat to drive anywhere other than a track, its has absolutely non driving aids, power steering, brake servo's etc......

Think you'd regret it Dunc. If you fancy something a bit special that you could use regular and track it, think about a BMW M3 CSL!! for around Ł35k or maybe a Ferrari 355 for Ł40k or Ł60k will get you a 360 ???

mmmm choices, choices

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

and they are pretty shite on track as well

Just old nasty dinosaurs...

996 Turbo, GT2 or GT3 or Ferrari 360

or CSL if you don't wanna spend that much

Azrael

Isn't it fun to drive old nasty dinosaur which requires all kinds of skill, is a handfull all the time and feels like it wants to kill you? I don't have as much experience with fast cars as you do but I must say that 400bhp Escos withit's mechanical diffs can be as much fun as modern Evo with all it's electronic magic. Both are fun but in different ways, old car is just so extreme and hardcore, new once require only precision and consistency, old ones require huge balls, extreme tricks and skills and you have to put your imagination and fear into glovebox before a drive.

RichardPON

No.

Nasty old RS200, or Ferrari 360? Which one is the "driver's car" out of the two? Pretty sure it aint the Ford!

Personally I don't have the skills of Colin McRae or Micheal Schumacher, so for me, the car that provides the most enjoyment in ALL situations would be the choice for me.

Here's to hoping I'm able to make that choice in the future!

89xr2

The ford has a steering wheel a seat a gearstick and three pedals. no cunning electronics or anything else. its you the car and the road. I BET it is the shonky old ford thats the pure drivers car.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Azrael, I get enjoyment from working with the car... not against it.

I'm sure some people love trying to tame their horrible handling beasts that want to kill them though

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I disagree

89xr2

How could you get a purer driving experience though?

Don't get me wrong, i've never driven either and probably never will but in my mind I know what my definition of a pure drivers car would be.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Caterham

RichardPON

Okay, but take for example, the RS200 and a Caterham CSR.

They are both very basic, simple setups, with no driver aids etc, yet one is 500 imes more the driver's car than the other.

Why? Because a driver's car is a car that rewards, giving you feel, feedback, and a pleasurable experience.

How can the RS200 qualify when it matches none of the criteria?

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

And the Ferrari gives you all of the above

89xr2

I bet if you drive an rs200 it gives you loads of feeling and feedback. There's no purer form of driving than taming a car that is constantly trying to kill you.

Of course this is all purely speculation until I can actually drive one. but I cant see how it wouldnt give you loads of feeling etc when its just your fingertips the wheel and the tyres.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Not from what I have heard. To me taming a car that is trying to kill you is a challenging driving experience.

Working with a car and getting the best from it, taking it right to the limit and keeping it there is a pure driving experience...

I don't mean to be rude. But I don't think you know what you are talking about mate

RS200's are renowned for being shonky nasty sheds, that BITE back!

Still damn cool cars though I just have NO interest in driving or owning one!

89xr2

Fair enough.

Phil

iTrader: (1)

I'm not getting at you Rich but have you driven an RS200? They are quite bold comments to make if you haven't!

There are lots of comments on here from people saying they are crap to drive etc, but I think Dunc should try one for himself and see!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Phil... Will Orm who owns probably the best and nicest and definately the most used example admits himself that they are pigs!

Its a pretty well known fact. It was NEVER meant to be a nice car to drive. It was built to win Rallys.

And its now VERY VERY old!!!!

I've never driven a track prepped 205... but I've talked to enough people and read enough to know they are fast and great fun!

RichardPON

No, but I actually have sat behind the wheel and made "broom broom" noises!

Even if I had driven one, am I the best person to qualify or quantify what makes an RS200 good or bad? No, of course not.

But common sense would dictate that a rally special homologated car, that every experienced road tester has found tricky to drive, and the fact that it was never designed as a driver's car might suggest that I'm heading in the right direction.........

Having driven a few "driver's cars", and seeing what makes them work, one would think it was pretty obvious.

Phil

iTrader: (1)

Thats fair enough, I thought it must give the driver at least some feedback though

Anonymous

Heres all the facts:-

Ford RS200
Manufacturer: Ford
Class: mid-engined, all-wheel-drive
Production: 1984 – 1986
Predecessor: MKII Escort RS2000
Successor: MKV Escort Cosworth
Body Styles: Coupe
Engines: 1.8 L Straight-4
2.1 L Straight-4
The Ford RS200 was a mid-engined, all-wheel-drive sports coupe sold by Ford from 1984 through 1986. The road-going RS200 was based on Ford's Group B Rally car and was designed to comply with homologation regulations, which required that a small number of road legal versions be built. Despite some rumors to the contrary, the RS200 was not based on the European version of the Escort, as were both its predecessor and successor.

History
Following the introduction of the MKIII Escort in 1980, Ford Motorsport set about development of rear-wheel-drive, turbocharged variant of the vehicle that could be entered into competition in Group B rally racing, and dubbed the new vehicle the Escort RS 1700T. A problem-filled development led Ford to abandon the project in frustration in 1983, leaving them without a new vehicle to enter into Group B. Not wanting to abandon Group B or simply "write off" the cost of developing the failed 1700T, executives decided to make use of the lessons learned developing that vehicle in preparing a new, purpose-built rally car. In addition, Ford executives became adamant that the new vehicle feature all-wheel-drive, an addition they felt would be necessary to allow it the ability to compete properly with all-wheel-drive models from Lancia and Audi.


The mid-engined RS200's engine bay and beefy rear suspension.The new vehicle was a most unique design, featuring a plastic/fiberglass composite body designed by Ghia, a mid-mounted engine and all-wheel drive. In order to aid weight distribution, designers mounted the transmission at the front of the car, but this required that power from the mid mounted engine go first up to the front wheels and then be run back again to the rear, creating a complex drive train setup. The chassis was designed by former Formula 1 designer Tony Southgate, and Ford’s John Wheeler, a former F1 engineer, also aided in early development. A double wishbone suspension setup with twin dampers on all four wheels aided handling and helped give the car what was often regarded as being the best balanced platform of any of the RS200's contemporary competitors.

Power came from a 1.8 litre, single turbocharged Ford/Cosworth "BDT" engine producing 250 horsepower in road going trim and between 350 and 450 horsepower in racing trim; upgrade kits were available for road-going versions to boost power output to over 300 horsepower. Although the RS had the balance and poise necessary to be competitive, its power to weight ratio was poor by comparison and its engine produced notorious low-RPM lag, making it difficult to drive and ultimately making it less competitive; a third place finish at the 1986 WRC Rally of Sweden was the vehicle's best-ever finish in Group B competition, although the model did see limited success outside of the ultra-competitive Group B class.

After only one full year of competition, the vehicle became obsolete, as FISA, the governing board which at the time controlled WRC rally racing, disbanded Group B after the 1986 season. For 1987, Ford had planned on introducing an "Evolution" variant of the RS200 featuring a development of the BDT engine (called BDT-E) displacing 2137cc. Power figures for the engine vary quite a bit from source to source, but output claims range from as "little" as 550 horsepower to as high as 800 horsepower; it's been said that the most powerful Evolution models can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just over 2 seconds. Uprated brakes and suspension components were part of the package as well, but the ban on Group B racing effectively forced the E2 model into stillbirth. A small number of them were run in British Rallycross events with some success.

Production
Homologation rules required the construction of at least 200 road-legal RS200s, and Ford complied, building around 220 vehicles in total with 20 of them put aside as "parts vehicles" for the racing teams.

An added twenty four cars were reportedly built as "Evolution" models.


Trivia
The cars were built on behalf of Ford by another company well known for its expertise in producing fibreglass bodies-Reliant.
Such was the rush to complete the RS200, the Ford parts bin was extensively raided - the front windscreen and rear lights were identical to those of the early Sierra, for example, while the side windows were cut-down Sierra items.

James-W

i disagree, think top tuner

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I know the car... but that Will bloke is at every trackday and sprint thing I ever go to

and I think its looks cool as fook as well. Julians looks boring!

James-W

personal opinion mate,

you still got the 'liner?

for 100k i would buy a wrc escos and give it some more power

Markb_s1

surely the predecessor would be the rs1800 mk2?

i would definitely think there are much better drivers cars out there... not that it would stop me having one though!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Yes I still have the Skyline although it has a flat battery and I have not driven in for 2 months

Why have you mentioned 100k?

Markb_s1

and would 100k actually get you a proper WRC escos?

James-W

earlier on in this thread 100k was metioned and when i was trying to locate one for a friend the only ones i found were that

James-W

2 months, i could dust off the cobwebs and give her an airing for ya

do any r34 gtr's go through liverpool? (you go don't you?) as last time i was there, there was fuck all

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I would imagine they go in and don't come out!

Andreas

If I had loads of money so I could buy other cars as well then sure a RS200 would be cool to have in the collection.

There are so many other cars out there for that kind of money that I would buy before a RS200. Imagine what kind of Porsche you could get for the same amount.

Anonymous

Well if you get one you deffo got a date from Steve


I have been here and i seriously considered it along with the 6r4 BUT i couldnt get out my head...replica...people would never beleive they real..so that put that idea out.

Seriously conidering selling everything for a 360 though

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

do it just try a 996 Turbo first or a GT2 or GT3. All much more usable although not as flash I agree

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Id do it, just to say i've had one

Not many chances like this could come up in this world, Do it I say!

Azrael

I haven't driven many widow makers but I think I enjoy both worlds. The thing is that person thinking about buying such a car has to decide if he enjoys fighting for his life.

Dunccoss

errr i dont know, i would not get a 355 or 360 as i dont like them and they are slower than my escort, whould like to use my car on track but i think it could be to nice for that and it whould go down hill fast, use to do loads off track days with my last car ( gartrac ) and had a great time and i miss it, did beds track day this year in the focus but it just wasnt fast enouth for me, i just knew i shouldnt have taken the escort round donington at national day because it made me remmember now much fun they can be