Fordmad!

Just been out in my mates cupra today (240 bhp) and afterwards i thought, i need a turbo in my life haha!
Ive got a xr3i cab which i love mainly for the old school look but im thinking of selling it next year and buying an rs!

Couple of things holding me back are i no there not the most reliable of cars which would drive me mad but its expected with the age of them!
I don't no much mechanically tbh im okay with basics and will have a go at anything but as far as turbo's and that go im not the best!
I wouldnt be bothered by massive power 150-60 would do me fine, id rather it more reliable then 220bhp!
Id be after a standardish one, would HAVE to be grey as thats my favourite colour. Had some sort of rebuild as i want it too be reliable!

I no a few people into there fords and a few good mechanics so id be okay in that respect and no alot myself aswell

Anyone that has one/had one can share there experiance/advice id be gratefull.

CheeRS!

Robs Frst

Had all 3 S2/S1/ FRST

Loved the S1 for what it was more a classic car and just for how tidy and retro it was, never bought because of it's speed Was more a concourse car. Spent more time checking the weather forecast and covered up garaged than driving the car.

S2 was the 1st rs turbo I owned was a good car to get me into the whole thing but a learing curve.

FRST is the one I prefer out of all of them, slightly more modern EFI, ran a T3 set up as the T2 runs out of puff was lively to drive but did have 210 bhp on tap.

Main things to watch out for is RUST everywhere, mechanically there pretty easy to work on. They are reliable if looked after. Good luck with getting a decent one

rallycross

Had an S2 what a heap of 5hit dont buy one, rusty, unreliable, over priced rubbish.

Oranoco

Still have my S2 it was used as my daily driver for years and years and has NEVER failed to get me where I wanted to be. If you look after it properly they're no more unreliable than any other car.

kidsRS

iTrader: (6)

There not all rusty and unreliable, all the ones iv had have been fine aslong as everything is in good working order, my s1 atm is running 230bhp and i can honestly say i can trust it to take me anywhere in the country, just buy the best you can afford maybe a unmolestered bog standard one, make sure you buy one with no rust issues at all, engines can always be put right but body work isnt as easy and not as cheap,

something like this one on ebay looks good http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-ESCOR...item56478cca13

syko2005

Don't buy cheap. Buy one that's had money spent in the right places aswell. I've had both s1 and s2 and used them everyday.
I never understand why people are frightened to use them or ask the question will it get me there. As said above if they are looked after and set up correctly they will be as reliable as any other car on the road of you ask me

xr_craig

iTrader: (2)

As said, as long as they are well maintained they are about as reliable as anything else. Pretty good fun too. Just make sure you buy one thats had the money spent in the right areas and look out for rust

Eagle

iTrader: (2)

loved my sII .. the owner of the cupra years ago trying to push me down the motorway was a bit shocked when he tried to overtake me ..
was 220bhp tho
for some reason he didnt believe me when i said it was standard
would love another one

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

You obviously bought a shit example

tejy

iTrader: (1)

As mentioned above as long as you maintain your rst then its just as reliable as any other car!

Theres loads of decent examples in the resto section on passionford, so have a look at how other people have restored theirs to give you more of an idea of what to expect. Also have a look at what common problems people have with their rs turbos, so you have an idea of what signs lead to problems.

you might say now that your not too bothered about power but its like an addiction mate. you'll just end up wanting more of it!

Robs Frst

This should help you out.

https://passionford.com/forum/ford-e...de-advice.html

Fordmad!

I no all the rust areas as i own a mk4 already! I am pretty cluded up on fords but like i say its just the turbo side of things!

As for power i no what you mean the less you have the more you want!

Forgot to say i love my escorts but would have a fiesta also!

Most out there have had a hard life so obviosly there are some tiered examples.

I will have around 3k to spend on one which would get me a real decent s2 or a good frst im thinking?

Robs Frst

3k sounds more than enough.

These 2 are what I would be after.

https://passionford.com/forum/cars-f...te-2495-a.html

https://passionford.com/forum/pictur...sta-turbo.html

Though the grey Fez will more than likely be slightly more.

If you decide to go the Escort route try converting to EFI

Rsmat

iTrader: (2)

I've had 2 S2's and loved both of them... have one set up properly and maintained regulary and you won't go wrong..!

matts1

No reason they cant be a reliable car, but as said, buy right, get the cleanest car you can with some mild tuning done to it.

Big power if not done right will make it costly and troublesome and rust is a big wallet denter.

liam-rst

iTrader: (1)

had 4 s2's and loved every one, even the ringer i was sold lol

Maxwell

£3000 you say???

Jimmyeshs old fiesta 2.3 duratec turbo is for sale at £3000!

Fordmad!

Once i sell my car id have over 3k but would probably spend 2.5k ideally!

Would love a fez but there going up in price all the time!

That link on buying a rs was really good. Knew most of it already but was a good read!

I look after my cars really well so shouldnt get many problems!

Korda

iTrader: (1)

My s2 had 3 owners only mod it had when i picked it up was a full scorpion exhaust i use mine 5 days a week runs sweet as a nut

Mr S1

iTrader: (2)

Precisely.

If you drive is like a cnut all the time, maintain it on a shoestring and bodge everything it'll break down. But so will every other car. Don't abuse it all the time, look after it properly and it'll be fine.

Make sure you buy a good one to start with though. £2.5k will in almost every case NOT buy you something that you won't have to put right.

Fordmad!

I drive pretty sensible 90% of the time. I don't have much money but if a car needs it, it gets it!

Id love a a frst if im honest as they are rarer! I wouldnt mind somthing slighty different though a mk3/4 estate, van or mk3 rs1600 rep or somthing along those lines! Its the reason i like 3i's and 2i's as you just don't see them anymore!

Think id be in safe hands on here if i did have one the turbo's seem to get good coverage!

Brian

iTrader: (2)

We had a series 2 and used it every day for 2 1/2 years and it never let us down.

Brian

weegaz22

I'd say if you can shop around and get one thats been converted to EFI, i had no end of problems with mines, if I'm honest i hated that car by the time i sold it, had nothing but bother with it (and i was a mechanic at the time), was just one thing after another after another, spent more time under it than in it

but £3k will get you something that should be of a decent spec and build and fairly reliable though

Fordmad!

I hear differsent stories all the time so kind of puts me off tbh. Still think at that money it should get me a half decent one!

mattysxguy

why dont u just convert your cabrio into rs turbo engine?

weegaz22

+1 I'd probably look at zetec turbo transplant if you wanted to consider keeping the cabby if its in good condition, best of both worlds then, your not swapping out for an unknown quantity, be cheaper too

Fordmad!

I just think that theres too many out there already. Xr3i's are a rarer dite on the roads these days compared to rs's. I could go and get a converted cab for say £1000. Once converted i think they loose value as it say 20% of turbo's on the road are 3i's converted anyway! Unmolsted 3i's are a rare sight and it would be a shame to pull it all apart i think!

Fordmad!

My 3i's solidand mint and only has exhaust system white turbo wheels and recaro's and im only the second owner so i don't really want to change much on it as finding one in this condition is hard these days!

milesy23rst

iTrader: (16)

You obviously bought a TURD example then!!!!!

craigybaby

I used to have a grey s2 and a fiesta turbo they both had a few problems and were a nightmare sometimes but I'd have another tomorrow they are great cars always made me smile when they came on boost the fiesta especially with the chatter

weegaz22

keep the engine and loom then, can return it to original if you wanted to for resale later on?

Fordmad!

There are a few good suggestions but i'll have to see what happens and how i feel come the spring! Really want to keep my cab but the more i look at erst and frst the more i want one!

Whats TURD mean?

Mr S1

iTrader: (2)

Turd - shite !

Alps Pacino

As long as you maintain it properly it will be alright lol

No amount of maintainance will sort out the real problem with these cars which is rot unfortunatly. I would love another series 1 but i had 1 10 years ago and it was completly rotten so the chances of finding a good one these days is very slim.

Even the ones that look mint have a good chance of being rotten somewhere. For example me mate had a 1990 series 2 full engine rebuild by jamsport, new gearbox, new turbo, new front mount, new suspension, looked 100% mint no rust anywhere on it. Was as rotten as a chop though lol

Alps Pacino

And before anyone asked why he spent so much on it when it was rotten the answer is cause it looked mint he didnt think it was which sort of proves me point perfectly.

Old cars you pay your money you take a chance really

bluntys1rsturbo

i think as been mentioned as long as you service them regularly (i service my r5gtt every 2.5k-3k) then they are pretty reliable.

weegaz22

Do have to agree, i had an S2 over 6 years ago now, had history etc with it, but had the start of rot and just everything failing, hope someones gave it the time and attention it needed, would like to see it again if its been restored/modded

if you know you have a good'un already i'd be more inclined to look at converting that, there wouldnt be enough of a change in driving experience from the 3i to an RST to temp me to trade out for for a new car as their essentially the same, just different engine and box

jonesymk2

iTrader: (2)

I've had a couple of turbo mk4 estates,I used to give them death from start to finish and never really had any problems,blew an engine but was my own fault but had a replacement in a few days for £150 and it's still going strong now a year and a half later,main issue I had was hot starting trouble but left it for half hour or so and would fire straight up

rapidonion

is your 3i efi? if so it'll take about 5hrs to convert it to turbo!

Fordmad!

Yeah it is one of the last before they went to the mk5