Future Classic Ford?

[Arfur]

We’ve introduced a feature to the news pages of Classic Ford Mag, where we get folk to discuss whether a new-school Ford is classic material or not.

So, let us know your thoughts on the Fiesta RS Turbo – are they a hot-hatch with a strong cult following? Or just a poor-man’s version of Escort RS Turbo, thanks to the lack of LSD and weedy T2 turbo?

The facts:
Made between: 1990-1992
Engine: 1600 CVH turbo

We’ll print the best responses (either for or against) in the mag.

Ta,

Si

[arthurbrown]

As it has a blue oval on the nose it is guaranteed some kind of cla**ic status in the future regardless. Presumably beyond the 'interest zone' of spotty-faced, min-wage thicktards who would swathe them in plastic, and one assumes pretty rare due to the actions of the aforementioned as well.

You'd not get me owning one mind....

[hongkongphooey]

If any festa 3 was going to be i'd say it was more likely to be the rs1800.

Although i know nowt about Frods ;D

[dbizzle]

I'd agree with hongkongphooey - the RS1800 was the connoisseur's Fiesta; the intelligent counterpoint to the cynical marketing exercise that was the RS Turbo. Higher profile cams, 2.0 Zetec throttle bodies and 120 lb.ft made it a lot more grown up than the mediocre XR2i, but without the fragility of the RST's forced induction format. That's not to say the RST isn't a hoot to drive - it's just that it feels that it's lacking something. (Well, as you mentioned, it's lacking the LSD and bigger turbo).

Mind you, mint RS Turbos command a pretty sizeable price tag nowadays so perhaps I'm missing something.


(Incidentally, I had a mkIII XR2i and it was appalling - gutless to drive, really uninspiring handling, soggy gearshift, and the bootlid once came off in my hand. The RS1800 I had [below] totally changed my perspective of the mkIII Fester, it was a revelation.)

[mrrx2u]

chavtasic fwd rubbish!

how's that for some thoughts.

around the same time Mazda were selling the might 4x4 DOHC 1.6 and 1.8 turbo 323 Familia's. hard to believe because the mazda's looks modern even today - much better cars imo.

[Autofive]

CVH = URGGHH

whether turbo'ed or not

theres plenty more ford's to choose from

[bortaf]

I think it will be a classic on rarety aloan, lets face it Mk1 escorts where cheap, badly built, throw away cars in thier day, look at em now.
It allways amazes me that some who slate the plastic body kit route also rave about plastic X packed Mk2 escorts ? chav before the word was invented or just "oldskool"
what's in a lable anyway

[dollywobbler]

Isn't that an XR2 up top? Thought the Turbo had lairy green bumper insert.

I'd have to go for the RS1800. But with that era of Fiesta now approaching twenty years old, classic status can't be far away.

[Negative Creep]

It probably will. In the last few years the mk.2 XR2 has gone from Barry wagon to being rather cool, this will probably go the same way. Not heard many good things about them though and the standard XR2 is a hateful thing

[briandamaged]

I think both the RST and RS1800 will be future classics, they represented Ford's first tentative steps back into the 'Hot-Hatch' genre which had become severely tarnished in the early 90's.

Still the only car that looks good on three-spokes!!!

[dbizzle]

Aug 29, 2008 15:02:34 GMT @briandamaged said:

Still the only car that looks good on three-spokes!!!

Saab have been pulling it off nicely for decades.

[vickytlc]

However good or bad the Fiesta RST was/is, rarity alone will mean a STANDARD one will be a classic. 100% Certainty. Different strokes for different folks. I love 80's and 90's XR and RS cars but I wouldn't pay you in washers for a mk1 Escort for example.

[reanimation]

Can of worms or what? ;D

The shape is too modern to be noticed as Classic (shudder) or retro yet, a very popular car, stocks have not dwindled to the scrappers in the public domain yet and Ford were good at future proofing the design IMO, The sporty ones are getting that 90's retro look growing on em, but you'll notice the "where have they gone" Mk2's are looking very retro now IMO

I doubt your Die hard "old skoolers" will be interested but forward thinking and younger readers will be very interested in this kinda stuff I reckon.

[mk14dr]

I think the FRST's are fast approaching classic status, but they'd have to be standard or very tastefull (and reversably) modded.

I think the same goes for S2 RST's too ( as i believe the race-bred S1 is already coveted as a classic ) . I cant remeber the last time i saw an unmolested pre-90 spec RST

D

[mightymini]

Aug 29, 2008 15:18:15 GMT vickytlc said:

However good or bad the Fiesta RST was/is, rarity alone will mean a STANDARD one will be a classic. 100% Certainty. Different strokes for different folks. I love 80's and 90's XR and RS cars but I wouldn't pay you in washers for a mk1 Escort for example.

I agree with vickytlc on this, good standard ones will be worth more, whether it be the RST or RS1800 version.

I wonder if the mk2 orion 1.6i ghia will get on the classic list? Not many left in good standard condition, only reason I ask is we've had a lot of interest in ours lately, not from travellers, but from ford enthusiast. It's not for sale, these have been genuine inquiries.

[vickytlc]

Again the relative rarity of the Orion Ghia i should see values race in a few years. Needs to be standard again I think. I have a very early mk2 XR2 that's totally standard and only going to go up in value. It already has an "Agreed Insurance Value" way in excess of what you'd think, and real world values see good standard ones changing hands between 1500 and 2500. Someone mentioned S1 RST's. You'd be lucky to find a mint standard one of them for less than 7.5K.

[mk14dr]

Aug 29, 2008 16:16:50 GMT vickytlc said:

Someone mentioned S1 RST's. You'd be lucky to find a mint standard one of them for less than 7.5K.

and even then it wont have its towing eye cover

D

[vickytlc]

Aug 29, 2008 16:22:03 GMT mk14dr said:

and even then it wont have its towing eye cover

D

lol, mine does though! Date stamped 1984, the year the car was built.

[stealthstylz]

I like em, my old Fester RST was rapid, never really got used to it as it got nicked after a week. As for classic status, they're already there imo, just the usual "stuck in their ways" old skool ford lot that will probably say otherwise, even though a standard RST/RS1800 would hand its to a standard mk1/2 escort RS/Mexico.

Matt

[penski]

The mk3 Fiesta has the ignominy of being the ginger stepchild of the Fiesta bloodline. Ultimately still eighties tech but without the fresh looks of later models. It is rare that I see any mk3 on the roads, nevermind warm or hot versions.

Ultimately, a few things will secure classic status for any mk3:

• Rarity
• Originality (more so as scarceness increases)
• Spec (while the XR and RS brands almost guarantee that spods with flat caps will take notice, the 'lesser' models will rely very heavily on the two points above)

Overall, I think the RS tag will secure the FRST's footnote in the annals of Ford's history but as others have said, it won't be by virtue of being the 'enthusiasts choice'...

*n