I've gone and joined you crazy people!

[massivewangers]

I know I know, I'm a car slag 

As most of you know, I really wasn't getting on with the Saph at all. It looked nice, but I didn't really enjoy driving it, and was having to stop myself spending serious amounts on it to make me like it. I didn't want to sink loads of money into it, so I decided to sell it on. After being messed about by the buyer on ebay, it was eventually collected and went last night (making me a profit too I might add), and I collected it's replacement this afternoon.

I've always been an Escort person, they're plenty cheap, and fun enough to drive, but this time I wanted something pretty much standard that offered decent enough performance without needing to modify it to the hilt. I'd have loved an RS Turbo of some kind, but being a student, and doing 10k a year, the risk of problems and temptation to modify didn't appeal greatly to my sensible side, so I went for this instead, a 1996 RS2000 2WD in metallic Aubergine. It isn't 100% perfect, but not too bad. Passenger door and boot have some rust, but will try and hunt out replacements, along with sorting the arches at some point. Solid enough underneath, and with a clean up will look pretty reasonable. Came with a good bit of history, including a dyno printout for 157bhp, though I find that a bit hard to believe! Spec wise, it's standard with the exception of some Toyo's, a Mongoose system, and the induction kit with Roose hoses. Inside it has a JVC CD player, and some uprated speakers, and there's a Cat 1 alarm on it too. It's only a baby RS really I know, but I think they're pretty good value at the moment, and it offers reasonable performance without being too wild on the money front, so it should do the job, and I think it makes a reasonable package that I don't really want to change, so hopefully it will kerb my modifying addiction for the time being!

Few pictures I took when I got home a little while ago:



















Immediate plans are a bloody good clean and a bloody good service. Outside of that, I want to get the rust sorted, maybe a wheel refurb at some point, replace the JVC cd player for my Alpine, fit a strut brace that I have laying about, leave it be. Fix it when it needs fixing and then just enjoy it for what it is

[cozmeister]

It looks strangely like your last Escort

Can't go wrong with an I4 - you've just got a slightly better version of your Sierra's engine now. Is it your first RS?

[massivewangers]

Just lacking the big arse 

Yeah, my first RS. I've thought about them before, but it's never really been the right time. I'm not sure if it's the right time now if I'm honest, something diesel probably would have been more sensible, but this isn't a bad balance between the two, and I think they make nice standard cars. I was offered a 2.0 Zetec 3dr MK6, but thought I'd have a desire to chuck money at it, whereas with this, I just want to get it into nice, standard condition and keep it that way. And the I4 sounds stacks better than any Zetec 

[Daz-cos]

took your time 

seriously though mate thats bloody nice. the little bts are nothing if shes solid underneath makes me want one especially in that colour!!

so better late then never but congrates and welcome to the poor mans society, make yourself at home!! 

[cozmeister]

Congrats on popping your RS cherry

You've at least got two resident 'experts' in the club

[RST-Steve]

Thats excellent Jon, really pleased for you mate!  

You've joined the ranks of RS ownership at last, and thats a cracking car to start with......... my guess was right  

Lovely cars the RS2000's tho, and as you well know, i wish i'd never sold mine!! Bit rare in that colour too, so even more of a bargain   ............ I know exactly what you mean about not needing to spend loads on them as the simple k+n panel filter, mongoose cat-back and koni shocks and springs were all my one needed........... never had any desire what so ever to do any more and the note from the I4 is very 'cool' lol!!   why is it tho, no matter what mk6 it is, the rear arches ALWAYS seem to have gone!!?? my RS2000 was starting to suffer the same with only 47k!!! whats the milage on your one??

btw, i'd get that cone off personally and re-fit a panel filter in the box, but thats just me   lol



EDIT: passenger air-bag AND air-con?? tasty!! has it got the heated front screen as well?? the only thing my one was missing was that passenger air bag grrr

[massivewangers]

I haven't even looked to see if it has the screen lol. I think it was standard fit though, and if any of it works, it will be a miracle! Yeah, quite chuffed to get one with air con, not many 2WDs seem to get it really, so it's nice to have it. It still seems to blow pretty cold too which is nice.

Going to get busy with the underseal ASAP on it, just to keep it as good as possible, so any surface rust will be attacked and the whole underside sealed. The passenger door is what bothers me most, seems to have gone quite badly, which just seems random, some get it badly, others dont get it at all. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a replacement, but I'm not holding out too much hope due to the rarity of the colour. Much the same story for the bootlid really. The passenger side rear arch could most likely be saved, but I think I'll just fit a new driver's side one. I'm not in any rush though I must say, it will get done when it gets done, money depending.

Mileage is 120k, which is more than I wanted, but it's recently had a replacement cylinder head, gasket, timing chain and tensioners, so hopefully it will be ok for a while. I am tempted to build a fresher engine for it looking a bit more long term, but that's just my evil side wanting to mess with head work and cams and things 

I know what you mean about the cone filter Steve, it's not the most pretty thing going. The Roose hoses don't bother me so much, but the cone filter is an odd shape, so will at least be changed for an alternative item, if the standard box isn't fitted on.

The car has potential, but it's not a patch on Matt's or Steve's 

[dazrsturbo]

very nice mate!!  glad to see you have joined the rs club! i just need to get a another one now and il join ya!

[cozmeister]

If you get a proper 57i I'll have that nice big cone off you - I think I might have a use for it.

[bil n kel]

looks nice mate 

[RST-Steve]

Don't forget how small the 57i is for the RS2000 tho.......... as Matt well knows lol!

The heated screen was indeed an option tho mate, so if its got that AS WELL as a sunroof, air-con and passenger air-bag, it has all the options

As said, mine had the rare sunroof and air-con combination along with the heated screen, but no passenger air-bag.............. as for the timing chain, thats all good if its been done! I was told at Ford that they are good for 100,000 miles, so that will be a job that can be striked off the list for some time!

[cozmeister]

They're good for a lot longer if the old twink gets it's oil changed regularly.

[matt]

If you want an air box and standard induction hose i may have one, if i can find it. God knows where it is, all i know is that i did not sell it or throw it away.

157bhp sounds believable to me, especially if its got a de-cat?

I also have a heat wrapped manifold with the air pulse removed if your interested, as well as many other goodies.

It looks a good car though, so i hope you enjoy it.

[RST-Steve]

Now theres temptation banging right on your door Jon!!

That manifold would look awesome on that new beast

[massivewangers]

Yeah, the off the shelf filters for the RS2000 do seem a bit on the small side. If I stick to a cone filter, I'll have to look for an alternative, though having something a bit more enclosed might be a good idea. We shall see!

I am tempted to try it with original box and things though, it doesn't seem to pull totally cleanly, but I'm going to change plugs/leads etc and see how it goes. An oil and coolant change is the job for tomorrow anyway!

I have the decat pipe for it, but it's not fitted currently. Well, unless it has two! That manifold is tempting though Matt. How difficult is it to remove all the air pulse goodies? What else you got about?  

Oh and Steve, it does have the heated screen, so I guess all the options boxes were ticked! Matt is trying to turn me to the dark side already!!!