The last "propper RS" made was the Escort Cosworth, at the time it blasted everything in its class, and really was a supercar your Barrys, Hughs ( ), Davids ( ), Dennis', and Stans could afford.... The same happened with the Fiesta RST, blasted everything in its class.. same with the Sapphire, 3door, and RS500 etc.. What I'm trying to ask is, do you think this new, re-launced range of 'sports cars ordinary people can afford,' will have a presence as big as the, now technically Old Skool, Fast Fords had? (After all the Escort is now 11 years old!!)

Personally? I don't think it will, simply because of the Evos, Scoobies of this world. Although saying that, the Focus Cossie, ST Fiesta etc WILL be big hits, they WILL outhandle a lot of cars, and they will make car journalists moist
Look at the SportKa, it wasn't advertised Much at all, (banned advertisement and all that) but still Journalists are praising it a lot.

All in All, Fast fords are back, but they have some hard contenders. FAST FORDS ARE BACK, AND HERE TO STAY

Your views?

Interesting question.

I personally think no not as much, for several reasons:

- The YB engine was a stroke of luck/genius and was created for race, not road. This means it was very tuneable (although it took a few years for Joe public to start exploring it's full potential). This as well as the engines rawness is the charm that has kept people entertained for over a decade. It is ulikely that this will be repeated with such success, especially with the new regulations that manufacturers now have to meet.

- The main (only?) rival for the Sapphire Cosworth was the E30 BMW M3, this is certainly not the case anymore because of the cars you have listed. Back then the difference between your average car and the Cosworth was much like a driver going from cross-ply to Radial tyres - a big step!
Nowadays the level has been raised and the choices much more available to the masses, so the difference is more down to personal taste as the machines are personal taste.
SO does the driver choose Eagle F1's or Bridgestone SO-2's? - It'll be down to personal taste.

What Fords do have though is a massive cult following. The emotion behind the RS emblem is much stornger than that of the others - and thus the craving. Whilst the Evo and Scooby I'm sure are awesome pieces of kit, there is just that little bit of something missing. This I think is where Ford have the opportunity to come in and trump the competition.

The problem has been that Ford have done a storming job with the Fiesta, Focus and Modeo but have never fully exploited their own work by producing the all singing and dancing performance 'halo' model, the model that all purchasers aspire to.

The Puma, KA Sport, ST170, Focus RS and ST220 are all fabulous cars - but they are still too lukewarm to become a halo model, but they have all been successes (well, maybe not so much the Puma but that was a different issue). There is no performance model in the Fiesta range and so it makes sense that the ST is finally arriving - what is even more exciting is the Fiesta RS! As they are making a Fiesta Rally car, there would be no point stopping at producing an ST especially given the public reaction to their last few performance vehicles.;)

The futures rosey and very exciting!

All the older RS's are brilliant cars just just are getting outdated at a very fast rate and just dont have the comforts that ppl have grown attached to now.

The Focus RS was just brilliant and such a sucess because it was modern, safe, reliable and looked amazing!!!

I dout the Fiesta RS is they bring one out will be out till 2005 at the earliest!?

The ST will be a real nipper!!! Cant w8 to see one!!!

Keep going Ford ur doing a brilliant Job!!!

Scotty

Good points! Wasn't really 'aware' of these cars when they were in their prime (probably because I was about 3/4 lol)

I wonder when ford will start producing some Fast Fords with a tuned TDCi Engine

Hello all,

I am obviously new to this forum and to Ford cars in general.

For about a month now, I am the very proud owner of a SportKa SE. It was exactly the type of car I was looking for, although I maybe quite older than the average SK owner! My fiancé also has a Fiesta Mk6 1.4 that we are very pleased with.

What I’d like to point out, coming from a non-Ford culture, is that I prefer today’s fast Fords. I always liked Escort and Sierra Cossies but always thought of them as “straight line” cars, if you know what I mean. Today’s Fiestas, Foci and Kas are excellent handlers, have a certain “cool” personality and are usable.

So, for me, the ST and RS line are spot-on and I’m looking forward for whatever else Ford has in stock for the future.

First of all.. Welcome along mate!

Make sure you get some pictures of your SK in the photo section

I can tell by your name, that you arn't local, so where are you from? lol

Have a nice day

Hello, and welcome!

Very good points, the modern Ford's are indeed class leaders when it comes to handling, and the fast Ford's such as the SportKa, Focus RS and Mondeo ST220 are true drivers cars.

I am very jealous of you... I would really like a SportKa as a second car!! Very cool looking, and great fun!

You lucky Man

Talking of Greece I've been there a few times my self