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Xelmon
09/22/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
It's just a hair on the side of "Crack pipe".
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
One of the tastiest varieties of forbidden fruit there is, and at a nice price, to boot.
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brandegee
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
It's too numerous to be a super-rare homologation special...it'll take a long time to gain value, esp. with the later Sierra around. But it's hard to argue with the same AWD system as a Jensen Intercepter FF and a stout Cosworth mill. And it's right here in the U.S.

As long you have a lockable, windowless garage in a law-abiding, elderly neighborhood it's a nice price.
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dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
Love the car, but not that much. I could see it going for $12k, but that's over double what I think it's worth. Plus if you're really going to ask such a ridiculous amount you could at least fix those little problems yourself first. I mean a stuck window and a backlight? That's like a Saturday afternoon right there, get to it if you want a kings ransom for that thing (and replace that boot while you're at it, sheeesh).
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Mad_Science
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
Was this a Fantasy Garage induction or NPOCP?

Incredibly well written.
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Alfisted
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
If you like that, check this:

[bringatrailer.com]
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Novaload
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
Methuselah's nut sack.

Even if I were going to buy that car, and it is nice price, I could not now because of that comment.
Even if the shifter boot were replaced. Even if I had it all torn out and replaced with 3-on-the-tree. Even if I tore out everything and went to an automatic. I would still not be able to get that description out of my head.
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MrHowser: Now on XBL as NoReturnPolicy
09/18/09

@Novaload: I agree. A horrifying, yet terribly apt description.
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Novaload
09/18/09

@MrHowser: Thanks. Let's have some eye bleach. I'm buying.
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UDMan
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
According to Graverobber, the rubber will get laid. However, buying this car will not increase your chances of getting laid.
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MarywithanM™
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
In case you don't know the right answer.
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engineerd
09/18/09

@MarywithanM™: Hilarious!
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Alfisted
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
Tough call... Rare (at least over here) and desirable. But it's R5 Turbo money for a car without the same cache. So obscure that most, including the local constabulary, will likely think you're just another wannabe hot rodder with a ridiculous wing on your aged econobox. Would look right at home in a Wal Mart parking lot.

Were I so inclined, I think I'd rather try to source the mill separately and transplant it into a plain Escort to create a real sleeper for a fraction of the price. Or better yet, put that motor in something like a Bugeye, Midget or Datsun roadster.
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engineerd
09/18/09

@Alfisted: The lack of recognizability, particularly among the local constabulary, is part of it's appeal. The best place to hide is in the open.
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Alfisted
09/18/09

@engineerd: As a Q-ship pilot, I wholeheartedly agree. The Kentucky Gofaster attached to the back of this is likely to spoil the effect, though.
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pinkshinyalan is kind of brown
09/18/09

@Alfisted: It wouldn't be an easy transplant since 2nd-gen US Escorts were completely different than the Euro versions, and thus not easy to make 4WD. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you know. More trouble than it's worth.

If you just wanted a turbo FWD Escort, you can source the JDM Protege GTX mill for your Escort GT and bolt it in.

But the fun in this car is the crazy compact 4WD rally goodness. Not just the engine.
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Alfisted
09/18/09

@pinkshinyalan: Right on all points. For me, this is a crackpipe price for a desirable car.
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H2H
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
To the ricers thinking you can have a new WRX or something for that price, consider this. In three years your WRX will be worth 50% or less than what you paid new. In 3 years this car will be worth the same or more than you paid for it.
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Novaload
09/18/09

@H2H: Amen.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
I'd buy this all day. Then I'd have Blahzay Blahzay re-record "Danger."

When the Beast is in the house, oh my God, Danger.
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dmdukejr
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
I hope to God someone reads this before buying it and makes sure to tell the seller that the shifter boot "looks like Methuselah's nut sack."
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Novaload
09/18/09

@dmdukejr: I know. I'm still laughing about that and I've read all the way down to here. After I cleaned the coffee off my computer.
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Elhigh
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
I'd lay down some serious scratch to open the hood and have that mill grinning up at me.

Okay, some issues: it's spelled "tweaked."
"...letting your mom pick out your underwear, Nancy."
"Nutsack" is one word.
Mentioning Ford and Ferguson in the same post may anger assorted fans of either Ford or Ferguson. I'm neither, but be warned.

All of that said, just mentioning Smokey Yunick gets you a bye on everything.

But hey, look! An Escort! With a north-south engine, whodathunkit? And 4WD from the same guy who made all four corners busy under the Jensen Interceptor! I mean, that's cool. And it was never sold here in the States, so you're not gonna be wearing the same dress to the party as the next guy, right?

Right.

It's hella pricey, but I say it's worth it.
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tonyola
09/18/09

@Elhigh: Some more issues: "nancy" is not only a given name, it's a slang word (noun or adjective) for an effeminate male. Ever heard of a "nancy boy"?

Ford-Ferguson was a brand name for a tractor built between 1939 and 1947.

The only legitimate use of "hella" is for a brand name of fog and driving lights, and it should be capitalized. Otherwise, it should be laid to rest with "bling", "fail", "all your base", "large trout", and other overused vogue words.

As for the Cosworth, nice price for rarity and performance, though as others have suggested, it sounds like this car might have been thrashed for the 50,000 miles of its life. Proceed with caution.
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Elhigh
09/18/09

@tonyola: Wait, what? "Large trout?" Now you've got me scratching my head, which is damned mean of you since I'm bald and I was weedwacking (I know it's a brand name) poison ivy over the weekend. I'm rashy all over.

I pick because I care. I'll capitalize Nancy until the day I die.
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tonyola
09/18/09

@Elhigh: If you were anywhere on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) during the '90s, you couldn't avoid seeing "----- slaps ----- around with a large trout". See the video for the inspiration.
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Edited by tonyola at 09/18/09 10:48 AM tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred

Elhigh
09/18/09

@tonyola: Okay, I'm only a casual fan of MP. So if I missed something, it won't keep me up nights.

Ford-Ferguson leaves me wondering. I think I've seen a photo of a tractor that was branded Ford-Ferguson, but I think that was also in a GB-market book. I can't recall ever seeing a Ford-Ferguson anything in the States, but I have seen older N Series models that had a "Ferguson System" badge. Occasionally you'll see one mentioned as a Ford Ferguson, no hyphen. That may be a nod to the separate Ferguson badge.
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engineerd
09/18/09

In reply to What’s a Cosworth? Oh, About $26,500!
While $26,500 may seem a steep price for a mid-90s Escort, you have to remember this is not your average Escort. It's not even your above average Escort GT. This is a 227 hp package of hoonerific Cosworthness. A little tweaking and the wannabe WRC boys in their Subies will be rubbing your dust out of their eyes.

What does the engineerd Fair Market Value (eVMV patent pending) have to say about this, though? Should you buy it?

Well, the only other Cossie Escort I could find for sale recently was Jeremy Clarkson's. Listed at £16,989, that equates to about $27,750 in real money. However, the eFMV automatically subtracts the $2,500 premium for it being the car of a B-List celebrity. So, our baseline is $25,250. Adders include $5,000 for the rarity, particularly on the shores of North America, $2,500 for it being magical -- an Escort that will make 3-Series owners cry? Unpossible! -- and $1,500 for general awesomeness. What's the grand total? Well, if you do the maths, it comes out to $34,250 putting this one solidly in Nice Price territory.

Seriously, whoever votes crack pipe needs to lose their commenting privileges.
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