1994 Ford Escort RS2000 review from UK and Ireland

Knocking from front suspension at 40k - anti-roll bar bushes replaced.

Circuit board in rear light cluster shorted.

A cracking car! 150 bhp engine gave lively performance - almost a match for my old 205 GTi 1.9, although the Escort engine sounded much sweeter, and seemed to deal with hard driving better.

The handling was astonishing considering it was based on one of the dullest cars of its era. It turned in brilliantly, and would even oversteer if you closed the throttle mid-bend. Steering, brakes and gear change quality also gave no cause for complaint.

The Recaro seats were first class and lifted the interior style a cut above the standard Escort. There was very little not to like about the car, except maybe the slightly crappy dash and the fact that nobody took it seriously because it was an Escort. Mind you, people who tried to race it often got a nasty surprise.

Unfortunately, despite an expensive, insurance approved alarm and immobiliser it was stolen one night from outside my bedroom window, and two days later, turned up in a local forest, completely burned out. A tragic waste. I would definitely buy another though.