1988 Ford Escort RS Turbo review from UK and Ireland

Melted fuel pump relay (£32 from Fords or £10 from a breakers yard).

Snapped rear tie arm (£52 from Fords).

Alternator failure (£36 local motorists shop).

Drivers door central locking failed (2 hours to locate and re-wire door looms).

Squeaky boot locking catch (2 minutes and 4 inches of electrical tape).

Worn front wheel bearings (yet to be replaced).

Track control arm bushing worn resulting in worn tread on the inside tire edge (bushings to be replaced with poly bushes).

Off side brake caliper sticking resulting in a warped brake disk and an annoying squeak and grinding noise when coming to a halt (Caliper replaced with a fully reconditioned unit £36 pounds and brake disks, both sides replaced with Ebc turbo groove disks and green stuff pads).

Finally turbo oil seals worn therefore blowing oil through the inlet manifold, greatly reducing power by about 40 bhp and loads of torque (turbo being replaced next week with an added -31 actuator).

The majority of these problems are general wear and tear, but some are due to the fact that the car is highly modified.

The car used to be a show/sound off car so it is in immaculate condition, and it still turns heads at 16 years old!!!

The car has had the following modifications; Piper cam, ported and polished head, Scorpion straight through 3 inch exhaust, Chipped ECU, running 1 bar/ 15psi of boost pressure, Pipercross induction filter, bleed valve, Samco silicon hoses, Turbo XS blow off valve (very load), Nomad Racing boost gauge, Ebc brakes, 90 spec interior, bumpers and spoiler, fully de-locked, smoothed bonnet, Antera 145 alloys, Clifford full closure alarm, Toad Power key transponder immobilizer. To cope with all the extra power adjustable Koni suspension had been fitted, this greatly improves handling and stance of the car, but the ride quality suffers as the ride is so firm.

I would recommend one of these flying machines to anyone who likes a real driving experience and loves attention! If this isn't what you are looking for in a car, then opt for a Ford Mondeo or similar.