Ford Escort RS Cosworth VS Ford Fiesta ST | Fifth Gear

It’s a new Ford v old Ford shootout , can the Fiesta ST of today outgun a performance legend of the 90s - the mighty Escort Cosworth? To watch the full episode - www.dplay.co.uk/show/fifth-gear
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[@DH.91]

The fiesta could've done the lap twice as fast and I'd still have the Escort

[@Wargwarn]

So would I. Then sell it, buy a Fiesta and pocket the rest. The Fiesta is better in every way.

[@niyazahmed2165]

@@Wargwarn loooool

[@wass006]

Same

[@gtaluvr1992]

@@Wargwarn are you on drugs or just stupid?

[@getthecansin]

@@Wargwarn🤣🤣 you miss the point

[@stuartxrp451]

Cossie has that whale tail so it automatically wins

[@elazotacunaos4752]

Terribly ugly as hell wing

[@poosh6529]

Makes it stand out from a regular escort. The St's styling is more conservative

[@halohunter5217]

It already stands out as an Escort, because it's really a Sierra.

[@tedmalley7636]

That's right...that whale tale wing guarantees it will win every time..!

[@psygnosis666]

@@halohunter5217 escort cossie only shares the sierra sapphire Cosworth floor pan which and is actually shorter.

[@andyborrett227]

Considering the Cossie is 27 years older than the ST i think 3.5 seconds slower is respectable. I would have the cossie any day. A car ahead of its time and a favorite of mine.

[@CFox.7]

Not to mention you could give it a little bit of a modern tune ;)

[@cameronmilne3590]

3.5 seconds is a pasting mate...

[@LorenzoClara97]

3.5 sec on a 1.20ish lap is a fucking lot!

[@krazyjApAn]

Agreed, 3.5 seconds after 27 years of “improvement” I would still take the Escort over the Fiesta for fun, but as a car to live with would definitely be the Fiesta

[@James-ns6jm]

considering price difference in cars and inflation. The cossie just got compared to a much much cheaper car. Compare it to something similarly priced in todays age like a focus RS 350BHP AWD which is still cheaper never mind taking into inflation. Yea the cossie lost by alot.

[@RedDevilGaming88]

I'd still have the cossie

All day every day.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Yeah I’d love the slower car too.🤪

[@Flying_GC]

@@Shane-zx4ps yes because the Cosworth was really running at max potential in stock guise 🙄

[@Shane-zx4ps]

oldpilot nz so was the 1.5 3 cylinder fiesta, how times have moved on

[@bmwman1981]

Bapster Man how long do you think the eco boom will last. Going by how many have had to have replacement engines

[@tracktimevideos5164]

Needs a Ford megatest with all the STs and RSs on road and track.

[@gassx7778]

It’s 2019 but fifth gear still looks like it belongs on Dave.

[@LittaDNB]

😂

[@strkr7876]

Could be cuz it seems like fake top gear lol

[@ericksanchez7787]

Even though I will forever love the escort rs but you have to give the fiesta props for how quick it is, the first gen focus rs could not beat the cosworth around this track and the fiesta st did just shows how technology advances

[@rdevil25]

I would still have the Escort Cosworth.

[@fields1]

It’s such a shame Ford stupidly dropped the Fiesta and Focus from the US market. I would’ve snatched up a new Fiesta ST or Focus ST in a heartbeat. Instead I had to go elsewhere for my car thrills

[@aaryeshg.6526]

They instead made an Explorer ST (and Edge ST too it I'm right) for US cause SUV is what sells. (Yes Ik it's still a dumb decision by Ford but in their minds atleast, SUVs are the trend 🤦‍♂️).

[@JamieR1988]

@@aaryeshg.6526 SUVs are for mums. And mum's buy the most cars. So it made perfect financial sense for Ford to do that. Just a shame that they didn't think about the male population lol.

[@tadassmolskas3014]

Jamie Reid In America all the average person wants is a pickup or suv while others who care more about their cars or want more flashy car will buy a German car. Ford is simply catering to their market they are a business after all. They would drop any car from their lineup if it meant they make more money. They care about what the majority want rather than the minority which is what makes them the most as they make small profit margins for each car sale so must sell huge amounts.

[@vr_bob]

So where did you find your thrill?

[@PedroFTeixeira]

I30N

[@sosacosworth]

The Fiesta ST has been the fastest and most efficient, but the Escort Cosworth is still the most beautiful, spectacular and iconic. An authentic legend of motor racing. I love it!

[@SskDrift]

Still the escort my dream car 😍 make me smile every time I see one

[@patrickkershaw4885]

Dream car would be the RS200.

[@FAT8893]

@@patrickkershaw4885 A real Group B car, that is.

[@skarceoneafd9609]

Me to 👍🙏🏼

[@halohunter5217]

I want a GT90... The GT Ford should've released.

[@tomweyts]

it was my dreamcar untill i steppid in a Sierra RS Cosworth , sold my cossie & bought one of those , been loving it ever since

[@GLKCARSCENE]

New vs Old . No surprise , But which one would you want(Ford Escort RS Cosworth all the Way!!!

[@StephenButlerOne]

As much as I loved escorts, I'd take a MK 2/3 xr3i over the cossie. And for sheer fun I'd have last years st200 fiesta. Don't trust the new 3cly longterm just yet.

[@mosthated863]

Cosworth Ofcourse

[@StephenButlerOne]

@ nostalgia.

[@halohunter5217]

I would go RS500 instead, prefer RWD. The Fiesta is a great car though!

[@yannnique17]

Cossie

[@SA-zoom1]

That is a small turbo cosworth, runs out of puff pretty quick. The original motorsport edition is faster 0-60 and mid range, much more lag but definitely faster. Also this car with the FTW plate has been hammered around for years by journalists. Not really impressed by the fiesta. In the same way the cossie would have destroyed any ferrari from the 1970's the same way the fiesta beats a 25 year old cossie with saggy old suspension (leans like a boat). Forgot to add the very same car (escort) destroyed a mk1 focus rs in a head to head timed lap with VBH behind the wheel and that was 15 years ago wonder if they have completely refurbished the mechanicals since or just serviced it every few years??

[@_djcraig_]

I doubt we will remember the fiesta in 25+ years time.

[@DTCJimmy]

I remember the mk4 and that's 20 years old and other than being reliable it's a shit car. My new fiesta is awesome so it'll be remembered but as a classic is the question, I really like it. I think the special edition of the St might be something to keep its value in the future but as they make so many of the cars they don't end up being classics even if they are really good like the last st was as well

[@_djcraig_]

@@DTCJimmy I understand what you're saying and tbh my comment was a little vague, I still remember the xr2 and that's 30 years old. Like you said the newer cars are so generic looking an designed to be recycled they lost there characters. I see the mk1 rs focus holding its value and a future classic.

[@peter8084]

Great video,I had a blue lux model back in the day, just incredible to see how technology improvements can now get you a standard cossie beater, on the track anyway, straight out of the box 😳 !

[@headchef5680]

No way. A new Fifth Gear video. I thought you guys stopped. Thanks for coming back. I based my entire year 12 ipt project of you guys. I made a new updated website as my project.

[@idin1976]

What tires were the cossie on? 19y/o all seasons? Or identical?

[@Alistair89]

Clutching at straws a bit aren't you.

[@Franksey180]

@@Alistair89 I think he makes a fair point. Would be nice to have them on the same age / brand rubber for the test, makes a big difference when pushing hard.

[@jimmybob3756]

I also wondered that, I am guessing that the Fiesta is heavier than the Escort.

[@Franksey180]

@@jimmybob3756 Escort has 4wd which usually makes for a weighty car so maybe they are a similar weight?

[@jimmybob3756]

Yes I know that Franksey but the Fiesta is overloaded with safety junk like all new cars....I really don't know.

[@skarceoneafd9609]

I’ll take that cosworth any day of the week. Older cars like that have character and a soul it seems like, I always get attached when I have an older project car!

[@deanfarrissey3143]

Escort has it won at the start line with that beauty tho

[@legyes]

Let's test it on any other surface ;) The Escort Cosworth is still one of my favorite cars.

[@3mfreale]

More of these please! Love the new old comparison

[@RBDET25]

All those improvements but still lacks the charachter and soul of the cossy

[@Dan_druft]

I would still rather have the Escort Cosworth, the other one looks like something my mum would take to the supermarket

[@nickgoode3062]

They are both tatted up shopping hatches..

[@-VaLaK]

Dan Druft She'd beat you there though

[@markpattison9554]

Just cause you can't afford one😂

[@Flying_GC]

My cossie was over 400hp with very little coaxing. They were never fast stock due to major detuning. The fiesta would be a fun little daily but there is still a chasm between these cars in favor of the Cosworth. Also playing music over the top of a cossie screaming is sacrilegious why would you do that.

[@mole259]

Ive got the fiesta albeit stage 1 so about 250bhp rather than 200. I'd definetely say try one out. Ive had fast fords all my life albeit most of them small and it was infectious about how it handled and went. It's the only reason i bought one, it sold itself. I love fords old and new im not biased, a rally spec sierra cossie is just porn :D

[@W3nch1]

He's chilling in the cossy and racing in the fiesta :-?

[@mikeuk8486]

Exactly advert of new fiesta

[@BadgerOff32]

Lol, to be fair, Fifth Gear probably just borrowed/loaned the cossie from some regular dude who took really good care of it (considering it was immaculate and only had 15k on the clock), so Jason probably was going a little bit easy with it. If he'd pushed it too hard and binned it, the insurance for the show would skyrocket, and they'd probably have to pay out tonnes to the dude they borrowed it from to get it all fixed or replaced. (Whereas Ford probably loaned them the Fiesta directly, so binning it wasn't as much of a worry, as Ford would soak up those costs)

[@mmeroca]

@@BadgerOff32 yeah that would make sense, you gotta drive that thing like balancing a pencil on the sharpened side

[@TheAnunnaki-NYC]

I wouldn't think twice. I'd take the Coz RS in a heart beat.

[@DanCollinsPhotography]

I’d still rather have the Cosworth. Pit it up against the heavier Focus ST

[@Kocan7]

Usually Focus ST isn't as fun as Fiesta ST, and Focus RS (when it be on a market) would be too fast to compare.

[@EugVR6]

To be fair, the Cosworth didn't handle that well as a racing car because the tyres were to narrow and you couldn't get the suspension low enough but it was massively faster than anything else in that time until the R32 Skyline came along and made the RS500s look slow.

[@tiagobernardo6807]

Those cossie would be amazing with 300hp and a tuned stifer suspension.

[@dungareesareforfools]

As most are!

[@gerardmontgomery280]

It can easially take around 500 without new internals.

[@bigjohnfury5662]

They were in Germany , tested faster TUV checked than a 911 Turbo

[@MadXed]

Need a Cossie vs E30 M3 vs Lancia Integrale shootout video

[@miralemnermina142]

Lancia Delta would win

[@ale9toma]

They made a duel Delta vs M3 e30 years ago and Lancia won

[@miralemnermina142]

@Jack ///M240i no, Lancia better suspension, engine and 4wd system

[@IOTWVUVWTOI]

Integrale vs M3 isn't a good comparison. That's like comparing a 22B to E36 M3 Evo.... Nice cars though :)

[@leedscity6881]

Lancia would smoke em lol why would u even want to see that

[@yetigogo9557]

In next 25 years nobody will remember Fiesta ST but Escort Cosworth still will cose fester hart's beat

[@johndickinson5422]

Why will no one remember the st ..people still remember the xr2 ..

[@FAT8893]

@@johndickinson5422 Because there always will be a new successor for the ST the following year.

[@bones6978]

@@FAT8893 I remember the Mk 6 and mk 7.5 ST so why won't i remember the Mk 8?

[@chirpywiggins5796]

The Fiesta ST is already considered one of the best Fast Fords ever produced! Trust me, it will be remembered !!

[@billybellend1155]

The thing with the cosworth was that it was detuned for road use and reliability. They still have huge tuning potential. The red top up to 500bhp.

[@edwardtiangco1445]

Still goin for the Cossie.. It only needs stiffer suspension from what I can see.

[@mikeashley4069]

Edward Tiangco maybe some new tyres. You could definitely tune the cosworth engine far more. But I’m still shocked that off the shelve fiesta won hands down. 3.5 seconds per lap is a massive time difference.

[@James-ns6jm]

a stage 1 tune which is basically just a ECU remap takes this mk8 ST from 200BHP to 250Bhp with accommodating mods such as a induction kit and cat back exhaust this could raise it to 265 easily. Not bad for stage one. Not seen anything for stage two on this yet so yea so far the Cossie will be more tunable. But i would compare the cossie to the focus RS personally. 2.3 litre turbo that's 350Bhp. For similar price brackets of its age. That would see how far technology has come in this day and age better.

[@soundseeker63]

@@James-ns6jm True, the Focus is the more direct comparison, and yes, we know with modern cars you just plug in a laptop and get another 50-100hp and that is what kids today call "stage 1 tuning." But lets not forget that 2.0L Cosworth engines were designed to be raced at 500+hp reliably right from the start, which they did with ease in many touring car and WRC car iterations throughout the 80's and 90's, and still do today! The advantages of modern engines is more in terms of fuel efficiency, emissions, responsiveness, refinement etc. But in terms of raw power I wouldn't even compare the aluminium open-deck Ecoboost to the cast iron closed-deck Cosworth. It is simply the stronger engine, designed for racing in an era when emissions and MPG were afterthoughts rather than priorities. I'm not knocking the Fiesta, it is a great little fun budget car. Ditto the Focus RS. Great car, good value. However the Ecoboost family isn't exactly known for its amazing strength and reliability to say the least!

[@GMak81]

soundseeker63 - they're known as "Ecobooms" aren't they? I saw a news feature, and have read a lot of Ecoboost owner reviews talking about fires where coolant runs out due to, I believe, head gasket issues. I have also read owner reviews of recent Ecoboost owners where the car has died, sometimes on motorways or even during overtakes. Scary. I think Ford retrofitted a low coolant sensor, so their solution was, just keep topping up the coolant all the time! I've also seen some YT channel claiming that the racier Focuses have hydrolocked, again due to crappy head gasket design.

[@soundseeker63]

@@GMak81 Yes the earlier Ecoboost engines were total crap. Failing at less than 30k miles in some cases, and thats without any tuning! Not sure about the more recent versions but one would hope Ford have got their act together with the new Focus and Fiesta! Of course there were no such problems with the Cossie even when running 500+bhp...

[@91amh]

Great video - I love JP’s driving

[@TommyboyGTP]

Update the Escort with fresh suspension, bushings, etc and tune up the engine and it would be a different outcome. Still take the Escort regardless because cool points

[@paulstevens9409]

The engine isnt the issue, the cossie would beat that ST in a straight line....its just the handling

[@no1DdC]

So in other words, if we turn the Cossie into a completely different car by spending even more money on it, it might have a chance to beat a little stock 3-cylinder Fiesta.

[@oschiri66]

@@no1DdC The Escort Cosworth was born as a rallye car. The street version was made tame. With the first non-HTT versions that easily can be undone. With some minor modifications, you then have 330 bhp. I've eaten Ferraris and Porsches on mountain roads with that.

[@davidknowles2491]

@@no1DdC The ST had a 1.6 4-cylinder turbo, with 197BHP. Not exactly a stock 3-cylinder.

[@resnonverba137]

A very interesting comparison.

[@adamg8554]

Cossie looks absolutely perfect, same reg as the one used on the top gear drag race with the focus RS mk1 if I remember correctly too

[@stephenmurray2851]

I see those fiestas everywhere and barely notice. I saw a cossie once about 9 months ago at the charing Cross m8 turnoff. You know why I remember that? Because that cosworth is pure class and an eye catcher.

[@no1DdC]

I mean, I love it as much as the next guy, but class is the last thing that comes to mind with the Cossie.

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@no1DdC nah, gentleman's chariot.

[@slmont8915]

Tiff would have got the cosi round faster 😋

[@davidbent347]

Tiff vs Stiff

[@grahamcurl5026]

VBH only managed 1:28.5

[@britishbluetess]

The escorts a truely iconic car and the old yb engine can take massive massive power and is still sought after today, but in terms of new engine technology and extracting power out of smaller lumps these new hatches leave it for dead

[@jimmybob3756]

Would have been nice to see Tiff in the Cossie and Jason in th Fiesta having a proper race.....but hey. 🤔

[@liamcurrie4011]

Tiff was kicked out sadly 😭

[@jimmybob3756]

Yes very sad and very odd. Fifth Gear has never really rocked the world but I and many others have enjoyed it....in my opinion Tiff would be a coin toss between him and Jason as the very last ones to go....but hey....Tiff can laugh it off and carry on. 😁

[@suprac19]

Tiff and Chris Harris is all you would need for a perfect show.

[@Quattro_Joe]

Would you give the keys of your immaculate Cossie to Tiff. I wouldn’t. He’d ragg the thing.

[@DPW864]

Give the slower driver the faster car? The other way round and it'd be interesting.

[@Testarossaborch]

i still prefer the escort

[@peterpritchard5178]

The escort will turn more heads than the fiesta and i don’t think the fiesta engine isnt going to last as long as the cosworth. Some call the fiesta engine an eco bang

[@gaz10182]

Yes like all car companys build it to be efficent not durable 40k-80k miles its bin material through a new one in plus its probably a nissan or mazda 3 cyl any ways ford never make ther own engines now

[@davothegreat9990]

@@gaz10182 so the mustang v8 coyote motor isnt ford built!! ok then....

[@no1DdC]

If you honestly think that an early '90s turbo-charged engine would be more reliable than a modern one, then I got a bridge to sell to you.

[@gaz10182]

@@davothegreat9990 who fuckin metioned the v8 !! also the v6 turbo is a ford unit apparently 2.

[@oschiri66]

@@no1DdC I drive a highly tuned 1992 Escort Cosworth. Very reliable. 150'000 km so far and still going strong.

[@mark4joanne]

But what's the difference in kerbweight, or are they both similar weight?

[@tobysemler]

That Fiesta is a CRACKING little car.

[@mrdayumfine109]

I had a play today with one of these in my 1998 JDM Legacy GTB (Twin Turbo, Manual) and the ST couldn't get anywhere near me. Granted, had it been on a track, I'd have had the same result as the Cosworth.

[@aviatore27]

interesting these comparatives, even if they are of the idea that must be done in equal of tires and with a state of the older vehicle in absolute efficiency

[@northseawolf]

Doesn't take much to get the cossie over 300 horses. A true modern classic and moral victor in this race, to quote an old motoring journalist.

[@russlerjones3278]

love the cossie nearly bought one but bought a mk1 focus rs instead because it was more practical, and now im thinking of trading that in for a fez my argument is youl have more fun on the whole driving the fez everyday to work and back than the handful of times a year i may drive the rs same as with a cossie, then theres the headache of making sure it dont get knicked or vandalised.

[@bump_draft]

What a gorgeous location, what track is that?

[@MattSwain1]

Would have loved a Cossie back in the day but I’ll take modern all day long (and I have because I drive an ST). I don’t yearn for epic turbo lag and it’s worth remembering that cars of that era were still death traps which I don’t want for either myself, my friends or family. I also don’t want a car with a 30 year old interior or equipment. Don’t get me wrong here, I love old Fords, I get the appeal but the ST is a cracking car that people should give a try

[@Adam151082]

Cosworth though!!! 😍👌🏼 Put them on a gravel track and see who wins. The Escort was designed for rally not track 😊👍🏼 It would be interesting to see a track based Cosworth, like a RS500 against a Fiesta. Still, very entertaining video 😊👌🏼

[@resnonverba137]

The very fact that you are suggesting putting a Fiesta against a car from classes above only concretes how good the current Fiesta ST is.

[@vapour80]

@@resnonverba137 i think you failed to understand the statement. the escort was made for rally so lose surfaces was its main focus. the RS500 was made for concrete like the fiesta. power wise the RS500 is the same as the escort cosworth at best and 20bhp less at worst depending on which year RS500

[@MachoMadness69420]

I don’t think that a Sierra RS500 would do any better than the Escort. Sure it might be a tad lighter, but suspension and brakes are very similar. The roadgoing RS500’s real downside (in stock form) is the turbo. It’s very oversized for the stock 224 hp, so much so that it’s big enough for +450 hp. So it has a ton of turbolag and a narrow powerband.

[@resnonverba137]

@@vapour80 I understood it, thank you.

[@vapour80]

@@resnonverba137 Then it's me that doesn't understand your comment. He wasn't suggesting to put it up against a car classes above it. its actually a "better" test due to most RS500's being 204bhp and the fiesta 196bhp and both cars focused on tarmac rather then a 224bph lose surface vs 196bhp tarmac

[@baileypate9460]

1:51 "You put your foot down" *hits brick wall*

[@Dsinkz]

What would a fiesta or a focus be like today with a updated cosworth engine?? It would be mental

[@gerardmontgomery280]

The Cossie still holds up well, a better turbo setup and some stiffer springs, and it'd put up a better fight. Not necessarily more power but less lag would make it easier to stay on boost.

[@DjNikGnashers]

I never felt the love for any Mk3/Mk4/Mk5 Escort, I was always a Mk1 & Mk2 fan. Even the Escort Cosworth never really make me 'want' one. But interesting to see how progress has developed over the years.

[@Ben-fi1cq]

Those deep dish wheels on the cossie tho 😍😍

[@rodrodney4904]

Roughly 1.5 second difference per 10 years of technological advancement . Well done the cossie!

[@somethingelse1988]

No not really. It's s different class of car. It's a 1.5 3 cylinder fiesta with 2wd. If it was a true test then a new focus RS would be the comparison to use, and let's face it the Cossie would get absolutely anihalated.

[@nessuno5403]

A lot of it would be down to better tyre technology too probably

[@James-ns6jm]

50k car back in the day vs todays 22k car okay it had performance pack so even it we called it halfs 25k which could even have enough cash to take the mk8 to stage1 which is 250bhp because of emmision regulations holding the cars back in todays age. The cossie didn't hold up that well tbh. Now if you compared it to something like the Focus RS which is still cheaper in even todays age with inflation with AWD the cossie gets murdered. Only thing holding cars back today is the stupid EU emission regulations hence why there's potential in tuning from just simple remaps.

[@James-ns6jm]

@@nessuno5403 You think this car is still running same old tyres that it came with from 1992? It will have new tyres also...

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Dean Walker very true well said dean. This old tyres on the cossie argument is total bollox

[@weedaviec]

Great video. I was surprised at the result. I would've put a tenner on the Cossie to take it. Just shows you- technology moves on e.g. Group B rally cars are much slower than modern WRC cars. Nostalgia makes you want it to not be true if you're my age though...

[@neilross6227]

what is the weight diff??

[@notroll1279]

I would have guessed the Fiesta to be about a second or so faster (modern cars are heavy, after all) - but this is an enormous difference, and I assume that the Fiesta requires a lot less experience to get a good lap time.

[@ItzzFuZZioNZZ]

God the cossie is just stunning what happened to ford no character anymore 😓

[@IOTWVUVWTOI]

Old cars have more character and soul than any new car can dream of

[@markmelling4003]

It's down to safety features they have to be shaped a certain way

[@IOTWVUVWTOI]

@@markmelling4003 not sure about shaped a certain way but obviously no sharp edges, I know headlights have to be a certain height from the ground and crumple zones etc

[@Toxic2T]

Kinetic Design, that's what ruined the entire auto industry.

[@ulgn1964]

Bought a brand new Fiesta ST in 2006, 150hp and great fun, tuned it to 200hp, cheap and fun and really quick, sold it 6 years later.

[@ulgn1964]

@Better Than You I suggest you take a look at the tests Top Gear qnd Fifth Gear did and many magazines test, it was the best in its class, here in sweden they tested it against the Golf GTi and it was only 1,7 sec slower and you could buy two Fiestas for the same price as one Golf.

[@ulgn1964]

@Better Than You The 90s, well my ST150 was from 2007.

[@habakanaba]

I'd love to know what the weight difference is. Great video and great driving, love it!👍🏼👌🏼

[@bobbieeeee]

Fiesta is approx 33kg lighter.

[@habakanaba]

@@bobbieeeee thanks!!👍🏼👍🏼

[@WaitKlaaw]

I reckon if the cossie had some decent coilovers it would probably be quicker if not on par with that fiesta

[@simonbeisly2321]

Cossie all day long, as a former owner of a Sapphire and Esco, they win everytime IMO , take all the bells and whistles off the Fiesta and as said, stick it on loose surface and we will see who is supping the champers ;)

[@murocossie]

Vicki Henderson did 1:28:50 back in time with the same exact Cossie when it was against to the first generation Focus RS. If the Cossie gets faster in years, you should give it another try after a couple more years.

[@gaz10182]

Plato can drive a little more smooth which equals speed and time so vikki was probably being to rough on the old cosworth

[@rman3680]

I'm sure it would of been the other way round on a rally stage which is what the escort was designed for really.

[@johnroberts9845]

This is not a rally stage tho is it

[@bremCZ]

What the heck is "would of"?

[@EugVR6]

Nope....its been done....the R5 Fiesta blew the Cosworth away and the Cosworth was running more power than the R5

[@IStabChavs92]

should done it with focus rs considering focus replaced the escort range. though i imagne these 2 was done as they closer in.performance

[@Feeeeerg]

The difference is: One is an icon, the other is a Fiesta.

[@chasevans7171]

Seating position all wierd in the escort due to the chassis of a mk5 escort being so terrible ford had to put an obselete Sierra floorpan in the cosworth to make it any good. (squeezing another couple of years out of the Sierra rally program by cobbling the bits into a current model car and selling enough to homologate it the main reason it exists.)

[@Starfishcentral]

I used to own a Ford Focus ST170. Which would I choose out of these two? Probably the Escort Cosworth .

[@Rawnfella]

Loved the video, I wonder how old the tires on the Cosworth were though..? Don’t tires become rock hard and lose their soft compound after like 10 years? I think Paul Walker died that way

[@cirian75]

my thought to, these tests need the old car fitted with the correct sized but same tyres as the new car.

[@johnbrown3951]

The Cossie is still my number 1 car in my lottery winning dream garage and I was lucky enough to drive it on single track roads in Scotland and to be driven in at 150 mph. To think my Mini JCW had more bhp and was a great car but not a patch on the Escort but the world has moved on and I now have 400 ps on tap and no turbo lag and four wheel drive in my i-Pace which is bonkers really.

[@jimbostir5004]

I don’t know about these comparisons. Has the cosworth got brand new tyres?, also the suspension parts on the cosworth are not worn out; some of them are 23 years old. EVERYTHING on the fiesta is new. I recon if they were manufactured now (the same as they were then) then there would certainly be less in it.

[@ciaranburke3243]

Would have the escort all day long, but you got to respect the little fiesta it's an excellent piece of kit 👌

[@Nimmo1492]

This video is the perfect representation of technology marching on.

[@Trades46]

Performance cars really have come a long way. Imagine a 3 banger turbo FWD like this back in the day.

[@RS7John]

Daihatsu Charade GTti

[@phil3622]

I’d still rather have the cosworth.

[@nicholasmassey3046]

So much want! Always wanted an Escort Cosworth....

[@stuee_mk1stuee_mk169]

He was taking it easy like an old man going for a Sunday drive with his Mrs in the escort and driving like a man possessed in the fiesta 🤣

[@thiscocks]

Would have been an interesting comparison if they were both on the same tyres

[@dylans9764]

Judging from the license plate, the Cosworth is the same car VBH drove in an old episode -- a shootout against the Focus RS!

[@Craig_whyte]

Difference that tyres make round a track is scary, that fiesta will be on decent Michelin’s no doubt where as the escort will be on 90’s Dunlop’s. The fact that the escort is quicker round a track than a mk1 focus rs show they handle not bad in standard form.

[@stuwhite1969]

Ah Vicki Butler Henderson only managed a 128.5 in a cosworth round there, (see cosworth v focus) big difference!

[@saulomatos4199]

Did the Cossie been revised and got all parts replaced in a way that engine compression and suspension, for instance, be comparable in age, to the Fiesta? We all know that, with passing time, many parts of the vehicle lose their characteristics and properties, quite relevant for a test like that one!

[@johnm6587]

Gutted ... the 90s in me wanted the cossie!!! I'm beginning to think my 96bhp xr2 was not quiet the monster I remember!!! Lol 😬😬😬😬

[@clemfandango7175]

John M yes it was I loved those cars hahaha 😂

[@Ben-Rogue]

I'd take the Cosworth every single day. Couldn't care less about Fords new whiteware products

[@stuart1693]

As an American that never got that car in the states, I'd give to have one. I've been thinking about buying one and sending it to the states.

[@richardd8352]

Wonder how close it would be if the electronic cheat aids were turned off on the ST. Tbh i was impressed how close the cosworth was.

[@dazburnside7340]

Only thing with these tests with new vs old is that, with the new car you can really push it without worrying too much about breaking it. As with the old car if you push it too the limit or over and either bin it or break something, your left with a very expensive bill to fix it. So in my eyes that’s not a fair test.

[@philhill7973]

I have a Fiesta st mk8 running 260 ps Mountune . I liked the Escort cosworth in its day , time moves on I’m afraid. I wouldn’t want a cosworth because they rotted.

[@15DEAN1995]

It's amazing how big the fiesta is compared to the escort. The escort wasnt a big car in the 90s but it was kinda in the middle. The fiestas supposed to be a small car...

[@Jon-em4kc]

Why spec the 'Performance Pack' on the ST but not use a big bang Cossie? 🙄

[@MichaelDouglas-24]

My dream car😍😍😍 I need that cossie

[@themc2806]

The cosworth is the ultimate Ford regardless to the newer RS Focus, still not a patch on the old Cossie

[@stevetong9899]

WHEN FORD ESCORT OR MONDEO METRO STAR CAN RETURN TO RWD ?

[@steveallen1635]

What happens if you remap the cossie to 400bhp, tho?

[@djdrwatson]

Vicki Butler-Henderson drove this exact Ford Escort RS Cosworth (N192 FTW) on the same track in another Fifth Gear episode many years ago. See it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3ioqqCud7WaeJY

[@cirian75]

have to wonder, what would it be if the Cossie had modern tyres?