Ford's 80s Hot Hatches Were Disappointing, Can The RS1600i Save The Day? Ford Escort RS1600i

[@pauln0371]

Back in 89 when I was 18 I had a 83 XR3i with a blueprint engine which was approx 110bhp. Standard was 103bhp. BJX321Y was so much fun. Suspension was rock hard and it did understeer when really being hustled. Great memories TBF. Boy those where the days. Roads where in better nick. A full tank was less than £15 and hardly any traffic. Speed cameras hadn't been invented...Good days indeed....👍👍👍

[@andy-maunder]

Exactly my recollection

[@oliverpearson1577]

£15 in 1989 was obviously a lot more than £15 is today with inflation. And hardly any traffic? Lol, that's completely false.

[@andy-maunder]

@@oliverpearson1577 I started driving in 1983 and I’m still driving in the same town. Traffic has multiplied and along with speed bumps, cameras, roundabouts and traffic lights, the fun has been ripped out of driving. I never had to worry about petrol. We had fuel cards paid by the firm.

[@oliverpearson1577]

@@andy-maunder Agreed, but 'hardly any traffic' is a gross exaggeration.

[@andy-maunder]

@@oliverpearson1577 let’s not get petty over a turn of phrase.

[@davidpickard9393]

The days when 100BHP was enough 200 was a Porsche 911 & 300 was a supercar.

[@dungareesareforfools]

The days when the average car was between 0.9 and 1.2 tonnes!

[@RUfromthe40s]

yes but with 20 years ,that statement is so wrong ,maybe you never seen good cars of the 80´s ,my 87 1.3L mazda RX-7 had 180 h.p. if it was the bi-turbo it had 215 h.p. and a porshe that i have two from the 80´s with 200h.p. ,yes maybe the 918 with 2.0L vw engine was like that but put in the turbo and watch as the 200h.p. stay behind in the 70´s, you forget or never knew that the fastest cars were built inthe 80´s such as the F40 that personally i don´t like,no interiors no open window ,no radio ,that´s a must have so i did prefer the porshe 359 turbo with power windows, hi-fi equipment and faster assembled a few monthes later

[@sharpgage6512]

compared to a the cavy sri or astra gte thay had less hp, thay did make up for it in handling easy to throw around inner city streets,. the astra's handling was terrible. mate brought a black xr3i in 1998 for £300 quid, proberly worth 10 grand now 😄

[@dungareesareforfools]

@@sharpgage6512 The thing with Vauxhalls was always - great engines, rubbish chassis.

[@sharpgage6512]

@@dungareesareforfools true

[@jscan5385]

The roads were probably in better condition when these rolled out of the factory, pothole wise 😄

[@timonsolus]

Yes, we have early 1970's standard roads now. Today's low profile tyres are not suited for roads with lots of big potholes. If I bought a car today, I'd want one with high profile tyres, to soak up the bumps.

[@BlueHopi144]

@@timonsolus I left Belgium for France 2 years ago , and one of the key factors that motivated that country relocation were the awful states of the Belgian Roads ( very similar as the ones u guys face in the Uk now ) I needed to escape . Here in Brittany & France in general , roads are 75 % in better shape . I wanted to keep the driving joy as intact as possible & its a joy to drive down here .

[@richy69ify]

@@BlueHopi144 Belgian roads in the North are better but totally boring. I saw way more speed camera's last year as well.

[@tyrantworm7392]

@@BlueHopi144I pretty much drove north/south in Belgium without using the steering wheel. My Bimmer at the time was prone to tramline anyway, so you could just stick one side in the lorry ruts and away you went.

[@philhawley1219]

@@BlueHopi144 Today I had to drive through two miles of Wales to get to another village in England. The difference in the third world English road surface to the silky smooth Welsh tarmac was unbelievable. Why do we both pay the same amount of road tax?

[@peterjaymercedesamg]

I’ve owned many of these in the past, they were in my eyes the very last of the REAL RS Escorts. Mainly because it was nothing like a standard Escort (even the RS Turbo was just a pretty standard car in comparison but with a turbo strapped to the awful CVH engine and seats and body kit). The RS 1600i had loads of bespoke items from the RS stable, such as unique heads, rocker cover, twin coil packs, bespoke close with gear change lights, the wheels were bespoke to them to, although everyone thinks they are the same as the RS Turbo wheels, they simply were not the same, alloy crossmember beam, battery tray was mounted on the piss to make room for the bigger master cylinder, the bespoke interior plus they were in some places seam welded for extra body strength. Great car, one of my all time favourite Fords. Love your videos. Looking forward to seeing your progress at home with your beast soon. Cheers Jack.

[@Danda_vibes]

The McLaren F1 GTR is a race car developed by McLaren Automotive, based on the highly acclaimed McLaren F1 road car. It was specifically designed for endurance racing and became one of the most iconic and successful GT race cars of the 1990s. Here are some key details about the McLaren F1 GTR: Development and Design Origin: The McLaren F1 GTR was developed as a response to customer demand for a racing version of the McLaren F1 road car. The car was designed by Gordon Murray and was adapted from the road-going F1. Chassis and Body: The F1 GTR utilized the same carbon fiber monocoque chassis as the road car, which was revolutionary for its time. The bodywork was modified for improved aerodynamics and included a large rear wing for increased downforce. Engine: It was powered by a BMW-sourced 6.1-liter V12 engine, which was slightly detuned from the road car’s version to comply with racing regulations. The engine produced approximately 600 horsepower in its racing configuration. Weight: The car was significantly lighter than the road version, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber and other lightweight materials. It weighed around 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs). Racing Achievements 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans: The McLaren F1 GTR is perhaps best known for its incredible performance at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite being in its debut year and competing against purpose-built prototypes, the F1 GTR won the overall race, with one of the five entered cars securing first place. This victory highlighted the car's extraordinary performance and reliability. GT Championships: The F1 GTR also competed in various GT championships, including the BPR Global GT Series and the FIA GT Championship. It consistently performed well, securing numerous wins and podium finishes. Variants 1995 Model: The original F1 GTR, which won Le Mans, was followed by subsequent models with incremental improvements. 1996 Model (F1 GTR Longtail): The 1996 version featured an extended body with a longer tail for improved aerodynamics and stability at high speeds. This version was often referred to as the "Longtail." 1997 Model: Further refinements were made to the Longtail design for the 1997 racing season, focusing on better aerodynamics, cooling, and reliability. Legacy Iconic Status: The McLaren F1 GTR is considered one of the greatest GT race cars of all time, thanks to its engineering brilliance, racing success, and the innovative technology it brought to motorsports. Collector’s Item: Due to its limited production and historical significance, the F1 GTR has become a highly sought-after collector's item. Cars that were originally built for racing have since been restored and occasionally converted for road use. Influence: The success and technological advancements of the F1 GTR have influenced subsequent McLaren racing and road cars, cementing McLaren's reputation for producing high-performance, technologically advanced vehicles. The McLaren F1 GTR remains a celebrated piece of automotive history, representing a blend of cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and racing prowess.

[@benzinapaul7416]

@@Danda_vibes what's this got to do with a Ford Escort??

[@georgebettiol8338]

@@Danda_vibes This YT video is about the early 1980s Ford Escort RS1600, whilst your comment relates to a mid 1990s McLaren F1 GTR. Are you providing comments to the correct YT video?

[@NowsNu]

I absolutely love this recipe for pancakes, so simple yet so unique and yummy, cheers!

[@peterjaymercedesamg]

@@benzinapaul7416 I did wonder this myself 🤣

[@davidmatthews3093]

1980s fast Fords weren’t awful they were fun to drive affordable cars that always felt as though they were going faster than they were. I owned my XR3i Cabriolet from buying it new in 1986 until the early 2000s. I have owned better cars, more dynamic cars and much faster cars but the Ford was what it was, reasonable quick, fun to drive and easy to own.

[@EvoraGT430]

They were nowhere near as good as other hatches, though.

[@stecozz4907]

Its funny how these youtubers know everyyhing about every car 😂😂😂

[@andy-maunder]

@@EvoraGT430 haha. So how many hatches did you drive between 83 and 89?

[@paultaylor5502]

They were terrible, that CVH engine was a weezing nightmare

[@Seolfor007]

Total shite. Rust buckets under powered drivel at a company where accountants made the decisions down to the crappy cheap plastic interiors and engines that broke for a past time. Amazing what 40 years and rose tinted spectacles can do.

[@romanoguttadauro6116]

That was the last car I bought in the U.K before leaving for the U.S.A I had it four weeks and she was mint, I had just changed the inner drivers side oil seal on the drive shaft and it was nicked from out side our home in Warrington, I can remember my mum opening the curtains to get me up and saying Where's your car son? I was gutted, I loved that Car it was red like your test car and just the look, sound and those seats nothing had anything that hugged you that way back in the day not even your girlfriend, it brings back the proud 23 year old in me, the feed back you get from this car is like riding in a Go Kart they are GREAT. I miss her still to this day. What people do not realize is this is the car that saved the RS badge as Ford were going to get rid of it or so I read back in the day. Thanks Jack for the trip down memory lane. Cheers Romano

[@jimmyk9523]

They really weren't terrible. Take an XR2 or XR3i out today and see the people swarm around it.

[@GadgetMart]

Basic involving to drive, feel everything (like walking in bare feet) steering can actually feel what the cars doing. Modern cars are a joke

[@iainmacleod4007]

I loved my 87 XR2. Plenty fast enough, sporting looks, slick gearbox and great handling. They were simple mechanically and easy to work on. They were built to a price point and none the worse for that.

[@paultaylor5502]

Ford fans will swarm around them as they are die hards, doesn't mean the cars are any good, they were however cheap and cheerful

[@RichMPiBlue.]

swarm round it bc its a classic or modern classic now

[@GadgetMart]

@@RichMPiBlue. they always turned heads even when new.

[@SA-zoom1]

Interesting fact, this car was 100% developed by Ford Germany, whilst Ford UK was separately developing the XR3i and Fords SVE dept was working on the RS Turbo. The end result was the RS1600i was only slightly quicker than the XR3i, but it was a much more involving car and handled like a go kart. The RS turbo then really moved performance on to the next level for the humble mk3 escort.

[@daddymulk]

Yet still slow for car with a Turbo 😂

[@RUfromthe40s]

i had both and still have the RS1600turbo if only a bit diferent you´re turbo must be ceased ,it´s an huge diference between both or i wouldn´t bother giving the XR3i for the RS turbo and what today is 500€ more and here all RS were 2000 ,the model that came next that one seemd anemic but this was a hell of a car to drive, you say it like the turbo on a gasoline car ,one doesn´t notice it?hum?funny

[@SA-zoom1]

I think you are confusing the RS Turbo and the non turbo RS1600i? The RS1600i was only slightly faster than the XR3i.

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@SA-zoom1 i notice that after reading it again but i wasn´t aware of a RS1600 with that body ,only a RS2000 and RS1600 i thought all were turbo, if it´s like the RS2000 it as better handling many parts are better related with car stability at high-speeds, i drove in rally´s since early 70´s had the MKI RS 1600 and a MKII RS2000 but the rally car not the road car, also have a lot of other models that i bought cheap ,even the Taunus 60´s model RS1600 coupé but looks shorter than a older model i also own that the extra front lights are inserted in the front chromed bumper ,front light not rectangular but with a curve on the side to follow the shape of the front, my favorite bought it in 77 from a german militar the Granada markI 3.0 V6 coupé with full extras not the fastback that i have one without any extra with caps on the wheels ,all white and red inside with a 1.3L engine ,in Portugal ,even recentelly i had a Capri MKI with a 1.3L engine, i sold it as i have a more powerfull version and i forget to refer but the coupés have all vinyl top, i colect cars but all started when in early 80´s some people i know started to offer me their 70´s big gasoline drinkers that when buying a new car were ofered next to nothing ,knowing that i had some cars in perfect condition several ofered me their old cars also kept perfect or as an example trade it with a turntable or cassette deck that i also colect hi-fi components

[@romanobezuidenhout7506]

Don't know nothing about old Fords or new ones for that matter, more of an Alfa and Fiat guy. But I really like the way you review each and every car, old or new for what they are. There really are a lot of fun to be had in any car if you appreciate it for what it is. The fact that you can jump from a humble small cheap old car to a new expensive super car and enjoy them all, really make you special. Keep up the good work!

[@bavelnaard]

I agree. To me that makes a carnut a carnut. (ie being passionate about and respect all cars, not the nuts bolted on them)

[@ericdunn555]

Fair comment. 1987, I had a brand new E-reg XR3i (company car - I had an appreciative boss); helped Herself with a bit of cash to buy a 1.5L red Alfasud Sprint Veloce Quattrofoglio (Quadrafogllio?) (4 leaf green clover thingy) - abso 'ucking loved the Alfa.

[@ca9968]

My best buddy`s brother in high school in South Africa in the 1990`s had a yellow one, he tuned it, added a huge custom sound install to it and absolutely babied it all the time I knew them...for our Matric Farewell party (high school prom) he let my buddy take it and we took our dates to the function and after party in it...what a night, we had everyone at the after party dancing around the car to 90`s house and trance from that massive sound install...great great great night! R.I.P Patrick Kemp...miss you every day my friend!

[@kiwiwifi]

A Ford canary!

[@Mike-br8zt]

Not one mention of a braai - what sort of South African are you?

[@ca9968]

@@Mike-br8zt no braai that night, just lots of Castle lager and Klippies and Coke..

[@marcjeffery]

I'm not too sure why you compared this RS to an XR3 when, in 1983, the XR3 was replaced by the injection model and you could no longer get the non-injected model. I know this because my father ordered an XR3 ( Y-Reg) and when it arrived, it was the injection model and he was invited to Ford to see if he still wanted it. There would have been less of a difference if the injected XR3i was compared to the RS1600i. Still an interesting video though, so thank you for making it.

[@berwhaletheavenger]

I had an RS1600i 35 years ago. My memories of it are iffy brakes, quite cammy and peaky, tram lining and sensitive to camber, weird gear ratios, superb seats and steering wheel......and it looked amazing. It was certainly fun to drive but really, the equivalent year XR3i was a nicer everyday car. In fact, the original 82-86 XR3i was a pretty good car, far better than the carb XR3 and good fun to drive. The Golf GTi 1.8 and the Mark 1 Astra GTE were better than all of them though but not by a massive amount.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

I loved that era of Astra gte, such a good looking car, especially in white with the black on the boot and with little red writing 1.8 fuel injection

[@opsgov]

Totally agree with your comments

[@joby602]

@@Shane-zx4ps They were fast too!

[@Shane-zx4ps]

@@joby602 agreed 👍

[@0LukasYagami]

Here in Brasil the Escort was a big thing, it still is a very beloved car, we only had the XR3 version, and for the time was the real deal, even with that scrappy engine; the man himself, Ayrton Senna drove the hell out of one XR3 here in our streets. Great video as always, and the RS 1600 had some really cool upgrades compared to the standard Escort, lovely!

[@andrewwww7684]

50K!!! omg I had two of these back in the day, first a black one then the red/orange one as in the video, I still have some pics of them and I knew they we're special back then in hindsight wish I'd kept one now.

[@daispy101]

Still has great lines. The visibility in that greenhouse was pretty good, as I recall, for those models.

[@ExUSSailor]

Compared to the Escort we got in the States, the UK Escorts were pretty fantastic. Even the base models.

[@FenderUsa]

Low, low bar

[@slamcrank]

absolutely. ... I had a 1983 Escort GT as my first car. We once timed it to 60mph, and it was close to 15 seconds. The 5 speed transmission was just awful and it felt like rowing through crushed gravel. Hah! I just remembered, I had a friend with a standard 1983 escort, and we drag raced once... he won! I think it was because of all the crap that was added to the "GT" to make it look "sporty". The car would actually slow down while going down a steep hill. Just awful.

[@GhostLead65]

I,m not a Ford lover but i miss seeing these 90,s hot hatches around.Great times.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i also don´t love Ford or any other brand ,my love i keep it all to women

[@djwwautodiagnostics]

I'm not a huge Ford man. However I have a serious soft spot for all fords of this era with the spotlights and the fog light. They lookin 1 word...Fantastic. absolutely love this look. Capri's, Escorts, Cortinas Granadas with the full light setup look bloody fabulous 😀😀😀😀😀

[@andy-maunder]

Likewise. I had two new XR2s, an '87 and '88, then an XR3i, then a '89 2.9 Granada Scorpio and finally, two Escort GTis. Loved them all.

[@PJ-om2wq]

I remember saying in the 90s how strange was it that an XR2 could do 90mph down the high street but only 50 on a motorway.

[@Number27]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jonntischnabel]

Amongst my friends and I, we had a lot of xr2s over the years, and some were a lot faster than others, some were terrible. I had 2, a black one and a red one. The red one went off the clock! 😂

[@GadgetMart]

What? Comment means nothing ?

[@shand1967]

I had an XR2 for 4 months until inevitably it was stolen, never to be seen again. It had a Janspeed exhaust which helped my mother put my tea on. She knew I was coming home from work as the exhaust was so loud, she could hear me from 2 villages away 😂

[@GadgetMart]

@@shand1967 same happened to mine Same could hear me coming from a mile away, great times

[@Koorova]

I think you're being unfair on the CVH. Not the last word in refinement but massively tunable and easy to work on

[@oggie1967]

Hi Jack, When you blasted the RS out of that junction, your face was a dead giveaway as to how much you were enjoying the drive! My mate had one back in the day and I would chase him in my Opel Manta GTE but he always got away! Fun times! Hey maybe you could find an Opel Manta to test drive? Great Vid as usual! 👍👏👏👏❤

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

I too was 10 in 83. Thriller was defiantly a thing, LOL. In the US the hot thing from Ford during this time was the revised Mustang GT with the 5.0 HO. We didn't get any of the good Ford hot hatches, but they gave us more Mustang variants than one could shake a stick at. Cheers.

[@drvansteiner967]

I had an 'A' reg XR3i which I bought for £350 in 1996. Absolutely amazing car - my instructions from the previous owner were that it liked a sound thrashing and that's what it got. Always sounded like a bag of old spanners and rock-hard suspension as others have pointed out, but light and surprisingly quick. I later had a MkII Golf GTi which was much more grown up but nowhere near as fun.

[@ianjenkins4641]

I had a B reg XR3i when I was 17 in 1996. It was my first “performance” car. I loved it.

[@NealyLL]

This is a car of its time and is a very narrow glimpse into the 80’s. For that I’ll always love it. The decal on the bonnet is etched onto my memory as a kid . Love em

[@kevmagill5163]

They really are pretty little cars, especially the greenhouse design. I like a rorty little hot hatch for daily fun driving. Surprised at the price, but they are very hard to find in decent condition. You're paying for the nostalgia of a more carefree era. Great job, Jack 😊

[@SimonNoina]

I remember RS1600i had very heavy clutch, even when new - lovely car - they went & handled really well

[@vMaxHeadroom]

Fantastic memories...Had an XR3i in Rosso Red, put a fast road cam, recaroes from the RS and the RS wheels....So, so much fun and what a wonderful time that was..

[@djh29971]

I owned A239 TEP which is identical to the one here. The 'A' reg cars of which there was around 500, had a revised rear suspension. If you look at the 'Y' reg ones, they appear higher. The chassis could take a lot more power than the mere 115hp, but I loved its handling even if it was a little uncompromising. There was so little known about the car that it was a real problem to sell in the mid 1990's, as everyone knew the Ford UK XR3i, but very few knew about the Ford Motorsport RS1600i and as a result, got a mere £2600 in 1994. How many of us would have known how much they would make in the 2020's?

[@originalGFLEX]

Compared with today's modern cars it's panoramic windows all-round. Escort windows are huge. XR3i was the one to have.

[@EvoraGT430]

No, the Peugeots, Renaults and Golfs were the ones to have. The Fords were just cheap.

[@marka.2484]

My second car (in 1995) was a Ford Escort 1.8 diesel. With a stunning 55 bhp, no turbo. It was very slow, 0-60 mph in about 1 day, 4 hours, 16 minutes, and 36 seconds, but the handling was great. Pure nostalgia for me, this video.

[@zogzoogler]

🤣we had a poo brown 1.3 that my Dad fitted a 1.6 gearbox too, wouldn’t pull skin off a rice pudding but cruised happily at 80 all day

[@lodgecav490]

Well I had the mighty 1.6D in Burgundy ‘C’ reg. It was 4 years old when I bought it, it failed MOT in 5th year from rot under the back seat on the chassis members, I remember being gutted at the time. Fond memories overall, just😂

[@daddymulk]

😂😂😂 bet the fuel economy wasn't even Brilliant either, should have upgraded to a 1.3 59 bhp Fiesta 0-60 on that was a mind blowing 16secs

[@shinnyspace]

gf had 54bhp 1.6 diesel (not turbo) , it was undestroyable, pulled uphill like tractor, everything fell apart but not engine, engine was clean all the way to the end when someone gladly bought it, seeing 30 years old engine in such pristine condition

[@arconcritter]

Here in Canada I had a friend in high school in the 80’s who with a bit of help from his mum and a part time job, bought himself a brand new Escort GT Turbo with an absolutely breathtaking…120 HP. It was a good looking car at the time and I still think it’s a very tidy design. I’m not surprised that RS’s are starting to fetch bigger money.

[@nealm1814]

I had a 1 year old XR3i in 1983. Good old A955 JFY. I thought it was good until I got a Golf GTi and realised you could have great handling without rock hard suspension and heavy steering.

[@TribalFusion]

I saw this car and the XR3i at the Motorfair 1982 at the NEC, I think still have the brochures somewhere.

[@matthewsmith7244]

Don't think I've seen Jack smile so much through a review before. Whilst these Escorts have many faults, the fun factor is though the roof! The RS1600i are obviously amazing, but you can pick up a really good Xr3i with a few upgrades for a quarter of the price, and it'll deliver you about 90% of the fun!

[@EvoraGT430]

He was way happier in the recent Clio Williams video.

[@suitefactory1]

I was looking to buy a RS1800i fiesta in 1996 and I was on the way and had to drop off something to a friend. He had moved and went to the new address and around the corner parked on a drive was a 1983 A plate white RS1600i .I knocked the door and had no reply ,looked round it and it was mint. I went to view the Fiesta and by the time I got there the guy had sold it. I went home not feeling good. Later in the week my friend had been to ask about the Escort as he told me it had been sitting there for a year or so and he knew a young guy owned it. He finally got to talk to the dad of the owner and he said the reason he his son had no used the car was he had gone blind but always wanted one .Was it for sale..the man said it was and he would ask his son and he would tell my friend a price. The next week I visited and the car was gone.The family had sold it to a random guy who offered them only £1000 and they took the money....not my best month.

[@simonbailey2151]

Thanks for this one: a real blast for the past. I always wondered (as a 10 year old) what the differences were between this and the XR3/XR3i

[@andrewmcmahon9512]

Loved mine back in the day. Hooned it everywhere......

[@sebastiend.5335]

My first Ford was an Escort 1.3 laser. Couldn't afford much more in my late teens end of the 90's. Brillant video Jack. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@TheManFrayBentos]

A friend had one, crazy little beast it was. Being him, of course it was altered and went like stink.

[@adampowell5376]

Thank you for making this video. I have often wondered how this is different from the XR3i.

[@normad365]

I bought one new in May 1983 (where are you now PDM291Y ?) and put 75K miles on it as a daily driver before selling it about 10 years later. Understeer wasn't in it's vocabulary but roll oversteer certainly was always there for the unwary, as the original homologation batch didn't come with a rear anti-roll bar. A point made in the Autocar road test at the time. I absolutely loved it and often wish I still had it, but couldn't justify keeping it and two other 'sensible' cars.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Must of been great picking it up brand new of the lot. 😊

[@neilmarshment2910]

I had a 205gti 1.9 in the late 80s - great car. I maybe in the minority but todays cars with efficient turbos seen just a little too fast with 0-60 times way down in the single digit territory. Personally I prefer a car that is slower and has to be driven to make progress, competent handling that is huge fun on todays speed restricted roads. 0-60 in 4-5 seconds is hilarious but 0-60 in 9 secs makes you work harder and can be more rewarding.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

You’re correct sir, Jay Leno says he has more fun in lower powered cars cause you can drive them to their limit without been to unsafe, he has a little Fiat 500 abarth and it’s one of his favorite driving cars.

[@paulwheeler3144]

I'm a new subscriber to your channel firstly. Secondly, I'm an Essex boy by birth and a young man of the 80's so by default a Fast Ford Fan. Back in mid 1990's I was offered a lovely black RS1600i by a lad working at one of my customers in Rotherham (Hellaby Industrial estate to be exact) for around 5 grand I seem to recall. I said yes but my good lady hit the roof when i told her and I sadly had to renege on the deal. She and I ended up getting divorced and I regret it deeply......not buying the car that is.....obviously!! Great video my friend.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I wouldn’t say that Ford’s 80s hot hatches were terrible - the XR3i and XR2 were very desirable cars, and at the time, compared well to the German and French competition. However, the RS1600i was quite special, and a car I have a soft spot for. I love the stripes, driving lights and those lovely RS wheels and steering wheel. I think I prefer this to the bonkers RS Turbo.

[@dungareesareforfools]

Indeed, I think the reviews of the time said that the Escort's chassis was better than the Golf's, but the Golf had the better engine.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

They are arguably German

[@GadgetMart]

Perfect cars imo Simple, lightweight and involving to drive. Only safety really improved.

[@grayfool]

I felt that the XR and RS Escorts were crude and rough compared to the competition. The Golf was in a whole different league. Current values are crazy, talk about rose tinted spectacles.

[@nutzonspanners6607]

I was half expecting you to slate this car Jack - A week before Christmas 1982 I ordered a new one in Strato Silver and £7,100 otr from Perry's in Finchley North London, one of not very many Ford RS dealerships in the UK. After ringing the showroom twice a week for 3 months to check progress, I eventually took delivery in March 1983 on a 'Y' Reg. Perry's saying factory in Saarlouis Germany having major problems.Because of those problems I was told it was third car in UK - The first, I think, was at Curry's showroom in Kingston, under a sheet, which I was invited to look at 10 days before Christmas 1982. I loved the car, brilliant induction roar, I had a pair of TR6's at the time as well. I believe the shell was spot and seam welded with ally subframes, which means there are, potentially, written-off fake RS1600i cars out there with XR3i re-shells, I know this for a fact - Beware

[@alanbellwood3902]

Plenty about sub or close to 30k with only mega low miles concourse cars or celebrity owned examples going for 49k. Auction results average 17-20 for a restored example with higher miles average owners and perhaps some non original modifications. Similar money to an u restored survivor Sapphire Cosworth or Series 2 RS Turbo. Important to note XR3 and XR3I had different power Figures as the XR3 was on carbs.

[@marklee7545]

Pure nostalgia! I remember these being rallied by people like Malcom Wilson. The XR3 didn’t last long as a carburetted car … once Ford discovered the Escort van (same engine, lighter body) was quicker! My first track day was in an XR3i at Brands Hatch where I had the honour of being black-flagged in a Formula Ford “for driving beyond your capability and experience” … but I was only 18 🤣

[@MrAndyS]

these had a uprated duel coil ignition aswell

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

The deputy head of my secondary school had a white Escort RS Turbo. I simply loved looking at it. My real favourite though has always been the Sierra XR4x4 🥰🥰

[@paddycoleman1472]

The range of hot Escorts in the 80s were fantastic and of their time. You simply cannot get new cars like this anymore.

[@timwhelan4432]

Dad had an xr3i - I (18 months old) was permanently sick in the back 😂 - “bone jarring” indeed! Swapped it for a BX GTi - loved the tomato content for obvious reasons!

[@edwardjohntaylor99]

"the suspension was !!CRASH!! bone jarringly hard..."

[@Number27]

😂😂😂

[@timonsolus]

Timed to perfection!

[@dungareesareforfools]

(Ironically he was talking about the XR3...)

[@chrisenright7003]

Nice old thing but would probably have a 106 Rallye or 205 Rallye over one if only for the fluidity of their handling.

[@jondrizzle4554]

Fantastic video lucky enough to have owned one exactly the same VhL 280y Absolutely loved every second of owning it Itd give any other a hot hatch a run for its money back in the day Superb car with bags of character unlike the modern crap that all look the same

[@paulfarghi]

Effin ell £50k pass the crack pipe

[@DavidMaud-j4u]

Great ones are nowhere near 50k... anywhere between 20 to 35k it's not escort MK1 or MK2 money

[@stevesas632]

​@@DavidMaud-j4uthat's true, you'd have to find an immaculate unrestored one with under 10k miles to be worth 50k

[@saxon-mt5by]

@@DavidMaud-j4u Even at £30k there are so many other cars I would sooner have for the money.

[@JP19-67]

Another great review Jack, I had the xr3i and xr2i. Brings back all the memories. Your video channel and Eds from twin Cam are my 2 favourite car ones on you tube.

[@Number27]

Really nice to hear.. thank you 🙏

[@lm68lancashire60]

Hi Jack. The Golf GTi was more expensive than the Ford back in the day but not by as much as you'd think….in 1983, the GTI was £6808 while the XR3i was £6151 😮

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

With no intention of being patronising to younger enthusiasts I think you need to have been a contemporary of these cars from over 40 years ago to appreciate them fully. The XR3i was 105 hp so in the case of my wife’s 1987 after I added a stage 3 head, CVH22 camshaft and a full Janspeed exhaust system it was pretty quick and without the bone jarring ride of the RS1600i. One contributor also mentioned the Mk2 XR2 which I agree was a sprightly car and we had this prior to buying the XR3i. These cars need to be evaluated against the backdrop of the era to get a relevant and fair assessment, however I didn’t love them enough to pay a crazy price to feel nostalgic today. Can you get your hands of a Lotus Elan sprint to test?

[@chrisslater3174]

I had a 1989 Mk2 XR2 from new, and less than 12 months in it had a CVH22 camshaft kit, full Ansa exhaust system with K&N and a lovely leather Momo to replace the horrible plastic effort. Great little car, later removed from my care by thieving scrotes! 😂

[@adriansutherland7948]

A couple of lads I worked with bought the RS but I went the GTE route (having had the original 1.8) & after some engine work on my 2L 8V was putting out the same amount of HP as the later 16V. We used to swop around our cars ( just to see what the oppositionwere doing)& I never liked the RS, too firm & you had to keep it in the top end of the rev range for good forward motion. Whereas the Vauxhall pulled from 2000rpm like a train & from 4k it was fun. PS. Work on old 8v 2L was. New exhaust manifold, air filter, fuel injection chipped & performance exhaust. On a rolling road went from 105-108 to 122-125bhp (the same as the 16V) the GTE was so much a better place to be, though on the absolute limit the RS/GTI was better, but you had to know how to drive!

[@Bob-nu3xe]

i had a manta coupe in white looked way better than any escort

[@davidjack3]

Gorgeous car the rs1600i ! I STILL love it. Great memories of when i was 19 years old

[@Mattmt56]

When I was born in '83 my parents had an Escort LX wagon. I grew only knowing Escorts as cheap, slow, rust-buckets. Hotwheels has changed that perception.

[@paulfowler7618]

When I was young this was my favourite car. I actually owned 2. A red and a blue one and wrote the blue one off sadly. I also owned an XR3i and all 3 were 83 Y reg cars. These were on sale at the same time as the XR3i not the XR3

[@rolfsvensson5777]

A fun little car! Some pull and a smile to go with it~

[@drewsimpson5967]

I was much more into Golfs back then but I always fancied one of these. Caspian Blue or Graphite Grey. They were rare as hell back in the day and I don't recall seeing them up against the competition in magazine group tests. 160bhp would mean a full Gp A race engine as far as I am aware.

[@bavelnaard]

My former brother-in-law had a facelifted 1989 1.4CL for a time, I believe that during his 5 year ownership he ruined no more than 3 gearboxes but other than that besides a harsh ride, the handling was simply brilliant and the car was a hoot to drive even with a 1.4

[@paulthomas6609]

Janspeed exhaust, nice!

[@waymanbarneyawesomecardude9561]

I had a couple of these, a red one and graphite grey, both modified, very fond memories in the red one.❤

[@sharpcsc998]

This reminds me of my 1988 Peugeot 309 1.9 GTI only my car had 130bhp, comfortable suspension and scary lift off oversteer!! It was red too. I put 40,000 miles on it 12 months driving to Glasgow every week from Leeds, happy days. A good review of the RS1600 I remember them fondly.

[@OldLien1]

I had a mk1 Golf GTI and it was Nothing trouble valve stem seals going you name it, PX it for a MK3 XR3I and never looked back

[@23hublock1]

Ah gutted...I've recently purchased 2 batteries from Tayna and only just seen you have a discount code! Great supplier, and super quick delivery, I don't use anyone else for batteries. Easy to navigate website too.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

In 1983 I was 15 years old, I obtained my full driving licence in a 1982 Sunburst Red Ford Laser Sport, the Asian answer to the XR3.

[@mariopizzamanmario8563]

Well that is actually a Mazda 323 (as Ford and Mazda had a some co-op thing going).

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@mariopizzamanmario8563 Correct Ford owned 1/3 of Mazda at that time. Our Laser Sport was assembled in Auckland by Ford only sharing the paint code with a European Escort. It was however a great car in its own right.

[@georgebettiol8338]

The Ford Laser Sport used the dual carb version of the Mazda 1.5 litre engine and generated a paltry 79 hp (59 kW) which was a modest increase over the standard engine's 73 hp (54 kW). At that time it was a somewhat 'spritely' drive - but sadly no match for the 1980's European Escorts.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@georgebettiol8338 86 HP i n NZ no emission spec. It was a lot better than the standard 1.5 agree no where near the XR3i

[@intunewithcars9484]

around1994 i raced an rs 1600i in my mk1 xr2 thinking i had a chance!!...rs1600i just pulled on me in every gear i was gutted lol, could of bought a y reg in 1995 but was put off by the insurance it was double amount to insure over the xr2

[@emty9668]

In the mid 80's I had a Fiat Uno Turbo ie. If there are any left on the road I'd love to see one reviewed. O-60 just over 7 seconds and 127mph 108bhp. Handling wasn't great round corners but it was as quick if not quicker than many standard hot hatches. It was so light because even the hatch was made of plastic.

[@ShaunieDale]

I had one of the original XR3s. I got it because the engine had blown a ring. I fitted a low miles XR3i engine but used the cars original ancillaries including the carb. It wasn’t the quickest car on the block but you could thrash it mercilessly and I did! The suspension was completely different to the conventional Mk3 including the XR3i. I have a strong feeling they were made on the Ford AVO line. When the XR3i came out I think it went down the regular production line and the AVO line started producing RS1600i and RS turbos. It seems to me the RS1600i was therefore a development of the original XR3. I wonder if anyone can tell me if I’m right or wrong. Ford also had problems with his eye wear I believe. The result was that in order to get mileage on the system quickly there were many police Escort Estates with XR3 suspension and pepperpot wheels. Loads of myths abounded with claims they had up rated engines as well, which believe was not the case.

[@uncensored5104]

I started my apprenticeship with a Ford RS dealer in 1983 and the coilpacks fitted to these were considered witchcraft back then! For me, the best part of the RS1600i was the Scheel front seats. A great car for its time, but it was soon overshadowed by the RS Turbo.

[@kbsub]

Owned one in 86 a black one EHD638Y still have a photo of it in my kitchen, loved the rev limiter lights , I put a Janspeed exhaust on it , great car let down by the rear axle with tiny wheel bearings and drum brakes

[@rororp]

Thanks for the video. IIRC correctly at the time , the 1600i was based on the XR3 and didn't benefit from the improvements to the XR3i chassis. Road tests at the time weren't kind either. It was described as twitchy and performance wise it was beaten by the XR3i in a number of performance tests. Being more expensive than the XR3i, it wasn't seen as good value either. It disappeared as quickly as it came. My boss at the time had the choice of the XR3i or the RS 1600i. He chose the former, saying the XR3i was a completely different car. Not sure why it commands such a premium today, it must be the RS name!

[@paulwooller4524]

I had one of these a few years back - great little car and was real fun to drive. Wish I didn’t sell it in 2004

[@davyboy888]

I don't think it's fair to say that Ford's 80s hot hatches were terrible. The Escort RS Turbo was fantastic and the Sierra RS Cosworth [also a hatchback] was one of the greatest cars ever ! The Escort RS1600i was made to comply with Group A motorsport motorsport regulations and predominantly for touring car racing rather than rallying. It was quite successful in the BTCC [Datapost and Brookyn Ford] and the ETCC.

[@PatrickHostler]

Great review on a lovely and ‘proper’ car!!! Basic, but fun and engaging!!! Can I add you are just about the only car reviewer I watch, I just really like your content and delivery! Keep up the great work

[@dolfandon7124]

Back then, as a youngster, I thought the styling was superior to the Golf / Rabbit inside and out. Was also impressed with the balance of those cars, but... the engines we got here were as exciting as a blender.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

The Rs1600i is one of my dream toys , id love the one you're driving Jack....Red cars i absolutely love them! Id park it next to a Mk1 xr2 also in red and a Rover 820i this time in dark Metallica blue 🤩..... cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍

[@Number27]

Ah.. surprised you’re so into this one dude!! Was fun to drive

[@Number27]

Surprised you’re so into this one dude.. glad you enjoyed it

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@Number27 my Dad and uncle had fast ford's in this exact era , so for me the Escort Rs and xr2's etc bring back lots of happy memories .

[@larryjimbob]

They should've kept the Escort RWD.

[@daddymulk]

Yeah be less of em about then, bonus 😂

[@Danniminoguesgusset]

I had an RSi back in the day, was an awesome car, handled so well. I went on to a series one turbo, was much quicker, but didn't share the cornering ability, despite having the same setup at the front. One thing? why is it, when people restore these cars, they can't put the bonnet stripes in the right place?

[@MerkJacobus]

By 1983 the XR3 had gained the letter i and had 105 bhp.

[@teambammotorsport7249]

I owned one of these cracking cars still recall the reg TJW77Y boy did they handle well and some decent tech in it. The best thing was at the time my mate had a XR3 carb version and my insurance was 1/2 the price of his. I loved this car it's one car i actually regret selling to this day.

[@MrBlaugeist]

Capris , cortina’s , fiesta , escort , I had them all and enjoyed them , a mini , a marina , a princess , yes these aswell . Then Volkswagens , BMWs and an Audi and then Subaru, Honda .

[@polygamous1]

bought an Escort Diesel 1800 engine it was OK powerful for a diesel but nothing as refined as a Peugeot diesel especially on the engine vibration, lock to lock if you moved as forwards as u would with other cars on the traffic lights the turning circle was so wide you would have to reverse to make it round the corner, I got rid of it soon after i bought it mainly for its vibration got a 205 1.8 diesel a Real joy to drive

[@MichaelTrivett-pr6zx]

I had a black RS1600i it was brilliant to drive it was a huge improvement over the standard XR3i just a joyous Ford.

[@EliteRock]

I had a bog standard UK (German built) 1600 and the engine was really good - free-revving and smooth, easily as good as the sweet 1500 FIAT Strada (AKA Ritmo) just before that. I'd assumed they were all like that, but I guess not.

[@johnj3577]

I had an '85 Orion Ghia injection that had been a company car. It had 160,000 motorway miles on the clock and went great. Don't remember it being rough at all really.

[@waterzap99]

Last time I was in one of these, years ago in South Africa. The guy driving (not me) had a mullet haircut. Cigarette in the one hand, beer in the other. Manual transmission. That was pretty much standard for Escort drivers.

[@peterpanx1]

I got a tad defensive from the headline. Last year I bought a 1988 Escort 1.6 90 hp. It had no rev counter from new and when I first tested the performance from the engine it sounded like I would rev the engine to bits. Also that the rpm's where pretty high on motorway aswell even though it is a 5-speed. - Putt an aftermarket rev counter and realised that I wasn't over revving it,,just that 4000 rpm sounds like 6000 sort of. It's a Hemi engine. Something with the valve train and high pressure spring makes it a bit rough.

[@mrcarpenter2008]

The RS1600i was absolutely a cut above and the thinking man's hot hatch. I love the seats but they are notoriously fragile. I had a MK2 Golf GTI16V but I still yearned, yes yearned, for a RS1600i...but the Golf was just more useable as a daily driver.

[@stephenricketts7764]

Great review Jack I think this car surprised you. Not my cup of tea this era of Fords but I understand why people of a certain age love them. This one being quite a rare example but I agree, I couldn't justify paying such a price for this car even if I had the spare change! 👍👍

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thank you for this video! I have a Corgi Vanguards model RS1600i. German assembly, fuel injection, used in touring car racing! What's not to like about this car? Did this particular car appear in an issue of Practical Classics a couple of years ago?

[@Hamish1968]

There’s an awful lot of details on that example which are not correct, and the brakes were always awful due to the crossbar linkage on a flexible bulkhead. I like them, and really miss my RS Turbo! By the way, the wheels were different between the two.