The Works Winging it

摘要

The original Sierra RS Cosworth was an instant legend the moment it was released - but how well has it stood the test of time? It's the car that defined the modern performance Ford. The car every Ford enthusiast has an opinion about. Even those who aren't that interested in cars have heard of it, while those in the know understand its motorsport pedigree and incredible aura. Some consider it overhyped and overvalued, while others consider it the best car Ford has ever made. What's certain is that the original three-door Sierra RS Cosworth earned Ford a reputation as a serious manufacturer of performance cars in the modern age, inspired a new generation of Ford enthusiasts and became an instant icon the day it was launched. If you were lucky enough to be around when it first came out, remember what a sensation the Cosworth caused - and if you weren't, just imagine what it must have been like. Here was a real-live touring car for the road. It was blisteringly quick, it handled incredibly well, and it made the same turbo-boosted noises as the racers on TV. And yet this one rode comfortably, had a practical hatchback, plush Recaro seats, electric windows, a sunroof, and enough room for kids in the back. Rival manufacturers had nothing like it. The fastest Cavalier - the Sierra range's main rival - was over 70bhp down. Audi's Quattro - the closest performance five-seater to the Cosworth - came in at ￡4000 more, and even then it was a whole second slower to get to the magic 60mph mark. To get something that was as fast and as useable as the Cosworth you'd have to turn to the earliest BMW M5, and that came in at a whopping ￡34,000 - nearly ￡20,000 more than the Sierra.