Ford Scorpio Ultima 2.9 Cosworth 24V

[Darren156]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know if these are any good? I've always liked them as they look like detectives cars from the American movies

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1995-FORD-SCOR...QQcmdZViewItem

They only do them in auto but as I have always fancied one (And the fact they are dirt cheap!) I was thinking about getting one, just for a while at least, to blitz around in and hammer the hell into.

I would be getting that exact one if I did. The 2.9 Cosworth 24V Auto.

Help and advice welcome and appreciated.

Cheers,
Darren

[jason156]

From the outside they look awful, especially from the front, the rear end aint so bad, like you say quite "American" looking.
I assume from the way the engine is located in the engine bay it is rear wheel drive? if so, bonus.
I liked the interior, looks like a fair car for little cash, leaving you cash for your next Alfa?
Don't panic about it being an auto, they are great fun in their own way, and it ads to the Yank feel of the car. Remember that with an aouto you don't have to lift off the gas to change up a gear, just keep that loud pedal hard to the carpet, and you can hold it in gear manually to keep the revs as high as you like.

My only other comment is I personally don't like Fords, but its your car and I don't think there is anything wrong with them, I just don't like them.
Bet I'm no help at all

[jamieboy]

A friend of mine had one - nice and comfy, quick enough for a motorway cruiser but obviously not really a car for hustling.

As far as I remember, his cost next to nothing to buy and about the same to run (except fuel), so no real downsides.

I even quite like the way they look.

It's a tempting area - there are loads of barges that have depreciated furiously, so the amount of car you can get for your money is astonishing. And if you get a big bill, just throw the car away and buy another.

[alfadave999]

Lots of bang for your buck - the engine is virtually bulletproof (cam is chain driven so no nasty belts to snap) and that Cosworth badge 124K is nothing on these engines - had the same lump in my stage rally car with over 180K on the clock and it still pulled like a train

[Darren156]

Originally Posted by jason156

From the outside they look awful, especially from the front, the rear end aint so bad, like you say quite "American" looking.
I assume from the way the engine is located in the engine bay it is rear wheel drive? if so, bonus.
I liked the interior, looks like a fair car for little cash, leaving you cash for your next Alfa?
Don't panic about it being an auto, they are great fun in their own way, and it ads to the Yank feel of the car. Remember that with an aouto you don't have to lift off the gas to change up a gear, just keep that loud pedal hard to the carpet, and you can hold it in gear manually to keep the revs as high as you like.

My only other comment is I personally don't like Fords, but its your car and I don't think there is anything wrong with them, I just don't like them.
Bet I'm no help at all

Yeah, I mean, to be honest Jay, the 156 V6 will NOT be my last Alfa, I am definintely getting another one at some point. But for the time being I just want something big and quick eno0ugh to tide me over with until I have about £4000 to get another Alfa with.

I believe they are RWD too which should be a laugh if I did get one

And you were a great help cheers mate, more of the same please!

Originally Posted by jamieboy

A friend of mine had one - nice and comfy, quick enough for a motorway cruiser but obviously not really a car for hustling.

As far as I remember, his cost next to nothing to buy and about the same to run (except fuel), so no real downsides.

I even quite like the way they look. :ashamed:

It's a tempting area - there are loads of barges that have depreciated furiously, so the amount of car you can get for your money is astonishing. And if you get a big bill, just throw the car away and buy another.

Yeah you do get ALOT of car for the cash I think, with even the best examples only going for around the £2000 marker privately. And they have less than 100K on their clocks.

Originally Posted by alfadave999

Lots of bang for your buck - the engine is virtually bulletproof (cam is chain driven so no nasty belts to snap) and that Cosworth badge 124K is nothing on these engines - had the same lump in my stage rally car with over 180K on the clock and it still pulled like a train

I think it's the COSWORTH badge and the look of the engine bay that have really gotten me considering one too.

I've never considered an auto before, but the 24V Cossie only comes in an Auto so I would have to make do, but as stated above by Jason it just makes it a tad more American and I can keep my foot slammed anyway.

Do these come with a manual over-ride then??? I assume they do as most cars do.

[mikebrown]

looks really nice darren...go for it...

[155v6]

What you really want is the engine from one of these in a MK3 Cortina or MK 2 Granada which is what a lot of the Ford boys are doing

[symonh]

Could you really be seen dead driving it?
Not only that, it was basically the same underneath as the older shape Granny, so not a good drive.

You would be better off buying a Rover 800 Vitesse sport IMO.

There are lots around, they are 200bhp and should cost around £500

[Darren156]

Originally Posted by mikebrown

looks really nice darren...go for it...

Cheers! To be honest though that ones quite far away, I'm waiting for something more local to swing by.

Originally Posted by 155v6

What you really want is the engine from one of these in a MK3 Cortina or MK 2 Granada which is what a lot of the Ford boys are doing

Yeah the Mk3 Cortina is a great looking car, it would be great to put one of these engines in,

Hey, another car similar would be the 3.0i V6 Omega, but being Vauxhall I have sincere doubts toward it. Anyone know any different?

[James76]

The Granny is a tougher car, the police used them till ford stopped making them, only then going on to Omega's. A lot of Omega's have had problems with back axles too.

Having owned an old 2.0 Twin cam Granny before (in gold... ) they are tough and bulletproof. Know someone that has one of these, they do handle ok in their own way (basically forgiving and give you loads of time to react) set it up for a corner and it will just barrel through. Also, .... no one expects them to be going over 50, the cossie version can really pick up and fly, so you will shock a few and reduce boy racers to sorry broken heaps.

All good then, buy it!!!!

[jason156]

Dazwhen you drive an auto, you can put it in D which lets it choose whichever gear it thinks is correct or if you select 1 it cannot change up to 2, until you select 2 etc.
When cruising in top gear if you floor it Autos "kickdown" and drop a ratio or two to give max acceleration, try one its a hoot...

[Darren156]

Hmm, sounds like a laugh then Jase, might have to try one sometime.

[Pud237]

Its still takes 9 seconds to get to 60, and 25 seconds to do 100, and thats when brand new.. And I bet it drinks like you wouldn't believe!

[Darren156]

Thats crap!

Jesus I need another Alfa!!!

[jason156]

The names Jason, and of course you do.....
But you knew I'd say that

[Pud237]

Can you wheelspin an auto?

[jason156]

Of course, hold the revs against the torque convertor, ie with the left foot on the brake and loose off the left foot as if it was a clutch= wheelspin, of course it helps if you've got a 5.7 chevy not a nissan micra

[Pud237]

Ah, thanks Jason. Wasn't sure if you could just stomp on the gas and it'd do it itself - now I know

[jason156]

Most drag/street cars are auto with a high speed stall convertor, this allows higher revs to be held when taking off, the biggest problem with an auto is controlling the downshift, this is due to a time lapse and the fact that you need to back off the throttle or manually shift down, it doesn't suit fast cross country driving, but works well on full throttle straight line runs. It also doesn't work with using the throttle to create or move weight subtly around a car to add cornering as you don't have quite the same finessse as a clutch.

[AlfaLincs]

The Ford Scorpio Cossie is a remarkably good and quite well engineered car in a remarkably ugly body.

Which is a shame really, and yes it will glug the juice quite a lot.25mpg driven with reaonable care. Floor the Auto and you are looking at sub 20.

Sofa on wheels..but nice fastish sofa.

AlfaLincs

[Pud237]

My money'd be on your JTD in a drag race though, AlfaLincs..

[jason156]

Originally Posted by Pud237

My money'd be on your JTD in a drag race though, AlfaLincs..

And on looks as well

[Dibby]

The only trouble with it is the old man image, my grandad had a Scorpio to pull his caravan with. They're damn ugly barges.

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by jason156

And on looks as well

Too true, too true

[AlfaLincs]

"My money'd be on your JTD in a drag race though, AlfaLincs.. "

Just be careful mentioning my name and drag in the same sentence..people might talk...

Didn't say i'd want a Grandad Scrappio Cossie..but from my time working closely with Fraud Motor Co warranty, I found them quite well made machines that people liked..Like i said..a Leather Sofa on Wheels is a perfect description of them.

AlfaLincs