The best Ford RS cars from £5000 - used car buying guide

The all-new Ford Focus RS is set to redefine the hot hatchback genre when it arrives next year. It'll be the latest in a long line of RS-branded Ford models and, luckily, the used car market has one to suit every budget.

1 - Ford Sapphire RS Cosworth (1988-1992)

Prices for Sierra Cosworths have skyrocketed in the past year or so. With RS500s now commanding well in excess of £60,000 and good examples of the ‘normal’ three-door Cossie comfortably topping £30,000, the Sapphire looks a relative bargain.

Sharing the same 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘YB’ lump as the earlier cars and later Escort Cosworth, the Sapphire was intended to provide a stiffer platform for rallying. Early cars were rear drive, but in 1990 four-wheel drive became standard. You can pick up a minter for less than £15,000 and project cars are much, much cheaper.

2 - Ford Focus RS Mk1 (2002-2003)

Few modern hot hatches seem to court as much controversy as the Mk1 Focus RS. Depending on what you read or who you talk to, it’s either one of the most entertaining front-drive chassis of this century or a torque-steering liability.

Still, with modern cars more insulating than ever, lots of people see the appeal of the raw RS. Thanks to a nominal 212bhp and standard limited-slip diff, 0-60mph falls in just 5.9sec, and it looks like it just drove off a rally stage.

Ford made 4501 examples, and a good chunk of them still live. About £7000 will net you a high-mileage car, but budget nearer £10,000 for a tidy one.

3 - Ford RS200 (1984-1986)

If we’re being brutal, the RS200 homologated rally special was a bit of a flop. Late to the Group B party, it got a best result of third on the 1986 Swedish Rally before the class was banned for 1987. Even so, it looked like no other rally car at the time, as it made no effort to look like any Ford production vehicle.

While Ghia should be thanked for the strangely attractive styling, Cosworth was once again in charge of the engine, with a turbocharged development of the BDA fitted amidships. Power ranged from 250bhp for the road cars to more than 600bhp for the Evolution models.

If that sounds tempting, you’ll need deep pockets. The cheapest currently out there is a quarter of a million quid.

4 - Ford Fiesta RS1800 (1992-1997)

Entry to the RS club doesn’t have to break the bank, as demonstrated by the Fiesta RS1800. Launched in 1992 as a replacement for the wayward Fiesta RS Turbo, it replaced the laggy CVH turbo engine with a 130bhp version of Ford’s new 1.8-litre Zetec motor.