Is The Ford Sierra XR4i A Fast Ford FAIL Or Forgotten Gem? (1984 2.8 V6 Road Test) [Merkur XR4Ti]

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  • Опубликовано: 25 апр 2023
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    The Ford Sierra was divisive from day one, replacing the popular Cortina with radical jelly-mould styling left many fans unimpressed. To broaden the Sierra’s appeal, Ford introduced a hot version, fitting the 2.8-litre Cologne V6, pepperpot wheels, whale-tail spoiler and graphics to create the XR4i. This latest Fast Ford had it all to do, but could it follow in the footsteps of the raucous Fiesta XR2 and rough and ready Escort XR3 in the days before the Sierra RS Cosworth? Not to mention, is this often-forgotten Blue Oval an underrated modern classic or best forgotten? Phil took a drive to find out!
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Комментарии • 215

  • @DannerPlace
    @DannerPlace Год назад +12

    From the States, this is an interesting perspective. We had the XR4Ti (85-88) with the USA 2.3L OHC turbo. Ford sold about 50,000 of the XR4Ti in the States. I owned an '85 and then an '88 and drove them from 1985 to 1998, quite a long time. I made a few modifications, including some Euro-Cosworth trim bits and stiffer anti-roll bars that really improved cornering/handling. Compared to what USA Ford was offering at the time, the XR4Ti was a performance car, competing with 3-Series BMWs, and other "Euro-coupes". I wish I had kept one of the XR4Ti, it's a car for which I have very fond memories. Cheers!

  • @thavashgovender4345
    @thavashgovender4345 Год назад +33

    In South Africa we had the XR6 with the 3.0l Essex V6 ( very common ) , and there was also a limited run XR8 with a Mustang V8

    • @Rouxenator
      @Rouxenator Год назад +3

      Came here to mention the XR8. The Brits think their RS500 "Cossy" is something - wrong - only thing 500 about it is the badge. The XR8 was at least 500 CL.

    • @Thelrake
      @Thelrake Год назад +4

      So dominating the touring car scene when launched isn't "something", ok, got ya.

    • @Deanyfromtheburgh
      @Deanyfromtheburgh Год назад +1

      @@Rouxenator 500 CL? what does CL mean?

    • @bombercountyblues
      @bombercountyblues Год назад +8

      ​​@@Rouxenatort was called the rs500 because thats how many were made for homologation purposes.. nothing at all to do with engine size..

    • @ivanfernyhough3851
      @ivanfernyhough3851 Год назад +2

      ​​@@Rouxenator get real,the cosworth is legendry,the xr8 aint,not by a long way.a cosworth can be tuned to way more than 500 horsepower reliably if you really felt the need.a standard cosworth i am sure was still quicker than the xr8.

  • @johnclements6852
    @johnclements6852 Год назад +10

    If nothing else, that double side window and diagonal C pillar are more distinctive and appealing than standard. Well done, Ford, for "pushing the design envelope," which presaged future vehicles. Makes you wonder whether the Cortina would have kept selling had the Sierra not existed. After all, you made the Morris Minor for 23 years, and the mini for 41.

  • @50037
    @50037 Год назад +9

    I was fortunate in the early nineties to own the XR4i and a Capri 2.8 Injection at the same time. I alternated using them, I can say even though they both shared the same engine and gearbox they both fealt very different in terms of driving and performance characteristics . Both were great cars .

    • @Deanyfromtheburgh
      @Deanyfromtheburgh Год назад +2

      did the capri really have an extra 10bhp thanks to the twin exhaust?

    • @50037
      @50037 Год назад +4

      @@DeanyfromtheburghThe capri was quicker, mechanically the final drive was different which should've made the Sierra quicker off the line. The Capri twin exhaust certainly helped.

  • @blakkno666
    @blakkno666 Год назад +5

    I had a black one with full peco 3"exhaust and 4" tailpie, sounded great and lowering springs on the back so it sat down level.. it was great, sounded amazing and left the xr3i and xr2 boys for dead!
    So, yes it did deserve the badge!
    I had an xr4x4 after and it was slower, lost too much power through the transmission

  • @seanmorgan4099
    @seanmorgan4099 Год назад +5

    I remember driving one and cruising at an indicated 145 mph. It certainly was quick in a straight line and sounded good. Probably an optimistic Speedo too 😅

  • @abc33944
    @abc33944 Год назад +3

    I’m currently driving a 2005 st220 totally standard
    The engine sound of the v6 is pretty nice

    • @Raptor3388
      @Raptor3388 Год назад +1

      That's a Duratec V6, a completely different engine (full alloy DOHC).

    • @Fish-Addict
      @Fish-Addict Год назад +1

      Not comparable at all

  • @autoeclectic8808
    @autoeclectic8808 Год назад +2

    My Dad had one of these when I was about 5/6 years old.
    For us a BMW or Mercedes was so far out of reach we didn’t even think about it. The 4i was exotic beyond anything I thought we could have.

  • @stewartbrown4394
    @stewartbrown4394 Год назад +6

    My mate had a couple of these in the mid 90s. Personally wasn’t a fan, much preferred my Mk2 Cav SRi 130

  • @Whatshisname346
    @Whatshisname346 Год назад +1

    We had three Sierras through the 80s and into the 90s. One very basic L model, they a pre-facelift run out special (Laser RIO) with a few bells and whistles and then a sapphire LX . Great memories with all of them.
    I remember seeing an XR4i as a kid when we had the early one in for a service. As a 7 year old that spoiler made it look like a spaceship at the time.

  • @Whackypads
    @Whackypads Год назад +1

    Lovely to see a Sierra. My uncle taught me how to drive in 1. Good memories 👍
    I like your channel

  • @teamhandsome1974
    @teamhandsome1974 Год назад +2

    The XR4i always struck me as a Capri 2.8i replacement rather than an out and out hot hatch.

  • @millll8322
    @millll8322 10 месяцев назад +2

    Biggest problem I have with the XR4i is it had the same rear pillar arrangement as the 5 door but only had 3 doors, so it never looked right. Lovely comfy seats and they sound great

    • @ClassicsWorldUK
      @ClassicsWorldUK  10 месяцев назад

      Can't deny they sound lovely!

    • @JamesT65
      @JamesT65 7 месяцев назад

      100% it was an oddball misfit.

  • @colinstewart1432
    @colinstewart1432 Год назад +1

    I will always love the Xr4i. Also the Xr4x4. Loved this whole era of Fords.

  • @andrewfitzmaurice7843
    @andrewfitzmaurice7843 Год назад +1

    This brings back memories, with my first car being a 1982 1.6 Ghia, which I got in 1990.

  • @darrenprior6339
    @darrenprior6339 Год назад +4

    Gosh the fit and finish of those 80's Fords. Is it any wonder they were known as Dagenham Dustbins!

    • @Timico1000
      @Timico1000 Год назад +4

      Actually they weren't bad...the example in this video looks like it had been in a crash and not been properly mended.

    • @TheChill001
      @TheChill001 Год назад +1

      not going to argue about that...bit sad that the concepts and cars themselves were pretty good, but the quality did kind of disappoint throughout the range

    • @darrenprior6339
      @darrenprior6339 Год назад +1

      @@Timico1000 Hmmm...I lived in Dagenham in the 80's and had the torture of watching some of Ford's finest escape the front gate with bits hanging off them. I think I could have made an entire Ford fiesta out of the parts I found around the streets near that Factory 🤣

    • @Captain_Scarlet_SIG
      @Captain_Scarlet_SIG Год назад +1

      They still are…

  • @xj358
    @xj358 Год назад +1

    I remember my XR4i which I bought for £400 in the mid 90s. Gearbox lost its oil out of the rear seal and disintegrated. Replaced with 2.3 V6 Granada gearbox from the scrap yard and it came back to life. Plenty of rust and rot hidden behind those plastic door and sill mouldings.

  • @neilmustow368
    @neilmustow368 Год назад +1

    Just remember it launched in 1983 as a 9 year old kid also had the Matchbox model

    • @baggierols73
      @baggierols73 Год назад +1

      Ditto mate. My Match Box car was in white & loved it so much I kept it in a plastic food bag 😂. In 1991 my mate bought a black one, that we used to go Raving in 😂😂

  • @Simon-fr4ts
    @Simon-fr4ts Месяц назад

    My aunty worked in the offices at a Ford garage when I was a youngster back in 83. She brought home all the brochures of the Ford cars on sale and I remember drooling over the XR4i. It showed it in black. I am so disappointed now looking back at it!

  • @ShaunieDale
    @ShaunieDale Год назад

    I had the sister car Sierra 4x4 Ghia estate. Loved it, wish I’d still got it now!

  • @markwalker2986
    @markwalker2986 Год назад +1

    I used to love the look of the sierra, but the Rust was unstoppable by the time it was 10 years old! Mine looked good but come the MOT, it needed so much welding, I couldn't wait to get rid of it! Lol! Good video though.

  • @tessilateddragon
    @tessilateddragon Год назад

    My dad had one in the mid 80's and he loved it ..... quick back then

  • @jennydonne8946
    @jennydonne8946 Год назад +1

    I really liked the Sierra for it's styling. Never driven a Sierra but a friend had a 85 Sierra 1.6L hatchback, was a very comfortable car

  • @fasthracing
    @fasthracing Год назад +1

    Work colleague had one brand new in 1983 in white. What a thing it was too.

  • @FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904
    @FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904 Год назад +2

    Ford made the XR4i with the intention to replace the Capri with it, but in the end they kept making the Capri in LHD until November '84 and in RHD for the UK until December '86

  • @stevenking2946
    @stevenking2946 Год назад

    We still Have a mk1 1986 xr4x4, owned for 30 years, great cars, easy to work on and reliable. Still goes well now.

  • @Thelrake
    @Thelrake Год назад +1

    Having owned this exact car in the past, I can only agree with the touring view of it, and propbably not deserving of the XR badge, the Capri 2.8i wasn't labelled as such either. Not as quick as modern diesels, but amazing sound and I loved driving it. Gearboxes were weak, same with Capri 5 speeds, just how they are. If I win the lottery an XR4i is on my list.

  • @alexandrecouture2462
    @alexandrecouture2462 Год назад +6

    Interesting. I imagine there barely any of these in the UK, but it'd be interesting to see a video about the Ford Escort that we had here in Canada, and USA versus the UK Escort of the early 90s. Overall similar looks, but completely different cars. Same goes for the Fiesta vs the Festiva.

    • @Timico1000
      @Timico1000 Год назад +1

      The Festiva was sold as the Mazda 121 in Europe and it was a lot smaller than the '89 Fiesta.

    • @TheChill001
      @TheChill001 Год назад +4

      to be fair, that comparison would be extremely painful for the american versions. The american Escort was the size of the european escort, but with the weight of a Granada. It's most "sporty" model was just abysmally disappointing in comparison to the delightful XR3I and the mean RS Turbo. As for the fiesta and the festiva...they were essentially not even in the same class, the festiva (or more precisely the Mazda 121 or the Kia Pride as we knew it) was a citycar, while the fiesta's a supermini.

  • @leeforeman3656
    @leeforeman3656 Год назад +2

    For me the thing that let the xr41 down was that it was just a larger xr31, it makes a lot more sense as a 5 door hatch or the sapphire saloon. Nonetheless still a icon. 👍

  • @paullacey2999
    @paullacey2999 Год назад +1

    They say they wanted this to replace the Capri but it never did!But I remember the Sierra XR4x4 and 2.0iS that came later too....

  • @Richard-Bullock
    @Richard-Bullock Год назад +3

    41 years on since the Sierra first showed it's face in public, it's difficult to imagine it being so radical now. Yes it was at the time, but with all that followed in the years since, the Sierra is just generic family hatchback shape now.

  • @dhdove
    @dhdove Год назад

    I had an XR4X4 in the early noughties. Loved it, handled great, but it ate gearboxes. The early chain driven transfer box was very suspect and after two expensive replacements I had to let it go……

  • @liverush24
    @liverush24 Год назад

    Still my favourite Sierra. I lusted after these so badly forty years ago. In '89/90 I was in a friend's 16v Astra GTE & we got into a drag race with an XR4, on a dual carriageway. We got completely lunched.

    • @Luton-Mick
      @Luton-Mick Год назад +1

      Was the Asta only firing on 3? I had a GTE 16v back in the 90s and would routinely demolish these without much effort.

    • @ivanfernyhough3851
      @ivanfernyhough3851 Год назад

      Was probably a cosworth that hammered the gti.these sre great cars but not sure it would have beat a astra 16 valve,probably an 8 valve one tho.

  • @paulelverstone8677
    @paulelverstone8677 Год назад +6

    Given the choice of the Sierra XR4i or the Capri 2.8i, I know where my backside would be seated in. But still; I think that the XR4 had to happen to progress to the Cosworth imho, and that is a good thing indeed...

    • @ClassicsWorldUK
      @ClassicsWorldUK  Год назад +2

      Can't argue with that!

    • @F4Insight-uq6nt
      @F4Insight-uq6nt Год назад

      @@ClassicsWorldUK I think ford shot themselves in the foot by having the Cosworth & the XR4i available at the same time. Then there was the XR 4x4 as well.
      So they had 3 performance versions of the same platform. I suspect that if only the XR4i was available that it would have sold a lot more units.
      That's my logic anyway, for what it's worth.. I liked Sierras in general, I had a 1.6L & a 2.0GL Sapphire back in the day. That 1.8 CVH was the only bad engine. They only lasted about 90- 100K miles. Instead of making a 1.8 version from the 2.0L block, Ford opted to overbore the 1.6L CVH. Apart from that engine (Which worked great until it died) they were good cars.

    • @40022laconia
      @40022laconia Год назад +1

      @@F4Insight-uq6nt The cosworth and the xr4i were not available at the same time.

    • @ivanfernyhough3851
      @ivanfernyhough3851 Год назад +1

      ​​@@F4Insight-uq6nt cosworth was never available the same time as the xr4i.the xr4i was gone by 85,cosworth came along late 86,most sold in 87,88.totally different car.xr4i was a cruiser,cosworth was a homologation special hard core high performance car.my dad had a 3 door cosworth allmost brand new as in 88 when he decided he wanted one they had all bin sold.cost him more to buy secondhand lol.

  • @Captain_Scarlet_SIG
    @Captain_Scarlet_SIG Год назад +1

    I’m afraid the Sierra finished my love affair with Ford after five Granada’s and 4 Cortina’s which disintegrated In front of my eyes by the day😂 I liked the sharp square lines which other manufacturers didn’t really have, Fords then looked like everything else that was bland and jelly mouldy. I actually had a race with an XR4i in the 80’s on the M25 I was in a Sapphire Cossie I let him keep up to 120mph then unleashed the beast I actually scared myself and I was riding powerful sports bikes at that time respect for that Ford but the look still doesn’t impress. Good review you were spot on I nearly bought one back in the day until I drove it I went and bought a Subaru instead.

  • @andykerr3803
    @andykerr3803 Год назад +2

    In the late 80's the Merkur was mopping up in Trans Am racing. Only the short lived 4×4 Audi displaced it, but the 351 Cleveland Merkur racecar ( most were 2.3 turbos) was still way faster. They also had the XR 8 in South Africa. I had 5 XR4TI's, they were fun.

  • @robertlloyd7493
    @robertlloyd7493 Год назад +5

    Thought these were tasty at the time 👍

  • @mexorlight9635
    @mexorlight9635 Год назад +1

    Loved my xr4i, had a stainless 3" straight through and K&N - sounded amazing but yea it was a tank!

  • @dannyboyspain1
    @dannyboyspain1 10 месяцев назад

    Can't agree. The XR4 and XR4i were both excellent cars back in the day. They had prowess on the road and when you look back to '82 to '85 what else could you buy for that amount of money that looked so good, sounded awesome and went as fast as most "Sports" cars of that era. I was lucky to drive various XR's back then from the XR2,XR3 to the XR4 and no matter what you say Ford simply had the market cornered. Along came '86 and i am proud to say I bought an RS Cosworth. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING could catch that Cossie. The Sierra was the working mans entry into fast sports cars, and we loved them. Looking at the Capri, I always wondered why Ford never made an XR version of it. Capri Tickford, Brooklands, 280 Special etc but no XR... I remember one day I was invited to skelmersdale Ford for the showing of the Capri Tickford. 100's of people walking around looking at the Tickford and other fast Fords and I drove into the parking area in my Cosworth... Well those people were like flies over it, I couldn't get out the door. As soon as I walked away, the manager came over and asked me to park it round the back out the way as they were promoting the Capri Tickford not my Cossie. hahahhahahahahahahha my head was HUGE, was I proud, hell yes. 19 years old and driving a Sierra Cosworth... Saddest day of my life was when I sold it to peoples Ford in Liverpool in 1989 as the insurance went mad and I had to get rid of it. Even today when i think of that day my stomach turns :( ps, if anyone creates i time machine let me know, im going back to 1986 and starting again... Long live the Blue Oval...

  • @rororp
    @rororp Год назад

    When released ,it was praised for it's handling, gear change , grip, performance, fuel economy accommodation and refinement.
    I don't think you do it justice!

  • @rob_lightbody
    @rob_lightbody Год назад

    Do you know if the example driven actually still has the correct springs and shocks?

    • @insertnamehere5146
      @insertnamehere5146 Год назад

      I do know this example has been on and off ebay for years. its had a fair few owners

  • @dreamopeth
    @dreamopeth Год назад +1

    Xr4i is one of the most beautiful designs Ford came up with imo.

  • @minibus9
    @minibus9 Год назад

    awesome video

  • @semiretired86
    @semiretired86 Год назад +1

    should they have fitted a turbo like the american flop with a wierd name the Merkur XR4TI?

  • @st170restoration
    @st170restoration Год назад

    Nice! Love the XR cars

  • @davidgibson4840
    @davidgibson4840 Год назад

    Back in the day my friend bought a sierra xr4x4 from a farmers wife. It looked terrible with an inch of muck. However after a wash and detail it looked great and it went like stink

  • @paultasker7788
    @paultasker7788 Год назад +1

    Be interesting to compare it to the later XR4x4

    • @blakkno666
      @blakkno666 Год назад

      Xr4x4 was slower despite being 2.9... lost too much power through the transmission as four wheel drive

  • @markl5681
    @markl5681 Год назад

    I had a XR4x4i , it seemed a great car then, except in those different times, it was broken in to twice with ease, the thieves simply bent the top of the drivers door down to steal the radio/cassette.
    Oh and I remember being woken early one morning by the fuzz, a car matching mine, with the same number plates had ram raided a jewellers whilst me, and my car may I add, were tucked up in bed.
    Any Ford XR back then was nowt but trouble, as my dad used to say.

  • @ronstucker3550
    @ronstucker3550 Год назад

    Forgot to mention the Merkur with the 2.3 turbo and these cars racing under the Mac Tools racing team in their Yellow and White TransAm colors. (I owned one an (85) put an intercooler on it and 210 HP later with mustang 15" wheels and 215-50 front and 235-50 rear tires I kept up with my friend with his 87 M3. and could fit 4 adults in comfort. none around any more.

  • @ThomasDoubting5
    @ThomasDoubting5 Год назад +2

    I wish ford would bring back the XR models

  • @jasoncarpp7742
    @jasoncarpp7742 Год назад +6

    Awesome car! We had a version sold here in the USA. It was called the *"Merkur" XR4ti.* While I found the car attractive, and possibly a fun car to drive, I could never figure out the name and why they gave it a name like *"Merkur"* for the US market.

    • @bombercountyblues
      @bombercountyblues Год назад +2

      They wanted a European sounding name as it was intended to compete with BMW and audi in the u.s .. merkur is German for Mercury.

    • @speak_your_truth.
      @speak_your_truth. Год назад

      Very not awesome

    • @05gtdriver
      @05gtdriver Год назад

      The name "Sierra" was licensed by General Motors in the United States(the GMC pick-up line), so Ford couldn't use the European Sierra name in North America.

  • @esssexboy
    @esssexboy Год назад

    I love big old Fords. A cheaper alternative to. A 2.8i capri and probably a better driving experience too & far better handling. We all look back & love to recreate our past cars but was the Capri really that special to drive?

  • @lisachrister9990
    @lisachrister9990 Год назад +2

    I had a 5 door 86 XR4x4 2.8 Colone. It was very thirsty and in no way fast.

  • @markpaul1154
    @markpaul1154 Год назад

    It was head to Head with the Manta GTE, which was just as quick in real terms but looked like a real sports tourer.
    I test drove both and the Manta was just so much better to drive, it was an easy choice and I bought the GTE.

  • @mikmazzucchelli2165
    @mikmazzucchelli2165 11 месяцев назад +1

    Great, unforgettable car ❤

  • @fatwalletboy2
    @fatwalletboy2 Год назад +1

    Amazed the Coswirths that followed never stuck with this shell. It would have looked great and msybe would have been stiffer given theextra metal in that extra pillar......I wondercif Ford ever trialled that shell maybe???

  • @gavinivers8941
    @gavinivers8941 Год назад +1

    The XR4Ti ( Merkur ) was a 2.3 pinto with a turbo but no intercooler.

    • @pokest225
      @pokest225 Год назад

      The ti had a Lima engine. Not Pinto.

    • @markscully2342
      @markscully2342 Год назад

      It’s the same thing

    • @pokest225
      @pokest225 Год назад

      @@markscully2342 it's a different variant altogether, Lima only for American market. In Europe, the 2.3 turbo wasn't available. Only up to 2.0 ohc and dohc n/a 8v, and 2.0 dohc 16v turbocharged RS Cosworth.

    • @markscully2342
      @markscully2342 Год назад

      @@pokest225 all basically the same design or evolutions of it

  • @rondye9398
    @rondye9398 Год назад

    Sadly the US did not see the Cologne V6, but the 2.3 turbo. Had the transmission held up or at least been interchangeable with other 2.3 US spec cars, it would have done much better over here.

  • @user-ou4dx5lf8q
    @user-ou4dx5lf8q 9 месяцев назад

    i had an '85. It was a great car, my problem was the dealership. They had no clue how to work on it and ordered euro parts from Germany to find out they ordered the wrong parts and had to re-order the correct parts. I eventually had to file a lemon law suit and traded it in for a Audi 4000cs. Again, not the car but the dealership.

  • @caltriton6904
    @caltriton6904 Год назад

    It was a rocket in the day. People were jealous if you had one of these. It ate up xr2's.

  • @bombercountyblues
    @bombercountyblues Год назад

    I very much doubt theres many standard ones left now... i remember all of em in my area being turned into cosworth replicas..

  • @acl6573
    @acl6573 Год назад +1

    I’d happily have one - I’d have a Merkur.

  • @malcolmcowan9554
    @malcolmcowan9554 Год назад +2

    I had one. you needed petrol tanker to fill it up it wasn't fast either. Cavalier sri eat it up for speed and economy

  • @Wil-70-NL
    @Wil-70-NL Год назад

    Siërra's were cool cars in those days. Another planet in 1985.

  • @neilchapman5145
    @neilchapman5145 Год назад +2

    Fun fact the xr4i was based on the mk3 capri floorpan, the only body panels that it shared with the sierra was from the screen forwards. That’s why you got the odd windows on the rear quarter panel

    • @richbrown8174
      @richbrown8174 10 месяцев назад

      😂😂😂😂 think the only parts that were shared were the engine and gearbox
      Spent many a happy hour working on these when they were new

  • @sicosis
    @sicosis Год назад

    There's obviously a story somewhere to do with those particular 3door shells compared to the normal 3door shells. Why didn't Ford use normal 3door "cossie" shells for the 4i's ?
    I'd love to hear the story behind the murek (dodgy spelling) American 4i's with the 2.3 4pot as they use same shell as European 4i ?

    • @Phuc_Yhou
      @Phuc_Yhou 11 месяцев назад

      @sicosis the Xr4i was a Capri 2.8i with Sierra body panels grafted on, the Cossie was a Sierra

    • @sicosis
      @sicosis 11 месяцев назад

      @@Phuc_Yhou 🤣🤣👍🏻

  • @simonhodgetts6530
    @simonhodgetts6530 Год назад +1

    I remember these being launched - seemed like a big deal at the time, but the XR4i to me was a bit of a let down. The later XR4x4 was more like it, and provided a more fitting performance model to the Sierra range, leaving the Capri to do the coupe thing - which it did brilliantly! I don’t think many mourned the passing of the XR4i when it left production. Seems to be a curio now……….

    • @blakkno666
      @blakkno666 Год назад

      I had an xr4i then a xr4x4 after. The 4x4 was slower, it lost a lot of power through the transmission!

  • @g0fvt
    @g0fvt Год назад

    I did a lot of mileage in the more basic Sierras, they grew on me. Very simple mechanically for anyone used to Cortinas. The XR4 was a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing, the more restrained looking XR4X4 was lovely, very sure footed but again not a sports car.

  • @therealdojj
    @therealdojj Год назад

    also, the merkur was a totally different car with chassis and engine changes that wern't available here in europe
    then you had the xr8 in south africa with it's 5.0 v8

  • @REPOMAN24722
    @REPOMAN24722 Год назад

    Unusual designation usually the number after XR represents the number of cylinders, ie Focus XR5, Falcon XR6 and XR6t, XR8, fiesta XR4.

    • @markscully2342
      @markscully2342 Год назад

      Xr2 xr3???

    • @REPOMAN24722
      @REPOMAN24722 Год назад

      @@markscully2342 Nah never got them they dropped the XR naming before the new fiesta and the new fiesta can run on 2 on the highway so I guess they could call it the XR2+1.

  • @CherylCold
    @CherylCold Год назад

    5 door Sierra 2.8i Ghia was a missed opportunity (think these only came in estate form?). There was the later 5 door XR4x4 which doesn't seem to get a lot of attention. They looked good though. Problem was the Granada was a really good car, spacious and closely priced. It was a market niche though, Audi only had a 2.2i, the Monza was long in the tooth and probably more expensive, a 323i BMW would have been more like Granada money. The fact it was a 3 door probably isolated it from the majority of company car lists of approved purchases. Cosworth though... A whole different story, fabulous car, complete hooligan (back then).

  • @julesdowner5585
    @julesdowner5585 Год назад +1

    i always admired the XR4I. 3 mates had them , a chap at work had a beautiful black one . They looked terrific . typical ford though , They styled a car wonderfully but interiors etc were usually disappointing .Fords were never as special inside as they were from the outside .

    • @Kit_Bear
      @Kit_Bear 11 месяцев назад

      I don't know about that. The Sierra's interior was far better than a 2008 Vectra or pretty much all Vauxhalls up to 2009. I was never a fan of the Focus's interior, it looked like a child designed it so it's kind of a hit and miss really.

    • @julesdowner5585
      @julesdowner5585 11 месяцев назад

      @@Kit_Bear I do know about that ! ha , i cannot but disagree entirely with you . I've never been in a 2008 vectra but no ford i ever had can compere with my mk2 cab , series ! carlton or my mk2 Carlton .They werern't base models though i will admit and i've only owned 5 Fords . I nearl;y bought a Royale because of the interior, ir was a wonderful place to sit . the newest Ford i had was a 2005 mondeo which did look good outside but the interiour was pretty standard for cars of that period.My sister had a mk3 cortina which was comfy . It generally depends on the model . Hard to believe the XR4 is nearly tax exempt!

  • @jimmyquinn9639
    @jimmyquinn9639 Год назад +2

    Good video 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • @TheChill001
    @TheChill001 Год назад +8

    I always thought the best comparison for the XR badge was the Rallye badge peugeot used in the nineties. Where you didn't need the most powerful or most potent engine, but you had to balance the car itself; make it more peppy, more exciting to drive, somehing which as mentioned: the XR2 and XR3 did wonderfully, to the point even that imho the Escort XR3i is the better buy compared to the RS turbo.

    • @UPnDOWN
      @UPnDOWN Год назад +2

      I dunno, the Rallye badge generally signified something honed and specially tuned (both original 106 and 205 versions were homoligation specials). The XR range wasn't that, it was just slightly bigger regular engines in regular cars, with added stickers, spoilers and spotlights.

    • @e28forever30
      @e28forever30 Год назад +2

      @@UPnDOWN
      Indeed.
      Don’t know about the 106, but the 205 Rallye engines were prepared by Danielson, a specialised tuning company.
      I remember the 205 as extremely lightweight, stripped down, no luxury at all.
      A different beast altogether.

    • @DTFilmProductions
      @DTFilmProductions Год назад

      XR is like the ST-Line /ST of today the step stone between the standard car and a full RS. There was a Cortina XR6 and Sierra XR6 sold in South Africa with the Essex 3.0 V6 engine that we never had in the UK. Also a Sierra XR8 with a 217bhp 5.0 V8!

    • @darrenmcphillips4706
      @darrenmcphillips4706 Год назад +2

      No Peugeot Rallye models were striped out honed lighter versions of their
      106 205 and 306 and Ford XR models we're soft hot hatches

    • @TheChill001
      @TheChill001 Год назад

      @@e28forever30 I know they were stripped and specially tuned, but the concept in the end was still somewhat similar, to have a car which was a joy to drive

  • @JackosJingles
    @JackosJingles Год назад

    Wanted one, never did. I got a 2.9 XR4X4. Parts were a nightmare even in the early 2000s the MAFF went Ford didn't have one that fitted my car in he whole of Europe.

  • @carlosfrumpy4895
    @carlosfrumpy4895 Год назад

    You could see the petrol gage going down when you cained it

    • @insertnamehere5146
      @insertnamehere5146 Год назад

      The mondeo ST24 was the same for sucking down petrol if it was ragged

  • @SumUnicus
    @SumUnicus Год назад

    I got one of those... A RC toy car :D Stratos silver.

  • @cornovii3012
    @cornovii3012 Год назад

    My mate has got one, he takes it for an MOT every year and that is all the miles it has had for probably about 20 years.

    • @insertnamehere5146
      @insertnamehere5146 Год назад

      Thats a little bit sad really.

    • @cornovii3012
      @cornovii3012 Год назад +1

      @@insertnamehere5146 i completely agree. we do bitch him about it but he refuses to use it. He is happier driving his 06 astra 🤣

    • @insertnamehere5146
      @insertnamehere5146 Год назад

      @@cornovii3012 he should give it a gentle run in the summer. No one knows how long they have on this planet. It's a fine automobile and he would love the drive. Hell he can disconnect the odometer if that's the reason he is scared to driver it

  • @gregorylawson8346
    @gregorylawson8346 Год назад

    Belgium's Dagenham dustbin! Not a street close to the XR-2!

  • @siraff4461
    @siraff4461 Год назад

    The XR4i was a cheaply thrown together way to marke a sporty version. It was thirsty, relatively slow, heavy - especially on the front - and lazily set up so it rolled in corners and handled like a bus.
    When the injected 2.0 pinto was added it was a better car in most ways and when the twincam came along (in the XR4x4 era) it was faster, used around half the fuel, handled better and was better in every way - maybe apart from sound.

  • @xrmerkur
    @xrmerkur Год назад

    i’m watching this one closely 🤩

  • @truckatadders
    @truckatadders Год назад

    I was a mechanic at a ford dealership when these were new, they weren't particularly fast, even then 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @colinsmith3938
    @colinsmith3938 Год назад

    put 1 of these engines and gearbox and dash in a mk4 cortina went well for an 80s car

  • @seshelbow336
    @seshelbow336 Год назад

    Beat a couple of these in a lightly modded 1990 Swift GTi 1.3 back in the day. Did see a twin turbo one do a massive backfire when I was a kid which impressed me.

    • @ivanfernyhough3851
      @ivanfernyhough3851 Год назад +1

      Would only have beaten it a couple of times till the diddy little engine went pop.

    • @daddymulk
      @daddymulk Год назад

      ​@@ivanfernyhough3851 it's Japanese, they keep going

    • @caltriton6904
      @caltriton6904 Год назад

      A swift was a toy car. There's no comparison. Thrashing it to get anywhere. No thanks.

  • @williamegler8771
    @williamegler8771 Год назад

    Wasn't the final generation Cortina essentially a rebadged Taunus?
    Ford apparently decided that Ford of Europe would design subsequent models.

    • @FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904
      @FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904 Год назад

      From 1970 onwards the Taunus and the Cortina were largely the same car, in fact the last 3 generations of Taunus were called Taunus TC 1,2 and 3 internally = ( Taunus - Cortina )

  • @leedstown
    @leedstown Год назад

    Xr4i looked great but only around 150bhp, not a quick car and low mpg I think mine did around 15mpg

  • @boatinghebrides1032
    @boatinghebrides1032 8 месяцев назад

    I dont agree it doesn't deserve the XR badge , not a lot of cars were faster in 1984 and it was the fastest of the uk XR lineup and if you give that car another road test this time in the rain with some throttle in the corners you will find a very exciting car 😊

  • @markwalton8644
    @markwalton8644 Год назад +1

    I've always loved the styling but could i buy, No!
    If i did i would have to modify it. Cosworth suspension and a Jag V6( Cosworth tuned) would make this a Nice car to drive and own. 250bhp or 400bhp with a Turbo or Supercharger could make this a Real Weapon without the need to Spend £100k+on a Cosworth

  • @ansarafsar6268
    @ansarafsar6268 Год назад

    The Cosworth were the KINGS

  • @dspencer8827
    @dspencer8827 Год назад

    A rare 2 door for a start

  • @alundavies5171
    @alundavies5171 Год назад

    should have been a 2.8iS and waited for the Cosworth to take the mantle of the sporty Sierra!!

  • @paultasker7788
    @paultasker7788 Год назад +2

    41 years on Ford can now extract more power from a 1.0 litre engine thanks to turbocharging!

    • @RWL2012
      @RWL2012 Год назад +3

      until that engine cracks

    • @ivanfernyhough3851
      @ivanfernyhough3851 Год назад +1

      Nowhere near as reliably tho.dont sound anywhere near as good either.

    • @markscully2342
      @markscully2342 Год назад

      According to the claimed output doesn’t feel like it though

  • @wesstarmedia
    @wesstarmedia Год назад

    Pas was an option. They trully did hate fitting pas as srandard back then ( or at all).

  • @TG-pd3ft
    @TG-pd3ft Год назад +1

    That poor old girl has been in the wars.

    • @insertnamehere5146
      @insertnamehere5146 Год назад

      Yes, its been through a phalanx of owners in the last 15 years on ebay with the last V5 change in February 2023.

  • @Allenpatch
    @Allenpatch Год назад

    Power steering never standard....nice vid tho

  • @tabsntoot
    @tabsntoot Год назад

    very cool rare Ford.

  • @Bod8998
    @Bod8998 Год назад

    Quality quality quality motor

  • @jondrizzle4554
    @jondrizzle4554 Год назад

    My cousin had a few of these
    They look great sound good
    But slow as fk
    My rs1600i escort used to keep up with no stress but i couldnt go sideways in that 😂
    Cool car

  • @andrewmarsden1970
    @andrewmarsden1970 Год назад

    Always liked the Sierra styling. But not in that guise. RS500 Cosworth works much better. Just need £90k now...

  • @jadesmith6823
    @jadesmith6823 Год назад

    Look up Ford Telstar 1984 in Australia..
    ❤️🤦🇦🇺