Ford Sierra XR4i......30 years on.

[Gooly]

Fantastic write up. I'm a huge ford fan, not old enough to have seen these in their heyday but I remember pootling through a village, the road opening up into NSL and me putting my foot down in the 1.3 mk5 fiesta I had at the time only to be blitzed by a mint XR4x4i, the sound of the V6 was just stunning. Love seeing restored Sierras and it's good to see the XRs getting some love as well as the Cossies. Turbotechnic XR4s must have been real weapons.

[cirian75]

I wanted one when I was young, but as I didn't pass 17 till late 1997 they had passed

[dudleybloke]

there used to be quite a few turbo-technics twin turbo modded ones round these parts back in the day.

[iva cosworth]

TallPaul said:

There's a Cardinal red one looking a bit forlorn on the North Circular in London, opposite Brentford Ikea, it used to share a drive with an equally dejected Peugeot 505GTi. The house looks like its being developed now and the Peugeot has gone I wonder how long before the Sierra goes...

I drove past there a few weeks ago and i THINK the XR4i has also gone.

I was going clockwise so couldn't get a clear look.

It's not Brentford BTW,it's Brent Park

[Negative Creep]

I love the looks of the Sierra, especially the mk.1. Odd to think they were disliked at launch as they've aged far better than the contemporary Cavalier, Bluebird etc. I would really like an XR4i at some point, althoug perhaps I should have done hat a few years ago before the inevitable Old School Ford tax set in.

[Terminator X]

My uncle had one back then (estate?) And it was the biggest engine I'd ever heard of as a kid!

TX.

[djdestiny]

Excellent thread
I remember one of my dads workers having an XR4x4 which I really lusted after, and another had an XR4i

[TheDoggingFather]

I have no attachment to the Sierra, I've never been in one to my knowledge, but, when I was young my elder brother had a remote control XR4i this and this alone holds the swift Sierra in a special place for me. Haven't seen one in years, great article.

[s m]

T66ORA said:

There is not a lot i don`t know about the Sierra XR4i, so to celebrate, what is in effect its 30th birthday, i thought i would do a write up on its history, for those of you who are interested,some of you might not even have been born

The Ford Sierra family car was announced in 1982, with the car going on sale in the autumn of that year, it was to replace the much loved but visually dated Cortina range.

Bob Lutz, who was Ford Of Europe's resident petrol head in the early 80`s conceived the idea of a "Super Sierra" after seeing the Probe III concept car of 1981.


His ideas, included a special 3 door, 6 window (later to be known as 6 light!)body shell, and as many of the Probe features as possible.

Nice write up chap - thanks for making the effort.

Interesting that the closest in looks to the above concept was the XR8 which had 5 doors and the biplane rear spoiler. Still see a few about and they're a good classic if you have bigger kids to transport about as they have roomy rear seats and a decent boot. Good motorway cruisers as well.
Enjoyed my B-reg

[chris333]

my dad's 1.6L ... felt like a spaceship after his succession of cortinas!

[Thundersports]

About 10 years ago there was a white Y reg for sale on a stretch of road where there are lots of cars for sale with hand written details in the window. It looked very tidy and was up for £500, this was before they became very rare. I nearly bought but didn't as I had knowhere to keep it wish I had now......

[Viperz888]

Great read, can't believe it's been 30 years.
Your cars regi rings a bell somewhere, I'm sure i've seen it or a picture of it before.

I bought this old girl a few years ago, have had a real blast in her, and wouldn't part with her either, even been to the 'ring

[spitfire4v8]

I had an early xr4i many years ago, no power steering (4 turns lock to lock and as heavy as a truck) and wind up windows. I thought it was going to be a step up from my previous capri 2.8i. How wrong was i ?? I wouldn't go back to one, but would go back to a capri

[e8_pack]

ah yes, my dad had a 2.0i GLS on an E plate, standard hatch though, not the saphire. I loved it though, the red stripe and all the letters really felt like something special!

[nagsheadwarrior]

As a huge capri lover and 2.8i owner ive always seen these as kind of the enemy but none the less id rather like one.
My brother had a 2.3 ghia when i was a kid and i loved the way it sounded and the comfy velooor seats.

[Doofus]

I've just remembered that I had a GLS that I'd completely forgotten about until now.

I think it was white...

[mcford]

I remember when the Sierra first came on the fleet with Europcar in 1982, when I passed my test in 1983 I was allowed to drive them. I drove new rental Sierras from every model year that they were made. Coincidentally the 1.8LX that I now own started out in 1991 with Europcar.

[*Al*]

I've owned 2 XR4is a white and a black one! Alot of pristine XR4is ended up as reshelled 3dr Cosworths by cutting the rear pillar and adding the 1 piece rear side widow.I did hear somewhere that the original 3 door cosworth was going to be based on the XR4i shell with the extra window pillar but instead used the 'base' 1.6L shell with the 1 piece window.

[MarsellusWallace]

My brother had an xr4i in the mid 80's-a white one with a similar reg no to yours.If my memory serves me right the reg was A924 POO.I was 17 so had only just passed my test and used to borrow it sometimes-it felt a properly quick car for its time.

[s m]

spitfire4v8 said:

I had an early xr4i many years ago, no power steering (4 turns lock to lock and as heavy as a truck) and wind up windows. I thought it was going to be a step up from my previous capri 2.8i. How wrong was i ?? I wouldn't go back to one, but would go back to a capri

The power assisted rack had a faster ratio but not as much feel. I went to a manual quick rack on mine