RE: PH Heroes: Ford Escort XR3

[greggy50]

My dad always goes on about when he brought an XR3i brand new in metallic silver which a mate managed to source for him as apparently they was a waiting list for that colour always says was one of his favourite car's and people thought they were the dog's at the time. I am here in a way due to it as he managed to pull my mum because of it lol

[Evo]

Mr2Mike said:

Evo said:

0-60 in 8.5 seconds was far from being slow in the 1980's so not sure how you figure that one out.

In your dreams. The XR3 (not the XR3i) did 0-60 in 9.7 seconds and topped out at 113mph.

I was just quoting the OP's article, I was more into HF Turbo's and Beta Volumex's in the 1980's.

[DJRC]

Well that just about sums up the difference between most of you lot and me.

My idea of 80s heros are Testarossas, 930s, S4 Deltas, Quattros, 250 GTIs, RS200s, not unmitigated piles of ste like XR3is. Probably explains why so many on ph seem to think modern mediocre motorcars are still worthy of discussion. An XR3i was a rotworthy pile of diseased sputum. It had no style, class, comfort, any pretention to dynamic ability or build quality. I cant in fact think of a single good thing about the car.

[HoggyXR3]

Shaw Tarse said:

Looks good, if you get chance post some more pics.
I had a White XR3i A463TYM, enjoyed it at the time.

Hi, A pic of the engine

& a couple more after passing MOT in her 29 year,April 2011



Hope thet brings back good memories, very few good uns left, & even less 5 speeders.

HoggyXR3

[BDR529]

DJRC said:

No fking way.

Its a goddam Zero.


What kind of moron ever regarded the XR3 as in any way good?

Guess you can't please everyone...

[Evo]

DJRC said:

Well that just about sums up the difference between most of you lot and me.

My idea of 80s heros are Testarossas, 930s, S4 Deltas, Quattros, 250 GTIs, RS200s, not unmitigated piles of ste like XR3is. Probably explains why so many on ph seem to think modern mediocre motorcars are still worthy of discussion. An XR3i was a rotworthy pile of diseased sputum. It had no style, class, comfort, any pretention to dynamic ability or build quality. I cant in fact think of a single good thing about the car.

I completely agree with the car choices, unfortunately most of us (those who were old enough at the time anyway) couldn't afford the cars mentioned above so in the real world the Fast Fords were at least attainabble. Still my favourite car era though, I remember aged 10 being taken to the Birmingham Motor show to see the launch of the Testarossa, Lotus Etna, the Tickford Capri's etc.

[MH82]

Reviewers at the time didn't seem to mind the revised XR3, second to the Golf, here are some snippets from MOTOR magazine - I haven't put the whole lot up so as not to upset any editors etc:



A very rare sight these days, is it me or does the Astra look rough in the pic above?

Edited by MH82 on Monday 2nd May 15:58

[M666 EVO]

Evo said:

DJRC said:

Well that just about sums up the difference between most of you lot and me.

My idea of 80s heros are Testarossas, 930s, S4 Deltas, Quattros, 250 GTIs, RS200s, not unmitigated piles of ste like XR3is. Probably explains why so many on ph seem to think modern mediocre motorcars are still worthy of discussion. An XR3i was a rotworthy pile of diseased sputum. It had no style, class, comfort, any pretention to dynamic ability or build quality. I cant in fact think of a single good thing about the car.

I completely agree with the car choices, unfortunately most of us (those who were old enough at the time anyway) couldn't afford the cars mentioned above so in the real world the Fast Fords were at least attainabble. Still my favourite car era though, I remember aged 10 being taken to the Birmingham Motor show to see the launch of the Testarossa, Lotus Etna, the Tickford Capri's etc.

Same as that. We all have our dream cars to aspire to but sometimes have to settle with the real world cars...

Maybe DJRC has Dad's money to fall back on or is at least a young dreamer?

[Evo]

and i'll bet theres even fewer Strada 105/130 tc's about now, Fiat / Lancia twin cam was a cracking engine.

[Evo]

My first car aged 17 was a 1980 Lancia Beta Coupe 1600 twincam which I then spent the next year restoring and turning into a trackday car, felt like owning a Ferrari when your 17 years old anyway

For me these cars are about bringing back happy memories.

[P4ROT]

Evo said:

Agree about the Golf MK2 b ut then i'm biased. Here's my current hot hatch throw back.

FAP

[Evo]

Cheers P4rot, it's done 146,000 miles and still drives as tight as a nut, headgasket finally gave up so a couple of weeks ago it had the head off, one of the exhaust valves replaced and the belts all replaced. Still put's a smile on my face.

[Baz Tench]

M666 EVO said:

Evo said:

DJRC said:

Well that just about sums up the difference between most of you lot and me.

My idea of 80s heros are Testarossas, 930s, S4 Deltas, Quattros, 250 GTIs, RS200s, not unmitigated piles of ste like XR3is. Probably explains why so many on ph seem to think modern mediocre motorcars are still worthy of discussion. An XR3i was a rotworthy pile of diseased sputum. It had no style, class, comfort, any pretention to dynamic ability or build quality. I cant in fact think of a single good thing about the car.

I completely agree with the car choices, unfortunately most of us (those who were old enough at the time anyway) couldn't afford the cars mentioned above so in the real world the Fast Fords were at least attainabble. Still my favourite car era though, I remember aged 10 being taken to the Birmingham Motor show to see the launch of the Testarossa, Lotus Etna, the Tickford Capri's etc.

Same as that. We all have our dream cars to aspire to but sometimes have to settle with the real world cars...

Maybe DJRC has Dad's money to fall back on or is at least a young dreamer?

Exactly! It was a bit of a working class hero really. DJRC, maybe you're a bit 'middle class'? You sound like the sort of person who bought red 911's in the Eighties and drove around London wearing red braces and had a huge phone glued to your ear.

It was a bit of fun the XR3 was, as were most other cars of its ilk at the time. Sure, it was flawed, but no-one really took themselves seriously enough to care...

Double .

[oobster]

HoggyXR3 said:

Hi, What a brilliant write up, how I felt in 1982 & how I still feel today, as I have had my Sunburst Red 5 speeder XR3 from new, over 29 years now, must be a record.
Heres a pic of her last year on County Run..
Hope you like..



HoggyXR3

Thats a beautiful car you've got there Hoggy, did you always mean to keep it for so long? Has it ever had any paintwork done?

[Crimp a Length!]

Had 2 XR3's and and 3 XR2's
Loved them in the late 80's early 90's
I know it sounds crazy but at the time the birds loved them, cruising round with the house music blasting those were the days.

[carl carlson]

I had a silver xr3i back in the day C 75 UVN. Loved that car till the gearbox went bang.

Yeah the golf had a better reputation but the escort always felt more racey to me and a little more loutish.

[HoggyXR3]

oobster said:

Thats a beautiful car you've got there Hoggy, did you always mean to keep it for so long? Has it ever had any paintwork done?

Hi oobster, Thanks for your comments, yes always loved my XR3, although thought of changing when the Mk 2 MR2 was released, but of course I didn't. Paint work is original, first XR3 were made in Germany & where rust treated, where as the UK made escorts & later XR3i weren't.
I also have an Audi TT 225 & a VXR Corsa, so only use XR3 on dry roads now.
HoggyXR3

[Richair]

Awfully designed engine (well the head anyway!), floppy chassis and lukewarm performance. Yet strangely appealing...

Only gets a 4 from me I'm afraid though.

[alancovkid]

I loved these cars, and all the fast fords of that time.

I was an apprentice at a RS ford dealership in Coventry in 1983.

we got to drive all the new cars from the compound ready for PDI's.

They just got better and better. Yes the early XR3 was a bit soft, but then the XR3i and RS1600i came along.

The RS1600i was may favorite as the shark grey recaros looked so cool.

Then they launched the RS turbo. The mechanics used to fight over who was going to service them, as they all wanted to give them a quick road test!!

Also drove lots of 2.8 capris and xr2 mk1 & 2.

They were all good to drive.

Still think they are better than the Golf's and Astra's of the time.

[masermartin]

A mate and I very nearly bought a ratty one of these about 15 years ago as a project, but didn't (only because we didn't have anywhere to put it). Oddly, I still keep toying with the idea even though I know an early 80's car will ultimately disappoint in terms of handling, comfort and performance, compared to what we're used to these days.