RE: PH Heroes: Ford Escort XR3
Discussion
Bogracer said:
Evo said:
Agree about the Golf MK2 b ut then i'm biased. Here's my current hot hatch throw back.
a thousand times better than a XR3!I was all set to like the mk2 Golf but the one I drove was a huge disappointment. The engine was a delight however and the sound was great but the rest of the car felt very disjoint.
I also heard that for road tests, VW used to tweak the assigned road test cars. I seem to remember a magazine at the time put 2 8valves on a rolling road, 1 press car and 1 from a dealership and the press car put out a good 10 - 15 bhp more which in a car weighing about a ton makes a difference.
I do like XR3is though, I have 1 myself. I grant you that they weren't top of the class but they are still fun to drive and I wouldn't be without it. I have the mk4 which Ford softened up a bit as most people that bought XR3is/SRis etc weren't pure petrol heads - pure petrol heads went for the RS Turbos and GTEs etc. The mk4 could have done with another 10bhp in my opinion, to compensate for the little bit of power that was reduced by converting to unleaded and the extra weight over the mk3.
Here is mine:
Edited by MH82 on Sunday 18th December 09:42
A far better idea still. With suitable cam, carb, valves and exhaust these were a complete hoot. Mine was roughly was quick as my MG is now and with that rear engine traction could leave XR3s for dead at the lights. Great handling too, you could feel the weight transfers at the back giving plenty of warning.
A mate had a MK3 Escort, I couldn't believe how crude it felt.
MH82 said:
I do like XR3is though, I have 1 myself. I grant you that they weren't top of the class but they are still fun to drive and I wouldn't be without it. I have the mk4 which Ford softened up a bit as most people that bought XR3is/SRis etc weren't pure petrol heads - pure petrol heads went for the RS Turbos and GTEs etc. The mk4 could have done with another 10bhp in my opinion, to compensate for the little bit of power that was reduced by converting to unleaded and the extra weight over the mk3.
Here is mine:
Looks in great nick - had one as a pool car for a bit in the late 80s - preferred the Mk3 shape though.Here is mine:
Edited by MH82 on Sunday 18th December 09:42
Friend had an RS1600i ( followed by S1 RS Turbo ) which were different again - lovely seats in the RS1600i
CDP said:
A far better idea still. With suitable cam, carb, valves and exhaust these were a complete hoot. Mine was roughly was quick as my MG is now and with that rear engine traction could leave XR3s for dead at the lights. Great handling too, you could feel the weight transfers at the back giving plenty of warning.
A mate had a MK3 Escort, I couldn't believe how crude it felt.
Also, one of my most regretted actions happened with one of those, the details of which I can't bring myself to go into...
Moospeed said:
CDP said:
A far better idea still. With suitable cam, carb, valves and exhaust these were a complete hoot. Mine was roughly was quick as my MG is now and with that rear engine traction could leave XR3s for dead at the lights. Great handling too, you could feel the weight transfers at the back giving plenty of warning.
A mate had a MK3 Escort, I couldn't believe how crude it felt.
Also, one of my most regretted actions happened with one of those, the details of which I can't bring myself to go into...
B'stard Child said:
Moospeed said:
CDP said:
A far better idea still. With suitable cam, carb, valves and exhaust these were a complete hoot. Mine was roughly was quick as my MG is now and with that rear engine traction could leave XR3s for dead at the lights. Great handling too, you could feel the weight transfers at the back giving plenty of warning.
A mate had a MK3 Escort, I couldn't believe how crude it felt.
Also, one of my most regretted actions happened with one of those, the details of which I can't bring myself to go into...
Although it's no defence or excuse it was in my youth and I was staggering home drunk with a mate. So drunk that I had to throw up. For some ridiculous reason I'd decided the funniest place to do this would be on the back of an Estelle. I think there were cooling vents above the engine? I can imagine that aside from the obvious disgusting sight of my puke on the car itself every time the engine got hot it must've whiffed a bit.
As I said, very regrettable and so very out of character
If it's any consolation I've come back to find a McDonald's milkshake on my Westfield driver's seat (without a cup), amongst several other 'hate/jealousy crimes' on my cars. I just know that if I ever arrive at those pearly gates I'm going to see St Peter tapping his clipboard and tutting at that item on his list.
pity they don't make reasonably priced,tasty looking slightly hotter versions of family cars any more,I am finally old enough to insure something like this but nowadays its all turbodiesels or 300bhp turboV6s and not much in between,where is a modern cavalier SRi a working class dad of 2 can afford to run?
weekbladder said:
pity they don't make reasonably priced,tasty looking slightly hotter versions of family cars any more,I am finally old enough to insure something like this but nowadays its all turbodiesels or 300bhp turboV6s and not much in between,where is a modern cavalier SRi a working class dad of 2 can afford to run?
Surely there's more choice now than ever? The 1.4 TSi engined Golf (and the Seat/Skoda variants) for instance, the 1.6 Ecoboost Focus, the 1.6T Astra etc..GT4RS said:
These things are getting few and far between nowadays.
Can't be many left
Thank god for that. The XR3 was pretty crap in the 80's, and they certainly don't get better with age.Can't be many left
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