XR3i dilemma...Help!

[JoshRT]

Hi all i'm Josh and i have a small issue that i need advice on....
Not long ago my dad bought me my first car An escort XR3i Mk4, black, near perfect condition, unmolested, all original...a really beautiful car...and great fun to drive.
Now the problem is that i want to give it a little personal touch but am worried about (excuse the expression) chavin it! I dont want it to be like every other modified escort!!!!
So here were my thoughts: i dont want to touch the exterior appearance of the car, not even the wheels, but fancy uprating the brakes, suspension and maybe the exhaust (but not a huge roaring tip monster, just something tastefull) and making the engine bay look cool with silicone hoses, bit of chrome etc...
So here's the question do i go for it and spend the money (against my dads will...:b) or do i keep it original? Will it effect the value of the car? What would you do if it where yours?
Thanks
Josh

[Waiter]

JoshRT said:

black, near perfect condition, unmolested, all original...

...

Edited by Waiter on Monday 17th November 10:08

[Justin-W]

Theres no problems with upgrading the brakes, wouldnt go full out on uprated calipers. Presumably they've got discs alround? so match them up with Mintex racing pads, a decent set of discs and you'll notice the difference. Black or blue silicon hoses.
Long as you keep the general appearance subtle/original it should be alright.

[Waiter]

Does it stop too slowly for the way you drive it? Is the existing suspension holding back your ability to get the best out of the handling? Do you drive it on a track? Do you want to change the exhaust because the current one is not allowing the engine to breathe and restricting it in some noticeable way? Are the existing hoses struggling to remain sealed, or bursting under the pressure of the coolant? Chrome...!?

Modify for improved performance if you need it, not for looks or kudos.

[Inny]

Waiter said:

Does it stop too slowly for the way you drive it? Is the existing suspension holding back your ability to get the best out of the handling? Do you drive it on a track? Do you want to change the exhaust because the current one is not allowing the engine to breathe and restricting it in some noticeable way? Are the existing hoses struggling to remain sealed, or bursting under the pressure of the coolant? Chrome...!?

Modify for improved performance if you need it, not for looks or kudos.

What a fantastic post.

[hman]

JoshRT said:

So here's the question do i go for it and spend the money (against my dads will...:b) or do i keep it original? Will it effect the value of the car? What would you do if it where yours?
Thanks
Josh

Dont spend the money on "upgrades" -just maintain it as it is with original parts, maybe replace the shocks if its like a barge and install decent pads, new discs, and change the brake fluid if it doesnt stop too well any more .

There are very few original un-molested examples so by modifying it you will de-value it as your upgrades are to your own taste and no-one elses.

If it were mine I would go and give it a wash an hoover - they always seem to pick up an extra 10% power and handling after a quick valet!

[JoshRT]

ok point taken...but whats wrong with uprating parts to make the car better, nicer, and faster for when i feel like taking her round a track, and giving her a bit of stick now and again? its not about having to put these bits on, its about wanting to... yeah she does'nt need it but would'nt the car benifit from a few performance upgrades????

[JoshRT]

last post was to waiter

[Mr POD]

Inny said:

Waiter said:

Does it stop too slowly for the way you drive it? Is the existing suspension holding back your ability to get the best out of the handling? Do you drive it on a track? Do you want to change the exhaust because the current one is not allowing the engine to breathe and restricting it in some noticeable way? Are the existing hoses struggling to remain sealed, or bursting under the pressure of the coolant? Chrome...!?

Modify for improved performance if you need it, not for looks or kudos.

What a fantastic post.

Form follows function.
I had an XR3i once and they are becoming very rare.

[hman]

Perhaps buy another one in crap condition and do all the mods to that instead, then you would have a track car for tracks and a very clean road car for the road.

Unfortunately any modification to an escort is seen as a bit "essex".

Have you taken your xr3i to a track yet? if not then perhaps do that first before modifying.

Alternatively just buy an RS turbo and sell your prime example xr3i, better performance for peanuts outlay (you may even get some money back).

[Don1]

Nothing at all - BUT if you have something that is iconic and rare (an unmolested car such as yours), then it will be worth a lot more as it is now.

If you do want to make some changes, my own personal thoughts would be:
Keep the parts original Ford bits.
Keep all the old bits.
Do it sympathetically (such as the RS Turbo seats, in original colours).

Seriously, a well looked after XR3i has every chance of becoming a desirable car in the future... and they have premiums. I'm not suggesting for one minute that you'd ever be able to go into 5 figures for one, but you should more than make your money back.

For my 2p - listen to your old man. He's got more miles on the clock....

[JoshRT]

Theres a photo on my profile page just click on my name to see the XR3i

[hman]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/730860.htm

http://pistonheads.com/sales/785048.htm


some value compaisons if you wanted to upgrade power etc. cheaply by selling your current and buying an RS turbo

[rsstman]

slap an rs turbo engine and interior into it with a suspension kit, maybe a rear disc conversion and possibly bigger brakes up front, you cant go wrong.

its not going to depreciate as some people seem to think as even a concours one is worth no more than £2k.

[Riverside]

JoshRT said:

ok point taken...but whats wrong with uprating parts to make the car better, nicer, and faster for when i feel like taking her round a track, and giving her a bit of stick now and again? its not about having to put these bits on, its about wanting to... yeah she does'nt need it but would'nt the car benifit from a few performance upgrades????

I'm in a similar position to you with my current car. I could go all out & spend loads on the brakes, more power & upgraded suspension but I bought the car to drive, not to look at or for kudos.

When I first bought it it had a few niggles, electrical faults & stuff. Some didn't matter to me (eg the aircon doesn't work) so I haven't spent money on them, some did matter (the climate control didn't regulate the temp properly) so I fixed it.

When I started taking it on track days I found the brakes overheated so I changed the fluid for racing blue & fitted some cooling ducts & braided hoses. I had the suspension geometry re-done after a few more sessions because it was a bit too tail-happy, changed some suspension bushes to sharpen up the steering feel, and so on.

The car still looks completely original & I like it that way, it doesn't need modding, it just needs to be kept in good serviceable condition.

If you want to mod your car so it's more individual go ahead but don't kid yourself that the car will be 'better' because of it. If you want a more capable car just go & buy a more capable car

[Mr POD]

You could ask at the XRwkersclub

http://www.xroc.co.uk/

www.xrownersclub.co.uk

They like to wash and wax

[JoshRT]

Riverside said:

If you want to mod your car so it's more individual go ahead but don't kid yourself that the car will be 'better' because of it. If you want a more capable car just go & buy a more capable car

Good point, your right, and its not like the xr3i is a snail of a first car....

Edited by JoshRT on Monday 17th November 13:16

[h0b0]

hman said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/730860.htm

http://pistonheads.com/sales/785048.htm


some value compaisons if you wanted to upgrade power etc. cheaply by selling your current and buying an RS turbo

I am a little concerned about the streering wheel positiohn in the second ad and the lack of pictures of the dash.

[Promised Land]

h0b0 said:

hman said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/730860.htm

http://pistonheads.com/sales/785048.htm


some value compaisons if you wanted to upgrade power etc. cheaply by selling your current and buying an RS turbo

I am a little concerned about the streering wheel positiohn in the second ad and the lack of pictures of the dash.

I wouldn't entertain the first advert either, the further down you get, the worse the text speaking becomes, I gave up and closed the window, I would never buy a car that's advertised like it's been written by a 5 year old.

[hman]

Promised Land said:

h0b0 said:

hman said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/730860.htm

http://pistonheads.com/sales/785048.htm


some value compaisons if you wanted to upgrade power etc. cheaply by selling your current and buying an RS turbo

I am a little concerned about the streering wheel positiohn in the second ad and the lack of pictures of the dash.

I wouldn't entertain the first advert either, the further down you get, the worse the text speaking becomes, I gave up and closed the window, I would never buy a car that's advertised like it's been written by a 5 year old.

nice cars huh?


well they were only a cursory search to highlight the fact that an rs turbo could be had for xr3i money eh.