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

[GC8]

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was better in every dynamic way than the RS2000.

Edited by GC8 on Thursday 18th July 21:25

[aeropilot]

GC8 said:

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was more boring in every dynamic way than the RS2000.

EFA

[Escort3500]

Thanks to the OP for compiling such an informative and knowledgeable post. I had an '85 Xr4i which I bought off my Dad in the early Nineties; he'd had it from new so I knew it hadn't been thrashed like so many were (though they could take it to be fair). It replaced an XR3 (also bought off Dad!) which was pretty dire - wheezy performance, clunky 'box and dodgy handling even with Spax suspension and 15" RS alloys. The XR4i was a revelation after the Escort, though I never really fell in love with the looks. Nevertheless, I had it for 15 years until I took it off the road for a rebuild and realised the tin worm was far worse than expected and made the project unviable, so it was sadly scrapped. But in those 15 years I had a lot of fun in it. The handling was improved with 7-spoke RS alloys, a Koni suspension kit and polybushes and stage 2 heads, a Kent cam and Janspeed system made it a little quicker; it registered 175 bhp at a RR session, which isn't much now but was fairly respectable in its day I guess.

Still get a slight pang when I see one on the road. Happy days indeed.

[Tango13]

I saw an A plate XR4i earlier on, the years had not been kind to that particular example! I still have fond memories of my old E plate XR4x4i though.

[Pedmeister]

GC8 said:

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was better than every dynamic way than the RS2000.

ROFL You are a wit sir! Quite clearly, you jest!

[GC8]

aeropilot said:

GC8 said:

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was more boring in every dynamic way than the RS2000.

EFA

It isnt accurate though, its rubbish. Id sooner have owned a Mk2 RS2000 of course, but the Fiesta was faster in a straight line and the standard fresh car ran rings around friends improved Escorts handling too.

The XR2 was no 205GTI, but it didnt have to be a class leader to be greatly superior to the earlier cars.

Edited by GC8 on Sunday 17th March 19:25

[s m]

Escort3500 said:

The XR4i was a revelation after the Escort, though I never really fell in love with the looks. Nevertheless, I had it for 15 years until I took it off the road for a rebuild and realised the tin worm was far worse than expected and made the project unviable, so it was sadly scrapped. But in those 15 years I had a lot of fun in it. The handling was improved with 7-spoke RS alloys, a Koni suspension kit and polybushes and stage 2 heads, a Kent cam and Janspeed system made it a little quicker; it registered 175 bhp at a RR session, which isn't much now but was fairly respectable in its day I guess.

Still get a slight pang when I see one on the road. Happy days indeed.

I did similar to mine ( but no head and cam work ). Also rear discs and LSD thanks to an accident damaged XR4x4 plus bigger RARB, 300mm fronts with 4-pots, poly bushing, quicker rack etc

[T66ORA]

Well finally after 28 years i have bought a Turbo Technics conversion, its the T18 200bhp kit with a T064 Turbo, Intercooler,and all the assosiated hardware it came with a reconditioned Cologne 2.8 V6 as a bonus
My car is still undergoing its minor restoration at Southways Automotive, and should be ready by August hopfully, The TT conversion will probably be done over the winter.
Looking forward to it

[gog440]

T66ORA said:

Well finally after 28 years i have bought a Turbo Technics conversion, its the T18 200bhp kit with a T064 Turbo, Intercooler,and all the assosiated hardware it came with a reconditioned Cologne 2.8 V6 as a bonus
My car is still undergoing its minor restoration at Southways Automotive, and should be ready by August hopfully, The TT conversion will probably be done over the winter.
Looking forward to it

How rare/expensive are those turbo technics conversions?
Just an idle thought as I have just bought something equipped with a cologne (tvr 280)

[GC8]

Pedmeister said:

GC8 said:

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was better than every dynamic way than the RS2000.

ROFL You are a wit sir! Quite clearly, you jest!

Did they deliver a better car, no. Could you turn it into a better car? Of course you could. That wasnt my point though.

[s m]

T66ORA said:

Well finally after 28 years i have bought a Turbo Technics conversion, its the T18 200bhp kit with a T064 Turbo, Intercooler,and all the assosiated hardware it came with a reconditioned Cologne 2.8 V6 as a bonus
My car is still undergoing its minor restoration at Southways Automotive, and should be ready by August hopfully, The TT conversion will probably be done over the winter.
Looking forward to it

I hope you'll be doing some updates

Are you doing any other updates alongside the engine work?

[carinaman]

The 4 litre in the Explorer and Mustang is a Cologne. Do the bellhousing bolts line up?

[carinaman]

An Essex V6 interloper:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[s m]

carinaman said:

An Essex V6 interloper:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

That's a rare old thing - not quite so much power as the Cologne but sound nice and very torquey

[cerb4.5lee]

carinaman said:

The 4 litre in the Explorer and Mustang is a Cologne.

You learn something new everyday, my dad still owns a Granada cosworth 24v & an Explorer & I knew the Scorpio had a cologne engine but didn't realise the explorer was one too!

[blade7]

GC8 said:

Pedmeister said:

GC8 said:

The truth though, was that even the XR2 was better than every dynamic way than the RS2000.

ROFL You are a wit sir! Quite clearly, you jest!

Did they deliver a better car, no. Could you turn it into a better car? Of course you could. That wasnt my point though.

I had a lot of MK11 RS Escorts in the 80's, only had 1 XR2, an RS2 was much better when the driven wheels lost grip. Having said that the S1 Escort RS turbo I had would leave an RS2 for dead but it was a nasty handful on the limit.

[T66ORA]

gog440 said:

How rare/expensive are those turbo technics conversions?
Just an idle thought as I have just bought something equipped with a cologne (tvr 280)

Getting scarce fully completed, a few kits around with parts missing, to get one to fit a TVR wedge shape you would need a Capri Tickford type kit with Turbo fitted in front of the engine, TVR toyed with idea Turbocharging the V6, but decided on going the V8 route instead.

[s m]

T66ORA said:

gog440 said:

How rare/expensive are those turbo technics conversions?
Just an idle thought as I have just bought something equipped with a cologne (tvr 280)

Getting scarce fully completed, a few kits around with parts missing, to get one to fit a TVR wedge shape you would need a Capri Tickford type kit with Turbo fitted in front of the engine, TVR toyed with idea Turbocharging the V6, but decided on going the V8 route instead.

I remember them doing a few Taimar and 3000S Turbos

[T66ORA]

s m said:

I hope you'll be doing some updates

Are you doing any other updates alongside the engine work?

Trying to keep it as OEM as possible, i know the T9 gearbox is a bit weak so will see how that goes.

[T66ORA]

s m said:

T66ORA said:

gog440 said:

How rare/expensive are those turbo technics conversions?
Just an idle thought as I have just bought something equipped with a cologne (tvr 280)

Getting scarce fully completed, a few kits around with parts missing, to get one to fit a TVR wedge shape you would need a Capri Tickford type kit with Turbo fitted in front of the engine, TVR toyed with idea Turbocharging the V6, but decided on going the V8 route instead.

I remember them doing a few Taimar and 3000S Turbos

Yep Essex V6 with turbo to the front IIRC