RE: Ford Sierra XR4x4i 2.9i: Spotted
Discussion
Agent57 said:
njw1 said:
Both of my XR4i's were black, most of the XR4i's I've seen seem to have been black and A reg for some reason? 
It only came out halfway through 'Y' reg and was replaced by the XR4x4 during 'B' reg so law of probability suggests most are 'A' reg.I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
You sometimes see a late registered 4i on a C plate but the early 4x4s, as someone said above, were out on a B reg
neil-1323bolts said:
Section 8 said:
I think I remember that guy. I was coming through Derby one afternoon in the 90’s ( shows how vague I can’t even remember the year) when at the lights a blue Sierra pulled up along side. I was in my Series 2 RST tuned by TurboSystems and Castle Performance and I assumed this Sierra was just a wannabe Cossie.
I floored it and so did he and he was away but my little Escort held on to be very close behind when he eventually let off. I got a big smile and thumbs off him and a nod of the head in recognition.
fitz Sierra was definitely blue I have stacks of fast ford and performance ford mags couple featuring his car and cars he had modified , I think it ended up as a twin turbo effort don't know how much bhp , would guess over 350 maybe around the 400 about the same as a RS focus now I floored it and so did he and he was away but my little Escort held on to be very close behind when he eventually let off. I got a big smile and thumbs off him and a nod of the head in recognition.
s m said:
Dollyman1850 said:
Agent57 said:
It only came out halfway through 'Y' reg and was replaced by the XR4x4 during 'B' reg so law of probability suggests most are 'A' reg.
I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
I seem to remember the XR4i to be only available in Black or Red, perhaps white??I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
N.
Such a unique shape...I can't believe how much I still love Sierras!
Dollyman1850 said:
Agent57 said:
It only came out halfway through 'Y' reg and was replaced by the XR4x4 during 'B' reg so law of probability suggests most are 'A' reg.
I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
I seem to remember the XR4i to be only available in Black or Red, perhaps white??I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
N.
DSLiverpool said:
Dollyman1850 said:
Agent57 said:
It only came out halfway through 'Y' reg and was replaced by the XR4x4 during 'B' reg so law of probability suggests most are 'A' reg.
I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
I seem to remember the XR4i to be only available in Black or Red, perhaps white??I quite like the unique 3 door styling with the extra pillar. Rover did something similar with the 200 3 door.
N.
As an extra, ford also made a gls 4x4 with had the 2.9 fitted. It was a short run thing iirc and I think all of the cars were g reg. My dad replaced his 1.8 sapphire with one. Xr4x4 performance and boggo looks. Had front fogs and a black rubber spoiler as the only real differences between an l and the gls. It even had 14" steel wheels. It was a good car and did my dad well.
Ford made a change to the 2.9 for the Facelift. It lost the twin airflow meters and gained lambda sensors, cats and hydraulic tappits. I am pretty sure the earlier engine had solid tappits (I think).
Ford made a change to the 2.9 for the Facelift. It lost the twin airflow meters and gained lambda sensors, cats and hydraulic tappits. I am pretty sure the earlier engine had solid tappits (I think).
I bought a 1989 grey XR4x4 cheap with a knocking engine in the mid 90's. My local scrap yard used to have a contract with the police to recover the burned out cars, and there were plenty at the time. I managed to get a complete engine / gearbox / and full exhaust system for £50 off him. Fitted it myself and it was right as rain for ages. Went as fast as I'm ever likely to go in that car, about 140mph. I did Manchester to London in 2 hrs in the days before cameras everywhere, it cruised at 120 for mile after mile effortlessly.
Quite surprising really as the 2.9 V6 only had 150bhp, must have been light as a feather compared to cars nowadays.
Quite surprising really as the 2.9 V6 only had 150bhp, must have been light as a feather compared to cars nowadays.
I had a red 2.8. A few experiences I particularly remember from my time with it.
When it snowed, pushing BMWs and Mercedes out of a car park and then driving away with no problems.
In a similar vein watching RWD cars' wheels spin at traffic lights in the snow and driving off as if were just a wet day.
On a dual carriageway where lane 2 was covered by snow, but lane 1 was fairly clear. Following a Toyota Landcruiser and a Disco when an Astravan overtook us all in lane 2 in the snow, probably laughing at the wimps in their 4x4s.
It was my first car with electronic ABS (I had an Orion 1.6i with mechanical ABS). I remember a little old lady appearing from between queuing cars in Hemel Hempstead on a wet night and walking straight out in front of me. Whilst I was thinking I was going to hit her, I had stopped. The next concern was the Mini standing on its nose behind me, but it fortunately stopped just before it reached my rear bumper. It was a shock, and I wanted to stop for a breather, but first I had to negotiate the magic roundabout!
When I had it, I used a 1.6 Sierra Estate from work once - we had to use pool cars if our work related journey was more than a certain distance. I forgot I was in that car (the dash was the same) and went round a bend that I normally took comfortably in the XR4x4 at a certain speed and gave myself a bit of a fright.
The dealer I bought it from (used) told me it was ok to use unleaded. It wasn't. The first symptom was the fuel consumption dropping into the teens. I had taken out an extended warranty with the dealer and fortunatley that covered it (new cylinder heads) - I had nothing in writing to say that they had told me it was ok with unleaded
It was relatively powerful for the time and I enjoyed driving it, although the gearchange wasn't great. The seats were comfortable and the boot was big, so it was a practical car - perhaps a pre-cursor of Audi S4s etc
I eventually swapped it for an XR2 with half the mileage.
When it snowed, pushing BMWs and Mercedes out of a car park and then driving away with no problems.
In a similar vein watching RWD cars' wheels spin at traffic lights in the snow and driving off as if were just a wet day.
On a dual carriageway where lane 2 was covered by snow, but lane 1 was fairly clear. Following a Toyota Landcruiser and a Disco when an Astravan overtook us all in lane 2 in the snow, probably laughing at the wimps in their 4x4s.
It was my first car with electronic ABS (I had an Orion 1.6i with mechanical ABS). I remember a little old lady appearing from between queuing cars in Hemel Hempstead on a wet night and walking straight out in front of me. Whilst I was thinking I was going to hit her, I had stopped. The next concern was the Mini standing on its nose behind me, but it fortunately stopped just before it reached my rear bumper. It was a shock, and I wanted to stop for a breather, but first I had to negotiate the magic roundabout!
When I had it, I used a 1.6 Sierra Estate from work once - we had to use pool cars if our work related journey was more than a certain distance. I forgot I was in that car (the dash was the same) and went round a bend that I normally took comfortably in the XR4x4 at a certain speed and gave myself a bit of a fright.
The dealer I bought it from (used) told me it was ok to use unleaded. It wasn't. The first symptom was the fuel consumption dropping into the teens. I had taken out an extended warranty with the dealer and fortunatley that covered it (new cylinder heads) - I had nothing in writing to say that they had told me it was ok with unleaded
It was relatively powerful for the time and I enjoyed driving it, although the gearchange wasn't great. The seats were comfortable and the boot was big, so it was a practical car - perhaps a pre-cursor of Audi S4s etc
I eventually swapped it for an XR2 with half the mileage.
Haven' t found the early brochures yet but have a 1992 one.
XR4x4 (2.9 EFi):
Limited Slip diff
15" alloys (that look like covers)
Electric sunroof
127 MPH
0-60 8.2 secs
145 PS (catalyst)
Air con - optional
CD player - optional
Cellular phone and Car fax - optional
Colours
Diamond White
Radiant Red
Black
Tasman Blue (m)
Smokestone (m)
XR4x4 (2.9 EFi):
Limited Slip diff
15" alloys (that look like covers)
Electric sunroof
127 MPH
0-60 8.2 secs
145 PS (catalyst)
Air con - optional
CD player - optional
Cellular phone and Car fax - optional
Colours
Diamond White
Radiant Red
Black
Tasman Blue (m)
Smokestone (m)
The want has always been strong for one of these. Dad had a very early Mk1 (B44LAO - we painted a little “x” on the number plate) which was the first “quick” car I ever drove. Then later a mate had a mid-Mk2 with the 2.9 that he got for a grand. Lovely quick comfortable thing, unfortunately got written off.
But this particular car sounds like a lot of trouble.
But this particular car sounds like a lot of trouble.
Agent57 said:
Haven' t found the early brochures yet but have a 1992 one.
Don't worry, have a look here 1987 XR4x4 scans
aaron_2000 said:
Still around. What was the price difference between an XR4x4 and a Cossie? Surely in the 90's when the Cossie was horrible to insure, it would've been cheaper to tune the XR?
https://www.castleperformance.co.uk/
Different company.https://www.castleperformance.co.uk/
Castle Performance were in Newcastle Under Lyme off the A34, Turbo Systems which was the other major Ford tuners were just up the road too.
I had a 2.9 4x4 in the mid 90's, great car, i used it a lot as a chase car on BTRDA rallies, you could really chuck it about even with a lot of weight onboard. I replaced it with a 2WD Sapphire Cosworth with an Ahmed Bajoo 360BHP conversion and T34B turbo, proper sideways fun.
I think i paid £2K a year for the cossie insurance in the mid 90's. Manchester post code didn't help.
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