RE: Ford Fiesta XR2: Spotted
Discussion
t" it's sold already. 
I had some fun with one of these years ago in my Sierra xr4x4 down some twisty country lanes, and although the Sierra was quicker on paper he wiped the floor with me and the much heavier weight of the Sierra was a massive drawback.
I love how light small cars were back then(you didn't need daft amounts of power like you have now)...but probably not great if you had a big accident in one though.
I love how light small cars were back then(you didn't need daft amounts of power like you have now)...but probably not great if you had a big accident in one though.
mrpenks said:
I love how people passionately argue old Fords were bad, yet every model (with the mutable exception of the Mk5 Escort) were at the top of their respective classes.
Before we all began to believe build quality was a squishy dashboard, cars were measured in versatility, running costs and fun. Ford trumped these categories whilst providing good handling cars. What Fords didn’t have was brand aspiration - the brand tried to appeal to everyone (always has). As we moved to a more bling, look at me brand identity era later in the 80s, Ford (and Vauxhalls) became cars to run into the ground and as such became unloved and had little servicing, maintenance or care.
I own an XR3I. It’s fun and has been cherished so drives well. I also drive a 18month old Audi A6 and a Porsche Boxster. The Escort has been the most reliable. It is also the most fun and the one I most look forward to driving although the dashboard isn’t as squishy as the other two.
Had a series 2 RS Turbo and loved it. The XR2 on the other hand was pretty dire. I love old Ford's but this one isn't good at all. Before we all began to believe build quality was a squishy dashboard, cars were measured in versatility, running costs and fun. Ford trumped these categories whilst providing good handling cars. What Fords didn’t have was brand aspiration - the brand tried to appeal to everyone (always has). As we moved to a more bling, look at me brand identity era later in the 80s, Ford (and Vauxhalls) became cars to run into the ground and as such became unloved and had little servicing, maintenance or care.
I own an XR3I. It’s fun and has been cherished so drives well. I also drive a 18month old Audi A6 and a Porsche Boxster. The Escort has been the most reliable. It is also the most fun and the one I most look forward to driving although the dashboard isn’t as squishy as the other two.
Edited by mrpenks on Sunday 3rd March 08:27
Edited by mrpenks on Sunday 3rd March 08:28
Downward said:
Why didn’t they use the 105bhp 1.6 engine as in the xr3 ?
It’s the same engine, but carburettor on the xr2, injection for the 105 bhp version. Guess they needed the fiesta to be slower/cheaper than the escort.
Road testers at the time panned it for the rough engine and lack of high rev enthusiasm.
How times change...
Drove one for the first time in 20 years last week
I'd have another in a heart beat
Whilst nowhere near quick or thirsty for revs as some would comment they actually do have a proper solid feel to them the one thing that immediately took me back to my youth was the smell and taste. Fired up to that familiar xr2 lumpy idle and immediately I felt like I was back in my teens.
I'd have another in a heart beat
Whilst nowhere near quick or thirsty for revs as some would comment they actually do have a proper solid feel to them the one thing that immediately took me back to my youth was the smell and taste. Fired up to that familiar xr2 lumpy idle and immediately I felt like I was back in my teens.
I remember these well. They were alright.. Back when I was a 'yoof!', the positives about these were they were relatively cheap to buy, were fairly reliable (simple) and were cheap and easy to repair.. Any garage could fix them. The other huge plus was compared to some of their peers, insurance was affordable.
At the same time cars like Renault 5 Turbo's, Peugeot 205 GTi's etc were much more expensive to buy (low mileage used cars) and insurance for a young lad was way out of budget. Also the Renault used to cause garages to suck their teeth "ooo that'll cost you mister if that breaks!"
The Golf GTi was always seen as a premium car in comparison. You were doing well for yourself if you were a young bloke with a GTi. (Super cool if you had a 16v, though some would argue about torque being better on the 8v... Ooo the impetulance of youth.
)
Personally, I thought the XR2 was a bit of a cheap hound and I rapidly moved on to better cars. It was what it was.. A warm hatch for the masses.. This is just a nostalgia trip.
At the same time cars like Renault 5 Turbo's, Peugeot 205 GTi's etc were much more expensive to buy (low mileage used cars) and insurance for a young lad was way out of budget. Also the Renault used to cause garages to suck their teeth "ooo that'll cost you mister if that breaks!"
The Golf GTi was always seen as a premium car in comparison. You were doing well for yourself if you were a young bloke with a GTi. (Super cool if you had a 16v, though some would argue about torque being better on the 8v... Ooo the impetulance of youth.
)Personally, I thought the XR2 was a bit of a cheap hound and I rapidly moved on to better cars. It was what it was.. A warm hatch for the masses.. This is just a nostalgia trip.
jason61c said:
Thirst for revs? How many times has PH used that line, the op must have never driven one as the engines were quite Rubbish up top.
The CVH engine was a horrible thing.
Saying that, this will probably get locked away and never driven so it doesnt really matter that the engine is a turd
Totally missing the point saying they werent very good, it didnt matter as it was the eighties and most cars were, objectively, crap.
It did the job, looked funky and was more fun than a 1.1 Pop Plus, every young lad wanted an XR2, or well a lot did, they were everywhere.
I worked at an independent car sales place and the boss would go to ADT and buy as many as he could lay his hands on, mainly XR2's, some XR3i's and the odd Orion Ghia injection, they were generally ex rental/fleet and just needed a quick check over, a valet and then stuck on the forecourt, remember him selling five of them one weekend, taking a few hundred quid out of each, then binning the lot on the horses usually but thats another story.
I remember numerous times being driven to the auction to bring them back, I had a great time, they were quick enough and a bit of a go cart, they made a sort of fruity noise, the seats held you in and they were fun.
I always liked driving them back then, would love to try one again, I am sure it would seem slow, old and rattly but I suspect I would love it just as much, wouldnt buy one but it needs to be looked at more as a cultural icon of the time rather than whether a CVH was horrible, look at what else young lads could get for the money, a Golf GTI couldnt be insured and cost twice as much, anything turbo was a stretch too far.
Imagine how much MK7 ST's will be worth in thirty years if these are getting pricey, as they are actually good !
It did the job, looked funky and was more fun than a 1.1 Pop Plus, every young lad wanted an XR2, or well a lot did, they were everywhere.
I worked at an independent car sales place and the boss would go to ADT and buy as many as he could lay his hands on, mainly XR2's, some XR3i's and the odd Orion Ghia injection, they were generally ex rental/fleet and just needed a quick check over, a valet and then stuck on the forecourt, remember him selling five of them one weekend, taking a few hundred quid out of each, then binning the lot on the horses usually but thats another story.
I remember numerous times being driven to the auction to bring them back, I had a great time, they were quick enough and a bit of a go cart, they made a sort of fruity noise, the seats held you in and they were fun.
I always liked driving them back then, would love to try one again, I am sure it would seem slow, old and rattly but I suspect I would love it just as much, wouldnt buy one but it needs to be looked at more as a cultural icon of the time rather than whether a CVH was horrible, look at what else young lads could get for the money, a Golf GTI couldnt be insured and cost twice as much, anything turbo was a stretch too far.
Imagine how much MK7 ST's will be worth in thirty years if these are getting pricey, as they are actually good !
J4CKO said:
Totally missing the point saying they werent very good, it didnt matter as it was the eighties and most cars were, objectively, crap.
This...Yep it is a steaming pile compared to -any- modern motor, but compared to the old BL rubbish I was driving at the time ( a ten-year-old Maxi!), it was deeply amazing
would I buy it now? No way, but I can understand exactly why someone would pay the asking price for it
F654 LPH
Black
Pepperpots
50K
FSH
My first car. (Though I'll admit I really wanted a Mk1 Red XR2, but even back in the mid 90s most of those were heaps!)
Really quite rusty underneath
First job I ever did on any car was to replace the cambelt on it with an uprated one
Got written off when someone pulled out in front of me from a Petrol Station. I had to emergency stop to avoid it. Car behind me didn't manage to stop
Probably not high on my list of cars to put in my Euromillions win garage, but it would be nice to have a go in a decent one for the memories
Black
Pepperpots
50K
FSH
My first car. (Though I'll admit I really wanted a Mk1 Red XR2, but even back in the mid 90s most of those were heaps!)
Really quite rusty underneath
First job I ever did on any car was to replace the cambelt on it with an uprated one
Got written off when someone pulled out in front of me from a Petrol Station. I had to emergency stop to avoid it. Car behind me didn't manage to stop
Probably not high on my list of cars to put in my Euromillions win garage, but it would be nice to have a go in a decent one for the memories
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