Ford Sierra XR4x4

[aaron_2000]

Just wondering what they're like to own/drive? Found one that wants a little work, quite like to do the work and clean it up, then replace my ST170 in it towards summer. Love to hear from someone who's maybe owned one?

This is it:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Sierra-XR4x4-2-9-M...

[markiii]

Badging not withstanding weren't they all 3 door?

[soad]

markiii said:

Badging not withstanding weren't they all 3 door?

You're thinking of XR4i?!

[aaron_2000]

markiii said:

Badging not withstanding weren't they all 3 door?

The XR4i was 3 door only, the XR4x4 was 5 door only.

[MuscleSaloon]

All 5 door

[MuscleSaloon]

They were ok back in the day but not sure now ! The V6 is a bit of a boat anchor and has the extra weight and complexity of the 4x4 to haul along. Cosworth ?

[Limpet]

Not that quick, very thirsty, but surprisingly good fun to drive. Rear biased 4wd system (34/66 F/R) gave it a lovely balance, from memory.

I suspect it would all feel a bit flat, dated and agricultural by today's standards though.

[loskie]

made very strong rally cars. I would imagine prices starting to appreciate too so a potential usable investment.

Edited by loskie on Thursday 21st December 08:29

[Patch1875]

I’ve had 3 back in the day loved them.

Not sure what they would be like now pretty awful I would imagine! And those late ones don’t look as good as the earlier ones.

[Ursicles]

I loved the stupid spoiler on the XR4i....

Not thought about that car in ages - time to hit autotrader

[cerb4.5lee]

I've had a couple and I had one for 9 months(sold to buy a house), and then I purchased another and had it for 5.5 years(until some Muppet wrote it off).

I absolutely love them but maybe strong rose tints on because I had my first one 24 years ago, and my second one went back in 2001, I still have a huge soft spot for them and I'd still have another one for sure.

[Sir Bagalot]

£2,500

Doesn't it have the wrong wheels?

Wasn't it the XR4X4 that a certain police force ordered and in their first week of operation wrote two off and badly damaged a third? They demanded that Ford replace them FOC due to the brake fade that lead to the accidents until Ford pointed out that the force involved specifically ordered them without alloys to cut costs despite being told the alloys helped cool the brakes.....

Also seem to remember that Ford had a 2.9 Ghia 4x4. Now that I would have. But only if sub £300

[cerb4.5lee]

Couple of old photos.

[daemon]

Limpet said:

Not that quick, very thirsty, but surprisingly good fun to drive. Rear biased 4wd system (34/66 F/R) gave it a lovely balance, from memory.

I suspect it would all feel a bit flat, dated and agricultural by today's standards though.

I drove one recently that a friend of mine had restored. Exactly as you say and - it felt very (engine) heavy, not terribly quick and boaty.

If you "really must" own one for nostalgia reasons or otherwise, then fine, however i wouldnt otherwise bother

[MorganP104]

Limpet said:

Not that quick, very thirsty, but surprisingly good fun to drive. Rear biased 4wd system (34/66 F/R) gave it a lovely balance, from memory.

I suspect it would all feel a bit flat, dated and agricultural by today's standards though.

Having owned a Sierra XR4X4, back in the day, I reckon this is about right.

If you're looking for retro old-school thrills, it will be a hoot. If you're looking for a performance saloon to replace your Focus ST170, you're going to be a bit disappointed.

This may well be one of those "don't meet your heroes" situations.

[aaron_2000]

Interesting to know. I think I'll wait towards summer and see if I have the money for a Saff Cossie by then. If I was to own an XR4x4 I'd be looking to mildly upgrade it anyway. Thanks for the advice

[JamesRR]

You could save money by buying a normal, non sporting model Sierra and then modify it, you could go as far as throwing a YB into it, big turbo etc. That’s quite a popular thing to do over here in NI, where Sierras have a big following.

[steve-5snwi]

It has the correct wheels, the mk1 was a 2.8, the mk2 went 2.9 and i believe there was a 2.0 version too, not classed as XR but just as a 4x4. Thats not priced too bad compared to some of the other sierras.

[cerb4.5lee]

The seller does get hold of a few old Fast Ford's, and I took a Mk5 RS2000 out that he had in a few years ago, I used to have one and I fancied another for nostalgic reasons! It drove nice and brought many memories back for me, but it needed a little more work doing to it than I really wanted. A nice chap to deal with though.

[TheAngryDog]

steve-5snwi said:

It has the correct wheels, the mk1 was a 2.8, the mk2 went 2.9 and i believe there was a 2.0 version too, not classed as XR but just as a 4x4. Thats not priced too bad compared to some of the other sierras.

Nearly right.

The MK2 facelift 2.0 was also badged as an xr4x4. Ford also revived the xr4i moniker which looked like the xr4x4 but had a 2.0 twin cam engine and rwd.

This one in the op looks identical to my old one. I put a cossie interior, mongoose exhaust, koni suspension, rs skirts and 15" shark tooth alloys on it. Smokestone blue is the colour.

Also the cologne engine in this car doesn't have the maf sensors of the earlier 2.9 and comes with hydraulic tappets and lambda sensors in the down pipes.

I agree that the pre facelift xr4x4s looked nicer.

My dad had a gls 4x4 which had the 2.9 engine in it. Was as quick as an xr4x4 but looked like a boggo Sierra. Was quite amusing back in 1995!