Ford Escort XR3i | Spotted
Hardly the best fast Ford to drive, but if you're of a certain age still an iconic one...
I’ll level with you. I don’t think that the Ford XR3i is that great a car. Not dynamically speaking. It’s certainly not the best-handling Ford there’s ever been, and not even the best-handling Escort for that matter. Not when the Escort’s back catalogue is full of gems such as the Mexico and RS1800.
Then there are Ford's engines. The BDA unit, with its Cosworth-developed, 16-valve heads that sat at the heart of the RS1800 and RS1600, was a gem. And stretching back even further, so was the Lotus twin cam that Ford slipped into the Mk1 Escort Twin Cam. Compared with those, the old 1,600 CVH unit in the XR3i didn’t really cut it. CVH stood for Compound Valve angle, Hemispherical head, and the high-swirl combustion design was apparently influenced by Honda’s CVCC high-swirl engine. In Ford's case, the hemispherical combustion chamber was delivered by angling the valves at 45 degrees with a 7-degree offset that allowed the use of a single camshaft. More swirl effect would ensure a cleaner burn, lower emissions and more power. That was the theory.
But it was a rubbish motor compared with GM's Family II engines. I can remember racing a few XR3i’s off the lights (back when I were an exuberant lad, you understand) in my knackered-out old Mk1 Astra 1300 S. Talk about showing something a clean pair of heels. It was no sweat getting ahead, much to the chagrin of those Ford boys, who were no doubt paying a fortune for their insurance for the privilege of driving such a sought-after and highly nickable machine. It was also a coarse engine. So coarse that some said that CHV actually stood for 'Considerable Harshness and Vibration'. Additionally, it prone to cam wear and leaky valve guide oil seals if I recall correctly, although mainly if servicing was neglected and the oil turned sludge.
Back to its lacklustre performance: it was responsible for one of my most disappointing moments as a child when I got to experience its lack of go first-hand. This was when I was about 12, and my mate’s mum gave me a lift home from school in her Mk3 XR3i. Boy, was I excited. It was the first ‘performance’ car I’d ever been in, and I couldn't wait to experience its speed. In my head it was going to be so fast – perhaps just shy of land speed record fast. But it wasn’t. Even then, without anything much to compare it with and full of the enthusiasm (naivety) of youth, I remember the disappointment was palpable. As we both encouraged her to “Give it some” the acceleration was no better then 'meh'.
Right, well that’s a litany of negativity about how disappointing the XR3i is, which might have you wondering why the hell I am writing about it. Here’s why: despite the faults, I just love ‘em. Whether it’s the Mk3 or a Mk4 like this one, a warm feeling comes over me every time I clap my eyes on an XR3i. Especially this one, actually, because the guy that worked on our farm when I was growing up had one just like it. I thought it just looked the dogs nuts and would stand looking at it day after day.
Is it just me that thinks this? There is something really lovely about the basic shape of the Mk3 Escort, isn't there? It’s just pretty. Compared with Sierras, which can look a little gawky on the rare occasions you see them out about these days, I think these Escorts have aged very well. And the Mk4 came along and toned down the angularity of the Mk3 perfectly, without ruining the basic shape. This is the peak, too. The facelift that came in 1989 added a wee bit more fussiness to it in my mind – the extended cooling vent at the bottom of the front bumper and the multi-spoke alloys never quite did it for me. This pre-facelift car has a wonderful purity to it.
I drove Ford’s black heritage car a few years ago. Sure enough, it wasn’t a great thing to drive. That said – and maybe this is because I’d built up its crapness in an equal but opposite measure to the performance potential I expected of my mate’s mum’s car – it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought. So if you fancy one now don’t expect any fireworks. But if it’s simply about reliving some part of your youth, then there's certainly pleasure to be had tootling about in one.
And if that's what you're after, I don’t think you could do much better than this one. 64,000 miles, plenty of optional extras – like those pretty five-spokes instead of plastic trims, spot lamps and a sunroof – and the original keys, tax-disc holder, number plates etc. It just oozes that ‘proper car’ feel you get that makes some classics stand out. The thing that strikes me is the condition of the seats. How many Fords of this period, even low-milers, end up with saggy velour. Here, that classic XR3i trim looks taut and pristine.
It's a lot of money, true, but everything is these days – just consider the astonishing £650k that some fanatic paid for Princess Di's old RS Turbo. And sure, a Mk2 Golf GTi is better to drive, but while the XR3i is flawed, if you are of a certain age, it remains absolutely fabulous thing. It’s given me that warm glow again, and that's priceless.
Specification | Ford Escort XR3i (Mk4)
Engine: 1,597cc, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 105 @ 6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 101 @ 4,800rpm
CO2: N/A
MPG: N/A
Recorded mileage: 64,000
Year registered: 1988
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £19,995
I had one for about 6 months new in the late 80’s - it was quick for its day, but everyone wanted to race you and cut you up, stop you from coming out of junctions etc etc. it was a PITA to have tbh and the Company swapped it for a 2.0 Granada Scorpio which was very different!
There is no escaping the fact that they were dynamically mediocre (and that’s perhaps being generous) and in most areas behind it’s opposition in period, not so much when the MK3 was released in 83, but certainly by the end of the 80’s when the MK4 was up against some far superior rivals.
However, throughout the 80’s these cars were hot property, and I’d suggest culturally significant to people who were growing up at that time.
The spoiler and front bumper would indicate an earlier car but the XR3i stickers are from a later one. There was a slight face lift in the autumn after 'F' reg came out.
How sad I can remember things like that instantly but can't remember what I did last week.
Either the Escorts were knackered or that 1.3 Astra was really a GTE!
Or maybe it was one of those TLGPs where the other driver didn’t realise he was in a “race”
They were heavier than the original Mk3 Escort Xr3i and the rest of the class was far ahead dynamically….. but they weren’t Mk1 Astra 1.3 slow in standard format
The spoiler and front bumper would indicate an earlier car but the XR3i stickers are from a later one. There was a slight face lift in the autumn after 'F' reg came out.
How sad I can remember things like that instantly but can't remember what I did last week.
It then moved to the EFI engine, got different rocker panel/sill design, revised front bumper and rear spoiler and the optional alloys became 14” lattice design rather than the earlier 14” dogleg design.
There were a few more changes, but they are the most costly ally obvious.
Regardless though, you don't buy one now for how good it was, just what it means to you. Personally, I'd not have one over an RS Turbo, but it's still a great looking thing. The sporty MK3/4 Escorts always looked great I thought.
Was pretty much exactly as the one featured, but something in my head said it had black (unpainted) bumpers and wing mirrors? Could a beard clarify if that was possible.
E97 GRD where are you now?
te. Rolled like a boat and so I kept hitting my crash helmet on the roll cage. Horrible thing.The CVH was perfectly fine, as was the Mk3 and 4 platform for a front wheel drive hatch.
The Mk2 golf gti 16v I had (and it was a very nice example) wasn’t as fun as the RS Turbo I had. Posher maybe, but not as good to drive.
The biggest problem with the Mk3 and 4 escorts were simply not being rear wheel drive and available with a twin cam which upset the old rally crowd.
The same guff continues today.
Was pretty much exactly as the one featured, but something in my head said it had black (unpainted) bumpers and wing mirrors? Could a beard clarify if that was possible.
E97 GRD where are you now?
Was pretty much exactly as the one featured, but something in my head said it had black (unpainted) bumpers and wing mirrors? Could a beard clarify if that was possible.
E97 GRD where are you now?
The CVH was perfectly fine, as was the Mk3 and 4 platform for a front wheel drive hatch.
The Mk2 golf gti 16v I had (and it was a very nice example) wasn’t as fun as the RS Turbo I had. Posher maybe, but not as good to drive.
The biggest problem with the Mk3 and 4 escorts were simply not being rear wheel drive and available with a twin cam which upset the old rally crowd.
The same guff continues today.
I think the only one that really jumped out at me as being bad was a friend's 1990 1.3 Encore, which was one of the first of the MK5s, with the worst engine and no PAS. I don't think they even had an anti-roll bar.
Strangely enough, I remember a friend had a MK3 Astra (I think it was a 1.6) and I can't really understand why anyone would think it was particularly better than anything Ford offered at the time. Another friend had a J-reg MK2 Golf Ryder with the 1.3 engine and four-speed 'box, which felt every bit as awful as the 1.3 Escort I mentioned above.
Like with Vauxhalls, a lot of people seem to generalise Fords as being crap. The reality is that they made some good stuff and some bad stuff, just like every other manufacturer.
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