Please talk to me about XR3i's.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I have to admit the last of the Mk4 RS Turbos are a lovely looking thing in the right colour.

Nice seats too. The optional Teves ABS system was a pile of wank though.

I'd forgotten about the comedy half ABS ! Missus had an E plate Orion Ghia injection with it, all it did was make the brakes feel lumpy,still had drums on the back if I remember correctly.

[Leyland Lawrence]

And then, there is this.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-K-ROVER-214i-16v-MK1-CABRIOLET-CONVERTIBLE-VERY-RARE-ONLY-39-IN-UK-/201043588948

 

Bye, bye, Escort!

 

 

Oopsy, the temp gauge just went into the red...

I had forgotten these, I remember sitting in one in 1999. Really nice beige leather interior etc. These seemed pretty decent?

[scruff]

A friend of ours has one of those Rovers, blessed with the rather unfortunate registration of P*** EDO... he only noticed when he got it home.

[fordperv]

The optional abs was horrid, bloody belt driven from the driveshafts ffs, the Mrs rs turbo had this so I ripped it off and made up some new solid pipes to hide the evidence of it ever existing.

 

Oh and don't be alarmed by a g reg with a 90 spec front bumper and 88 spec spoiler a few slipped out of Ford like this on the change over between 88 spec and 90 spec

[J-T]

My dad had a an '83 Y plate XR3i in sunburst red with some optional 80s tastic side decals that I've never seen on another (must have been a dealer option), around 1989/90. He ended up having the CVH lump ported and a high-lift cam fitted because his mate had a corolla twincam which he assumed would be crap, until it wiped the floor with his scrote. After that he said it went really well, but couldn't stop and needed the suspension sorting. So he bought a corolla twincam instead.

 

Although that probably wasn't a good idea as that ended up on it's roof in a field.

 

I've always liked the mk3 XR3i on those cloverleaf wheels, but the mk4 always looks unfinished to me, like it needs the skirts and colour coding of the RS Turbo.

[New POD]

by mk4 xr3 I, do you mean mk3 post face lift series 2 ? from D Reg to G reg, or are you saying that piece of shite they did from H reg had an XR3i and a mexico is the line up ?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The Mark 4 came out on the C plate. Early ones were terrible for rust as were most D platers. You avoided these but the late D's had the full plastic arch liners that meant the huge improvement in rot resistance. I got given an ivory D reg Escort Plopular in 1993, 7 years old and absolutely ratfucked beyond any sort of repair - the inner and outer wings were actually parting company from the bulkhead.

[Vince70]

The late mk3 was also terrible for rust..

 

A friend of mine had a black C plate and it rotted in the most unusual places with massive rust scabs in the middle of the doors and wings.

 

The weird thing is I had a W plate XR3 at the same time in White and mine didn't have a spot anywhere and was also better screwed together, So I guess quality control went out of the window as ford tried to keep up with demand.

 

It seemed that Ford got their act together again on the later MKIV s as the really bad ones seem to be between 1985 to 87.

 

The only body work issue I had with mine was a snapped boot hinge from carrying the weight of that lovely black spoiler which was bolted on the back but it did come in useful as a tea tray when working or cleaning the car etc.

 

The most unusual XR3 colour made by Ford was prairie Yellow which must be a real rarity as I don't remember ever seeing one and believe it was only made briefly.

 

It's surely got to be the holy grail of XR3 Ownership.

[Pete-M]

by mk4 xr3 I, do you mean mk3 post face lift series 2 ? from D Reg to G reg, or are you saying that piece of shite they did from H reg had an XR3i and a mexico is the line up ?

Mk1 = 68-75

Mk2 = 75-80

Mk3 = 80-86 RS Turbo is "Series 1"

Mk4 = 86-90 RS Turbo is "Series 2"*

Mk5 = 90-93

Mk6 = 93-96

Mk7 = 96-01

 

That's how I've always known them, although it's rare to hear of the Mk7 referred to as such. It's normally "the last of them, the one with all the oval bits"

 

*RS Turbo facelift for 1990 is 90 spec.

[fordperv]

Oooh prairie yellow also available on the mk3 ghia, only for a small window of time as well

[fordnut]

Mk1 = 68-75

Mk2 = 75-80

Mk3 = 80-86 RS Turbo is "Series 1"

Mk4 = 86-90 RS Turbo is "Series 2"*

Mk5 = 90-93

Mk6 = 93-96

Mk7 = 96-01

 

That's how I've always known them, although it's rare to hear of the Mk7 referred to as such. It's normally "the last of them, the one with all the oval bits"

 

*RS Turbo facelift for 1990 is 90 spec.

 

 

MK5a 08/90-08/92

MK5b 08/92-01/95

 

MK6 01/95 onwards

[jonny69]

As a long term old Ford owner I think my advice is to get over the fact that it's not fast by today's standards and accept and enjoy it for what it is; which is a nostalgic/retro/classic Ford. Back in the late 90's when I had hot crossflows in my 107E and Anglia, either of those cars would leave practically anything standing, including Porsches of the day. The fact is, despite cars getting heavier, torque and power to weight ratios of ALL cars have increased significantly since then and today my same old Fords can't take on even a bone stock 1.6 Focus, let alone TDI Audis and the like.

 

Handling is the same. They all have their foibles and shortcomings and wear little tyres. This is why you used to see so many of them parked on roundabouts, down ditches and in people's hedges. You don't get that so much these days because cars handle better and the car's systems bail a lot of people out.

 

You just have to accept that you aren't king of the road any more. EVERYONE still wants to have a go with you at the lights, but don't take the bait, just drive in your own little world and ignore everyone else. You'll like it without ABS, no power steering, stability control or power assist. It's a great place to be!

[Bren]

An ex work colleague had a prairie yellow xr3. - I think the reg was NOH810X.

 

He bought in 1990 and even then it was full of isopon - probably long gone by now.

[face]

I remember back in the early/mid 90s all hot-hatches being extremely expensive, no matter how manky.

 

It wasn't until they increased the insurance groups to 20 that the prices dropped. In about 94, my mate managed to obtain a rough (but ready) 85/C 205GTi for a bit over £2K and it took him ages to find one that cheap.

 

I could be miles out on the years, but, well, whatever.

 

XR/SR/GTi/GTe FTW.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

When talking about the quality changing on different years, it must be borne in mind most if not all XR3s and RS Turbos will have been rung at least once. In about 97 I bought a nice black 3i that was registered A173 WVV, I was pretty sure from the trim etc it was probably a C plate,but it was solid and had a floor number, so was legit enough. It stayed in the family for a few years until my youngest brother crashed and sold it. Some months later I saw it had become an RS1600i complete with opening quarters and immaculate bodywork. This was blatantly taking the piss ,so I reported it- Dibble's response? 'We looked at it and it's just been done up' Muppets!

 

Edited to add; just done a dvla check due to be taxed in March 96, must have been 93 I bought it- doesn't time fly etc

[andy18s]

The late mk3 was also terrible for rust..

 

A friend of mine had a black C plate and it rotted in the most unusual places with massive rust scabs in the middle of the doors and wings.

 

The weird thing is I had a W plate XR3 at the same time in White and mine didn't have a spot anywhere and was also better screwed together, So I guess quality control went out of the window as ford tried to keep up with demand.

 

It seemed that Ford got their act together again on the later MKIV s as the really bad ones seem to be between 1985 to 87.

 

The only body work issue I had with mine was a snapped boot hinge from carrying the weight of that lovely black spoiler which was bolted on the back but it did come in useful as a tea tray when working or cleaning the car etc.

 

The most unusual XR3 colour made by Ford was prairie Yellow which must be a real rarity as I don't remember ever seeing one and believe it was only made briefly.

 

It's surely got to be the holy grail of XR3 Ownership.

image.jpg

 

Chap on RR was trying to sell 1 of these before Xmas last year for around £250

Granted it was basically a rolling shell,but it had it's genuine ID

Couldn't give it away in the end,shame really

[New POD]

The Mark 4 came out on the C plate. Early ones were terrible for rust as were most D platers. You avoided these but the late D's had the full plastic arch liners that meant the huge improvement in rot resistance. I got given an ivory D reg Escort Plopular in 1993, 7 years old and absolutely ratfucked beyond any sort of repair - the inner and outer wings were actually parting company from the bulkhead.

 

When the SERIES 2 MK3 came out on C plate, it was called the MK3 Series 2.

 

The MK4 came out at H/J reg, and somewhere in the last 24 years somebody managed to get it all bloody confused.

 

Try this link

 

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8

 

and then compare it to this

 

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8#q=series+1+rs+turbo&tbm=isch

 

Mind you wikepedia was clearly written by a twunt

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(Europe)

[New POD]

Mk1 = 68-75

Mk2 = 75-80

Mk3 = 80-86 RS Turbo is "Series 1"

Mk4 = 86-90 RS Turbo is "Series 2"*

Mk5 = 90-93

Mk6 = 93-96

Mk7 = 96-01

 

That's how I've always known them, although it's rare to hear of the Mk7 referred to as such. It's normally "the last of them, the one with all the oval bits"

 

*RS Turbo facelift for 1990 is 90 spec.

 

Thank you. You've saved my mental illness from further downward spiral into bibble mode.

 

I had a W reg 1.6 GL 5 door in Bronze, cost me 1400 quid in 1989, and sold in 1991 for £900 to buy a Metro Turdo

 

and 10 years later in 1999 I bought a VERY battered D reg Xr3i with Mechanical Fuel Injection.  It was our family car for a couple of years until I was given a mk3 cavalier.  Should have sold the AX 1.4D my wife had.

 

When I bought parts for it, it was a Mk3 series 2 that was discussed in the motor factors.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

When the SERIES 2 MK3 came out on C plate, it was called the MK3 Series 2.

 

The MK4 came out at H/J reg, and somewhere in the last 24 years somebody managed to get it all bloody confused.

 

Try this link

 

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8

 

and then compare it to this

 

https://www.google.com/seasite=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8#q=series+1+rs+turbo&tbm=isch

 

Mind you wikepedia was clearly written by a twunt

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(Europe)

When the SERIES 2 MK3 came out on C plate, it was called the MK3 Series 2.

 

The MK4 came out at H/J reg, and somewhere in the last 24 years somebody managed to get it all bloody confused.

 

Try this link

 

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8

 

and then compare it to this

 

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1304&bih=712&q=series+2+rs+turbo&oq=series+2+rs+&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24.1187.4369.0.7049.12.10.0.2.2.0.304.1409.2j7j0j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.39.img..2.10.1194.8qKGoztH_c8#q=series+1+rs+turbo&tbm=isch

 

Mind you wikepedia was clearly written by a twunt

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(Europe)

 

 

Yes,but in real life they were mk4's straight from launch , in much the same way the Cortina 80 was only ever called that by Ford ,everyone else knew it as the Mk5.

[Pillock]

Ringed, Expensive ones = 68-75

Expensive ones = 75-80

Nice ones = 80-86

Knackered RS Turbo replicas = 86-90

Rusty ones = 90-00

Actually quite well built ones = 00-01

[AnthonyG]

I remember a prairie yellow one parked up on a drive in Ealing, must have been about 2001/2. It looked in very good nick but never went anywhere. I remember thinking it was a very rare car, even a decade ago. Would be interesting to know if it survived.

 

As for Mk3 Escorts, I'd be quite partial to an early Ghia, I thought it was a sharp looking car at the time. A 3dr would be nice but they all seemed to be 5drs.

[AnthonyG]

Just remembered the ad for the Mk4's (late 85?). A mark 3 sat in a drive, suddenly all the '3' bits such as headlamps and bumpers flew off and then '4' bits magically attached themselves. Maybe someone at the ad agency had watched 'Christine' which had that 57 Plymouth restore itself.

 

Car ads done for the UK market only, Takes me back!!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

There's a mint Sunburst red 1.3 Ghia 5 door on an X plate near me.

I used to buy and sell Mark 3 and 4 (sorry, 1986 model year facelift Mark 3 Phase 2 LCi) Scorts and the 1.3L was the most impressive for what it was. I had an 1100 CVH one in Terracotta as well as a midnight blue base model 1300 5 door on a W plate.