Anyone remember these?

[Owain-328i]

The mk2 XR2 is a good handling car, very chuckable, ive liked everyone ive ever driven, even tired ones drive well.

 

And they werent shite at speed on an open road at speed either, great fun down an A road for a blast, and pretty good on a motorway at cruising speed aswell.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The early ones were best though - after about 1986 Ford fitted some weird twin choke cab with a vacuum operated second choke like something from the awful Emax.

[CreepingJesus]

I was never a boy racer though so maybe it suited my driving style more.

 

XRs weren't intended for boy racers - they were utterly shite at speed on an open road - so no wonder you liked em. Just looked fast. Profits must have been amazin.

 

can't agree with that either,who were they aimed at btw?

 

Richard's assessment's about right. They were leased/bought as company cars for young trendy types, and as second cars for those with the cash/credit to suit. The target market wasn't entirely clear, at the time; it was more that they weren't a full-on RS type of car.

I'll disagree about them being 'utterly shite' at speed: they could be a handful at the limit, but it just needed a smoother driving style. About the only thing the 1.6 CVH had going for it, was a strong-ish mid range. Drive it off the torque, and don't plant your foot too early thro' a corner, and they could be persuaded to get around bloody quickly!

The 1.4S was a bit softer, and less 'snatchy' on the throttle, so in many ways, easier to get the best out of.

[retrogeezer]

I was never a boy racer though so maybe it suited my driving style more.

 

XRs weren't intended for boy racers - they were utterly shite at speed on an open road - so no wonder you liked em. Just looked fast. Profits must have been amazin.

 

Total bollox...

 

I meant I didn't drive it like a boy racer, i.e throwing around corners and traffic light grand prixs. Shite at speed on an open road?? Cruising at 75 on the motorway was effortless and quiet.

 

Aimed at estate agents?? where did you live?? A 1.3 L is what you would have got in Hampshire! I was a 22 year old car sprayer at the time by the way so hardly a mid life crisis either! (I did colour code the arch kit in an RS Turbo stylee tho!)

 

[Pete-M]

I liked the Mk1 XR2. They were fun to drive.

 

The Mk2 underwhelmed somewhat. More grown up but less enjoyable. 5th gear was a major bonus though.

 

Everyone and their dog near me had a Mk2 XR2 when they came out, there used to be four or five in my road including an early B plate one.

 

Compared to modern stuff a Mk2 XR2 is a laugh to drive and not that slow unless you got a late one. They're ok down a twisty lane. Kinda chunky if they're in good nick. Abysmal if not right though, a slightly shabby Mk2 XR2 is a miserable thing if ever there was one.

[fordperv]

The mrs had a completely standard 950cc mk2 a couple of years back i loved that little car with its poverty spec and 47bhp, a mate has not long sold a 2.0 zetec powered xr2 which made 196bhp on the rolling road that was a fun car, the best thing was it was a black car with a red bonnet so people underestimated it lol

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I liked the Mk1 XR2. They were fun to drive.

 

The Mk2 underwhelmed somewhat. More grown up but less enjoyable. 5th gear was a major bonus though.

 

Everyone and their dog near me had a Mk2 XR2 when they came out, there used to be four or five in my road including an early B plate one.

 

Compared to modern stuff a Mk2 XR2 is a laugh to drive and not that slow unless you got a late one. They're ok down a twisty lane. Kinda chunky if they're in good nick. Abysmal if not right though, a slightly shabby Mk2 XR2 is a miserable thing if ever there was one.

 

Not as miserable as the CVH XR2i though. A mate had a G plate oneas a company car and let me have a go in it. It was fucking useless, wouldn't pull your foreskin back in a straight line and has weird undergeared steering and understeer. The later 1.8 Zetec and RS1800 were quite good though, but the 205GTi had that market sewn up really.

[In The Pit]

Anyone who fancies a 1.4S MKII there is one on ebay right now http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK2-Ford-Fiesta-1 ... 3364901795