Love the nippy Fords, up to around mid 90s.
AHF, youve made it clear before you know feck all about the workings of motors
- but cars of this age are going to need work - not only because of their age, but the older tech has shorter service scheduling too. A lot of parts are a little harder to source now, especially trim parts etc, so if you are going to get one, get on the owners forums - great network of guys who can source bits, recommend decent mechanics/tuners - hell some will even come round and help you out with the basic jobs for petrol money and a few cups of tea
I had a Mk IV XR3i, first of the electronic fuel injection but still essentially the Mk3 shell and look (with a facelift) - imo its the perfect compromise. Not ancient mechanical old tech injection, very reliable, driveable, and a piece of piss to work on. XR2s never came with EFI, so you are limited there although you could go to the boxier Mk3 Fiesta which came in injected XR2i guise; the exact same underbonnet config as the age of XR3i I had.
Loved the car, I'd still have it just now if money hadn't been so tight, and I hadn't done that whole "OMFG I'm going to be a dad, I simply MUST have 4+ doors now because thats what all superdads do" thing
I loved it just for what it was, simple, reliable, reasonably economical, and a (slight) bit of nip to it - but be under no illusion, these aren't fast cars. Don't let fond recollection get to you. They are clunky over our shit roads, tinny, unrefined, and yeah, slow. Most standard boggo hatch nowadays will rape them on any road, any condition. On paper, tbh, they are shit!
But if you love em', you love em', its the character of em, the honesty and simplicity.
@
Weeman had a Fiesta RS Turbo, basically the Mk3 Fiesta with the same EFI engine, but with a turbo strapped to it. I practically rebuilt the thing on the street for him, it was like building something out of lego it was so piss easy!
Ditto my Escort, bullet proof reliable, but as Ron says, stem seals went - well - they didn't fail - they just popped off the valve stem guide, so the engine got smokey. Easy fix, don't even need to take the engine apart!! New set of seals, job done.
If there is one enemy, its simply rust.
You don't do things by halfs tho mate, and I know you would be prepared to pay more coin for a better example - again, get on the enthusiast clubs forums, get talking, get to know folk. Be prepared for more snobbery, insecurity and arrogance than in bodybuilding tho
The XROC would be a great start -
XROC - Home
Or maybe you could be tempted to go the RS Turbo route, still not ballistic in standard trim, but a good deal warmer than the XR series... could go Cosworth route, now you are talking
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The Ford RS Owners Club
