I am 27. Grew up in England. Went to school in France. Ride BMX, run 3 cars, enjoy history & video g...
I am 27. Grew up in England. Went to school in France. Ride BMX, run 3 cars, enjoy history & video games. Collect toys and rant and rave at everything which I don't like! Free & single.
I love cars. But I don't spend hours polishing them with a tooth brush. I have had the chance to drive quite a few buzz boxes and all are very good. Thing is when it comes to making a choice, I will always pick up the keys for the XR2.
Ok, so I spent a few quid on new parts. But if I compare the price of a new car to the amount I spent on this pocket rocket then the XR2 then it's worth every penny.
What do you get? Well a second had dog normally. Most have been thrashed to an inch of their life. Oil leaks, worn bushes, warped brake disks, shot suspension, broken plastics, huge dust-bin lid size holes in the door panels for those massive speakers. Missing spot lights, radio cables cuts and repaired by electricians tape and a wet floor.
This is all very minor apart from the wet floor. Most parts can be picked up either on ebay or at a scrappy. Local ads, and the specialist shops all cater for you XR. Parts are plenty so shopping around all becomes part of the fun. The wet floor however is due to the dreaded tin worm. RUST. This I am afraid will need a specialist to repair (unless you just happen to have a welding set in your garage). Out with the old and in with the new.
I enjoyed getting the parts for the old girl and got her looking just like new and added a few modifications such as lowered springs -25mm (no lower) and performance parts such as a race spec cam shaft and air filter.
Petrol is an issue but this is an old car and you can't expect it to out perform modern day motors. The biggest cost is the price of tires. This odd size 185/60/13 doesn't really give you a huge choice but Michelin & Pirelli both offer a good set. Those Koreans also offer cheaper rubbers but not sure about quality. (Falken are worth a look at)!!
When all the work was done, I had a very reliable car. I haven't put a spanner on it for 8 years. Regular oil change as you would with any car, same goes for that cam belt! The XR2 is quick, stable, turns in well. Good comfortable ride on motorways and B - roads. Easy to park. Huge boot space. I carry all sorts of odd things in my car. Ikea boxes fit, as do motorbikes, my BMX, or 4 friends. Its also great for moving house with, just pile them boxes in.
The front passenger has plenty of leg and head room as do those on the rear seat. However, after a 4 hour journey sat in the back the passengers have had enough! Every instrument is easy and functional. All switches and knobs at reach with no frills but very functional. No GPS in here but you do get a vanity mirror and LCD clock. You don't need anything else if you are concentrating on the road.
For a run about the XR2 is fun, quick and reliable. I understand that it still has a boy racer image but that was 20 years ago. I tend to think the SAXO boys have taken over the scene.
There are hundreds of aftermarket parts for this car and most major motor manufacturers cater for these Fords. Join motor clubs around the UK, Europe or the USA. Take it to a RWYB days. Fiesta in the park. Road rally it. Auto-x it. Hill climb in it. Make it into a 180hp turbo if you want. Fit an XR2i engine. Some even went down the V6 road. A monthly Classic Ford magazine can be picked up a you local newsagent giving you tips on how to look after you classic road rocket.
Everything is out there all you need to is get one!
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Advantages: Better torque, more flexible & reliable engine (Zetec as opposed to CVH), higher re-sale value, many improvements Disadvantages: Still not quite in the league it should be, overshadowed by very similar RS1800 due to its more tuned engine
xr2i16v 26.12.2000 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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