MK4 Escort XR3i - one of the coolest 80s classic cars?
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
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Ford Escort history
When Ford devised the Escort, little did they know they’d create a world famous car with such a familiar level of recall that even the most switched off person can tell you what an Escort looks like.
So with that, today, we’re not just dealing with a car but a legacy and a car across all the generations which strikes familiarity and deep emotion in so many of us.
It was an 80s and 90s best seller and just over 4 million Escorts were sold across the six generations, sometimes referred to as five by Ford, and the 33 year life span.
The Ford Escort story began back in the 60s and it was such an exciting car for Ford, because it came in on a tidal wave of change: previously Ford of England and Ford of Germany had worked almost as individuals but the Escort in my mind, is really what married them up so well.
Although the name had been used for a variant of the Ford Anglia 100E, the first generation of Escorts was officially on sale from 1968 - drafted in to replace the Anglia and so blatantly so that the advertising strapline welcoming in the Escort was ‘why we killed the Anglia’.
The Anglia had been popular with Ford’s market, but the Escort saw Ford welcome a new legion of fans; people who had traditionally purchased British cars like Austin, Morris, Wolseley but felt the Escort offered a budget friendly, modern alternative. The Escort hooked them in and swallowed up valuable market share because Ford had got the formula just right.
Now there’s a lot of history to the Escort which deserves a deep dive video for a later date, so we’ll skip through this bit and the racing heritage, the World Cup Rally wins which made the Escort go from cool to REALLY cool and go straight to walking through the generations.
The MK2, second generation, came to market in 74 and sold until 1980 and the third generation, the MK3, ran from 1980 until 1986.
What’s great about the Escort is Ford didn’t rest on the success and especially with the MK3, you see real steps up like it swapping to become Ford’s second front wheel drive model.
And then we get to the MK4 as we’re testing today. You see Ford move with tastes of the time to create a vehicle which still looks attractive now.
The MK4, code named Erika-86 had a softened front end, updated bumpers with wraparound styling, the rear lights changed and there was a whole range of options to pick from on engines and on trim level - which were roughly the same as the MK3, except now you got a new 1.3 litre OHV and 1.4 litre lean burn CVH. You’ll also notice we’ve got a revised interior from the mK3 - which just like the exterior - has aged well.
There were a few upgrades mid-flow in 1990, but eventually it was replaced with the MK5 in 1992 which in my opinion, lacks some of the cheeky charm of the 80s Escorts.
If you’re wondering how it performs speed and output wise and what engine we’ve got, I’ll tell you that later on before we go for a drive, but first, let’s look at that dash in a bit more detail! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Unusual for the red not to have faded to a sorry pink many years ago.
If it's not gone to pink you might be able to cut and buff it back to life 🤔
That’s because it was in for repair most of the time .
Probably has been respirated!
If your car goes pink get a Rupes buffer and some compound buff the bright red right back up
I've brought a previous car back to red. It didn't last very long before it started fading again.
The reason the dashboard components are so familiar even today is Ford's relationship with Kia, a lot of the dials and switches were still being used in Korean-made cars up to the 2010s
Really pleased to see this Escort. Dad had a "G" reg 1990 black XR3i hatch with the slightly modified EFI engine which ran unleaded without adjustment. You comment on the instruments and controls compared to the Capri. The Escorts were much more of the time where the Capris had evolved from earlier Ford design thinking. Interesting that Ford changed the rear suspension on the later MK5 to a much simpler and cheaper system ( no doubt accountants out voting engineers thinking the Escort always sells well and the customers won't care). The reviews soundly panned the car and Ford then had to spend ages revising the MK5.
The rear suspension was a nightmare in development with early xr3 carb versions munching rear tires with high warranty claims very difficult to get the right alignment in productiom - i was an apprentice later engineer at Ford Dunton in the 80's
I had a blue hardtop in the late 90s, cracking car - until I rolled it after hitting a patch of black ice on the way to work one morning!
My first car was a 5 door mk4 Escort 1989 F reg in radiant red like this. Loved that car! I gave it RS1600i/S1 RS Turbo alloys and RS1600i-style black side stripes. A previous owner had added a black spoiler. I added a Sierra 3 spoke steering wheel and wired a CD walkman into the stereo which was velcroed onto the carpet where the gearstick surround once was. A purist's nightmare, but when you're young ... I can verify that the interior, including the switchgear, was incredibly durable. Almost like industrial-grade plastics. I don't think that anything ever broke, including electrics, despite the poor thing being driven hard and generally abused by a 17 year old and his mates.
Those were the days! I had a black mk4 XR3i hatchback, loved that car.
I've no recollection of this Ford here in Canada, but if in the 80's I was driving a Volvo and may have missed it. Thanks, for the video.
Watched a lot of your vids now and congratulations for constant quality and content great presentation you put the mainstream motoring presenters in the shade… no gimmicks or waffle .. keep it up.
What your driving here is a more typical 80's car which shares nothing in common with the similar age Capri which is nearing the end of production. The lovely Capri dash had done so well considering it was first introduced for the last of the Mk1 models (facelift) during 1973. The XR is a nice example but between the two I would choose the Capri any day.
Another great video Steph. Brings back memories of family members driving Fords in the 80s and 90s.
Those electric windows are clearly aftermarket
Amazing video Steph, we only had the Mk1 and MK2 Escorts available here in Australia
Great video Steph loving the ford thing you got going on had many mk 4 escorts in my time but unfortunately didn’t keep any x
Great video Steph. I always loved the styling of the XR3i hatchback (the Cabrio not so much) but found the driving experience a bit below par compared to other hot hatches of the era such as the Golf GTI, Peugot 205 GTI & Astra GTE and I was fortunate to own all of these.
The RS Turbo and Cosworth were the ultimate hot Escorts. They were all so high targets for theft back then that you needed a second mortgage to insure them. I worked for a vehicle hire company and they were often stolen by joyriders / recovered, minus the wheels, expensive stereos, trim, and even the power units on occasion. I well remember bringing one of our Sierra Saphire 4x4 Cosworth's home to do some extended testing miles after major joyriding damage repairs. I spent half that night awake, watching that no one tried to steal it off my driveway !
Just sold my first car: Kadett 1.8GTE modell D. After 34 years. Only kept the Capri bought in '93. That's all. 😜
Nice video and great driving style and manner.
Enjoyed the review and test drive. Love the colorful vintage outfit. 👗
Oooooh yeah 😍
I've had 3 MK4s in my life but none of them was a cabrio.
The XR3i is one of my AllTimeFavs.
Looks a lot better than North American market Escorts of that era!
So irritating that they never sold THIS in the US… We were stuck with the boring, non-sporty, econobox Escort.
A sporty convertible would have been a huge hit!
Love my d reg escort xr3i. Extensively modified with over 200k on the clock. Drives better than a few of my previous modern daily’s
i had one of these in the 90's and i'd buy another one now
i allways loved the indecator stalks on the mk3 and the orions
That empty space is slotted for your tapes
Grand work as usual Steph. Personally,I never really liked the FWD Escorts,my last 'Scort was a Mk.2 RS2000(yes,I wish I'd still got it).An old work colleague had an XR3i and kept on about how much quicker it was than an RS2000,so I gave him a little demo,did I mention to him that mine had a 140bhp Group 1 Pinto under the bonnet?,oops,I forgot.....
Thank you
My Grandad and dad had a couple of these, just the ordianry Hatchback versions L and Bonus editions. Dad later moved onto Mark 5 and 6 editions, maybe why i bought my Mark 5, which you will hopefully see at Rustival.
Have to agree with you a Ford brings out the sporty side of me, my Escort loves a little hoon, it's nothing special but it's there to be used.
A excellent review as always Steph of a cool 80's Hot Hatch.
Isn't that box below the ashtray for cassettes? If you put a door on it, you'd never get them in and out.
Great vid as usual, Mk V Escort came out in 1990 though and not 92. I was a salesman back in the 90’s and we couldn’t believe how bad the early Mk V Escort was compared to rivals. Why anyone bought one over a Rover R8, Mk III Astra or a Citroen ZX I’ll never know, but sell them I did.
The kicking Ford received from the motoring press inspired them to make amends by creating some of the best front wheel drive cars ever built, the Mk I Mondeo, Focus and the Puma.
The slots are for cassettes, you could get a pop out set in the up market version
Who doesn’t love a topless escort? 👀
The electric windows are aftermarket, looks like the same kit I fitted to my MK6 Escort. Maplin used to sell them, they worked very well.
The Mk4 XR3i were no Golf GTi or Astra GTE but they had a presence - you know for the amount that were produced there are very few survivors - Great review as ever Steph - If somebody was thinking of a certain car your review would be invaluable! Keep the great work👍
Steph needs to get out in a well specced (but standard) MK2 golf GTi 16v or an astra gte 16v or even a 1.9 GTi 205 to experience why we all hold the memories of that era so dearly!
I think a day out in a good golf GTi 16v would exorcise all the negative thoughts about her MK2 golf out of Steph's head! Haha💯
Glad you enjoyed it Steph. I always found the Escort rather average. It did nothing really better than anything else at the time. My father had an Orion 1.6 GL for a few years and it was the most unreliable car he ever owned. He later got a FWD Cavalier which was a much nicer car to drive and never let him down.
1.6 Orion Gl isn't an Escort 😮😅
My first car was a red 1.3lx, i used to salivate over having and xr3 😂
What has the owner done ....Those Wheels are ghastly 😮
Wheels are a personal choice, easily changed and it comes with the originals. Personally my biggest pet peeve is people going wild with stuff like interior swaps. Wheels are an afternoon job.
Look to be a set of original RS accessory alloys, probably worth more than the car if so
"Ghastly" no less. 😆 I've seen other XR3i's with these wheels so there's a chance they may be factory option or another Ford / Mazda. Speaking of ghastly have you seen the other MK4 wheels? Some of those are downright shockers. 😳
@@CathodeRayNipplezlook like optional RS Alloys of the time.
The electric windows look aftermarket. I like the wheels.
On my mum's 1989 escort, the window switches were on the doors.
@@nickfarrow9032 pretty sure mine where too
Great video Steph, just to add that the heated front windscreen switch would have been in the bank of three switches on the left of the binnacle ( where that flashing blue bulb is ) and the blank on the right of the binnacle was for the electric door mirrors ( if specced )
Only a cool car of the 80s for Brickies, Plasterers, Carpenters and other 'Loadsamoney' types that Harry Enfield quite rightly took the piss out of at the time. A cool car back then was as it is now, something Italian, French, or German.
A car of my teens! Would you be able to review an Opel Manta 1800 GTE?
They love a good smoke on start up old fords 😂 good old valve stem seals haha
I nearly bought a red xr31 back in the 90's & i knew the guy who owned it & it was in great condition however when i got insurance quotes the cost was unbelievable as it was the hot hatch era so i bought an Orion gia instead.
Same car but had a boot & the insurance was way way cheaper.
Memories from my childhood, that era of Ford's along with the 70's Ford's and that loving CVH exhaust sound 🥰
Great video 😊👍
Sadly we never received this style of Escort in Australia.
I had one of these. In the mid 90s Mine was white with a blue roof. Loved it.
Great video just found your channel Steph. My 87 cab is sadly in bits been with me for 24 years now. It was nice to see somebody doing a review on one 👌👍
I do like these cars yet I smile remembering the reputation they had in the late 80's. Check out LOADSAMONEY and the XR3i he drove renamed the XR3i TURBO NUTTER BASTARD registration AR5E. These cars did have this kind of reputation back then.
I think it's a cassette holder in the consel you need your 80s mix tapes 🕺🕺
Your correct. IIRC in my Dads Orion 1.6i Ghia which shared the same dashboard there was a unit in that position that controlled the radio balance and front/rear fader in place of the joystick controller.
Fond memories of this one. My mum had a white G reg XR3i special edition with loads of stuff from the RS, including the Recaro seats and bonnet vents. It was great for a while but it dated quite quickly and by 2001 when she part exchanged it for a Celica convertible, it was really old fashioned. But like most 80s and 90s cars, they're having a 2nd life and look awesome!
...very impressed with your very informative videos...thanks...😊
Thank you Steph! Always good to see you. My favourite channel. Luvluvluv the micros. Aunt Barbara adores you! 😚
I had a fiesta xrt 1982
Never forgotten the sound of a MK4 Escort. Very raspy.
Great vlog again, I borrowed an XR3i from a friend in 1985 and was stunned how fast it was
I’m a Ford fanatic but this looks bland without the round driving lights. The electric windows have been retrofitted, the switches for the originals are on the driver’s door handle
That mark of Escort on D and E reg were all rot boxes. It had to do with the phasing out of solvent based paints and moving to water based. They took a couple of years to sort their act out. I’ve sampled numerous examples of Golfs and Escorts that age and older. I would have to say that either a mark 1 or mark 2 Golf are hugely superior to the Ford. Faster, smoother, much better handling, better built, everything!
That might explain my E reg fiesta 1.4 Ghia , back in the 90s😊
And much more expensive
Great video Steph. My dad had the hard top version of this. Bottom part of the centre console was a cassette rack which you will need if putting in the original radio back in 👍
Yet another great video, Steph! I had a 1990 XR3i, the last car I owned in Scotland before I emigrated to the USA in 1996. Great little car, thing could fly with only 105 ponies.
Only bad part to owning it was the cost of insurance!😢
Great content and delivery Steph. You really explore the history and technical aspect of the cars you present.
As for the Escorts, they should’ve maintained RWD until they wiped it with the Fiesta. But 🤷♂️.
Great looking and fun car. I agree with you, still looks great and they gotbthe styling spot on.
Proper 80’s iconic motor!
Fab video, thank you!
Looking gorge Steph 🤗
Constructive criticism - please think "camera" and reflection when close up - I was looking at your reflection not the car. If you have a camera with a zoom, use that - be a distance and zoom in for "close up shots" - far better. Anyway, bice video.
It’s really hard to film on my kit without a reflection sadly. The zoom reduces the quality enormously.
We unfortunately didn't get the MKIV Escort in the US, Ford just heavily updated the MKIII and then in 91 we got an Escort based on a Mazda and I believe it was called Laser in the UK. I always admired the Ford's of Europe and wished they would allow us to have them here.
i owned one of those and it was a D reg.... wish i'd not chopped in my XR3i for the Mk4
Them alloys would have to go😮
In 2001 I picked up a really tidy fecelift XR3i for £500. I wish that i still had it as it would have been worth considerably more now. Having said that, as a car it was pretty rubbish. Slow, rough and noisy engine, poor interior quality and with dodgy handling. There were far better cars around at the time that haven't gained such a following, such as the Honda engined versions of the R8 Rover 200.
I don’t recall a convertible version here in the US.
I love the xr3i with a hood. It drove just perfect. Took my driving lessons with this car. Never forget that time and that car. A long time ago. Time is running fast. 😉
My grandad had one like this but it was more a blue one. These cars are quality anyway. Im new to you're channel as well. Keep doing these love em. 👍
That is one beautiful car, Steph. Love the look. This would have been in competition with Quentin the Rover cabriolet that Furious Driving saved. Certainly looks great. My biggest bug bear is the front wheel drive. Virtually every front wheel drive car I have driven has been no fun at all.
As my parents say the 'i' stands for Idiots. As they were the ones who drove them at the time 🤣
My 1st was a mk3 escort 1.1L on 37,600 miles back in 1997, it went like it was new, but any Ford it broke down randomly, but that was half the fun, and it went like a 1.6, I loved that car I miss it dearly :D
I had 2 mk4 escorts. Very fond memories of them. That space below the ashtray i think was to put your cassette tapes in
Nice car but needs a vacuum and duster rubbing across the interior.
Very interesting car! We had the two seat one, I think it was called the XPR. Never caught on here. The interior on this one in the video looks great.
Knew I would enjoy this, Steph. I've got the same car in white!
I want one!!!! ❤loving it!
I had to deliver a Mk3 XR3i, back in the mid 80s. The steering felt a bit twitchy when driving through the town. It only got into its stride when out on the open road
I had same year, spec and colour XR3i Cabriolet, the standard wheels are the 'dog leg alloys', mine was reg 'D40 BAB' then 'FiB 7109', sadly no more. No electric windows on mine. I had a Capri 2.8i 4speed before but found the Capri too big & bulky, loved the XR3i. 🚗 🚘
Thanks Steff. The XR3I is one of my favourite Cars, especially in Red. Although I could never understand why some of them (soft top and hatchback) had spotlights and some didn't. Unless maybe they were an optional extra.
The spotlights were an optional extra at first, but became standard in around 1989 (at the same time that the interior trim was changed to the light grey Zolda fabric). Lots no longer have them though or have had them added since.
@@stevebailey1322 thanks for explaining that.
I remember these car's well had a Freind who had one. Drove a few xr3i always thought they where nice to drive.
Sending much luv from the Long island 😘
What a disappointment the ordinal XR3 was , having effectively replaced the MK 2 RS2000 as Fords affordable sporty car . The RS 2000 was perfect .
The mk4 a refined mk3 a lot better base model love to own one and tune one
00:54..a mouse?
That is a lovely car Steph
I swapped my lovely cavalier gsi for one back in 97, worst decision I have made.
This is literally a Kai car of a fox body mustang
Were those rear lights unique to the cabrio? Or are they same ones used on the estate?
Ford seemed to really love velour which made for nice, comfy hard wearing seats. I suppose the open fronted cubby underneath the ashtray was there so you could show your trendy 80s cassettes - Duran Duran, Wham, Queen and the likes - off to envious fellow motorists. This one is in great nick. Is it as good as a Proton Saga though?
Yes, I thought the cassettes were located in an open cubby for easy access for the driver.
My boss had one in '88/89 and it was a really canny car to drive, the only letdown was he had a white on white hairdresser model! He replaced it with a 190E so went from boy racer to grandad overnight lol.
Haha love it
A puff of grey smoke on starting, a common thing on CVH engines. Just means that the valve guide oil seals need replacing. Not a major job.
Interesting car
I hired one while I was on holiday in jersey few years ago. It was terrible.. Probably one the worst cars for build quality I have ever been in
My Mum had a 87 xr3i in white (1989 to 1991). I gave that a good work out. I myself briefly had a 87 Orion 1.6i ghia which I also drove it hard, but sadly after 5 months it was stolen and burnt out on the M1. Upset I got a Escort 1.6 GL (1986) and less attraction. Good times.
Cool.
Those extra cubby holes below the stereo were for all the various in car entertainment options. You could build it like a component home HiFi. Ford had numerous combinations of Radio, Radio Cassette, Radio CD, CD add on, with or without a separate multichanger unit, and an Aplifier / Graphic Equaliser. There were options for the redundant holes on a basic stereo car too, they could have various fittings for storage of CD's, Cassettes, or just general storage. I worked on these when new, the stereo units were highly sought after and the cars were often broken into, just for the HiFi equipment. They were very easy to break into or steal, via the door and ignition lock barrels. We even had a special repair tool to reshape the buckled doorskin, often without needing much, if any, paintwork. Theft of fittings, or the car to joyride, were two of the reasons they were so expensive to insure during the hot hatch craze.
Wow steff your pushing the boat out recently you go girl
I remember seeing a rs turbo version when I was on my paper round... well let's say as a teenage boy I use to little sticky 😅😅😊
of that escort model the electric widows are put next to the gear changer as most models were put on thr door panel grab handle
The heated windscreen button would be placed under the heated rear window and rest for light buttons. The blanking plate one the right of the steering column is for the electric mirror controls
The Escort EXP was the most exciting version of the Ford Escort. They were only sold in North America.
Have you heard of the Escort RS Turbo? That's the European equivalent of the Escort EXP Turbo.
@@RWL2012 To be honest, no I haven't! The EXP was less loved in the US because it was twice as expensive and slightly heavier than the standard Escort. In addition, the early frog eyes were a love it or hate it proposition. By 1986, the newer EXP Turbo with the standard front end entered the market, but was less popular than its Escort GT flagship stablemate. Lukewarm reception coupled with greater sales of the standard Escort prompted Ford to kill of this iconic though unpopular car. I still think that they made a great attempt at creating an everyman's GT car that had true style. If only we Americans were more like the Europeans!