1989 Sierra 4x4 2.9 Ghia Estate Goes for a Drive

The 2.9 4x4 Ghia Estate was the ultimate Ford Sierra, when all wheel drive was the biggest status symbol of the '80s.
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[@Roger.Coleman1949]

Have a mint ' 89 Sierra 2.0 DOHC Ghia Estate in Tasman blue metallic with the same RS wheels and h/lamp wipers and all the same accessories inside , bought on eBay in 2007 for £1950 with 27,000 miles !.The only previous owner was a marine engine specialist and filled every orifice in the structural bodywork with protective oil and 32 years on it is still 100% rust free and every MOT is almost looked forward to for the favourable comments !.Now in semi-retirement at 58,000 trouble-free miles , it is a joy to own and have become very fond of it - the ultimate reliable car without all the annoying pointless ' modern ' stuff !.

[@jamesblake3846]

I had a 1990 2.9 XR4x4 until recently. Great car to drive, very torquey and felt planted. Surprisingly small footprint when compared to modern cars. Wasn’t far off the size of my Mk4 Focus.

[@allthekingshorses7178]

Can't tell what a joy it is to see a proper car with buttons on the dashboard (no complicated touch screen stuff) and a good old fashioned manual gearbox

[@josemariatrueba4568]

Light weigth too!

[@paulc9588]

The Sierra is one of those cars that were seen by many as run-of-the-mill repmobiles back in the 1980s/1990s. Looking at them 30-odd years on though they are really stylish and impressive family cars. I particularly like the late ones with clear front indicators and tinted rear lights. Makes you realise how car design has regressed in the 21st century, regardless of how much you spend.

[@spinosauruswearingboots4156]

That blanked switch under the blower was for speaker direction (a little joystick to control which speakers were in use) my dad’s poverty spec L had it. Rear speakers were found all the way back in the boot panel which meant they got muffled by the luggage when you were fully loaded. In my father’s Sierra someone had replaced the standard speakers with 6x9’s and when you opened to boot the whole panel would come off regularly dangling by it wiring as the standard clips couldn’t take the extra weight. I was strangely enough thumbing through a Sierra brochure last night. Perhaps I should go and get this one.

[@d33b33]

Actual buttons! The problem with the modern playstation cars is that you're hunting down menus on a touch screen: zero muscle memory. One of the reasons I love old cars.

[@histriamagna1014]

Amen.

[@alexander1485]

My 5 year car has full buttons

[@stevetaylor8698]

My 86 Sierra was poverty spec and so had lots and lots of blanks.

[@tonys1636]

@@histriamagna1014 Just what one says as hitting the stationary truck that wasn't seen stopping as looking at the touch screen.

[@archechme]

What do you mean zero muscle memory? Once you prod the touchscreen enough, you'll know your way around it better than your own house.

[@scottmcpherson2140]

Great review. I own one of these 4x4 V6 Ghia wagons, in magenta, July 1989 build, and the original UK plate was G111UHU, maybe a Ford press car? It's been in New Zealand since 1997; I've owned it since 2014. It's done 127,000 miles and is an 'Special Edition' with full factory-fitted RS bodykit, a/c, ABS. Everything still works except the pump-up lumbar support. It's thirsty and goes almost as quickly as it rusts... As someone once said of the 2.9 V6: only Ford could produce an engine of such capacity that produced so little power whilst consuming so much fuel. But it's rare, very much alive, and still loved.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

Absolutely love sierras,my 1st car was a y reg sierra 1.6gl.was just 6 years old when i got it.kept it about 6 years then had a sierra sapphire 20 injection ghia.superb spec with its clean hands warning light system and graphic warning module.proper cars with proper dashboards and buttons,not like the junk you get today with touch screens and allsorts of rubbish you dont need.

[@1pjodan]

Ah I remember going found the scrap yards getting the buttons to fill all the blanks on my L model, didn’t do anything but they were there. Happy days

[@chrishart8548]

I've got a ford focus style. 2008 I've got a ESP button and a heated front screen button. They light up at night but that's all they do. As the car doesn't have these features. Looks better than a grey plastic square. I borrowed them from a transit mk7 at work !

[@georgehuser4711]

It's a roomy estate, with 4x4 and good engine. This would be a perfect daily even today.

[@d33b33]

People forget this loading floor is not at your hips. This loading floor is at your knees. The difference is massive because Tetris.

[@steve0680657]

Crash protection? Fuel consumption?

[@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904]

@@steve0680657 Who cares about crash protection lol

[@steve0680657]

@@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904 Nobody. It's why Euro NCAP never took off, and why even today hardly any cars are fitted with airbags. Rumour has it that seat belts will no longer be legally required from 2030. (you're a bit thick aren't you) 👍

[@TheLuisg92]

@@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904 Bad and mediocre drivers care about crash protection. They know they are going to need an airbag at some point.

[@piggymito]

My dad had a 2.0 mk1 ghia estate when I was growing up. Being rwd I just remember going sideways everywhere with me and my brother laughing hysterically and my mum going off her head at my dad! Great times indeed!

[@mescko]

Dad having fun, Mum going off her nut. 'Twas ever thus.

[@pg-rd7ik]

I remember selling these as a Ford salesman back in the 80s. Going on the registration number, I would imagine this car started life as a Ford Motor Company fleet vehicle.

[@furiousdriving]

With all the toys thrown in that would make sense

[@pg-rd7ik]

@@furiousdriving Just what I was thinking too, we used to go to the Ford closed auctions to purchase cars - they were frequently optioned to the hilt.

[@Zadster]

@@furiousdriving When I was looking for XR4x4s (last century...) aircon specced ones were rare, so I'd tend to agree with it being a Ford car, but the radio/cassette is a low spec unit, which is odd.

[@dungareesareforfools]

@@Zadster I don’t think the radio cassette is that low spec, I have the same one in my RS Turbo. Don’t forget, a lot of models midway up the range still came with radios only as standard then, even AM only in the earlier part of the 80s!

[@dungareesareforfools]

I had a Sapphire that was a demonstrator in its early life, a Dagenham registration too (“-OO”), and that was well specced. The only options it didn’t have were air conditioning and a CD player.

[@scottmartindale2316]

My dad used to have the 2.9 GLS 4x4 absolutely loved that car and it truly fueled my love for the Sierra.

[@RichieRouge206]

What a fabulous car. The Sierra XR 4x4 has always been a feature in my Lottery Win Garage and this is even better.. and as you say, it has all the modern features that genuinely are useful and none of the ridiculous crap like touchscreen menus and hateful drivers aids that plague modern rubbish. Estate cars are just the best form of car on the road! Awesome review Matt!

[@Yorkyscott]

The advert with tractor was the No 3 Granada. First car with ABS as standard across the range

[@Yorkyscott]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqiWqYt6frSgqpI

[@amphilbey]

@@Yorkyscott Great to see this, thanks, my dad bought a Granada instead of a Rover 800 purely due to the ABS after this ad

[@Simon-fr4ts]

Brings back some memories for me. I passed my driving test in 1989 age 18 and my very first car as soon as I passed was a Sierra. It was a 1986 'D' reg 2.0i GLS. I loved it. It was low miles and immaculate. It was an unusual choice as a new 18 year old driver I thought as most people I knew of my age were driving Fiestas or Metro's as a first car.

[@darkhorseca]

My parents had couple of these back in the 90s. It was painfully slow (2.3D, 67hp), but it didn't feel that way these days. I remember riding it at max speed (around 160km/h) without even realizing it was this fast! Now I drive >300hp cars but still I have good memories of a Ford Sierra. Very good cars for the time.

[@mikmazzucchelli6888]

I had a 2.3D too. A 2.3D Laser (a L with tinted glasses and electric windows) Actually, it was not so slow... that days (and in the contemporary trafic it'll be still better), about 170 tacho - Opel Rekord 2.1/2.3D and MB 240D were much slower, Sierra was similiar to Passat 1.6 TD or Mercedes 190D. Anyway, a great car, that I drove 460.000 km long

[@FixedByDuncan]

Yet another car I wish I'd never sold 😂, if only we could see into the future. Why don't they make decent, affordable vast estates like this anymore?. Excellent video as always Matt.

[@furiousdriving]

apparently people like SUVs with tiny boots and roof boxes that are too high to reach now

[@FixedByDuncan]

@@furiousdriving It also means they completely block the rear view mirror while they're tailgating you.

[@tonys1636]

@@furiousdriving Also to enter many car parks, even open air ones have height barriers here (some as low as 2.1 m) to deter travellers making camp.

[@koolstup]

Boo to SUV's, Team Estate, much more room

[@Suffolkman1961]

I had a 1990 version back in 1994, owned it for four years, I always regretted selling it. Fabulous car. This video was a great trip down memory Lane. 10:07

[@monkeymagic4555]

Theres not much I have not done on these, served my time pretty much as they came out and worked on them for years after daily

[@bansheemax01]

Owned both the 2.8 & 2.9, with 2.9 being fully loaded. Great cars and fond memories. A truly underrated car.

[@alanwayte1688]

My Father had two of these, I was a weekly border and remember him picking me up on a Friday evening, it sat well with the other parents cars Rovers BMWs and lots of Mums in Fiesta, oh fond memories ❤

[@m44kts]

Absolutely love Sierra’s, I grew up with my dad having a D reg estate then later my mother had a brand new J plate 1.8LX, both superb cars for their time. Always wanted my dad to get a Ghia estate though! One minor criticism, please please PLEASE turn off auto-focus when you’re doing the handheld work, you can’t see a bloody thing half the time, it’s such a shame.

[@myk389]

Nice review, it reminds me of the Scorpio I had back in college. But there is no leather on the steering wheel. One thing about air conditioning: you turn the fan knob to the right for fresh air and to the left for recirculated air. Press the knob and you get the same fresh/recirculated air fan speeds, but with A/C (notice the arrow on the knob pointing inside).

[@stephenjcuk7562]

The Moss Security ultrasonic alarm sensor on the tea shelf caught my attention. So 80's. Even dummy ones were available from Halfords back in the day.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Aged very well such a handsome looking car especially in estate form. That TVR on their website is begging for a review Matt.

[@MGBetts1]

Ooooh! A headlamp-wiper moment! 👍🏻 😉

[@chrishart8548]

HUBNUT ?

[@MGBetts1]

@@chrishart8548 Of course! 😄

[@mightymiata]

The closed off section above the glove box was on our Sierra's in the past always an open stowage bin. I've never understood why it was closed off on some versions.

[@scottlp2323]

I seem to remember the ECU was behind there on early EFi engines. I think it was the same for Cosworths. I had an '87 carburettor 1.6 and 1.8 which had the stowage bin because of no ECU. Later, I had a '90 2.0i DOHC which was the upgraded 2 litre so had the stowage bin again and the ECU was moved somewhere else.

[@mightymiata]

@@scottlp2323 That clarifies it. Tnx!

[@grayfool]

If you're going to have a Sierra, might as wel have one with all the boxes ticked. Bit a of shame it doesn't have the wiggly speaker thingy though.

[@adampeters7947]

I remember that wriggly speaker thing!!! Thanks for the reminder

[@soundseeker63]

Did anyone ever actually use the wiggly speaker stick? Never really seen what practical purpose it had.

[@grayfool]

@@soundseeker63 It's purpose was to provide a talking point for viewers of car review videos. It's an engineering equivalent to the falling tree dilemma. You know, the one that asks "if a tree falls in a forest where no-one is present to hear it, does it make a sound?". In this case, if there is a control to adjust the balance of sound to each corner of the cabin, do you ever need to use it? Existential engineering.

[@adampeters7947]

@@soundseeker63 Yes I did. Used it all the time. Not sure why, but I did.

[@soundseeker63]

@@grayfool LOL I think you might be over-analysing there just a tad..

[@TheGalacticEmperorOfLabels]

God, miss my Sierras... Matt, thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@rod-bits-and-pieces]

FYI. The rear speakers are in the tailgate for some reason so if you have the cover over the load area you cant hear them. The grilles on the dash that look like they should have speakers were where the only front speakers were on the Mk1 Sierra (no door speakers), they had tweeters there on the higher spec models on the Mk2 and were deleted on the last face-lift and it had a bigger glovebox. MT75 gearbox was a good box and lasted well.

[@christianronn5301]

Fascinating how the MT-75 gearbox got so famous. I mean, it's just a gearbox, and a manual one at that. Usually people don't care, save for a handful of RWD Volvo fans. But I even remember reading an ad in a 1989 copy of our local paper where the Ford dealer proudly explained that the new '89 Fords had the new MT-75 gearbox.

[@graemelow4278]

Relieved that I live 300+ miles from Percival Motors! The perfect car and much more kit and power than my G reg 1.8LX Sierra hatchback!

[@chrisnorman5558]

My dad had one of the earliest estates (CLH61Y). Was already a bit of a heap when we got it but I loved it. I still think these look good now.

[@georgedesouza8937]

We had a Y regd Ghia hatchback. Had a front heated screen! Also later a K regd Sapphire .2.0 DOHC with the same. Very impressive

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

@@georgedesouza8937 thats very impressive as they didnt get heated windscreens until 1986.

[@georgedesouza8937]

@@ivanfernyhough3851 incorrect…please get your facts right…. The Ford front heated screen patent dates from as far back as 1977, but it expired in 2011. element heated windscreens are nothing new.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

@@georgedesouza8937 sorry but your wrong,there aint much i dont no about sierras,had 5hem for many years and the mark 1 never had it even as an ootion.it was put on the sierra when the mark 2 came out at the end or 1986,standard on ghias,option on the others.the 1st ford to have it in the uk was the mark 3 granada in 1985.you might be right about the patents but not the car.it was however a fantastic idea and as you say was only on fords or ford related cars for many years.namely jaguar,aston martin,possibly volvo.

[@georgedesouza8937]

@@ivanfernyhough3851 I’m sorry but I am right. Why would I lie about such a petty thing? It was my dads Y registered Sierra.

[@andrewmorton3177]

Love a Sierra 😍 I got a 2.0i GT when I was 21 & ran it for 5 years when my mates were all running about in Nova SR’s & Fiesta S, it was a great car! The insurance was surprisingly reasonable as well & I regret selling it, should’ve kept it. I’m pretty sure there is a trim cover missing off the rear seat belt mount btw 😉 Good video as always.

[@ricardogoncalves689]

When it was launched, the Ford Sierra represented a breakthrough in terms of aerodynamics, having just lost the 1983 Car of the Year award for the Audi 100, which was also way ahead in that regard. However, the van version seems to have been made at two different times, being modern and quite elegant up to the "B pillar", but from then on it is totally anachronistic, taking the old forms of other vans. I believe that the intention was to captivate traditional buyers, minimizing the risk, which, as well said by Mr. Richardson, was very high in the 3/5 door version. The 4 door version was very well done. Anyway, congratulations on the excellent presentation of a rarity, whose intrinsic value goes far beyond aesthetics.

[@frazzleface753]

I love how 80s V6s roar into life!

[@grandadsfishingboat7455]

I ha 3 sierras 1.8lx 2.3dl and lastly a 1990 2.9 4x4 estate. I loved that car. I had driven a secondhand one before buying mine new, but rejected it because it was a bit worn and the gear boxed rumbled. I bought mine a thousand pounds cheaper brand new and…. The gearbox rumbled thru the gear stick!! It was a mile eater but I didnt notice the fuel consumption that they were noted for. I was devastated the day I rolled it over..something gave way on the front end with the car slewing all over the road which was very out of the ordinary, it was only 21/2 years old and being in my late twenties I drove it like I stole it most of the time.Happydays G775WCN

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Lovely rare mint example of the ultimate Sierra, great drive!

[@seancooke7332]

A proper car. Every Sierra I have driven felt good be they 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0 litre. Only the 2.0 litre DOHC had power steering, but even the manual steering felt connected in a good way. Very reliable,very comfortable and accomodating. 2.0 litre a bit thirsty but the performance and durability made it worth the consumption especially on a long distance. Would love to have a go in a V6, the 4x4 was very advanced for the time. A great car, a Classic. This Friday slot never disappoints.

[@mikmazzucchelli6888]

I drove a 2.3D Laser 5 doors 460.000 km long. Best car I ever had!

[@mozki1]

Bought an 1986 D reg 2.8 in 1993 debadged...with Cosworth front grill and side shirts...surprised quite a few boy racers who thought it was a plain old estate car. Forever changing front transfer case oil seals. But what a car. Sold it in 98 and replaced it with a 2 year old Mondeo 2.5 V6 24v Duratec estate . Now there's a car to feature if you can find one.

[@willswheels283]

What a great review! Thanks Matt, I fondly remember the Sierras of the 80’s, not initially popular but as the 80’s progressed into the early 90’s they were everywhere, the booted Saphire seemed to be a popular option. (Why people pick a booted car over a hatchback I’ll never know, totally impractical!) I think the best versions were the last ones produced between 1991-1993 with the tinted rear light clusters where Ford would have been throwing every bell and whistle at them before introducing the Mondeo mk1.

[@Simon-ui6db]

The saphires had a more ridged body, great for cosworth conversions. Love the saphires.

[@ciaranburke3243]

To right, the last generation were very smart 👌

[@Fastwunz]

You can just imagine family holidays across to France on the ferry with the boot loaded up, the road map in the pocket and a dire straits cassette thumping away

[@shanewaller2864]

F20YBT if you want space and pace you need a sierra estate hence why my car has full cosworth running gear and a HARTPOWER ybb cosworth engine in it .stunning car looks fantastic 👍

[@koolstup]

Great memories, I had a '89 1.8LX with the gutless CVH engine, it had the same steering wheel as this, always thought it was weird with the bumps on each side. My dad had a 2.0 8v Ghia Sapphire, with the same interior as this, great engine

[@miele939]

That panal above the glove box is where ford squeezed the Abs computer as the sierra was never designed to have abs. They fitted it as an option on the top versions by the end of the production of the facelift as the granada had it as standard from 1985

[@dungareesareforfools]

They must have put it somewhere different later on, as my 1992 model with ABS had a cubby hole there.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

It should have a quick clear heated screen,unless its bin replaced at some time with a standard screen and one of the horns is knackered as they are twin tone as standard.lovely car tho and a good review matt

[@Zadster]

I agree. The screens can delaminate though (mine is) and are expensive to replace, so this may have been replaced with a non-Quickclear one. The standard twin horn is LOUD and means business, not like this parpy one.

[@sammm700]

that interior takes me back. my first car was a 2.0 Pinto engined sierra. loved that car.

[@DarrenVelSatis]

what an absolutely bloody lovely car, amazing engine sound, fabulous practicality, no nonsense, brilliant era for cars. I'm a mk1 Mondeo man but these are super lovely, I loved the XR4x4 that would be my V6 choice or the probably extinct 2.0iS

[@furiousdriving]

I loved this thing, the look and feel..perfect

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

It's about time you had a new edition to the furious fleet 🙂

[@giulianomarco]

Yup, ticks all the required boxes: manual gearbox, manual handbrake, V6, estate - and of course headlamp wipers! ( We'll make a Ford man of Matt yet! 😁 )

[@mattw8332]

What a great car! I'd love to have a spin in a V6 engined Ford like this. Air conditioning may have been an extra cost option on this despite being the top spec Sierra estate. Orange indicators suggest that this was a UK built car before production moved to Belgium in 1989 where they were also lightly facelifted with better specs.

[@dungareesareforfools]

Weren’t they always produced in Belgium? I noticed it has Sekurit glass, so probably not a UK built example.

[@mattw8332]

@@dungareesareforfools I'm very sure that they were built in the UK up to 1989.

[@ianfrost3529]

The advert for the ABS with the tractor was the Mk3 Granada. Years ago a friend of mine worked as a salesman at local Ford dealer when these were new. Great cars I nearly brought a 2.0 Dohc xr4+4 when I was taxiing but went sensible and brought a 1.8 td instead but do wish I went with my hart and went for the xr4+4

[@gerardbooth40]

Absolutely right Ian. FoMoCo used it to advertise the fact that the Granada was the first mainstream car with ABS as standard on all versions.

[@nick2203]

When I was still living with my parents a neighbour of theirs was very much a a Ford man, he’d owned a number of Cortina’s and he bought one of the first Sierra’s. I owned a 2.0S Sierra back in the late 90s , a great car to drive as long as you respected the fact it was RWD. I agree with you about SUVs and I don’t understand the obsession with modern SUVs, an estate car is far more practical and nicer to drive. Good video as usual, the 2.9 Sierra Ghia really was the one to have back in the day.

[@billyboy8820]

I once had a 2.0 4x4 Ford Sierra estate, the same trim as this one, this car had phenomenal road handling on corners, mine had some extras as it appeared to be an Ex Ford owned car.

[@argonautsuk]

Hello from Manchester. You took me back to memory lane with this video. I had the Granada Ghia with RS body kit. Same headlights, and same alloys. Wonderful vehicle to drive

[@iam_anderdingus]

Had one of these (G287 FPU) long dead judging by the DVLA history - sounded like an aeroplane taking off. Nice cars 😍👍

[@SA-zoom1]

The estate was launched pretty much from the off, seen plenty of mk1 Sierra estates on Y and A plates. Don't know why you think they came out in 86. The early mk1 had a 2.3V6.

[@dcarbs2979]

Maybe he meant the 2.9 4x4 Ghia came out then. It was also the launch year of the mk3 Granada that replaced the 2.8 (also used in Capris and went out of production then) with this 2.9.

[@sammuslu2992]

I had a mk 1 y reg Ghia 2.0 carb pinto 4 speed with Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi wheels,it had a fuel computer and LCD graphic display. It's a shame it had a replacement standard windscreen instead of the quick clear windscreen which was common back in the day because it was a quarter of the price. Your videos bring back so many memories

[@stevenrodgers7051]

Great video. I’ve just got my Sierra back on the road after 10 years and this video was a timely treat.

[@haymansafc]

Astral Grey Velour...! That's the 'proper' name for the interior. One of my all-time favourites from Ford!

[@springy-2112]

Love it .. having had many cortinas and sierras I would go cortina as a classic and sierra as a daily .. Peace and love brother 👍🏻☮♥️

[@caeserromero3013]

We had an E reg red Sierra Estate, dad drove it to the Pyrenees for a week's skiing...more than 12 hours of driving. Mum took over for a few hours so dad could sleep and he woke up in the passenger seat with a start, thinking he was still driving 😂

[@kristianspencer1978]

I’d have a Granada Scorpio 2.9 4x4. Lovely car.👍

[@Timico1000]

I almost forgot how much i liked the Sierra. Probably would have owned one if i had been born some years earlier. ;)

[@ianwood6814]

I remember well the day my dad picked me up from school in his new Sierra v6 4x4 estate and only 8 years later I bought an xr4x4 that i drove all through Spain Portugal and back up through France .

[@TheSoupdragon1968]

My Aunt had almost the same car but it was White, it was a great car!! It got nicked in Coventry and burnt out!!! Ah the 80's got to love um..... Joy riders 😩

[@Everything_Evan]

I bought many Sierra's taxed and tested for £100, how times have changed.

[@martinrule1569]

Awww that dash, I had 3 Sierras at different times. A humble 1.6L mark one. A 2.0i Ghia hatch and one of the last facelifts a Sapphire 2.0i Ghia auto with the lively but temperamental twin cam. Loved them. I really wish I’d kept the last one! Thanks for the trip down memory Lane 😊

[@royster3345]

Remember driving the Sierra for the first time and impressed with how smooth and quiet it was. Could drive it all day long.

[@petersimpson5859]

Few cars squat under acceleration like a 4x4 Sierra. Big torque and squishy springs, it's as 80s as velour and blue tinted glass.

[@trevorshields7347]

This one would have had green tinted glass

[@TheOmegastoopreme]

My dad had a 1990 2l dohc ghia sierra hatch in white. Fantastic car, pulled like a train and so comfy.... Wish I had it now.

[@Karl_Burton]

Yep, remember the add. Thanks for the memory

[@danielrussell446]

I’ve never forgotten the first Sierra I ever saw it hadn’t long come out and one of my neighbour had a 2.0 ghia hatch in gold metallic it looked so exotic compared to the rest of the neighbours marinas avengers and cortina’s Always remember inside the module to tell you the doors were open and seat belts unfastened it was like a space ship

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

Nice to see a completely standard and not ruined one.

[@histriamagna1014]

Being born in 1971 I remember well those Sierras but few of them were v6 let alone 4x4. Much more common sight were the 2.3 diesel as taxis.

[@chrishart8548]

Peugeot engine the 2.3D was there a 2.0 4x4 guess it wouldn't have the performance though.

[@martinlaver007]

My Dad had a white XR4x4. Boy, we loved that car. I only got to drive it once but I still remember that drive.

[@PhantomMark]

I had the 1992 2.9 XR4x4 Hatch, loved that car, the best balanced 4x4 I have ever driven on the limit, 64/36 split on that 4x4 gave the car all the best bits of 4wd without the typical Audi'escue chronic understeer, damn that car was good.........

[@steveball1909]

Great review and a great car from an era when they didn't all look the same. I had a few Sierras in the 90's, the last being a 1992 4x4 Ghia estate, which had the slightly curvy restyled dash. Those seatbelt anchors in the back would have had plastic covers fitted originally, must just be missing off that car, shame if heated screen has been replaced by standard glass, a reason to knock the 8 off the asking price.😉 Sunroof would have been tilt and slide, not just pop up.

[@chrishart8548]

I would love this with an auto box. Usually common with the 2.9 v6.

[@dungareesareforfools]

@@chrishart8548 I don’t think you could have that combination on the Sierra - except for the XR4i, all 2.8/2.9s were 4x4, which was always with a manual box.

[@chrishart8548]

@@dungareesareforfools even with a Nissan x-trail I was told 4x4 manual or 2wd automatic. I guess a 4x4 automatic diesel estate would be nice. But a 2wd manual petrol hatchback would be less than half the price. And what most people would buy.

[@melvsbodgeshop4125]

My Dad had one that had been used as shuttle car at Wimbledon, it was mettalic green with a bronze stripe down the side.

[@Mouse2113]

Great for a daily. I love the Sierra. Good memories of my dads 1990 1.8 LX hatch. Was white with optional black rubber spoiler. Off the road since 2000 so possibly written off

[@paulprescott7913]

One of the best cars that i ever had was a 1989 1.8 Sierra GLX hatchback.

[@jimmer1976]

My mate had an XR 4x4 back in the 90’s, That thing wouldn’t put a foot wrong! Stuck to the road like sh*t to a blanket 👌

[@ash7990]

Sierra's give me nightmares after our G reg 2.0 GLX. I will never forget one Saturday afternoon in 2002/3 broken down on the M23 in the torrential rain, with a boot full of computer gear that my father and I had just picked up from a computer auction near Crawley.........then realising that to get it going again we needed to access the fuel pump wiring in the spare wheel area, under all the computer gear! Or the crank sensor failing in the car park of Thorpe park. This does look nice though.

[@maxidyne]

So cool to see a Sierra estate again! My grandfather had 2 Sierra's: a white '89 2.0 CL hatchback and a '92 bordeaux red 1.8 TD CL estate/van without the backseat. And I got my licence in a Sierra 1.8 TD Azure saloon. Great review Matt!

[@Coastmac2001]

Still a pretty good car after 30 odd yrs. A few privately imported Sierra's floating around Australia 🇦🇺

[@Fastwunz]

Magnificent. One of my favourite wagons and so rare

[@Zadster]

If you want a successor to the XR4x4, I would suggest you look for a Mondeo ST220, if you can find one, get one of the few that was built after the 6 speed facelift and sold before the higher tax rate. Prior to lockdown, I would get people knocking at the door asking if my XR4x4 was for sale, usually once a month or so. Some do seem to think it is a Cosworth though, despite being a 5-door. The blanking panel in front of the passenger, above the glove box, is where the engine management unit lives. As the front anti-roll bar bushes degrade, it is best to replace them with poly items. It really does sharpen up the handling and reduce roll. The XR4x4 suspension isn't noticeably stiffer than the Ghia estate. The front axle goes through the engine sump, which allowed Ford to push the engine mass back in the chassis, which really helps cornering. No Audi Quattro transmission with the engine hung out way in front of the axle.

[@adamnutley600]

If I remember correctly from my mum and dad's old Sierra estate, the rear speakers for the stereo were in the boot lid.

[@paulmckinder3082]

Nice motor i had the granada scorpio 2.9 4x4 1989 g plate i think was the same colour loved it i still remember the number plate g426 apc

[@79devo]

As a sales rep in the 80s we had sierra estates. My first was D797ACF and ended with G89WNR. FROM 1.6 base to 1.8GL. Wow success. In those days if a company offered you a better model, we’d be offski. I remember my mate having a Ghia ….the lucky bastard.

[@G4RY1159]

Stunning condition It's been many years since I ever laid eyes on an old surviving XR4i a good survivor must be rare as hell

[@tjfSIM]

Absolutely love these! This one looks like it’s in absolutely mint condition as well, don’t blame you for being tempted. The Sierras always looked awesome in the higher specs, just as the XR4x4 did. I must admit I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a 4x4 Ghia, so I’ve learned something new!

[@mescko]

Wish I had the dosh to import it to the States.

[@baddrivingsouthwales4789]

My grandfather’s hatchback had a contour in the rear of the headliner too. I think Ford used to do it to try and reinforce the headliner, particularly on the ones with sunroofs, to reduce the risk of the rear of the headliner sagging over time.

[@amphilbey]

Great to see this, I learnt to drive in my dads Sapphire Ghia with same interior but remember it had no power steering so mighty heavy for parking, cars still pretty tight for spec in those days.

[@rulebritannia1553]

Lovely car Shout out from Australia 🇦🇺

[@MePeterNicholls]

As the advert once said: the beauty and the beast.

[@andrewfitzmaurice7843]

Great review and brings back lots of memories. My first car was a 1982 (DKP212Y) 1.6 Sierra Ghia, with the speaker joystick thingy. It went really well, especially after the engine was bored out and rebuilt. Sadly it disappeared one day and was never seen again.

[@rolandmg1]

I went to the Sierra launch in the Docklands with my Dad and really didn’t like it as it looked so modern, he told me it would grow on me and I ended up owning a few and really liking them. I’m gutted though as my last one was a 1990 XR4x4 fully loaded and low mileage, I sold it in 2005 in mint condition for £325.

[@johang7498]

That dashboard brings back memories ... My parents used to own an older, lower-spec hatchback-version for a long time when I was a kid. It provided good service, but back then and today still, save for a few exceptions, I'm not the greatest fan of the rounded styling-wave that the sierra was the precursor of. I prefer the squarer-shaped cars of before (like the taunus/cortina) and equally the more solid-looking cars that replaced the rounded ones in the mid-1990s.

[@scousertom0388]

Gosh, the Sierra 4x4, didn't even know they were a thing!

[@richardmcbroom3925]

Great review, love the Sierra - slight correction for you though, said 86 was the first estates, my Dad had a Y plate estate, which I think was 83.

[@xllvivaldi9339]

I find this channel therapeutic