IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: MK1 Ford Fiesta XR2

[@JA-pb7oz]

The mk1/ 2 fiesta's were everywhere when I was growing up in the late 80s and 90s . To me they had a very distinctive exhaust note and could tell it was a fiesta coming over the hill before you even saw it.

[@chrishart8548]

They really had a distinctive drone too them. It wasn't the engines must have somehow been the body of the car!

[@danieljuggins3439]

I've not seen a mk1 or 2 on the road for years.

[@rimmerblues1586]

1, 2, 4, 3 cylinder firing order

[@beamboy07]

I still think some 2010s ford's have a quite distinctive sound i could recognize some before i saw them

[@matty6848]

@@danieljuggins3439 no me neither. See a few Escorts and Granada’s but never seen a fiesta certainly not a XR2.

[@lanehogger1532]

As a 44 year old male. This is my favourite car you have reviewed so far.

[@idriveaclassic]

Aw thanks lovely

[@RWL2012]

I agree, but I'm 16 years younger

[@lanehogger1532]

RWL2012 I’m jealous 😀

[@martinm3446]

Im 51 and remember seeing lots of these on the roads when i was in my teens 👍

[@markwatkins8122]

I'm also 44 and I had one of these in the early 90s along with xr3, Sri, gte and I can 100% say the xr2 is the most fun to drive car I've ever driven.

[@MrRubberduck83]

I only went on 3 family holidays as a child. 2 of those were in a mk1 fiesta so this brings back memories. Another brilliant review on a car from my youth 🙂

[@nickwhitney1534]

Taking out my 82 base spec “Popular” for the the first time this year later today.👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Have so much fun!!!!

[@chrishart8548]

I had a 1984 1.0 popular no heated rear screen, no mirror on passenger side, no rear wiper, 2 speed fan, 2 speed wipers (no intermittent) no headrests, no rear belts, no radio, no clock, no 12v socket. Had pepper pot alloys off the XR2 though looked cool with those wheels.

[@peterbustin2683]

Can I come?

[@ant2312]

I remember when they did one of these on Wheeler Dealers, Edd China did his wizardry and changed the fulcrum point of the gear linkages to make it a short shift and made the 0-60 time a little faster than out of the factory.

[@deankorbin5640]

You all prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly forgot my password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me

[@lukemarc5890]

@Dean Korbin Instablaster ;)

[@philiam8607]

This is the 3rd time I have watched this now, and I must admit this is your best video to date. Thank you Steph

[@stephenwhite9786]

I used to drive a Mk1 XR2 occasionally. It had a very hard ride and was great fun. Your video brought it all back.

[@grahamevans9606]

I had one. Bought it in Feb 1985 with 8000 miles on it.....Black like this one. Kept it for 3 years. Loved it...and have many happy memories of it.

[@dmmcharrie2698]

Had the 1.3S and loved it. The clock was where the coin tray is on the XR2, it also had quarter lights. A friend that was the year above me at school had XR2 boy it could move! Steph another enthusiastic production!

[@idriveaclassic]

Aw thank you!

[@chrishart8548]

On the MK2 the clock was up by the rear view mirror I thought that was a cool place bit like in an airplane. The MK2 Granada had a load of warning lights up there. In the same place.

[@dmmcharrie2698]

@@chrishart8548 Mk1 Fiesta XR2 had the clock up with the mirror as did Mk3 Escort Ghia, XR3, XR3i, RS1600i, Orion Ghia, Ghia injection, thing in the MK2 Fiesta all versions that had the higher grade dash with tachometer got the clock up by the mirror. Actually quite liked up there!

[@georgep3323]

Got my XR2 new in 1982 ( red ) still have it in my garage - in great condition - this video makes me want to take it out --- lovely car full of character

[@davidhayes4814]

Great little video. My brother had a C reg (85) Mark 2 in red with those pepper pot wheels. Same as this, really with a slightly updated 1.6 engine of 96 bhp. I remember that he only paid £5K from new, in a deal. Deals came into their own after 1980. Even allowing for inflation it seemed to be great value.

[@jesuspobre88]

As a 50 year old man anything with XR or RS in front of it's name will get my attention. So great to see the MK1 childhood going bananas here. I do love the Morris/Leyland stuff too. Always a pleasure 😘

[@saeedalamri1975]

Love it 😍 I owned one (1989 F reg ) during my time in Plymouth University it in the early nineties. I spent the best years in my youth in Devon and Cornwall . Big cheers from SAEED , Riyadh. XXX

[@liverush24]

My auntie was a cleaner at a Ford dealership in 1976, & she brought home two customer goody bags for me and my sister. It was full of badges, posters, glossy brochures, etc.

[@alexb2612]

My grandma used to be a hotel cleaner for swallow hotels, she used to get the little pots of jam and honey and put up a nice spread for us every Sunday when we went to see her. I miss my grandma. RIP Grandma

[@rimmerblues1586]

Lovely example, the MK1 XR2 is my fave looking hot Fiesta and that accessories booklet is a real cool historical treasure. Good effort with this review.

[@kensota]

loved your video, which brought back memories of a Fiesta in USA back in the early 1980s, really fun car to drive!

[@static-audio]

Takes me back to my youth... I only had a mk2 1.1L. Ghia though lol. This one is in good condition for its age. Love the period tax disc and window stickers. Nice classic :)

[@idriveaclassic]

You still had a cool car xx

[@static-audio]

@@idriveaclassic my first car in 1988 was a 1971 mini clubman 1100 in antique gold ... looked more like dirty green though. I so loved that car.. as I'm from Essex it ended up with minilite wheels .. wheel arch extenders and a cb Ariel looping from the bonnet where the nornal radio aeriel once was to the roof by the hole in the roof gutter ... looked like a dodgem car 🤣

[@vicntez]

A friend of mine bought one of these back in the early 80s after someone wrote off his Ford Capri, I was in my late teens and really loved being in this car, cracking handling and quite quick back then, many a good night spent driving around our local sea side town, happy days.

[@xpeebiex]

Great car, I owned PME125X for 10 years and barely covered 100 miles in all that time, Great video it's good to see she's going strong.

[@les4048]

Well done on dipping your toe into other marques Steph, very interesting as always

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks so much Les! Took a fair bit of research due to not knowing too much when I set off

[@matthewjackson4899]

Hi there, to be totally honest I've never watched one of your videos before, but it brought a tear to my eye, in the region of 28 years ago i drove a MK 1red XR2 religiously around the exact same roads , today i have to settle for my MK8 ST & MK3 Fiesta turbo, proper Fiesta freak me.

[@jaggass]

Gotta to love a bouncy rev counter. I've noticed it's got the MK2 XR2 exhaust which makes it sound more hollow opposed to the original exhaust which had an extra backbox.

[@davehall6692]

There was always a few squalling around the large council estate where I grew up in the late 80s, proper young chaps motor. Cheers for the post.

[@ticketyted1283]

“Old people FM,” made me chuckle. I learned to drive in a MK1 and loved every minute of it. What I wouldn’t have given for an XR2. Happy times.

[@TheUphillracer]

I was working for a Ford Dealer when the XR2 was launched and it sold really well. Exciting times, thanks Steph for bringing the memories flooding back. You wanted one of the jackets in the accessory catalogue, I’m sure that if someone launched a retro rally jacket range that they would sell well.

[@idriveaclassic]

Oh I think there’s deffo more room for merch in 2020

[@TheUphillracer]

idriveaclassic I need to get talking to my pals at Raceparts. I reckon I could persuade ex-Brabham designer Mike Pilbeam to licensee his logo and do a bright red one in the style of the old Waring & Glllow Hillclimb Team from 1978

[@thetreblerebel]

I love the big Rally Lights on the grill. It's a beauty!!

[@rydermike33]

Great to see such a lovely XR2. So many were messed about with and ruined. Many thanks Steph.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

'We've got Queen...not my favourite...' HANG ON. STEPH. WE NEED WORDS. xD For real though, lovely video - and you're genuinely pushing me towards the possibility of owning a classic or vintage car as a first car! Maybe an 80s or early 90s Japanese car, not sure yet, but I've just wanted something quirky and interesting that I can work on myself if that makes sense? So thank you!

[@idriveaclassic]

I hate Queen. I am so sorry xx

[@JJMCB26]

I'm no Queen fan either but I can just imagine the owner of the car along with a group of mates doing a reenactment of the Bohemian Rhapsody headbanging scene from Wayne's World hehe!

[@RWL2012]

if you hate Queen, what do you like...? I like modern electronic music but I still don't "hate Queen"!

[@edltommyrobinson9782]

@@JJMCB26 Thunderbolts and Lightning :D

[@oschiri66]

@@idriveaclassic So do I. But there is one Queen song you'll love: Everything we do (Is driven by you). Belongs into the cassette slot of every Ford driver. Just give it a try. :)

[@dogcowrph]

Stef, you really need to spend a summer in America since we have all sorts crazy old cars here. When I’ve been in the UK I so enjoyed just looking at cars that never made their way across the pond. I love your videos. Keep up the fantastic work. You are charming.

[@idriveaclassic]

I had planned to be here sooner but corona ruined my summer.

[@ChuckFickens1972]

I had 4 MK1 fiestas when I first started driving... 1) 950Ccc rust bucket 2)1.1 slightly less rusty (went all over the UK, used to foul one plug after every 1K miles so carried a plug spanner and wire brush with me) 3)1.3 super sport (loved that thing) 4) Fully restored (bare metal body shell strip down and build up again) XR2 with 1740 fully balanced and lightened engine (approx 120-130HP) slightly lowered and uprated suspension, that little thing was as quick as hell until I put it backwards into a telegraph pole at a speed I should never have walked away from! Loved those little things!

[@kevh1779]

Never seen this channel before, glad I found it and very knowledgeable, love the classics, thanks.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks Kev. This is an old video. They’re a lot better now.

[@grayfool]

A true icon. I'm not a Ford fan but there's something about the XR2 that really clicks. I would still rather have the MG Metro Turbo myself. Thanks Steph, Nice one.

[@idriveaclassic]

Yeah I’d still pick a metro. It’s a bad habit 😂

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

What a cracking Video Steph, my dad had a mark 2 Popular Plus fiesta so I remember the ashtray in the rear !! Apparently the XR name was plucked out the air and according to Richard Parry Jones who was at ford at the time it was mentioned that XR stood for Xtra racing! The main thing was the number which was was to allow for a bigger or lower number in the Ford range as the XR3 came first then you had the XR2 and the XR4i in the Sierra.

[@smiley4288]

Wow so in-depth, your showing us exactly what most of us want to see... everything!!!! took me back to the great days.... well done girl your awesome 🤘😎🤘

[@justinlambert3388]

AHH you can't beat a classic Ford Steph! Great review 👌 thanks for the memories.

[@Ricketik65]

Nice video Steph! Always liked the mk1 Fiesta, it looked so fresh and new when it came out. Never driven one though.

[@idriveaclassic]

It still felt fresh too. It was a true pleasure and I hope I conveyed that x

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Great video. The detailed walk around footage was fantastic, showing lots of interesting details. Especially enjoyable to someone from Australia who has never seen one. Such a shame we didn't get these. Cheers.

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

I had a 1.1 L many years ago, and I don't think I ever bothered with either a 0-60 time, or a top-end! I only did the daily commute in it! :-) Good video though Steph! What would my Sunday be without your beautiful smile? Stay safe! :-)

[@jeffreywynn4674]

.....and love watching you drive the classics, incredibly knowledgeable, I collect the old British marques here in Israel .

[@danieleregoli812]

Love a clean, genuine, unadulterated XR2!!! Thanks for another great review Steph!!! Great car choice. Lots of love & stay safe darling. xxxxx

[@jeffreywynn4674]

I drove one in Tel Aviv as a rental years ago, very sprinty and a lot of fun!

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

I remember my boss buying a brand new one exactly the same as this and him taking us out in it and doing 100 mph we thought it was a flying machine back then it was brilliant 👍

[@peterhayward1848]

I drove and looked after loads of these and all the other fiestas when I worked in car rental in the West End. I had to bring one back from Germany. First time I'd even been abroad let alone drive there.

[@blacktigermartialarts7329]

I owned a Mk1 XR2 same year same colour. Thanks for the video and the memories

[@owengoodspeed5763]

A friend of mine had one of these from new. I was a bit envious even though I had an Escort 1.6 GL hatch because I needed the extra space to put bikes in the back. I love the wheels on these. Quite distinctive.

[@colinwilliams9290]

I had an A reg in red, first hot hatch I ever owned. I had to do a KZbin search for this one. Great video, consider me subscribed

[@STEWARTSUSA]

My surprise when I saw this was filmed at Castle Hill in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Awesome looking car. I remember when we had the Mk1 Ford Fiesta here in the USA. For some reason it didn't sell very well and was discontinued after 1980 or 81.

[@tz6414]

Beautiful looking car. Ford nailed the 80s. Great find and video.

[@MRPK1967]

I put a Mexico engine with twin 38s in my XR2. I so wish i still had it. Just got photos of it now. Happy days.

[@dianesmith6319]

Owned one decades ago as a family run around...loved this car never let us down got the job done and fun to drive up there with my Mini Cooper.

[@idriveaclassic]

I can see why you loved it. It was so fun to drive.

[@caprirob]

Another nice video Steph. I like the level of detail you go into when looking around the car.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you so much!

[@usuallyblockedforspeakingt2803]

I had one the same colour , I drove the nuts of it. Love the old fords I had a rs1600i too and my mate had a 79 rs2000 with a RS 500 cosworth engine fitted. He was the second after Paul Baily to put a RS 500 in an RS 2000 at the time.

[@gc5384]

Hi steph hope you are well you should be on tv doing your reviews got to be better than the endless repeats on hope you and the family are all well . Always come across as a nice down to earth person x

[@danielball7595]

Another great video Steph I love the fiesta XR2 especially the Mk2. I drive a Mk6 fiesta Zetec S as my daily which has carried on with the sporty fiestas. I love how original the one in the video is, I hate it when people overly modify them. 😁👍

[@MattysCars]

Unbelievably that lovely brown interior made a come back on the mark 4 fiesta. Great review and choice of car as always

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks Matty!

[@robertcollins7034]

I had a beautiful low mileage mk 1 xr2 in Caspian blue ! My sister and her boyfriend was second owner from new ! Sold it for like 600 quid in 2001 ! Was worthless then ! Dam I wish kept it ! Reg was AAY 699Y doubt it still around a Great video !

[@stuart121972]

I’ve never owned a Mk1, but my second car was a Mk2 Fiesta 950cc Popular Plus with non servo assisted brakes. I had an ex motability Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8GLS automatic back in 1998/9. It was one of my favourite cars and I regret getting rid of it. The three stalk set up was standard on alot of late 70’s and early 80’s Fords.

[@stuarthall6530]

I remember while at work a customer had a brand new fiesta in bright green. One of the old boy's I worked with had a look round it, shook his head and said - - - What will they think of next ! He was in his seventies then so must have looked like a space craft to him.

[@idriveaclassic]

Hahahaha that’s like me and modern cars

[@henkverzeijl1525]

The column stalks were actually carried over from the mk2 Escort, or rather developed simultaneously, since both were released in '76. Hence the extra stalk on the right for the lighting, and the horn positioned on the indicator stalk instead of on the wheel.

[@MrRetro-]

Love your videos and reviews Steph, love the mk1 fiesta, my fav 70s, 80s hatch. Keep up the great work.

[@mubopo]

This was a beauty! It packed serious power and at one time, I witnessed it taking on a BMW 3 series on the highway of which turned out to be an unmarked police car! You know how the stories ends... Fine!

[@nickhill3362]

Steph this is my favourite car you have reviewed so far , well done thanks 👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Aw thanks Nick

[@myalfie]

I had a mk2 XR2 on an F plate brand new in Aug 1988 crystal blue with the x pack sunroof ect,great car with a 1.6 engine great memories.

[@Victor-DOOM]

I had a beige 1979 fiesta in 1993 sometimes on the way to work the engine would seize so I'd top it up with oil and it would get me to work .the aftermarket sunroof someone had fitted use to leak down the passengers neck which was a nice touch I enjoyed that.

[@kieranwhite6647]

One of my favourite cars! I love the variety on the channel!

[@julianowens4071]

Ace video, always love the detail and your presentation style,really lovely XR2

[@AgathaAndAnything]

I'd forgotten they were still only a 4 speed box, crazy to think now that a hot hatch would be offered like that. Nice to see an old festa about though, memories of my youth.

[@Stevieweevietv]

That's a great video Steph. What a cracking little Fiesta. Beautiful condition. I had a mark 2 Fiesta L as my first car. That was a good little car. The first 2 Fiesta generations I'm really fond of. After that not so much!

[@idriveaclassic]

Same! The MK3 isn’t my cup of tea

[@enzot6283]

Had a Mrk 2 XR2 from 1988 till 1990.That was in the days when I used to wash my car every week

[@sirfairplay9153]

Mk1/2 Fiestas are a hoot to drive, lots of memories

[@stevewaller9346]

Yet another great video Steph. Take care of yourself and stay safe.

[@idriveaclassic]

You too Steve and thank you!

[@Shane_Marsh]

Great vid steph. The last time I was in a mk1 fiesta I was in the Castle hill pub. I had a silver 1.3 supersport.

[@davidhobbies7712]

My first car was a mark one xr2 and I even had a mark 2 xr2 great cars I loved them

[@gordonmacqueen8694]

The Ronco Stop Thief sticker CRACKING me up

[@idriveaclassic]

The thief looking like ‘oh yeah sorry. I’ve stopped’

[@martinevans1256]

Wow what a car always loved 80s fast fords my mate had one of these and I had an mg metro we always had a bit of a race , great review Steph great video keep um coming

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww thanks Martin!

[@StevesMachines]

My brother wanted one of these as his first car some 28yrs ago but it was insurance group 17. He ended up with a Fiat Strada instead.

[@neilwalsh4058]

Lucky escape in my opinion 😂😂

[@seancooke4127]

Loved sliding across the back seat cornering in my Mum's 1981 Fiesta 1.1 L with my brothers

[@russbamforthadi9011]

You filmed my all time favourite car round the corner from me!!!! And i missed out big time😭😭😭

[@lewis72]

I like to see somewhere the story of the XR Fords. I think that they started out on Falcons in the US in the '60s but the range worked really well in the UK/Europe with XR2, 3 & 4 being designated for Fiesta, Escort & Sierra respectively. In S. Africa there was an XR6 & XR8.

[@jaggass]

It's very nice to see a stock MK1 Fiesta XR2.

[@jimmyk9523]

Great video and a great car. Owner of a 1.3 Ghia, fully restored and fitted with a standard Xr2 exhaust. Gets way too much attention and it's not even an XR haha

[@richardwalker_]

I had a mk4 Escort with the clock above the mirror, always out of the sun. Soon get used to it and missed it being there on later models. Late 80s and early 90s were good years for Ford.

[@rafaelgarridosalgado99]

Would love to see you reviewing a ford fiesta mk3! I have just bought one and would love to see you review one!😊😊

[@andygreen1a]

Steph, beautiful example. Great to see you reviewing such a wide range of cars. I must say, you presentation skills get better and better. Always well researched, this comes through every time. Would be fantastic if you and josh did a livestream sometime. I hope you’re keeping safe and well, take care. Thanks again for all your hard work in putting these reviews together for us,.

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww thanks! Yeah I’ll get josh in a live chat scenario soon. He’s very ‘not politically correct’ so I dread to think what he’d say.

[@andygreen1a]

idriveaclassic Steph, look forward to it. Take are and thanks for all the hard work you put into your channel and all your uploads.

[@HQBProductions]

I bought mine new in May 1982 KEU 565X..silver from Bestcars in Whitchurch, Bristol. At the time it seemed very fast, sharp and I thought it was wonderful but I had a lot of hostility at work because of it so as I had to carry my Dad’s wheelchair, it was sold after only 10 months replaced by a new Sierra Ghia 2.3 automatic which was very slow...comfortable but hard work to get anywhere. The next car was a BMW 520i...and I have never owned a Ford since...but I still like them!!🙂 P.S. I note the nearly empty fuel tank..watch out for rust as modern petrol is not kind and will eat the tank in a few months...it has destroyed them in my 1969 XJ6...and when that car has had a good service, use only Shell V-Power or the new Esso equivalent as that makes a real difference. Safe driving!!🙂🙂 P.P.S...It needs new shock absorbers and the front struts need rebuilding hence the bouncy ride...they were stiff and tight when new! 😨😀

[@75maxdv35]

The wheel design is phenomenal

[@marvin7950]

Had one of these just like that in the late 90s Great car!

[@richardhaywoodh]

I had forgotten the pop up central vent on the dashboard of Fiestas

[@artiexr222]

Great vid as usual of an iconic car somewhere down the line try the Mk2 version Steph that should blow you away.

[@baileyneil34]

Another one of my favorites I had the sports special

[@tankboyful]

another informative video. only thing i would have liked was a takeoff from a standing start. that pocket rocket wants to go! anyway good job. always liked mk. 1 fiestas, remember when they first debuted in the states.

[@6ettinold]

I'm 50, so most of my mates started out with a Fiesta or an Escort, I've even owned a couple myself. But they all left me feeling cold. The MK1 XR2 was, and is, an exception. Ford got it spot on with the first Fiesta's and then just as they did with the Escort, rounded everything off slightly for the mk2, promptly ruining it in the process.

[@staffh3815]

Totally agree VW did the same with the golf mk 2

[@michaelriley8966]

Lovely looking in there day,not seen one on the road for yrs,,,

[@m2kev789]

Had one of these back in the day and it was a terrific little car 😀👍

[@chrissyoutubechannel8679]

I had one in black mk2 D reg it was cool wish I still had it awesome cars

[@andy40456]

Sunday morning coffee with your latest video , great ! Out of interest I've just added intermmitent wipers to my Morris minor, really easy to do and only cost around £15 plus a switch and some wire.

[@idriveaclassic]

Oh amazing. I want some 😂

[@andy40456]

@@idriveaclassic variable windscreen controller from quasarelectronics.co.uk it's gone up a bit nearly £18 now. Needs to be negative earth and have self parking wiper motor .

[@bunter6]

My granda had an 1100cc Kingfisher special edition that was his 1st brand new car. I eventually ended up with a White Mk2 XR2, wish i still had it, worth a mint now lol

[@eadonone]

As you know Steph I am a real ford fan. We never got the mk1 Fiesta in Australia or New Zealand we got the later models starting in 2004. The mid 70s and early 80s ford moved their cars on there was a family rebalance in fiesta ESCORT and Cortina and Granada same instruments same door pulls Ford built aspiration you could aspire up the range as your jobs and family changed you could desire the Ghia but could only afford the L Ford built cats for every taste and created desire. You are right about reliability in this part of the world it was the Japanese cars like Toyota and Datsun that people flocked to for cheap reliable transport., in New Zealand at this time the Mk2 Escort and Mk4 Cortina became icons as well as upping the ante with equipment and reliability to compete with the Japanese

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahh glad you enjoyed it!

[@NYChemicalRomance]

What a beauty. I had a silver one, A220 KAY. Bought it for £100. Sold it for £300. How I wish I had it now 😭😭😭