MK4 Escort XR3i - one of the coolest 80s classic cars?

[@petercraig9197]

Unusual for the red not to have faded to a sorry pink many years ago.

[@davidcooks5265]

If it's not gone to pink you might be able to cut and buff it back to life 🤔

[@alanthomson1227]

That’s because it was in for repair most of the time .

[@sexytasmin]

Probably has been respirated!

[@JustDaniel6764]

If your car goes pink get a Rupes buffer and some compound buff the bright red right back up

[@petercraig9197]

I've brought a previous car back to red. It didn't last very long before it started fading again.

[@majorgenerallifestuff]

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 )

[@tarqs101]

Another great video Steph. Brings back memories of family members driving Fords in the 80s and 90s.

[@ThisWontEndWell]

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

[@simonh870]

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.

[@mikewysko2268]

Enjoyed the review and test drive. Love the colorful vintage outfit. 👗

[@levelcrossing150]

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.

[@zrsfocus8888]

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

[@geoffclarke3796]

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.

[@brianwhittington5086]

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 !

[@Wil-70-NL]

Just sold my first car: Kadett 1.8GTE modell D. After 34 years. Only kept the Capri bought in '93. That's all. 😜

[@MP-po6fj]

They were an averaged built car compared to the German models. Rotted like a pear also

[@parne1978]

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

[@bid84]

Who doesn’t love a topless escort? 👀

[@evertonshorts9376]

Isn't that box below the ashtray for cassettes? If you put a door on it, you'd never get them in and out.

[@misterborntodrill4167]

That empty space is slotted for your tapes

[@mickspeke3524]

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.

[@garyhooper2728]

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

[@glenjarnold]

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!

[@anthonytallarida4192]

Amazing video Steph, we only had the Mk1 and MK2 Escorts available here in Australia

[@kathykirby5837]

My first car was a red 1.3lx, i used to salivate over having and xr3 😂

[@julianlyons711]

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.

[@iandavies8061]

A car of my teens! Would you be able to review an Opel Manta 1800 GTE?

[@bobupen6476]

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.

[@tetchuma]

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!

[@markwoodley712]

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.

[@garytheobald9538]

Those electric windows are clearly aftermarket

[@michaeltutty1540]

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.

[@arthurdardalis]

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

[@ashman4357]

They love a good smoke on start up old fords 😂 good old valve stem seals haha

[@jasonwoods4811]

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

[@kjeldlarsen912]

Thank you

[@p.istaker8862]

The CVH engine was an awful creation.

[@leer798]

Nothing wrong with the cvh if it’s looked after

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Jeremy Clarkson said of the CVH-powered Escort that "it was powered by engines so rough, even Moulinex wouldn't use them"

[@levelcrossing150]

I suppose it depended on how you treated it, but just take a look at the modern Eco-boost today and you will realise it was not so bad.

[@p.istaker8862]

@@leer798 Especially when fitted with the wonderful VV carburettor

[@pauljackson6593]

Far better than the Pinto!

[@michaelhalsall5684]

Sadly we never received this style of Escort in Australia.

[@sporkfindus4777]

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.

[@brianwhittington5086]

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.

[@grayfool]

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.

[@badbrainsful]

1.6 Orion Gl isn't an Escort 😮😅

[@captainmanic1959]

Looks a lot better than North American market Escorts of that era!

[@John-zw7vh]

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.

[@stevebailey1322]

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.

[@John-zw7vh]

@@stevebailey1322 thanks for explaining that.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

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.

[@Wellibob68]

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.

[@davidcooks5265]

Them alloys would have to go😮

[@dummekommentarefullhdvonka2359]

Oooooh yeah 😍 I've had 3 MK4s in my life but none of them was a cabrio. The XR3i is one of my AllTimeFavs.

[@charlieoscar09]

What has the owner done ....Those Wheels are ghastly 😮

[@idriveaclassic]

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.

[@Sharpey187]

Look to be a set of original RS accessory alloys, probably worth more than the car if so

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

"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. 😳

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

​@@CathodeRayNipplezlook like optional RS Alloys of the time.

[@philhawley1219]

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.

[@jetblack5115]

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

[@richardhaywoodh]

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. 🚗 🚘

[@peterbustin2683]

Nice video and great driving style and manner.

[@pauljeffries]

Aftermarket electric widows, rubbish wheels, nice car apart from that

[@alexwade9921]

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!

[@wowclothes]

That might explain my E reg fiesta 1.4 Ghia , back in the 90s😊

[@badbrainsful]

And much more expensive

[@autisticlife]

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.

[@MP-po6fj]

I seen one in a dark metallic blue and a dark blue roof. Smartest colour I've seen along with a straight black fresh paint job is my favourite colours in them. Notorious for rot unless kept in a heated garage ford didn't seal them well at all.

[@Charlzey1998]

As my parents say the 'i' stands for Idiots. As they were the ones who drove them at the time 🤣

[@MarkGFRex]

Nice car but needs a vacuum and duster rubbing across the interior.

[@Andy-From-England]

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 😅😅😊

[@glynatmore1817]

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.

[@mumwifeteacher]

This is literally a Kai car of a fox body mustang

[@danielwilder7835]

i owned one of those and it was a D reg.... wish i'd not chopped in my XR3i for the Mk4

[@wacman]

The electric windows look aftermarket. I like the wheels.

[@nickfarrow9032]

On my mum's 1989 escort, the window switches were on the doors.

[@stones4879]

@@nickfarrow9032 pretty sure mine where too

[@d.w.j.1114]

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.

[@rickydub6950]

Cracking early mk4 Cab on a D plate 😎 a few very early ones on a C 😁

[@donaljamescaddye3805]

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👍

[@ciartdsfa4899]

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💯

[@MP-po6fj]

Get a video up on an old Saab 900 turbo might not look as good but far better engineered than the escort cabrio and I'm ex ford tech 90s trained.Lovely shape of car all the same.

[@alansimpson835]

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?

[@levelcrossing150]

Yes, I thought the cassettes were located in an open cubby for easy access for the driver.

[@garyhooper2728]

The slots are for cassettes, you could get a pop out set in the up market version

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

Nice Car, I preferred the XR2i, Same engine but the Fiesta handled better and weighs less than the Escort Same goes for RS Turbo Models.

[@asloan1976]

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.

[@stephenport4768]

The mk4 a refined mk3 a lot better base model love to own one and tune one

[@C119G]

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.....

[@matthewmoore661]

I don’t recall a convertible version here in the US.

[@marcj3682]

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.

[@idriveaclassic]

It’s really hard to film on my kit without a reflection sadly. The zoom reduces the quality enormously.

[@stevenhearnden6103]

If so, what does that tell you about the 80's? 😂

[@robshorts]

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.

[@stones4879]

i had one of these in the 90's and i'd buy another one now

[@michellerafferty3222]

I liked my M3 better

[@robertchapman6795]

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 🤷‍♂️.

[@homerobarbosa1172]

00:54..a mouse?

[@simeonselmon8318]

I had a fiesta xrt 1982

[@davidcooks5265]

Them wheel's have to go!

[@simeonselmon8318]

The xr3i not a good car

[@davemooney8650]

i allways loved the indecator stalks on the mk3 and the orions

[@davidcooks5265]

I think it's a cassette holder in the consel you need your 80s mix tapes 🕺🕺

[@stuart121972]

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.

[@alanthomson1227]

What a disappointment the ordinal XR3 was , having effectively replaced the MK 2 RS2000 as Fords affordable sporty car . The RS 2000 was perfect .

[@adebrade172]

I swapped my lovely cavalier gsi for one back in 97, worst decision I have made.

[@focus82grothm.84]

Memories from my childhood, that era of Ford's along with the 70's Ford's and that loving CVH exhaust sound 🥰 Great video 😊👍

[@barry-clark]

Those were the days! I had a black mk4 XR3i hatchback, loved that car.

[@MP-po6fj]

Be lovely in black that with a burgundy roof.

[@alecporter1784]

Great vlog again, I borrowed an XR3i from a friend in 1985 and was stunned how fast it was

[@carguygibby]

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!😢

[@bobadkins7377]

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.

[@nakoma5]

It's a shame America always got shortchanged with the Escort. It's hard to get my head around liking Fords of Europe since I'm so used to the natty quality and reputation old Ford cars have in America.

[@jamesengland7461]

agreed

[@franzchong5889]

@@jamesengland7461 spare a thought for Australians.everything below the Falcon/Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia/Fairlane and LTD range during the 80's was a Mazda clone,we didn't see the new age Escorts or any Fiesta or Sierra.I can only imagine If it weren't for the clones what if we had the Sierra XR4TI instead of the Telstar TX5 Turbo as the sports car to take on the Japanese of the day.I some 17 years ago tested a Focus and liked it but it wouldn't fit the Garage(The thing was even wider than a Nineties Camry)so had to buy a crappy Tiida instead.

[@andyduncan9134]

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 👍

[@jaggass]

Never forgotten the sound of a MK4 Escort. Very raspy.

[@allanmollison6971]

Interesting car

[@nickfarrow9032]

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!

[@matthewhocken9133]

Great looking and fun car. I agree with you, still looks great and they gotbthe styling spot on.

[@chatham43]

...very impressed with your very informative videos...thanks...😊

[@Edgel-in6bs]

Wheels aren't the best, but still a classic motor. Mk4s perhaps the best of these.

[@rossturnbull8632]

Just a quickie to point out the obvious to a lot of comments made...the xr was not the flagship model to take on the astra gte or golf gti etc ..that would be the rs16i or the turbo..having owned all of the cars mentioned imho the rs cars handled above and beyond the others..ok the 205 1.9 handled( if you knew how to drive them) but the rs cars were a lot more forgiving....its all personal preference I suppose...

[@markharris7662]

I had one of these. In the mid 90s Mine was white with a blue roof. Loved it.

[@graemew7001]

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.

[@idriveaclassic]

Haha love it

[@david1731048]

Were those rear lights unique to the cabrio? Or are they same ones used on the estate?

[@d33b33]

This was the ultimate grrrrl bling fashion accessory back then. Boys weren't really interested in a slower, heavier, chassis reinforced roofless version, but every schoolboy knew what an XR3i badge meant. Absolute Barbie girl car. Edit: NEVER call a car a "she'. She is for ships and submarines whose life and death impact a great many families where it's a toss up if the family survives without her, as if a mother or a wife. All cars are just cool fun toys compared to hefty drama at sea. It would get you fired from Fifth Gear at the time, or at least, not hired.

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

The Escort EXP was the most exciting version of the Ford Escort. They were only sold in North America.

[@RWL2012]

Have you heard of the Escort RS Turbo? That's the European equivalent of the Escort EXP Turbo.

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

@@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!

[@AliMackMechanical]

I remember these car's well had a Freind who had one. Drove a few xr3i always thought they where nice to drive.

[@MetamorphicWonders]

Nice car. I had one the same. BUT change those wheels!!! I think from memory the wheels should be the banana alloy ones. Id change them back to the original type.