1991 Ford Sierra XR4x4 review from UK and Ireland

Front TCA bushes at 76,000 miles. These failed again a year later, so fitted polyurethane "upgrade" items which have lasted ever since.

Clutch at 89,000 miles and again at 179,000 miles. As the car is used to tow a speedboat in the summer and is 4wd, I think this is reasonable.

Rocker cover gaskets and crankcase breather cleanout at 105,000 miles.

Shocks finished at 120k. Replaced with Koni gas adjustables all round which transformed the car.

Coolant temperature sensor failed at 150,000 miles, giving 8 mpg (gulp!) for a couple of weeks.

I bought this car as a 1900 mile ex-demonstrator from my local Ford dealer in late 1991. I have since put over 200,000 miles on it, and still use it to tow a speedboat all over the country, and it's as reliable as clockwork.

People praise VW and BMW etc for build quality, but after 200,000 miles of hard use, this car still looks, feels and drives superb. There's a bit of wear on the drivers seat squab, and the odd squeak over really rough roads, but its mechanically and cosmetically still superb. A real testament in my view.

The 4wd system has never gone wrong despite its complexity (even by today's standards), and less than impeccable reputation for reliability. I've had to replace two clutches, but in 216,000 miles, I don't think it's excessive. The fuel injection/management system has also been faultless apart from a coolant temperature sensor failure a couple of years back. This was diagnosed quickly and cheaply by a local fuel injection specialist. Other than that, and the few bits above, I've simply followed the Ford schedule to the letter, and it soldiers on happily.

In terms of what the car can do, the answer is pretty much anything. It tows effortlessly, can be slung around the back-lanes in lovely tail led four wheel drifts, sits at 80 mph on the motorway in near silence and sits in traffic and town all day without getting temperamental. Despite its advancing years it has electronic ABS, power steering, a heated windscreen, air conditioning, a CD multichanger, and electric everything. It's quick enough to blow away day to day traffic, engineered solidly enough to rack up 200,000 miles and still feel good. Added to all that, it seats five in comfort, has a big boot, fully folding seats and a big tailgate area for awkward loads, and although not an off-roader by any stretch, its 4WD system gives superb traction over fields, dirt tracks and snow. The lack of modern, reasonably affordable new cars that have or can do all that is the reason I still have it.

If you take fuel consumption (18 mpg) and its dated styling out of the equation, this car is still a fantastic all rounder even by today's standards. Think of any type of use you might put a car to, and an XR4x4 will cope admirably.