1991 Ford Sierra XR4x4 from UK and Ireland - Comments

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.

Good review, pleasure to read.

Regards (from Poland)

Very concise and helpful. I am considering purchasing one of these cars for import to Australia, therefore I have found the content of this review to be excellent. Regards Ron Brown

Four words: underpowered, overweight, ugly rustbucket.

Is that based on ownership or just prejudice?

Perhaps when you've done 200,000 miles in one like I have, your opinion might actually carry some weight.

I acknowledged it looks dated, but arguably less so than a Vauxhall, VW or even BMW of the same era.

It's not overweight. In fact, it's lighter than a fully loaded Focus, Astra, Megane, Golf or any other modern equivalent from the "class below"

Underpowered - maybe. But it's torquey, quick enough and its reliable. It will still comfortably wipe the floor with typical motorway flotsam encountered today. 0-60 in 8 seconds might not win any rallies, but it isn't exactly gutless. It will see off a current BMW 320i without going within 1,000 RPM of its redline.

Rustbucket - no. Only when owned by people who don't know how to look after a car.

Post some facts, not irrelevant opinions.

I owned one of these until it got nicked...grrrrr...was a great car and would see off GTI crap... raced an evo 4 and scooby and they only got a little bit away on the straights... but I also thought the other drivers were crap... great car,,,,, want another one...:}

Actually rust is one of their weak points even when looked after well,its partly pot luck, but the higher end models often faired better.

My 92 model Ghia rear arches were fairly rusted by 2004.

Last comment about the arches, rust proof them and grease them up, they'll never rust then, did this on my '92 4x4 sapphire ghia and it still not rusty and it was done 5 years ago!

Just bought my first 4x4 and up to now id like to say what a great car, to say the car is 15 years old no rust the interior is mint well looked after and the power these cars throw out the handling on corners is second to none.

Big thumbs up from me. proper 80's classic.