1989 Merkur XR4Ti review from North America
"Outstanding!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The car was running when I bought it, but had major engine problems. I purchased a spare engine with the car and had it installed. During the installation many parts were replaced. Some because of problems and some for preventive reasons.
General comments?
I owned a 1986 Merkur (purchased in 1988) and loved the car. The performance of my 86 was excellent and it is a fun car to drive. It's not the 120 mph that gets me, it's the 0-60 acceleration. After that, 65 mph on interstates is fine with me.
The car does have things that go wrong with it, but if you're not used to cars like this my advice is don't get involved in them. You have to have a passion for them and be willing to shell out money to fix, repair, replace and prevent mishaps. I have owned several 1950's and 1960's MG's and any owner of these cars have been pre-disastered regarding unreliability. If you love it, you live with it.
Recommended reviews
| A very good, under-appreciated car |
|
| Unique performance and design with uncommon practicality |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 129000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 132000 miles |
| Previous car | Datsun 280Z |
| Date of Entry | 29th March, 2003 |