1986 Ford Fiesta XR2 from UK and Ireland - Comments

With present one, nothing, it's been as good as gold - but this is probably because I picked it up for £200 from a 66 year old man who had owned it from new, but was giving up driving so it had been sat in his garage for 7 months. When he took it for an MOT IT FAILED on some holes in the floorpans - so he sold it with a box of service history and an engine that sounded and looked like it had only done a 1/4 of the 192,000 miles it had done. Excellent and it's got another 100,000 in it yet.

Good fast fun.

I've owned four of these and one of them was a complete load of rubbish due to neglect: smoking exhaust, oil leaking from rocker cover and head gasket, lack of power, starter motor broke - the list goes on.

But if you can find one that's been well looked after it will last for ever - but watch out for that rust?

I change my oil and filter every 4000 miles and you can't hear the tappets or nasty sounds. And it still pulls 125mph on the motorway - Ford said it could only do 110mph - must have been drunk.

SERVICE IT REGULARLY AND YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEMS. YOU PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS EITHER ABUSE IT OR BOUGHT AN ABUSED ONE.

125 on the speedo is 110 exact speed I would think...

I owned a 1987 XR2 for 7 years and apart from a full sports exhaust, I had mine over 125mph!!! So na na na na na!

My E-reg XR2 goes over 110mph, remember top speeds are done in 4th gear. I've got about 117mph out of it.

117 in 5th

122 in 4th ya.

I totally agree with the comments above, although working within the law profession I could not possibly comment on the top speed I recorded in my first XR2!! Needless to say it is my claim to fame that I was mentioned during an article in a national newspaper about The Dartford Bridge, and the speed that idiotic young drivers in their hot hatches! They clocked me at 102 mph, and stated that as I crested the brow all four wheels were airborne (which I somewhat doubt!!). As I have matured so has my driving you will be pleased to hear! Anyway my first XR2 clocked up over 145,000 miles, of which I did 100,000. All of which were done on the original gearbox, engine, etc. I only changed the oil/filter once a year (if that), and only had three clutches, all of which mysteriously snapped in the last 6 months of me driving it. It eventually circummed to the MOT inspector due to 'terminal rusting' of the floorpan, and inner wings. I still have it, and intend to attempt a repair when I have learnt the delicate art of welding. I then purchased another XR2 2 years ago. A real find this one. A 1989 car, 1 previous owner, and spent it's first three years as a show car in a local ford dealership. The previous keeper drove it for a few years before putting it into storage for a further 3 years due to being given a company car!! When I bought it it had 47,000 miles on the clock (certified by AA). I have since added about 22,000, and it again has given me virtually no trouble at all (one AA callout due to some severely seized brake discs). All in all the XR2 is a great little motor. I am already looking out for another one to snap up before goood examples of the little treasures become extinct.

I have just purchased a '87 XR2 in fair condition here in Estepona, Spain and it looks like it's had a hard life, bashed bumpers, clapped interior, spots missing, rear wiper arm broken off, speedo constantly at 6-o-clock and needs shocks all round, bushes all round, battery, radio and a set of tyres, but apart from that and its propensity to go left on acceleration and dive right on braking it's a fun little car and no rust, due to our weather here and we have no salt on the roads, ever.

Currently bidding on EBay for steering wheel as the sun has eaten the top off the original so in a month or so it will be good little hack and I look forward to adding it to my Mercedes Cosworth and Eagle SS fleet. (never get a standard car when you can get a special one).

I had a 1985 xr2 and it had twin 40's KN sports exhaust the lot and yeah it was quick, but 125mph your having a laugh. your speedo must be wrong.

I've got an xr2 1985 with twin 40s kent cam 4 branch manifold and scorpion stainless system and I only got 110 out of it so tell me whats your secret.

I have owned 6 of these little beauties, they have always been my favourite car, and will remain my favourite car!! My first one was sky blue, year 1985, originally english, after 5 more all different years, I took the upgrade fiesta, 1989, it got me from A-B, but was not near as fun as 'Little blue', I then got a 1991 peugeot 405, but went back down to the fiesta after a few years, the oldest fiesta, I ever had, was 1984, and I have always said the older the fiesta, the better! ocasionally you will see one whizzing past you on the road, you can hear it coming, (it has a very destinct noise). but I'm am now driving my 7th ford fiesta, dark blue, 1986, and all the fiesta's I have had in the past years, are parked up behind my house, I just couldn't bare to get rid of any single one of them, everytime I see them it seems like there smiling at me, saying 'Remember all those great years we had'!!! I drove the square nosed (1980) fiesta, for about 6 months, but gave constant trouble, probably because it was always frowning, that's up behind my house too, I love it also, its just grumpy! There a handful to start on a cold morning, but I wouldd not get rid of them for no one!!! Keep up the good work little blue (my car)!!!

How strange! A car that, when it was new, Ford only claimed a top speed of 110 mph, yet as it gets older it gets faster!

That must be a first, a manufacturer claiming a top speed LOWER than the fact!

Well the top speed would have been tested with proper equipment by the manufacturers, not the speedo, which can over-read. But its not uncommon for a car to be a little bit faster from when it was new, as long as its been well maintained. My subaru feels like its got quite a bit better now with 34,000 miles than when it was brand new.

I've had mine for 3 years now and I love it, especially with its 2.0 Zetec fitted.

Has gone through 2 MOTs without needing any work, due again in November, so fingers crossed.

Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, cheap classic insurance. You can't go wrong with an XR2, just watch for the rot under the body kit.

I race an XR2 with twin 45's, CVH27 Kent Camshaft, fully ported/flowed/tuned & timed head, Gaz rear adj shocks & Spax front adj shocks, 280lbs/ft front & 650lbs/ft rear springs & managed to get 120.73 mph on Snetterton's Revett Straight (with a slipstream). Don't see how it could go any faster, but around corners... it will catch & overtake all those so called 'race cars'. Good old Fords, you just can't beat them!