Faults:

Severe rust around the fuel filler cap.

Water got into the headlights.

Engine ran on after the ignition was switched off.

General Comments:

Lost my company car when I changed my job, and had this off a family member as a stop gap.

Although a bit chavy nowadays (maybe they always have been), I remember always wanting one back in the eighties, so this for me was a bit of nostalgia.

The XR3i is a good car. It is far surpassed in performance terms by newer cars, but it handles well and is a comfortable place to be. It is quickish, and the unassisted steering is not too heavy. The interior has dated badly, but that is part of its charm.

Only owned it for a year, but had great fun doing so. You can pick them up for next to nothing, and they make a great shed.

Faults:

Nothing.

Has only required routine servicing and a set of front brake pads.

Breathes heavily through rocker cover breather, but keep chucking the cheap oil in, and she just keeps on going.

General Comments:

57bhp of tarmac-tearing horsepower means that performance can best be described as leisurely. Best to not try and win any Grands Prix with it, and be content to cruise.

Will sit at a comfortable 65-70 all day long, and rewards you with outstanding fuel economy. Worst ever was 44mpg, best an astounding 54mpg.

Utterly utterly reliable in all weathers, and for the MOT required nothing more than a set of brake pads and three hours with the MIG welder plating up a couple of holes in the floor.

Bad points? Steering is heavy when parking being non-PAS, and the engine, being an HCS 1.3, sounds like someone dropping a bag of spanners down a stairwell. Easily mistaken for a diesel!

Faults:

Overtaking a Fiesta Zetec s on a country road the plastic clip that keeps the throttle cable in place at the throttle decided to break. Resulting in no throttle whatsoever, not good at the time!

The poly ratchet on the clutch pedal has broken, so I cannot get it in gear, getting fixed soon though.

General Comments:

First of all, I keep getting asked why on earth I wanted to go from a 5 year old Focus to a 15 year old Escort and only like minded Ford lovers will understand.

I have always wanted an RS Turbo since I first seen a Series 1 in Llandudno when I was about 8.

Now I own one it feels great! When people ask me what car I drive, I have great joy in telling them that I own an Escort RS Turbo.

You get noticed in this car no doubt about it, even more than when I had my modified Focus.

I know there are people who hate Fords and think my car is rubbish, I am not writing this for them, I am writing this for the lucky people who either own a car like this or are considering buying one.

The things that have went wrong have been wee stupid things and I am glad the car is near enough standard.

I wanted a standard one so I could make it one of the cleanest Series 2 RS Turbo's in Scotland. The only things it has had is a full up to the Turbo exhaust system, pipercross induction kit, Bailey Dump Valve and a Garrett -31 Actuator. Got the Actuator because it was running lean, I think this could also be caused by the Pipercross, so I am currently looking for a standard air box.

At first the car is quite demanding to drive, in the wet you have to watch that you don't get to heavy footed or it will wheel-spin constantly. Once you get used to it and learn you have to be gentle it will drive like any other car.

Handling is fine, the Recaros are really comfy and when the Turbo kicks in it can go. Putting it simply that is what you want to know if considering buying one, just make sure you are careful, take your time before buying.

I am going to be making it perfect in the time that I will own mine, that is my mission. I am not bothered about modifiying the engine, I just want mine immaculate, making sure there will still be some of these future classic cars on the roads in years to come.