Merkur XR4Ti

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:45 am

hey fellas i need some help.. what the hell is a merkur xr4ti.. anyone ever drove one? or know anything about em? some guy offered me his 86 and claims it has 108,000 miles. Says it has a SSQV BOV on it and a 3 inch exaust. claims it has a boost controler running 20 psi no problem. I think im gunna go check the car out but does anyone have expirence with these cars?

Post by **Rex** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:55 am

Pr0jeCt wrote:hey fellas i need some help.. what the hell is a merkur xr4ti.. anyone ever drove one? or know anything about em? some guy offered me his 86 and claims it has 108,000 miles. Says it has a SSQV BOV on it and a 3 inch exaust. claims it has a boost controler running 20 psi no problem. I think im gunna go check the car out but does anyone have expirence with these cars?

I knew a couple guys that had these new just after high school (yes, I'm that old). We all thought they were just "fancy Escorts". We were WRONG, 175hp, 187 tq was in no way shape or form Escort-like.

Nice cars, they just didn't work for the Ford/Mercury buyer and didn't sway the Honda/Toyota crowd either. Plenty of site out there with info, but suffice it to say, it's a small/medium size European turbo inline 4 - 4 door hatch. Not sure, but it may have shared the same turbo I4 as the SVO mustangs of the mid-80's.

"The Merkur XR4Ti was a short-lived American-market version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i. It was sold in the US from 1985 to 1989. It was the first vehicle of the Merkur range. Ford had hopes of importing its top European models under this brand, but the venture was ultimately unsuccessful.

The XR4Ti was distinguished mechanically by its turbocharged Ford Lima 2.3 L 4-cylinder SOHC engine and independent rear suspension and stylistically by its large bi-plane spoiler. It came with either the C3 3-speed automatic transmission or the T-9 5-speed manual transmission. Many felt it resembled the Ford Escort RS at the time, although the two were built on different platforms. Mechanically, it differed from the European model, which had a 2.8 L V6 unit.

The XR4Ti was on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 1985."

Post by **koukicody** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:01 am

yep. same motor as the SVO mustnag and Thunderbird turbocoupe.

I love SVO's. so redneck and hillbilly-ish!

Post by **Mr1der** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:36 pm

it's a German Ford.

I love the cars...the 2.3 turbo can be made fast as hell realitively cheap too.

I almost got a Turbocoupe for my first car for all of 800 bucks for a near mint car.

I was so irritated my mom didn't go for it due to percieved high cost of maintenance.

it WAS an automatic though.

I think the Merkur might have IRS as opposed to the other cars as well.

what did he want for the car?

Post by **Gold Digger** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:07 pm

Dude, those little cars are fun as hell. My uncle had one till his now ex-wife totaled it.

They run pretty damned well to. The 2.3l turbo is a nice little engine when bolted to a 5 speed.

2 door hatch, and RWD I think. Not sure though on that one.

What does he want to trade you for? What do you have?

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:28 pm

he wants to trade

Post by **NSR_s30** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:12 pm

If I had a chance to get one I would.

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:06 pm

looks like it could be a fun car.. its too damn ugly though.. whats up with the windows in the back though..

Post by **Repo Man** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:19 am

koukicody wrote:yep. same motor as the SVO mustnag and Thunderbird turbocoupe.

I love SVO's. so redneck and hillbilly-ish!

The SVO was actually ahead of it's time. It was the Mustang that should have been. Keep in mind that in 1985 V8 Mustangs were still carbuereted, four lug with drum brakes out back. The SVO was fuel injected turbo, five lug with four wheel disc brakes. I think it still a live-axle setup, but could not swear to it.

Post by **koukicody** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:35 am

yeah, 3.73 live axle.

my buddy had one, fun as all hell. always beating newer GT's until the oil pump failed on him. sold it for 2k w/o the motor, and originally bought it for 1400. not bad.

and, dont forget, they came with the badass Koni adjustable shocks from the factory!

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:28 pm

so 2 things..

1. trade for my 91 s13 for the merkur. (not asking what i should do..asking what YOU would do)

2. what should i look for when i go inspect it.

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Thu May 24, 2007 6:39 am

Post by **Rex** » Thu May 24, 2007 7:06 am

Pr0jeCt wrote:so 2 things..

1. trade for my 91 s13 for the merkur. (not asking what i should do..asking what YOU would do)

2. what should i look for when i go inspect it.

1. If you're looking to trade you S13, then Yes.

2. As with any car, check the fluids, for elaks, rust, under body damage. Test drive listen for un-natural noises.2.b. Look for a Merkur or XR4Ti site, it should have a "buyuers guide" somewhere. That will tell you of any known weak spots (i.e. KA42DE upper guide, rust under spoiler, etc)

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Thu May 24, 2007 7:55 am

general stuff then..ill find a big fan site for em or somethin.. ty

Post by **Mr1der** » Thu May 24, 2007 3:48 pm

man...if that's the car that interior is MINT for the age.

hell...being as you've got an auto car anyway...I'd probably do it, but I've got a retarded love for those cars.

Turbocoupe sites would also be a huge resource for the car....it's not too hard to find 9 second TC's.

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Thu May 24, 2007 4:52 pm

yeah thats the car.. the picture i put up a few posts back is the car also..only thing wrong with it i guess is drivers seat is tore up..and the ac is out

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Thu May 24, 2007 7:36 pm

ill let ya guys know whats up with it

Post by **MinisterofDOOM** » Fri May 25, 2007 12:42 am

Mr1der wrote:I think the Merkur might have IRS as opposed to the other cars as well.

Yeah, the Sierra (which is what the XR4Ti is a trim variant of) had IRS and was RWD. It's too bad we got the Escort instead of the Sierra.

Post by **Mr1der** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:22 am

I really wish we got all of the European escorts....Ford had one from the early mid 80's that was rwd and might've ran this motor too...or maybe that was the one that was similar to the Capri of the 70's.

Post by **koukicody** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:31 am

^^ me too

I wish they kept the SVO aswell. the next one was gonna be DOHC.you can make your own DOHC with some volvo head though, from what ive read.

Post by **Axel Grungy** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:29 am

if its a michigan car tho, id go over that thing with with a fine tooth comb for rust. god i hate salt.

Post by **TAK83** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:47 pm

merkeu xr4ti are compact fastback's produced by ford in germany..so i heard..

it came in many iterations..almost all engine's came with turboed setups..

in europe, it's called the ford sierra..there is also a 4-door version callewd the ford scorpio

my friend has a old red xr4ti with turboed 2.3and i dorve it once and it was gob's of fun, beside's the fact that he took the power steerng out and the steering was so stiff, even my 2 amr's weren't enough..i could only steer when the wheels were moving..

althoughth the interior is very spartan..itr was a suitable and comfortable daily driver

i would say it's a decent car next to the venerable 240SX

Post by **pepegurr** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:17 pm

just so happens that i own both a 88 xr and a 87 mustang with a tc engine in it . not only will these cars haul *** they drift like a dream. the stock engines can be made to push insane hp. i know a couple of guys makin in the neighborhood of 500-600 on stock internals and since its a ford all the parts are cheap as dirt. if you want to read up on them i suggest that you go to turboford.net or merkurclub.com.

Post by **Mr1der** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:21 pm

dude, seriously, pics or videos.

Post by **Robi1** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:23 am

Niiiice. the euro/brit Sieras were hot stuff back in the 80s You might want to check out the cosworth site as they had some pretty trick gear back then for em. go for the 5 speed as the borg/warner slushbox wasn't that fantastic. also go for heavier/duty driveshaft/universal setup they had tendency to fatigue rapidly. Personally I like the 2.8l injected better, with a good turbo setup it's a leathal weapon. However the 2.3 with cosworth twincam head & good injection system tuned exhaust they were good for 600hp in race tune not to bad for the 80s

Post by **Pr0jeCt** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:45 pm

guy sold the car.. i did check it out ..was a nice car.. dunno what happened tho he must have thought i was un interested.. turbo blew up like a week later tho so +1 for not getting it

Post by **bundy26** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:49 pm

You should try to get your hands on a Ford Sierra Cosworth, the first and true street rally car, had one when I lived in Spain 6 years ago.

Merkur XR4Ti

Merkur XR4Ti

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