GTP Cool Wall: 1981-1983 Ford Fiesta XR2

1981-1983 Ford Fiesta XR2

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
White & Nerdy

White & Nerdy

4,209
United States
Wasilla, AK
1981-1983 Ford Fiesta XR2 nominated by DQuaN

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Stats:
Production: 1981-1983
Style: 3-door hatchback
Engine: 98 ci/1,599 cc naturally aspirated OHV inline 4 (rated 83 HP & 90 lb-ft, though nomination lists 94 HP)
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Layout: Front-engine, Front-drive​
 
Looks like a rip-off of the Mk1 GTI. And like all rip-offs, its worse than the original in pretty much every way.

Uncool.
 
Soda01
Looks like a rip-off of the Mk1 GTI. And like all rip-offs, its worse than the original in pretty much every way.

Uncool.
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Woah woah woah you didnt just say that.
 
Clark
Woah woah woah you didnt just say that.
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Looks pretty similar to me.

The Fiesta XR2 was basically Ford's reply to the GTI, but it had more then 20 less horsepower, it was heavier, and overall just wasn't as nice to drive.

And while I know none of that has any bearing on whether a car is cool or not, the only way an old car can be cool is if its beautiful, really special to drive, or historically significant. This doesn't fit any of those categories and is therefore just an old car.
 
But was accessible to thousands of people, Ford brought performance cars to the working masses.
 
That was once again the GTI.:dopey: The Fiesta XR2 at launch was £2000 more expensive than the GTI. As a result they were relatively unpopular until the Mk2 arrived. Just finding the Mk1's specifications with a Google search is actually pretty challenging.
 
There is a reason why this exists and I feel it is the GTi.

And everyone remembers the GTi at an international level. I wasn't even aware this existed till an hour ago.
 
Azuremen
There is a reason why this exists and I feel it is the GTi.

And everyone remembers the GTi at an international level. I wasn't even aware this existed till an hour ago.
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In fairness that's probably more to do with Ford having separate divisions and models for the US, Europe, Australia etc. There are probably quite a few non-US Ford models you aren't very familiar with, but it doesn't make them poor cars.
 
I don't like hatchbacks, but this Ford looked good, so I was going to vote meh...

But then I saw the wheels. Uncool.
 
This generation of XR2 wasn't quite as synonymous with the boy racer scene, was it? I know the Mk II was until their numbers really started to dwindle over the past decade, while slowly climbing up towards cool territory.

Either way, I believe it's been a few years since the Mk I reached a point where it can be considered cool. It doesn't matter if it was outmatched by other early 80s hot hatches in terms of power. This Ford was still desirable and really looked the part. Those round headlights gave it more sporting look akin to the outgoing Mk II Escort, unlike the standard Fiesta.

And of course, nothing else wears pepperpot alloys better than the XR2. A truly defining part of the car.
 
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Fast Fords are a solid cool. Forgetting the ubiquity of the Golf GTi, Ford have their own pedigree of performance cars way before 1978. The Escort being a prime example and to me, this nullifies the GTi clone tag the Fiesta undeservedly gets.
 
Liquid
Fast Fords are a solid cool. Forgetting the ubiquity of the Golf GTi, Ford have their own pedigree of performance cars way before 1978. The Escort being a prime example and to me, this nullifies the GTi clone tag the Fiesta gets.
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Exactly, it's those people that once again don't know the lineage of the car company based on a specific reason (please people pick up a damn automotive historical book), that aren't truly voting on cool or uncool. They're voting on "Oh this looks nice or this looks nice" or my favorite "I like this so it must be cool, but I don't like this so uncool" and so on.

But I implore someone to prove me wrong on their stance :mischievous:
 
ECGadget
It's a cool for me. Not amazing enough for a sub zero, but still very nice indeed!
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I'd say Escort Mk I and Mk II as well as the Cosworth get the Sub-zero. Little bro can be cool but never as cool as big bro (says the man who is the oldest of three all boy siblings)
 
I grew up in the 90s. At the time 80s Ford prices were at the point where anyone could by one. Anyone did, and so to me they've become synonymous with loud stereos and boy racers. That impression has never left.

Also much too Essex.

Uncool.
 
I was born in 1999 sadly :( my grand father has wrote off mk1 4 escorts and crashed one over a sea wall my dad flipped a capri and sold a mint mk1 escort for 600. now i worship fast fords and want a 1.4 capri for my first car
 
SniperRed3
I was born in 1999 sadly :( my grand father has wrote off mk1 4 escorts and crashed one over a sea wall my dad flipped a capri and sold a mint mk1 escort for 600. now i worship fast fords and want a 1.4 capri for my first car
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1.4? :confused:
 

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