GTP Cool Wall: 1981-1983 Ford Fiesta XR2

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1981-1983 Ford Fiesta XR2

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
McLaren
You got proven otherwise before you even commented that it has "underwhelming power figures, probably crappy handling, ugly configuration".
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That still doesn't change my opinion.
 
The epitome of uncool... along with the XR3i.
 
Slash
That still doesn't change my opinion.
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Your opinion was based on it being boring because of "underwhelming power figures, probably crappy handling, ugly configuration". If you want to continue to stick that opinion, go ahead. We call that ignorance everywhere else.

I'd wager anyone here you're like Cody in that you didn't even know this existed til' an hour ago.
 
Wiegert
And that's before we even get onto you lumping the XR2 as a commuter car in the same vein as an executive saloon.
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Not just lumping a Fiesta in the same group as an executive saloon, but an XR2 Fiesta. Wow.
 
I'd say bad example of retro cool.
It's a fancied-up version of a car that is absolutely SU.
Famine
It could do mid 9s 0-60mph runs at a time when the V8 Ferrari was doing mid 7s. For a £5k car, compared to the £50k Ferrari.

The modern equivalent would be spending £17k on a Fiesta that can do 0-60mph in 4.1s (the V8 Ferrari costs £170k and does it in 3.3s).

I'd say it was pretty brisk for its time.
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I never saw anything saying mid 9s.
I saw mid 11s and that a kit from an aftermarket company could put a turbo on it but nothing about 9s 0-60. I'll have to look up some more research.
Edit: Found autocar saying 10.2.
Found "performance car guide" claiming mid 9s but that site isn't exactly on par with the other sources I'm seeing (of course that's just my opinion of the site).

Btw, I'm also consistently seeing the Ferrari 308 doing mid 6s for 60.
 
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It is definitely 9s, they even tested the 0-60 when they did one on Wheeler Dealers this series and they recorded something in the early 9s.
 
lol at handles pretty well they are amazing i love them so much get up and go
 
It's a Ford people. A Ford. Ford.

None the less, I've never heard anything bad about these things, but the joyriding connotations aren't quite gone yet, regardless of whether or not these have been touched by anyone other than a collector in the past decade.

Seriously uncool. A Renault badge could so easily have earned this a cool, but. It's an 80s Ford.
 
Marginally less cool than Crocs.

Seriously uncool.
 
Kent
I never saw anything saying mid 9s.
I saw mid 11s and that a kit from an aftermarket company could put a turbo on it but nothing about 9s 0-60. I'll have to look up some more research.
Edit: Found autocar saying 10.2.
Found "performance car guide" claiming mid 9s but that site isn't exactly on par with the other sources I'm seeing (of course that's just my opinion of the site).

Btw, I'm also consistently seeing the Ferrari 308 doing mid 6s for 60.
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Okay, let's pretend that a 1981 XR2 did 10.2s to 60mph and the 1981 Ferrari 308 did 6.5s. The modern equivalent would be a £17k Fiesta that does 0-60mph in 5.1s.

I'd say that's pretty brisk for its time.
 
Famine
Okay, let's pretend that a 1981 XR2 did 10.2s to 60mph and the 1981 Ferrari 308 did 6.5s. The modern equivalent would be a £17k Fiesta that does 0-60mph in 5.1s.

I'd say that's pretty brisk for its time.
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I'll give you credit that it wasn't the slowest car around but I don't quite understand the whole "let's pretend" thing about the times.
I simply haven't seen anyone (besides the questionable source already mentioned) say the XR2 was in the mid 9s while the Ferrari was in the mid 7s.

Just as well, even in the mid 10s the XR2 wasn't exactly "slow" but I still don't exactly see that as being fast.
 
Kent
I'll give you credit that it wasn't the slowest car around but I don't quite understand the whole "let's pretend" thing about the times.
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Simply because I'm not really interested in arguing the toss about acceleration figures from thirty years ago that were probably made up anyway (because 80s) as it doesn't really help the point.

It was a hot hatch. It was a hatchback you could go and buy for buttons that didn't get to the speed limit noticeably slower than the V8 Ferrari benchmark of the time - that largely defines what a hot hatch is.
 
Despite being a Ford, it's a cool little hot-hatch. Cool factor enhaced because is one of the first hot-hatches
 
Famine
Simply because I'm not really interested in arguing the toss about acceleration figures from thirty years ago that were probably made up anyway (because 80s) as it doesn't really help the point.

It was a hot hatch. It was a hatchback you could go and buy for buttons that didn't get to the speed limit noticeably slower than the V8 Ferrari benchmark of the time - that largely defines what a hot hatch is.
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Basically we agree it was cheap and a hatchback. Just how fast it was and if that was noticeable is another issue. Either way I've said all I need to say, we simply dont agree on everything, no big deal.
 
If Scumbag Steve was alive a decade or 3 earlier, he would drive an XR2i, and he would be pulling handbrake turns in outside your grannies house.
 
MatskiMonk
If Scumbag Steve was alive a decade or 3 earlier, he would drive an XR2i, and he would be pulling handbrake turns in outside your grannies house.
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He'd have a hard job - the XR2i wasn't out until 8 years and two generations of Fiesta later.

I'd have an XR2i tomorrow. Not an RS Turbo or RS1800 (okay, maybe an RS1800), the basic XR2i. Wish I'd bought one four years ago when I was thinking about it, because prices have rocketed.
 
MatskiMonk
If Scumbag Steve was alive a decade or 3 earlier, he would drive an XR2i, and he would be pulling handbrake turns in outside your grannies house.
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Good thing we are not discussing the XR2i here. :p

Dammit.
Tree'd
 
Slash
Boring to look at, underwhelming power figures, probably crappy handling, ugly configuration, typically rust buckets, eh just nothing cool about this car for me. Just look at it. Nothing cool. Plus its a rip off car. Nothing is more uncool than that. Seriously uncool.
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You're assuming the hell out of it.
Liquid
You are entitled to your justification of your vote but your reasoning shows a serious ignorance of European cars, the history of European cars and European car culture.
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How so? Yes, he's judging the hell out of it and is probably wrong in some aspects, but I don't see anything aimed specifically toward European cars.
 
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McLaren
YI'd wager anyone here you're like Cody in that you didn't even know this existed til' an hour ago.
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Stop bringing attention to the fact I don't know everything.

Stahp it.

Anyhow, I voted "meh" before reading Famine's post explaining the car a bit better, but I'd still vote that way anyhow. The fact I thought it was GTi when I first opened the thread tells volumes about how cool it would be here, in that I'd have to explain what the car is to everyone and that just isn't cool. No doubt it would be a hoot to drive, but lots of light and cheap cars are fun to drive because limits are low and keeping your foot planted is just fun. And this is why it isn't uncool.
 
Roger the Horse
Cool has nothing to do with being good.

This is not a like wall.
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If I don't like something odds are I'm not going to find it cool.
 
Roger the Horse
It's a Ford people. A Ford. Ford.

None the less, I've never heard anything bad about these things, but the joyriding connotations aren't quite gone yet
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Really? I'm pretty sure if I saw one today, my first thought would be something other than "I bet he nicked that." Pretty sure joyriders and other oiks have moved on to Vauxhalls and SEATs these days.

I don't see what the problem is with it being a Ford? Sure, a white XR3 cabrio has more than a whiff of Essex Boy to it, but reputations change. I mean, I used to think that Audis had a subtle, unassuming cool to them, but look at the monumental morons who drive them now...
 
Custom878
True, but it doesn't always make it uncool.
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No one ever said it did.

Only sometimes. Depends on the car.
 
Roger the Horse
Cool has nothing to do with being good.

This is not a like wall.
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Errm. Yes it does.


Anyway, these are now starting become collectible, so a totally original one is becoming a rare sight. Yes they still have that whiff of joyriding and theft about them but they're still cool as are most fast Fords.


Also I have found this thread slightly amusing but not surprising in the discussions/arguing. The American/Canadian members will not be fond of it as many won't have memories of them being around whereas the European members will be vice versa. It'll be the same for all Fords of this type.
 
Slash
If I don't like something odds are I'm not going to find it cool.
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I don't like my family some days doesn't mean I don't find the cool those day. I do because of certain skills, mannerisms, overall actions, material goods, social lives and so on...

Same goes for cars and many things in life to be honest. None of which I base on the shallowness of liking or disliking it out right. I dislike getting my ass handed to me in online games, doesn't mean I can't respect or see how cool it was in how my opponent beat me. However, I guess we should be glad that you're not as close minded as the OP just somewhat.
 
SVT Cobra GT
Errm. Yes it does.
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No, it doesn't. Cool is an aesthetic. There are many terrible things which can still be described as cool, just as there are many excellent things which are in no way cool at all.
 
Roger the Horse
No, it doesn't. Cool is an aesthetic. There are many terrible things which can still be described as cool, just as there are many excellent things which are in no way cool at all.
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It does have something to do with coolness.

What you're describing I agree with. There are things that are terrible that I find cool.

Roger the Horse
A Renault badge could so easily have earned this a cool, but. It's an 80s Ford.
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Dennisch
So you prefer standing next to the road with the hood open than having a blast driving around?
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But in this case. Yes. Standing at the side of the road with your car in a cloud of steam is never cool.

Say if you're picking up a female for a date, she isn't really going to be that bothered what you drive but breaking down is not a cool thing to happen if you're trying to make a good impression. Having a good car that works is going to be much cooler to her than otherwise.
 
Famine
He'd have a hard job - the XR2i wasn't out until 8 years and two generations of Fiesta later.

I'd have an XR2i tomorrow. Not an RS Turbo or RS1800 (okay, maybe an RS1800), the basic XR2i. Wish I'd bought one four years ago when I was thinking about it, because prices have rocketed.
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Now is the time to grab a kittenface Zetec S...
Slash
If I don't like something odds are I'm not going to find it cool.
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And that is why you're such a hideously bad judge of coolness. An inability to separate something you like from something that's cool.
 
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