XR4 in Cars Guide

[Fled74]

Scanned from the Brimbank Leader newspaper today. Sorry for the crappy image quality.



"Weightlifting midget". Heh-heh-heh.

Even after reading this, my wife still doesn't want to upgrade to the XR4. I honestly don't know what her problem is.

[Ives]

Cool.

Thanks for sharring the article. No doubt the XR4 is a great little car.

[robjh80]

I love mine, only gripe I have is the seats......"they look great but are not very comfortable".....the Zetec seats are much better imo.

[Ives]

We can swap the seats then. Let me know when u're ready.

[Bucknaked]

I think its fantastic that cars like the XR4 get good reviews. Most people look at the fiesta as just a 4 potter. The XR4 is showing the way, just how good the small car bracket can be. Stripes really set the whole package off.

[robjh80]

And I forgot to mention......the XR4 loves the petrol, I only get about 400km per 45 litre tank compared to the Zetec which "from memory" was a fair bit more fuel efficient, understandably of course to some degree.....being 2.0L vs 1.6L

If fuel economy is a major concern to anyone "thinking" of an XR4, then it may not be your thing.

On the other hand if you dont really give a "flying hoot" about fuel economy but just want a small car that is a "bucket load of fun" and has a massive dose of guts and spirit about it.......then the XR4 would definately be your thing!!

[MISTA FIESTA]

Im used to high fuel usage. I came from a 1.6 Auto. At the momentthe XR4 is on 9.8L/100km and thats not really giving it any stick but mainly 60-70kmph areas. It sure loves to be thrown around and exploited.

[Steffo]

400km from 4.5L (11.25L/100km) is worryingly bad for a 1090kg 2.0 4-cyl hatch. My Sport Clio usually averages around the 8L/100km mark (varying from 7.8ish to 8.2ish from tank to tank). Or are you on the rev limiter all the time? lol...

[Jess85]

robjh80 i love the seats in the XR4..they're WAY more comfy than the Fiesta Zetec i had..they were too hard.

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by Steffo

400km from 4.5L (11.25L/100km) is worryingly bad for a 1090kg 2.0 4-cyl hatch. My Sport Clio usually averages around the 8L/100km mark (varying from 7.8ish to 8.2ish from tank to tank). Or are you on the rev limiter all the time? lol...

No mate, that's just driving fairly normal, no hard stuff or racing, probably more trying to nurse it if anything.

Hoping it gets better as it loosens up, only done just over 1000km so far.
Have had it down to 9.5 for a short while but then it went back up to around 10.5-11.0

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by robjh80

No mate, that's just driving fairly normal, no hard stuff or racing, probably more trying to nurse it if anything.

Hoping it gets better as it loosens up, only done just over 1000km so far.
Have had it down to 9.5 for a short while but then it went back up to around 10.5-11.0

Oh right... its only very fresh still. It should hopefully drop down considerably once its run in nicely. :eclipsee_

[Jess85]

i get about 8L/100km and i've done 2500 ks in my car

[robjh80]

Did some "Granny Style Driving" to work this morning, got the fuel economy showing 10.2L/100km......can't keep this up though, getting owned at the lights by Daewoo Barina's just aint worth it!!

[mitch_lx]

Originally Posted by robjh80

getting owned at the lights by Daewoo Barina's just aint worth it!!

Buy a bottle of octane booster :

[BlackLS]

Hmmm same engine as the foc in a lighter body... The worst I've ever-ever done for a tank is 9.8L/100kms, that was absolutly thrashing it.

I'm ususally around the 8L/100kms mark.

[zetec]

The Fiesta is short geared and spins much higher at highway speeds. It's an incredibly tight engine from brand new so takes a little time to free up the performance and improve the fuel economy, expect about 5,000km on the odo before it starts to show its true potential. I suspect it has a failry short diff in it too to help performance. It's certainly higher than expected, but not bad really for what it is.

[whooligan]

I'm beginning to beileve my girlfreind when she says I drive a girls' cars. Poor fuel economy and uncomfortable seats???? You're all a bunch of pussies. I bought my XR4 to fang around the streets and enjoy like the Escort RS2000 it replaced. My work vehicle is a Falcon ute and I use more fuel in a single trip, than I do in a whole week in the Fez. I think you are missing the point of this car, girls.

[Nappa]

fuel economy has never really concerned me, the car says i'm doing around 11 when i'm really driving hard. But as i rack up the k's (almost 7000) it seems to be a getting better average around 9. Also has anyone else experianced any knocking or creeking noises from behind the drivers door?

[Kariharnett]

the MOTOR magazine has highly recommended the XR4 over the VW golf gti, mits Colt ralliart and the swift sport the only car that came close to the xr4 was the golf gti

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Kariharnett

the MOTOR magazine has highly recommended the XR4 over the VW golf gti, mits Colt ralliart and the swift sport the only car that came close to the xr4 was the golf gti

Are you sure it was the Golf GTI ($39,990, 2.0T 147kW 280Nm, Focus XR5 Turbo competitor) rather then Polo GTI ($26,990, 1.8T 110kW 220Nm, Fiesta XR4 competitor)

[robjh80]

The latest Wheels mag has a test between the XR4, Polo GTi, Colt Ralliart and Swift Sport, they gave the final nod of approval to the Polo just ahead of the XR4....the Swift Sport they felt was completely "out of it's depth in this company."

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by whooligan

I'm beginning to beileve my girlfreind when she says I drive a girls' cars. Poor fuel economy and uncomfortable seats???? You're all a bunch of pussies. I bought my XR4 to fang around the streets and enjoy like the Escort RS2000 it replaced. My work vehicle is a Falcon ute and I use more fuel in a single trip, than I do in a whole week in the Fez. I think you are missing the point of this car, girls.

Brought a large smile and a chuckle to me Whooligan, dont hold back now, tell it like it is champ... _2:

Maybe I'm just getting too old, I do like a bit of creature comforts these days you know....all good though, lovin' the XR4.

[Kariharnett]

hmm ill have another read of it. i just assumed the XR4 won cos it was first iun the final line up pictures for the interior. wish i had a scanner i would scan it in

[Nado]

Originally Posted by Kariharnett

hmm ill have another read of it. i just assumed the XR4 won cos it was first iun the final line up pictures for the interior. wish i had a scanner i would scan it in

It did win MOTOR's Bang For You Buck for the under $30,000 category, and 3rd overall.

[Bucknaked]

I'm averaging 9.2 in an XR5. Granny driving maybe. Lower rpm gear changes and less hurry to plant the foot on the floor. XR5 is quite good in the economy department. When you want to boot it, then you can. You just have to restrain yourselves. Difficult I guess so.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

I'm averaging 9.2 in an XR5. Granny driving maybe. Lower rpm gear changes and less hurry to plant the foot on the floor. XR5 is quite good in the economy department. When you want to boot it, then you can. You just have to restrain yourselves. Difficult I guess so.

The XR5 I get, its a bigger car, turbocharged, with more cylinders. But my Sport Clio gets between 7.8 and 8.2L/100km average per tank, and that includes regular adventures past 6000rpm. The XR4 seems incredibly thirsty for a car of same capacity/similar weight with less power, less torque and less revs...

[da_ilks]

Thread dig... but I'm surprised at some of the economy you guys are getting? Worst I've done is 9L per 100km but that's thrashing it on a cruise - average is 7.5L/100km - 8.3L/100km, that's a mix of city + highway with air con on 85% of the time. Overall average is 7.9L/100km after 17,700km's...

Admittably, it isn't as fuel efficient as I thought it would be :p