Putting a Fiesta XR2 into daily use?

[lee1993]

I've got the opportunity to get hold of a Fiesta XR2 for free from a relative. It has done 80,XXX miles and is a solid car, though cosmetically it needs work. It's MOT'd but has only done 200 or so miles a year for the past 10 years. Would it be mad of me to try and put it into daily use (600-700 miles a month) or am I looking for trouble by even considering it?

Thanks.

[Simon_GH]

You’ll probably find it’ll need fair bit of fettling as old components reach the end of their life but I’d imagine the engine will improve with use. I’d try it and see how you get on. Do you have a plan b if the XR2 needs to be off the road for a couple of days?

[Xr2daily]

Cheers for the response. If we're talking a few days off the road every other month, I can borrow a car or get taxis. If it's likely to be off the road a couple of times a month, then it may be more of an issue. I've read conflicting info about the CVH engine: some say that as long as oil changes and cambelt changes are done very regularly, it will be incredibly reliable whilst others say not to touch it.

Thanks.

[stevemcs]

Camshafts can wear but for me, a full service, new belt and water pump and just drive it. They are simple things with a lot less to go wrong. Just enjoy it.

[drmike37]

My first car was a mk 2 Fiesta 950cc. An XR2 was a thing of serious want. If someone gave me one for free I’d definitely have it.
I would have a back up plan, purely on account of its age.

[ARHarh]

The strange thing about cars is that most were designed to be used everyday. Why would a car not be usable everyday? Yes a car that has little use will take a bit of recommissioning and no doubt some things will fail when put back into regular use. But after a 1000 miles or so it will be fine. Why do people think old cars are not going to work everyday, like any other car?

[Pando99]

Deffo need oil stem seals unless you like a Bond style blue smoke cloud on start up

They will have been gone 10 years ago let alone now after sitting dry for 10 years or so

Otherwise go for it ,, great car

[sortedcossie]

they have a rep for bad starting, sludged oilways and the above mentioned cam wear. If they are maintained then those issues won't surface, the CVH is a simple design to work on and easy to maintain - the cam and stem seals can be changed without having to take the head off for example.

[ARHarh]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[BoRED S2upid]

stevemcs said:

Camshafts can wear but for me, a full service, new belt and water pump and just drive it. They are simple things with a lot less to go wrong. Just enjoy it.

This. Maybe a new battery. Throw a bit of cash at it and you should be fine.

How are the tyres?

[geeks]

The good thing is that they are so easy to work on that in the event they do need things doing any decent garage will be able to tackle just about any job fairly easily. Parts *might* be tricky or expensive for the unusual things. My main concern really would be tin worm

[ARHarh]

Good point about rot. I would get a full rust treatment done if you want to run it long term. They did rust quite well in their day.

[stevemcs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The Webers were not too bad, the VV carb ..... hmmmm

[dan98]

ARHarh said:

The strange thing about cars is that most were designed to be used everyday. Why would a car not be usable everyday? Yes a car that has little use will take a bit of recommissioning and no doubt some things will fail when put back into regular use. But after a 1000 miles or so it will be fine. Why do people think old cars are not going to work everyday, like any other car?

Because every single component on the car (of which there are 10s of 1000s) was manufactured circa 40 years ago and none of it was designed to last even half that.
Plastic becomes weak and brittle, rubber drys and splits, metal rusts and fabric slowly turns to dust.

After 1000 miles or so it really won't be totally fine, but a simple little Ford should soldier on providing fairly regular repairs and fixes are acceptable.
The novelty factor might also help make it worthwhile...for a while.

[ARHarh]

dan98 said:

ARHarh said:

The strange thing about cars is that most were designed to be used everyday. Why would a car not be usable everyday? Yes a car that has little use will take a bit of recommissioning and no doubt some things will fail when put back into regular use. But after a 1000 miles or so it will be fine. Why do people think old cars are not going to work everyday, like any other car?

Because every single component on the car (of which there are 10s of 1000s) was manufactured circa 40 years ago and none of it was designed to last even half that.
Plastic becomes weak and brittle, rubber drys and splits, metal rusts and fabric slowly turns to dust.

After 1000 miles or so it really won't be totally fine, but a simple little Ford should soldier on providing fairly regular repairs and fixes are acceptable.
The novelty factor might also help make it worthwhile...for a while.

In my experience of running older and classic cars, there will be issues at first and things will need fixing. But that car has been used although not a lot over the last 40 odd years and most bushes and wearable components will be no where near 40 years old. Yes some plastics may be brittle and the odd bush may need replacing but that wont stop it driving. The foam in the seats may be rubbish by now. But again that won't stop it working. There are plenty of cars that old still used. I have a 53 years old land rover and it still works and drives. Bits don't break every time it gets used, in fact apart from servicing it has only needed a new exhaust in the last 15k miles.

[dan98]

ARHarh said:

In my experience of running older and classic cars, there will be issues at first and things will need fixing. But that car has been used although not a lot over the last 40 odd years and most bushes and wearable components will be no where near 40 years old. Yes some plastics may be brittle and the odd bush may need replacing but that wont stop it driving. The foam in the seats may be rubbish by now. But again that won't stop it working. There are plenty of cars that old still used. I have a 53 years old land rover and it still works and drives. Bits don't break every time it gets used, in fact apart from servicing it has only needed a new exhaust in the last 15k miles.

I appreciate everyone has their own experiences, let's say mine is very different.
I would also suggest an early 80s Ford is built in a very different way than a Land Rover from any era.

It's true you might be able to literally 'keep it driving' but that doesn't really mean much come MOT time, or on a freezing cold dark morning when the heater doesn't work and the lights don't come on due to a slowly disintegrating wiring loom and water building up behind the dashboard.

Don't get me wrong - I think it could be a fun / rewarding challenge but to say a 40 year old Ford is going to work just like anything else after a quick recomission is a bit...misguided IMO.

[ARHarh]

Well over the years I have regularly run classics not just an old land rover, I have had stuff from austin sevens to 20 year old jags and plenty in between. and remember the XR2 has an MOT, its not like it was dug out of a hedge after 30 years, yes it won't be without its moments, and life with an 80's car everyday is not going to be as easy as life with a year old focus or whatever ford make these days. But I still stand by the fact that after a pretty quick shakedown it will be fine to use.

[twibs]

Use it, thats what they were built for.
Get some security for it.

Mind where you park it, hot hatch fords are highly desirable.

If it has the plastic clutch ratchet consider an alloy quadrant swap. If only for peace of mind.

[NickCorrie]

I have a 89’ Xr2 with 59k on it , it’s only sees 0-150 miles a year as it’s kept for weekends .

I really don’t understand what the issue would be with using it daily ? That’s what it was designed for. They’re so simple in comparison to modern cars , there’s very little to go wrong and if it does - it’s dead easy to fix (parts availability of course)

My only reservation with using one daily relates to the value of them and their desirability !

[mwstewart]

Cover the underneath in Dinitrol. The body is the weakest part.