Re: Merkur XR4ti?

[J_T_Douglas%mwcorp1@MWMGATE1.mitre.org]

Sorry this is a little late -- I've been on vacation.


>I've been toying with the idea of replacing my 86GLI daily
>driver with an 88 Merkur owned by an older woman.
>It has only 30k miles, 5sp, etc.  It is made in Germany
>(it's like the Sierra) but has a US spec Ford Tbird turbo engine
>that makes 175hp, rear wheel drive.

>Any comments on this car?  Ialready know about the Merkur list
>and I'm on it, but I thought I'd ask my fellow German car fans.

I had a 2.0 liter Sierra from mid '87 to about mid '89 (in germany).  Mine was 
a fairly early car (I don't remember the year, probably around '82/83).  It was 
not a bad little car, but one must remember that is a F*rd.  Not to exhibit my 
prejuidices here, but it was certainly nowhere near as refined as the '82 Audi 
100 I also had. Since its a low volume import here, the parts will probably be 
the same or higher than an Audi's !!

The two nastiest things about it were a lack of stability at Autobahn (triple 
digit) speeds (even with OK tires and a goodly spoiler) and a really rough 
clutch.  Smooth take-offs were really difficult.  I imagine this was only an 
early model problem (as the dealer suggested).

Jason