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#1109409 11/18/04 08:11 PM
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Originally posted by Phil Rohtla:
Skiiping past the colour, what V8 is that? SHO?




3.0 24v DOHC Yamaha V6.


-'96 SE MTX 3L -'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535 -'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride -Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
#1109410 11/18/04 08:20 PM
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anyone mind giving us a little info/background on this car? i have seen plenty, but i dont know the first thing about them. enlighten me


#4559 of 6535 born on Feb 17, 1998 Black 1998.5 CSVT FOR SALE [cleaning house]: SVT rear swaybar. Reasonable offer and its yours!
#1109411 11/18/04 08:32 PM
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Just off the top of my head...

In 1985, Ford of Europe began importing the Merkur XR4ti into the U.S. The Merkur is actually a German Ford Sierra XR4i, modified for the American market. The Sierra is Ford of Europe's intermediate, sized between the Escort and the Granada. In Germany, it competes with the small BMW and Mercedes models.

The XR4ti is the top-line sporty model, as you might suspect from its biplane rear spoiler and add-ons. In Germany it comes with a 150- hp, 2.8-liter V6 and will top 130 mph. For the American market, Ford takes the basic Sierra off the Ghent, Belgium, assembly line and then the Karmann works in Germany makes over 700 minor changes and installs the same 175-hp Brazilian-built 2.3 liter, turbocharged Four that's in the Turbo Thunderbird. According to Ford's engineers, the turbocharged, fuel- injected, computer controlled Turbo 2.3 actually outperforms the European V6 right up to 130 mph. The Merkur's engine is not something you'd want to work on yourself, but it is less exotic than the engine in something like a Mercedes or BMW.

A lot of fun can be had with a traditional front-engine/rear-drive chassis if it's well designed. The XR4ti's platform is. Excellent balance, minimal roll, sharp steering and plenty of grip from the Pirelli P6 tires make this a fun road car.

German designers are famous for attention to ergonomics, and the Merkur is an excellent example of typical German quality. The highly adjustable bucket seats provide lots of lumbar and side support, sumptuous leather, like a well-made German executive office chair.

The Merkur XR4ti was only imported between 1985 and 1989, making it a good candidate for collector status someday. The car is tough, beautiful, fast, and fairly priced. There is a lot of driving pleasure to be had from the XR4ti.

1986 Merkur XR4ti
GENERAL PERFORMANCE SPECS.
BASE PRICE (base model) $18,000
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
ENGINE TYPE: Fuel Injected, turbocharged (with water-cooled bearing), computer controlled, 2.3 liter, SOHC, 4 cylinder.
BORE x STROKE, mm: 96.0 x 79.4
DISPLACEMENT, cc: 2307
COMPRESSION RATIO: 8.0:1
Bhp @ rpm, net: 175 @ 5200 (145 @ 3800 for automatic)
TORQUE @ rpm, lb-ft: 195 @ 3800 (180 @ 3000 for auto)
TRANSMISSION: 5 speed manual (3 spd. auto)
Final Drive Ratio: 3.64:1
SUSPENSION, f/r: ind/ind
BRAKES, f/r: disc/drum
TIRES: Pirelli P6 (P195/60HR-15)
STEERING TYPE: rack & pinion (p)
TURNING CIRCLE, ft: 32.8 Turns, lock-to-lock: 3.6
LAYOUT: front engine, rear wheel drive
BODY/SEATS: 2 door w/ hatchback, 5 seats
WHEELBASE (in.): 102.7
TRACK, f/r: 57.2 / 57.8
LENGTH: 178.4
WIDTH: 68.5
HEIGHT: 54.8
CURB WEIGHT, (lbs) : 2920
FUEL CAPACITY, U.S. GAL.: 15.0
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA), mpg: 19

**** PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS ****
0-60 mph, sec: 7 - 7.3
1/4 MILE (sec @ mph): 16.04 @ 85.38
EST. TOP SPEED: 132 mph
BRAKING (ft.)(60-0 mph): 127 ft.

Basically a bastard child like the Contour.


-'96 SE MTX 3L -'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535 -'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride -Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
#1109412 11/18/04 08:43 PM
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thanks!


#4559 of 6535 born on Feb 17, 1998 Black 1998.5 CSVT FOR SALE [cleaning house]: SVT rear swaybar. Reasonable offer and its yours!
#1109413 11/18/04 09:22 PM
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Mine will be finished soon! I have somemore body work to do then in the spring it will be out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Its 4 colors now

#1109414 11/18/04 09:36 PM
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What engine is in the red one with the blue valve covers? The car looks like a escort exp and a dodge shadow mixed. Not really my taste at all. What year is it.


1999 Contour SE Sport 39,xxx Miles 20% tint, Yokohama AVS tires 205/60/15 Aiwa cd player 1988 Ford F-150 4x4 31/10.50/15 mudders 2 10" Subs, Clarion Cd Roll pan, bed cover, black outs all 4 corners 5% tint,Dual flowmaster's, K&N filter
#1109415 11/18/04 09:39 PM
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Originally posted by smooth99se:
What engine is in the red one with the blue valve covers?




Open your hood and look down.


-'96 SE MTX 3L -'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535 -'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride -Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
#1109416 11/18/04 10:02 PM
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Todd, just to add to your great overview, the really great XR4Ti's were the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth & RS 500 Cosworth's that Ford used to win Championships with all over Europe in Road Racing and WRC. Not to mention the killer Sierra XR8Ti's - made in(?)/for the South African market. They had the Mustang 5.0L in them. I visited John Colletti (current head of Ford SVT) back in 1987 when he was an upper/mid-level guy with SVO, the precursor to SVT. John took me out to the SVO parking lot to show me a 5.0L XR4Ti that they were testing for the North American market.

All North American Merkurs (German for Mercury) 1985-1989 were 1985 Ford Seirra Mark 1 bodies. In Europe in 1986 they got the Mark II body which was a minor but nice improvement.

The you could get the Sierra in 3 door (hatchback) all North American ones, 4 door, 5 door, stationwagon, and I've even seen a picture of a pickup (Ranchero style) but I don't think it was actually production (styling exercise IIRC). I drove in a diesel powered Sierra taxi in Europe (my wife rented a diesel Focus there last year). They came in RWD or AWD with Quaife LSD.

The RS Cosworths ran a DOHC 2.0L Cosworth turbo with ABS, quaife, etc. They started at 205 HP but could easily be tweaked to 400+. I had the good fortune to drive an RS Cosworth in the Austrian Alps for about 30 minutes and they are amoung the most memorable 30 minutes driving I've done.

In North America Jack Roush won two IMSA titles with the XR4Ti's IIFC. One was a turbo-4 while the other was a V8. I've got pictures of a couple along with some RS Cosworth picutres is someone wants to host them for me or email me instructions on how to do it.

Regarding XR4Ti's at Carlisle, I took the top prize in 1998 at the All Ford Nationals with one of my XR4Ti's (I've had 6) out of 1800 cars entered that year. The top prize isn't for the best car though, it's for the person who contributes the most to the show or goes through the most to get there. To make a very long story short, I hit a moose at 70 mph, wrote the car off (still looked great) about 500 miles outside Carlisle, kept going and got there 15 minutes before registration closed. I'm looking at the trophy and plaque in my office at this very moment.

Regards, Alan



03 Volvo S60 2.5T AWD 98 Mystique 2.5 MTX 99 SVT - Inheriting Lil Monster's parts 98 SVT - Lil Monster (RIP) 183.7 whp Quaife/Fidanza/UR UD Clutch AFE/MSDS/SHO-Y/Bassani/MagnaCore GC/Koni/22mmR/EndLinks/ES/ KVR Slotted/1144's/SS Lines/MASItaly
#1109417 11/18/04 10:15 PM
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Originally posted by KingpinSVT:
anyone mind giving us a little info/background on this car? i have seen plenty, but i dont know the first thing about them. enlighten me




http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech/index.php

http://www.merkurclub.com/forum/


Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
#1109418 11/18/04 10:49 PM
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Originally posted by mavrock:
Originally posted by todras:
WTH would anyone paint an engine like that?




Green Bay (Fudge) Packers fan??




Nope...

John Deere "Nothing Runs Like A Deere"

or "Yard-Man" by MTD

Scott


Scott 2000 Contour SVT #1464 Mustang Dyno: 171.6hp/145.3lb Dynojet Dyno: 171.1hp/148.9lb 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo T/A "Indy 500 Pace Car" #1376 of 1550 All Original, 46k with a few mods 2002 F150 SuperCrew
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