How to buy an XR4Ti

[Ed Lijewski]

It's also been a lonnnnnnnnnnng time since spark plugs were $1 each.

YMMV

[Maurice S]

hmmm, I think the Autolites are still a buck...I prefer the NGK TR-5's another 79 cents I think last time I bought em.

[Ed Lijewski]

In Kansas they still have stagecoaches and the Pony Express, right?

[richardcurtis]

Ed: you need to get out more.

[misssonja]

Thanks Mike on all the heads up on the xr4ti.
I bought the car about 2 months ago... an '87.
Red...don't know the name of the color. I like to call it "Ticket-Me First" Red
Now after reading all your info. I now know I was right by feeling about
the mushing and notching shifter. I use to own many,many Stangs and feel the difference.
Now until I can find a mechanic nearby..who understands this car,
this is my dilema. I found someone in CT, 2 hours away, not bad..but looking still closer to drop car off.
Before I can enjoy the car fully I would like someone to make sure about all you mention. Don't want to overheat her at all.
I will keep asking around and seek someone as informative as you.

[richardcurtis]

Missionja: just find a competent mechanic who has worked on a Ford before (wouldn't that be ALL mechanics???). The mechanicals are simple Ford parts ... engine was used in many Ford products, for example. If the presence of a turbo on the Ford 2.3 gives any mechanic pause, he/she isn't much of a mechanic. Most parts are readily available (i recently found two NEW exterior door handles!); you just have to search for them. Junkyards occasionally will one of the roughly 44,000 XRs imported into this country; they're a treasure-chest of parts. Very, very good shop manuals are cheap and readily available. These are excellent cars to work on yourself, or to learn how to work on yourself. Enjoy! (come to Carlisle All-Ford Nationals in June ... it's where the Merkur converted converge).

[boozysmurf]

As a newbie (first post, right here) who's HOPEFULLY buying an '87 XR4ti in the next week, this post being top of the FAQ is ridiculously helpful.
Thank ya!

[Bob Weir]

Welcome to the club!
MCA has 9 active and 5 inactive members in CT. Contact me for more info.

Once you own a Merkur, you have Merkuritis.

Get a FREE 1 year MCA membership

For more info, go here…
http://www.merkurclub.net/join/joinHow.htm

PS In the upper right corner, click on your user name, select "Profile" and tell us what city you live in a few things about yourself.

[boozysmurf]

Thanks for the welcome, Bob!

Soon as I have the car I'll introduce myself more properly (and in the appropriate forum ) but I'm Canadian - From Ottawa. Should be visible in my bio now.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

I Dont want my dads merkur anymore.You changed my mind completly. I think ill just buy a 300zx.

Rumor has it that this guy is still driving the 300zx.