2007 Ford Fiesta XR4 First Steer
10 Jun, 2007
90 Comments 
Ford might have lost 40 million dollars this year (due to development costs of the new Falcon), but in the last 12 months they have added two new XR cars to the showrooms.
First came the mighty XR5, aimed at those who wanted a little more sophistication than a WRX (but not the torque steer in Mazda’s 3 MPS) and as of last week, Ford dealers got their hands on a new hero car, the Ford Fiesta XR4.
I approached this car with a great deal of caution. After all, a sporty Fiesta? Do you want one? The XR4 is powered by a modified version of the 2.0-litre engine living in the Focus. Power comes in at 110kW (3kW more than the Focus) while Torque pushes to 190Nm (5Nm higher than the Focus).
You have to remember, this car weighs all of 1090kg - nearly a go kart with a 2.0-litre engine!
Ford are silent on the 0-100km/hr times but I suspect high 7s low 8s. Fuel economy is 7.4L/100km combined, but expect around 9-10L if you want to enjoy it. The XR4 rides on 17″ wheels with 205/40 tyres, not bad at all. Disc brakes front and rear. The car comes standard with six airbags, ESP (which you can turn on/off) and a whole lot more.
It wasn’t the package that troubled me though, for $25,000 (28 on road) the car is a steal, but just who exactly will buy it? Obviously aimed at the younger crowd, the XR4 stands out like Bruce Lee in a sea of Steven Segals (specially with the stripes - $300 option), the part that got me was it even sounds like Bruce Lee! But does it go?
The XR4 only comes in manual, so it is obviously aimed at the younger crowd with a little bit of motoring enthusiasm. The gearbox is a modified version of the standard box in the basic Fiesta, however it has shorter gear ratios and a clutch lighter than one found in a Toyota Echo.
I took the car for a drive up Mt Cootha (Brisbane) with lots of hard corners and many twists and bends, initially my reaction was sheer surprise, just how much torque does this thing have! Second gear felt strong all the way to 6,000 RPM - power delivery is smooth. You can approach corners with confidence and accelerate out with little to no torque steer (ESP on).
The ESP system is relatively lenient, you really have to be doing something wrong before it kicks in, big thumbs up to Ford for including the system as standard (now why isn’t it available on the FPV Typhoon?). I did find first gear a little too short and this is definitely not made for hard launches at traffic lights.
Coming from an AWD I was very surprised just how well the XR4 behaves around corners, you really can push it hard without too much fear - the chassis is strong and the car feels very well balanced. Given the weight, the 2.0-litre engine makes a meal of hills and has plenty of power for quick dashes, but as with any small car it lacks punch at high speeds - and doesn’t like passengers.
There are some notable problems though, apart from the clutch (which even an anorexic celebrity will find light) - the rear seats are pretty useless. I am not actually sure what the point of them is, you can potentially fit two adults - without their legs. You can comfortably (just) fit one full adult - resting vertically in the back seat.
The XR4’s front doors are about as large at the ones on the Murcielago, and just as heavy. However in order to fold the front seats down, the button actually resides on top of the seat as oppose to its usual place at the bottom, this makes it infinitely easier.
There is no foot rest. So your left foot has to hover around the clutch at all times, in fact the pedals are so close together that in more than one instance I managed to hit the accelerator and brake at the same time.
Ford have squashed the 2.0-litre engine to fit in the XR4, so don’t go opening the bonnet, not that you would because the bonnet release is on the passenger side….
As for the seats themselves, they are half leather bucket style seats, rather comfortable, even for a big guy. The interior in general is rather bland with cheap looking plastic and a leather steering wheel better suited to a base model Kia, typical Ford. However the seats come in a range of colours to match the paint. Speaking of colours, there are six choices :
* Colorado Red,
* Frozen White,
* Moondust Silver,
* Sea Grey,
* Panther Black
* Performance Blue.
If I was going to pick, it would either be the Colorado Red, Frozen white with the stripes or Performance blue. The black with the silver stripes really doesn’t work.
Then there is the stereo, sure its 6-speakers and supposedly a Sony, but it sounds worse than a tin can. It can’t even play MP3s! What year is it again? I believe the cost in adding MP3 playback function to a CD player is less than $10 for royalties - Hyundai added it across the range in 2003! - come on Ford.
There is an auxiliary input though, so you can plug your iPod into it. Thankfully the CD player is not integrated and can be easily removed.
All the good and bad aside, The XR4 has some tough competition, notably the Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart which would leave the Fiesta dead at the lights, and the Volkswagen Polo GTi. The Polo is powered by a 1.8-litre engine with the help of a turbocharger, and boy does it go! With 110kWs of power and 220Nm of torque, the Polo is only $2,000 more than the XR4.
As for the Colt Ralliart, you can read our review here.
In all honesty, I found it hard giving the car back. Sure it has less power than the Golf/Colt, a stereo system from the 80s, a dashboard put together from recycled plastic, a gearknob from Crazy Clarks and rear seats with as much room as my TV cabinet, but the Ford Fiesta XR4 has something its competitors lack. Style.
As I stopped at a red light 20M in front of a police station, a cop car pulled out behind me - had I been in the Colt Ralliart, I am sure I would have received that usual look of death that QLD Police give Turbo car drivers, and as for the Polo, its just a little too feminine for me (and no one looks at a Polo anyway).
The police car pulled up next to me and had I been in another car I might have been a little worried but the officer took a quick glance and said “nice car mate….”. His compliment (my first ever from a cop I might add) pretty much sums up the XR4, its not as fast as its competitors, but it’s cheaper, it handles well and most importantly - it looks hot.
Alborz Fallah
Location: Home / Ford, First Steer, Behind the Wheel / ...
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June 10th, 2007 at 8:29 am
As a Ford dealer, we’ve already had quite good demand and enquires for the XR4.
Test driving it is a lot of fun and even service customers have commented on it being a good-looking car.
http://www.hillsford.com.au/
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June 10th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Hmmm you sure the cop was saying nice car seriously… maybe it was a joke because personally I think the XR4 is still very feminine and I wouldnt wanna be caught in one. Like its a nice looking car, but you cant deny if you saw an XR4 on the road first thing youd think is ‘a chick must b driving it’. I know I would… its the Stigma associated with these 2 door hot hatches. The XR5T on the other hand gets away from this, because it has a bad arse turbo which does all the talking. Just my thoughts.
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June 10th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Oh and good to see the word the article didnt throw around the word performance to much, I was reading up about the XR4 and some obviously ford biased sites label this car ‘high performance’… good for a laugh but far from the truth.
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June 10th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Great article, really enjoyed reading it!
I think the XR4 is a great looking little car, with the stripes too!
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June 10th, 2007 at 11:24 am
compare it to a swift, it IS high performance!
could this be the RS2000 of this decade???
Plenty of commodore kids will diss this as a lil girls car just before it wipes the floor with their v6 family car lameness.
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June 10th, 2007 at 11:43 am
In second gear, this car really really goes!
I was really pessimistic about it before driving it, I thought a 1.6-litre turbo would have done it more justice, but the way this thing drives, without any turbo lag, I really think Ford have hit the mark.
Also one thing i didnt add in the review, Ford dealers won’t go down a cent on price!, the dealer I talked to said he’s already sold 2 of the 4 coming in this month and he expects the rest to go very quickly - then it gets down to only 50 cars a month - nation wide!
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June 10th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
QUOTE = compare it to a swift, it IS high performance!…Plenty of commodore kids will diss this as a lil girls car just before it wipes the floor with their v6 family car lameness.
Lol and my Toyota Camry is high performance when I compare it to a Dahaistu Charade! Fact is 0-100km/h in no doubt high 7s isnt high performance, I will concede its a performance ‘hot hatch’ but thats the extent of it, in its SEGMENT, overall its nothing special. This leads to next point, as a relatively young person myself I would be inclined to get a second hand Falcon (manly car) over an XR4 (chix car)…. as you will not only look like your batting for hte right team but you will beat the XR4 every day of the week, high 7s is slower then the newish Falcons and many other family cars (bar the crappy Omega which is an embaressment to Australian motoring). Not to mention as the review points out in regards to having a packed car of people, the younger crowd (bar those who cannot take passengers now thnx NSW govt… although they are the ones that couldnt afford this yet anyway) do drive mates around to drinks, the beach and what-not… now tell me with a straight face you will have young guys aspiring to go on road trips in an XR4 which cant even take 5 ppl let alone look heterosexual while doing it lol. For me, XR5T is the limit purely based on the fact that it actually has good performance and despite its hatch appearance gets respect as a result!
Clarification : I think the XR4 is a nice car, if I have a daughter one day, Im sure theyd consider it… but I cant see to many guys seriously considering this car even in light of its reasonable power, price and looks. Just my thoughts!
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June 10th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
^I guess that is your opinion Paul, but everyone is different, for instant I couldn’t see anyone buying a Aurion TRD for serious sports car reasons but more to sex up a regular fridge-on-wheels Toyota.
You will see plenty of males driving the XR4, for the same reason guys drive Barinas and Yaris’.
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June 10th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I agreed Mike, I think Paul has got it wrong but he’s entitled to his opinion. The XR4 will be a big seller for Ford and yes, there will be plenty of blokes behind the wheel of this fair dinkum hot hatch.
As Alborz says, this car has style and some real soul. Why don’t you go down to your local dealer and have a steer and then come back and tell me you didn’t have fun.
With rip off petrol prices and fewer and fewer parking spots around in our cities, you couldn’t pay me to drive a used Falcon. And let’s not discuss handling - the XR4 would eat a big old ford.
I know of a NSW dealer that is selling these for $25K drive away with racing stripes!
That sounds like a good deal to me!
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June 10th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Well Im not going just off my opinion, friends as well who are pro-ford have also said its abit of a chix car… I agree with arugments such as fuel, price, handling and city driving the XR4 looks tempting but at the end of the day it still doesnt appeal to me as there IS a stigma attached to these smaller hatches as being more female orientated… and its performance is nothing to write home about when family cars are faster then it in a straight line at least, thats why something like an XR5T appeals abit more. But yes each unto their own.
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June 11th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Paul’s problem is he gets his self worth based on what he drives, and has a trajic case of caring what others think.
People who are comfortable with themselves don’t give a toss about image, they just get on with driving a car which suits their needs.
A friend of mine who was a multi times national go-kart champion drove a Mazda bubble at the time, because it was inexpensive to run, and had lots of room inside.
That’s what he needed, so that’s what he drove.
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June 11th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Yes you are right… as is the case for most people who are under the age of 90. Like dont get me wrong, I wouldnt not choose a fantastic car because of its image, its just ONE of many things I would consider when looking for a car and denying it would come into your own and others here thoughts is a total lie as everyone cares to varying levels about image, or else there wouldnt be a need for manufacrers to develop decent looking cars, theyd all look like SsangYongs!
In the XR4’s case… the things which deter me from this kinda car is its female orientated image, its slow acceleration, ordinary interior (Id have to look in person to confirm but it looks cheap and this review has supported this), ergonomics and inpracticality seeings as though I take a few road trips and this car cant take 5 people physically in the cabin let alone hawl them 60kms+.
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June 11th, 2007 at 11:48 am
So because it has a cheap cabin it appeals to women? Guys are less likely to give a crap about the quality of the materials and the appearance.
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June 11th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Paul,
i see you have a love for toyotas as i have read quite a few of your posts around the place. well i tell you there is not too much of a “blokey” image with toyota either.
But i do agree with you that the image of such car (xr4) is derived from a “girly” car image. i can appreciate it but i would never buy one as its not my thing. but in saying that i think ford will have plenty of male purchasers as you would be surprised how many males already drive round in cars a lot weaker than this one. e.g. hyundai excells with bolt on sports exhausts and lancers with clear tail lights.
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June 11th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
^
You are CORRECT. And in fact you make a good point, Toyotas are hardly image based cars yet I own one and like them… proving that Im not all about image!!! Its a package deal, and the XR4 doesnt do it for me.
QUOTE = So because it has a cheap cabin it appeals to women? Guys are less likely to give a crap about the quality of the materials and the appearance.
No I think you’ve missed my point, those issues are factors I have considered on top of the stigma attached to these smaller hatches… as being chix cars. I dont know why people are denying this exists, like I said I asked a pro-ford friend (who is not a bogan nor am I) and first thing he thought is its abit of a chix car, its who these kinda cars are marketing to afterall!
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June 11th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Personally, I don’t think the XR4 is a girly car. Let’s face it, most girls I know wouldn’t care about the 2L engine, in fact, they’d probably rather the base model 1.6L with an auto gearbox.
I think that the Fiesta doesn’t look all cutesy like many properly girly cars (like the Yaris) do. The cutesy styling (common with the Asian small cars) is what makes them girly.
Besides, if you’re going for a weekend away, what kind of man are you if you can’t fit everything you need in the boot of a Fiesta? Part of being a bloke is being able to travel light.
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June 11th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Well I disagree… something like the Yaris I dont think its totally girly as its a get from A to Z car…. ‘hot hatches’ are chix cars for mine, a Yaris isnt a hot hatch (same applies to base Fiesta), its a car that you dont give a rats about and you hope it lasts for 500,000kms without costing you much!
The issue here is the so called hot hatches… a great example is the Suzuki Swift, they must sell 90% to under 25yr old women! I think a simple test to gauge whether your car is manly or not, at the lights when your next to an XR8 in your XR4 or whatever and the guys in the other car are laughing at you… you are in the chix car ;). Maybe its just me, but there is nothing manly about a 2 door hatch, with a 110kw engine and nice fuzly wuzly coloured dashes to make you feel all warm inside. Id prefer to outlay the $15k extra and get an XR5T, a car that people look up at and even if they dont (rare), at least its a true performance car with an engine to back it up so you get the last laughs!
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June 11th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Oh and clarification, its not just hot hatches in general, as I alluded to there are some good and some not.
XR5T and GOLF R32 etc = HOT
Suzuki Swift and XR4 etc = NOT (Hot for ladies)
Just my thoughts!
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June 11th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
ITT bogans cry about a small hatch that can outhandle anything ever built here
Who cares what some boat captain at the lights thinks? He’ll look like even more of a wanker when the “small girly hatch” goes around a corner twice as fast as he can…
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June 11th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Someone is forgetting those things that come in between straight line roads.
Besides, most women I know would be just as happy in an automatic base model as an XR4.
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June 11th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Yes Im aware of cornering… but roads aernt personal race tracks, most people have limits which would be within large cars and are just way within their small ‘hot hatches’ capabilities… what you do notice more is acceleration in cases where you are overtaking, merging etc along with other things like cabin space! The XR4 by default is obviously targetted at young drivers, and as Ive said Im prity young and I wouldnt wanna drive an XR4 and I know many other male friends who are of the same opinion! Not bogans, just normal people… should do a survey to see!
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June 11th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Okay, I am here to poke fun at this XR4/Homosexual/TRD/TuRD arguement.
Why has HSV not been mentioned?
HSV; Hence, Herpes Simplex Virus. And yet, you guys are ranting one about TRuD.
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June 11th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
HSV hasn’t been mentioned because HSV bogans wouldn’t dare go near a Ford page… lol
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June 11th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Thats right Anonymous,
hsv fans are one eyed and are too caught up in the image that holden produces to compile stats and opinions that would only prove that they (holden/hsv) arent that good.
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June 11th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Perhaps HSV hasn’t been mentioned because it has nothing to do with this topic. It seems as though you want to bring up any Holden based product just so it will be bad mouthed.
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June 11th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
What the hell does HSV and TRD have to do with this. Anonymous you are obviously a bogan. Lets not make this degrade into a Toyota vs Ford vs Holden thing because of some idiot…
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June 11th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I’ve always found cars to be an unreliable predictor of sex or sexuality, and vice-versa.
In fact most people who buy new cars want to be treated as individuals, not stereotypes.
Working in the industry, I’ve seen an 83 year old buy a new Porsche Boxster. I’ve seen women buy Falcon GTs, BMW M5s and AMGs. I’ve seen ‘blokey’ blokes buy Suzuki Swifts, small Toyotas and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
And then of course there are the dark horses: the people who buy a small car, make it look discreet and conservative and work it to deliver blistering performance.
I’d guess that the XR4 will appeal to lots of different people for diffeent reasons.
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June 12th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Do not call me a flipping idiot Paul. I would think of you as the biggest idiot as you started the whole thing, not tha some ofther bad point would have come out of this. I personally like the Focus and Fiesta since their recent redesign, not that I would buy one, I still think they are an awesome car for anyone; they do the X badge as well. Usually I agree with most of your posts, but I thought “sexism” or whatever you call it was above yourself. Give me a break to say the least, I come into this conversation 20 posts late, swiftly scroll down, here something of a negative towards ‘TRD’, so I thought, since that is way off, let’s just blow this conversation right out of proportion. Hence, I really don’t have any reason to be classified as an ‘idiot’ as I just tried to take the topic off your annoying rant. Which, itself, was fairly offtopic, as you were basing its sales off of people sexuality which is hardly relevant in its essence. Hey guys, I have a Ralliart shirt, something you can’t poke fun at the name of!
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June 12th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
‘Ford have squashed the 2.0-litre engine to fit in the XR4′?? I believe it is the same dimensions as the 1.6L duratec motor. dont want to mislead people. And ‘6 speakers that sound worse than a tin can’? sounds a lot better than the sound of a new VE stereo. I also believe the rear seating is fine for a 3 door hatch, im 6′3″ and have been in the back a few time for test drives, seems quite normal. Maybe Alborz Fallah could remove the rear seat and fill it full of speakers so here can here the tin can better.
As for the lack of DSC on a typhoon, the F6 has to much power the DSC would come on every corner!
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June 12th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Damo the female stigma attached to this kinda car is relevant… like I said alot of people havent agreed, not knowing your ages, but people who I have asked (20-30yr old males demographic) wouldnt be caught in one.
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June 12th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Oh and I actually saw my first XR4 on the road today! And lol a chik was driving it, was in black… in that colour without strips barely noticable its differentiated from the regular Fiesta as the grill etc blends in but I did hear the light rumble from the exhaust. Didnt change my perceptions on it being a chix car!
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June 12th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Clarification 3rd post in a row - I THINK it was an XR4, they are released? The grill was the same and its exhuast wasnt quiet so Im confident it was one.
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June 12th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
In their launch month all xr4’s have stripes. might not have been an xr4 you saw Paul.
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June 12th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Rob Prior Said :
–‘Ford have squashed the 2.0-litre engine to fit in the XR4′?? I believe it is the same dimensions as the 1.6L duratec motor. dont want to mislead people.
It might the same dimensions but they have had to move it on an angle to make it fit. It was merely a joke nonetheless.
– And ‘6 speakers that sound worse than a tin can’? sounds a lot better than the sound of a new VE stereo.
Not the car I had!
– I also believe the rear seating is fine for a 3 door hatch, im 6′3″ and have been in the back a few time for test drives, seems quite normal. Maybe Alborz Fallah could remove the rear seat and fill it full of speakers so here can here the tin can better.
yes you can sit in the back seat if the front passengers are midgets without legs. But in all honestly, the rear seats are absolutely useless - they are great for a quick trip though, which is what they are made for, you wouldn’t dream of taking four people on a long drive in an XR4
– As for the lack of DSC on a typhoon, the F6 has to much power the DSC would come on every corner!
Many cars with much much more power have ESP/DSC, Hell Fords main competitor, the HSV R8, has ESP!
The point is, you can turn it on and off, so if your just going for an easy drive, its safe to have it on
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June 12th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
You have to admit if you were a guy and were to be spotted in any light car, the XR4 wouldn’t be that bad. It’s not like people would drive pass and laugh at you, if so they are assholes :P.
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June 12th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
ya think!!LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME.I don’t know who the manufactures are targeting this stuff at GAY GUY’s ??? POOR MANS GT’s????? I mean if you pulled up next to it what is the first thing you would do ?? Laugh right!!!Yep!
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June 14th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Maybe the XR4 has been released for the young drivers that under the New QLD licence Rules for P-platers… as they can not drive a high performance car… i would think i would the XR4 would not be classed as a high performance car, so they car buy and drive it!! and it has the race strips and some performance parts on it!!! so i think that it was kind of a smart move by ford??? does holden has a small performace car thats not turboed??? if i had to drive a small car it would be the XR4 or a Ford focus…most likly the focus because i dont think i would be comfy in that small of a Car, i am 6′5… but saying that it a cool looking Car… and i am not a small car fan really… but saying that i do like the XR4 amd XR5 turbo… i think there should be a XR4 turbo…all that power with NO real Wieght…. now thats a Hot hatch!!! saying all this i am a Big car fan… i am 20 yr old male, with a 2004 BA XR6… and my next car will be either a typhoon or GT!!!
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June 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
i dont care if car is big or small, all i really care is that are they fast or not… i respect cars big or small, i love my GT and Typhoons and Mustangs 2007 GT500KR (400Kw V8) is the i want more then anything!!and i respect the WRX STI and EVO… which are small cars in my eyes… i like my Cars Big and Fast, but if the Car is Small and fast, i will respect that as well! So who really who cares if they are Big or Small, if they are fast is the only thing that matters!!!
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June 14th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Well I did drive an XR4. What did I think? Bleugh. Cheap, tacky interior. Totally USELESS front seats that me of average height just couldn’t get into a decent position. Power and torque delivery not enough to get a smile on the face. Brakes don’t inspire any confidence. Those STRIPES (which the dealer at least said they’d get removed at no cost, and take off the $300 for the ‘option’ if you didn’t want them). And the killer, that ludicrous pedal setup where there is no space besides the clutch so you either hover your foot on the pedal or tuck your foot behind it.
Good points: price I guess; handling is ok; back seats fold down totally flat if you want the extra space; gearbox has a nice action.
I drove a Pug 207GT the next week: almost the same power & torque figures but a heavier car. Yet the 207 was a more involving drive and ‘felt’ quicker. And *killed* the XR4 for features, interior, and build quality. And only about $4k more.
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June 16th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Hi NoFiestaForMe,
Can’t argue with how you felt about the Fiesta versus the 207 GT, but should point out a couple of things …
the RRP of a the Pug is $31,490 versus the XR4’s $24,990 … for $6.5K more, it better offer something significantly more!
The Pug is a 1.6 turbo with the same power as the Fiesta but much more torque at much lower revs 240Nm @ 1400 vs 190Nm @ 4500 … so the Pug should be much more tractable and ‘feel quicker’.
Interestingly though the 0-100kmh for the Pug is 8.1 secs and the XR4 is 7.9 secs … clearly gearing and weight (Fiesta 1080kgs and the Pug 1376kg) has a significant part to play, as a turbo!
And looking at the specs list … I cant see much if anything that the Pug has over the Ford for the extra $7,000 … amazingly for Ford, they put curtain airbags and ESP as standard on a car!!!, so their is no obvious missing features although you can get cruise as an option for the Pug which would be nice for Ford to have avbailable on their small cars inc. XR5.
The biggest difference is in the model cycle for the two cars - the Pug getting refreshed in 2006 whilst the Fiesta is a 2003 car. An all new Fiesta/Mazda2 is due next year … which may address some of the issues you spoke about in terms of the Ford.
Whatever .. I reckon its great that the little “hot” Euro’s are coming to Australia again … been too long and dynamically at least, the Europeans do it so much better than the Asian manufacturers with small cars … although having said that, if they could make a hybrid Euro/Japanese car … the build quality of the Asians and the driving expoerience of the Euro’s … how good would that be?
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June 17th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I’m really starting to go for this little bugger… 110kW is great from that really good little engine… these cars handle well and actually feel like proper cars…not just appliances like lots of the others… the fuel bill my falcon and A6 are taking home are starting to get concerning, and the fiesta looks a good idea
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June 17th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
As a daily drive to work this car would be great. Have been considering getting rid of my 6 cylinder and this might be the car to do it. Less petrol and more fun through the streets due to its gearing. Sort of like the 2L Escorts from the past. The Focus would be better but its a lot more money.
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June 19th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Ford XR4 lovers… get into it http://www.fordxr4.com
We talk, touch and play with all things XR4.
Cheers,
Miyagi
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June 23rd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
the XR4 is hot,sexy,stylish,tough. I know of many ppl that have already traded in their XR6. Without having driven one, u can easily justify negative comments. However, take a seat in one of these babiez & u will realise just how much power it packs, and just how many looks it recieves. As a female, i would say ne male driving this car is worth a second look - defy generalisation, drive sumthin unique 4 a change! - not all males need 2 prove their “tough” exterior through so called “tough” cars - pfffttt to that. by the way - an XR4 dragged a V8 (VT SS) & it only lost by 1.5 secs (1/4 mile). Its a light car, with a tough engine - it will give small cars a run for their money & in todays day & age, with petrol prices souring by the minute… choosing a small car that is not only cheap but also fast (nevermind its looks) is a smart move! Well Done FORD for bringing sexy back!
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June 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Oh & Paul - Take a look in the mirror buddy, bet ur not as hot as ud like to think… boooooo 2 u!
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June 23rd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
^
Tough car, not like the wording Id used… very feminine car yes. And its not fast despite your various claims, its slower then most family cars these days… and although losing by 1.5secs over the quarter mile is possible (I would think more 2-3sec is more realisitic) at the speeds they are at when you cross the line, its like a 100m difference (slight exaggeration obviously)
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June 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
QUOTE = Oh & Paul - Take a look in the mirror buddy, bet ur not as hot as ud like to think… boooooo 2 u!
Lol funny cos I was replying regardless before I read this. But not I dont think Im hot at all… if I want a ‘performance’ car I want it to be faster then a V6 Camry to 100km/h and I want it to at least look abit tough! And one poster already mentioned a few negatives as well… so its not a totally fairy wairy nice prity wity looking fuzzly wuzzly car!
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June 25th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Paul,
well if you want tough then you can throw your camry out straight away then too.
you have to give this car some credit though. for its class it does perform very well. it does put out the same power figures as its turbo charged competitors.
and since when was a camry the benchmark for performance cars??
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June 25th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Its not that was my point lol… the fact that a Camry the so called ‘fridge on wheels’ can put it to this hot hatch says alot, so much for a ‘performance car’! And Im serious when I say this… Id prefer to go unnoticed in my V6 Camry then have people laughing at me in my XR4 (On top of all the inpracticalities that make a car like this not the one for me!)
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June 25th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Paul,
the camry you are talking about is a v6. how about you compare it to at least a 4cyl camry.
the main thing i am pointing out is as for its CLASS it does extremely well putting out the same figures N/A as what the competitors do with a turbo on them.
as for preference i would not buy one either. but there are plenty of people (males) already driving out there in cars with a lot weaker presence than this one. and i mean a lot. i am a bit like you in that way and i think males are going soft in terms of what they drive. but the fact is they are driving them
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June 29th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Paul, u r sooo…
That RX4 would be head to head if not better with any new n/a 6 cyl ford. How i know? Cos i raced them (up to 170kmh) with fwd car with 105kw n 1140kg, thats including circuit work.
Ania u rock
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June 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
for those of you that are still not converted
i suggest u take a test drive in the xr4
it is truly a remarkable car!
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July 4th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I have a xr4 (a ST in South Africa) for the past two years now. It is one of the best handling cars i have ever driven.The performance is spot on as stock, yes you do get faster cars but at what price. I have cossie cams,exhaust and filter and i’m running 140kw ATF with 235nm ATF so it goes much better than stock.
By the way i have a blue one with the white GT stripes.I have never never had anyone laugh at me.
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July 9th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
The reason there are alot of men out there driving small cars is that not all guys are narrow minded idiots who think they have to follow some predifined rules about what is considered masculine. While some guys in their rubbish australin family cars or hectic jap ricers might think its funny for a guy to drive an xr4 or swift etc, everybody else is laughing at them for being conformist sheep and wasting their money, which is probably earned through some unskilled minimum wage job on a bloody car.
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July 9th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I, like Paul, am a young male (21 yrs old), but unlike him, i think the xr 4 could actually be a pretty good little everyday car which is pretty potent. I have always wanted a true high performance car, but at my young age, I think it would be better to be patient and wait a few yers before i do so for a number of reasons such as insurance, for someone like myself, that is a killer, i refuse to pay more than 1,500 a yr for that while im still this young and payin off my HECs fees.
Another factor is that driving a high performance car at my age will undoubtedly attract unwanted attention both from police, ‘racers’ or even thefts. Also, at my comparitively limited experience on the road, i dont think it would be wise to rush out and get such a car as yet.
because of these things, i think that a xr4 would be a pretty good choice. i dont need to prove my masculinity to any one…any one who laughs is a muppet
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July 9th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Going off your logic though, you dont want a high performance car just yet… something like a used Falcon (especially in a years time or so with the new Falcon having ESP etc) would offer far better value then a XR4 as it would be at least a second quicker, certainly isnt going to get bad attention in stock form and isnt that fast your going to kill yourself. Not to mention that at our young ages Im assuming you have mates, although you dont buy a car for them its a consideration, an XR4 is hardly going to carry 4 adults comfortably and in my opinion, hardly in style.
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July 9th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
I agree with Paul. 100%
The XR4 being a nice looking car and all, just does not compare in any ratio to the rest of the XR series.
It is a very feminine car… end of story. I’m not a guy bent on buying a petrol guzzoling XR8 or a “fully sick” Turbocharged Nissan Skyline, but I do not like the idea of having what masculinity I have to be questioned by driving something like the XR4.
I even talked this over with my g/f, she said that she would laugh at a male in an XR4. Now, no one cannot say that Paul is being bias.
And believe me, she is as girly as they come, she drives a TS Classic Astra 2004!
I haven’t got the most masculine car, i drive a Subaru Impreza S MY03 RS. But even that is still more “manly” then the XR4.
Good luck to those that drive them, even if they are male.
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July 10th, 2007 at 1:28 am
i can totally see where you are coming from. That being said the xr4 (ST in europe) appears to be doing quite well in its markets, and reviews about it are pretty impressive for what it is. the st is by no means supposed to be a killer on outright performance and is supposed to be a different car from the other xr’s, and that is what some people miss. in the end though it does come down to personal taste. everyone is different from each other.
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July 10th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Paul,
I don’t think you are a fool after reading your post, but what’s my opinion compared to that of thousands of others? I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself on the Internet. Oh well, at least you only charge what your free advice is worth. As Abba Eban so aptly said: “His ignorance is encyclopedic.”
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July 10th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Hardly humiliating myself when I have people…
* Agreeing with me
* Having a constructive argument about it
Only person humiliated here is yourself for having to create an alias because your to scared to use your real name and then start quoting crap to provide some form of credibility to your post. Here is a quote from a great person, Paul, he said: ‘Your an idiot’
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July 10th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
hey i know where the sexuality thing is coming from here. when i drive my missis car (an excell) i feel a bit embarassed when people look at me and i nearly put a sign on it to tell them i do have a real car at home (falcon ute). but for those that wish to drive these cars i wont critisize them unless they pull up beside me and i see their body language as if they are driving a supercar, thats when i draw the line.
yes the XR4 may not be a supercar but for in its class it is one of the best performers.
and if you are worried about what your mates think all the time and make sure they can get a lift via roomy back seats…..well….. you may as well paint it orange and call it a taxi. yep its 2 doors for me and i love it. The point is these cars arent designed to carry 4 adults all the time, thats why manufacturers carry a different range of vehicles hopefully one to suit everyones needs
and Paul, why are you so worried about finding an extra second? from what ive read you drive a camry!! yep you are right in to the manly image thing (not). and most people would easily kill themselves in a stock falcon or so. read the papers old falcons and commodores are what people are killing themselves in. because there is lots of them getting around with high k’s so they are pretty cheap. dont forget a 10yr old falcon for eg still had 160 kw in it. it might not sound like much but they get you going pretty quickly.
youngsters dont need ESP etc. they need to know how to drive the car first.
one big problem is people learn in hatches etc, and then jump into or buy a larger car i.e. old falcon or commy (my self included) which is nothing like the learner car in terms of visibility and so on
YOU CANT COMPARE THIS CAR TO AN XR SERIES
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July 10th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
i think you have summed it up pretty well tehre mate….nothin much more to add!
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July 11th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Ok… lets compare it this way…
What would be the first thought to come into anyones head if they saw a male driving a Mazda 121?
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July 16th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
before the xr4 came along the only decent xr was the 1967xr falcon,not this modern unreliable ford falcon crap.and yes i am an old bogan that laughs at you big car drivers while we are all stuck in the never ending trafic jams wasting fuel and getting from 0 10 20 if were lucky…lol
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July 17th, 2007 at 11:07 am
QUOTE = from what ive read you drive a camry!! yep you are right in to the manly image thing (not). and most people would easily kill themselves in a stock falcon or so. read the papers old falcons and commodores are what people are killing themselves in. because there is lots of them getting around with high k’s so they are pretty cheap
Lol yes well that youth, gotta get what you can afford. But as Ive said the XR4 is to slow for mine, I would back my Camry to beat it in a straight line! Fair enough its got great cornering but I dont race people or more practically overtake people usually around corners! As for epople killing themselves in Falcons etc… I think it has alot to do with them being the most common car, meaning your going to see them in more crashes, not neccessarily that they are the cause of the crash!
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July 19th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Hey paul, XR5s are just as slow as that ugly mitsub turbo colt - Yuck!!
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July 19th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
^
Aaaaah what now? 0-100km/h in 6.5secs… dont think the colt is that quick, nor does it look good. Unless you meant XR4 not XR5T…
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August 11th, 2007 at 12:19 am
XR4 is a great car. Affordable performance in a nice looking package.
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August 23rd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I think the XR4 would make for a pretty zappy car. 190nm in a car that is very light makes it an awesome mountain car. I live near mountain roads and big cars just don’t cut it unless they have modified brakes and suspension.
Cars like the XR4 are made for curvey roads and motokhanas. Although the tyre/wheel combo cuts down on the turning ability as it widens the turning circle. The short gearing may make touring a bit uncomfortable possible a 6th speed as an overdrive would’ve been an idea.
I prefer cars that are nimble, manouverable, have great power to weight and can handle.
It also out performs on paper Mazda 3’s 2 litre, the new civic 2.0L sport and beats so many others on power to weight alone.
It has better power to weight than:
2.4L Camry (current model) and torque to weight.
The standard Commodore V6 barely beats it in power/weight only 0.003kw/kg and puts out just 0.02nm/kg of torque than the XR4 and costs more than $10K more to buy not including running costs.
The Falcon XT does better than the commodore over the XR4, but still only 0.0112kw/kg more power and 0.052nm/kg more torque.
The only benefit in straight line performance would probably come from being RWD however the sheer weight of the Falcon and Commodore simply make the the XR4 far more spritely in the bends, less front heavy so less problems with those big front and rear discs. Plus you don’t have to deal with turbos which suffer terribly from heat soak in our lovely summers.
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October 17th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Paul, i have been reading your comments an i think they are a load of shit! You obviously have no stile, I think the XR4 is going to be a hit, winner of bang for your bucks under $30,000 says it all, your just a tool an cant you find anything better to do with your time than email all your thoughts, no one gives a shit!
I thought the article was a good one!
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October 22nd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Hmmm!
I’d classify myself as a MAN, and I don’t actually need a metal phallus to prove it. I have a sneaking suspicion that given our draconian speed laws and generally crap roads that off of the freeways I could have more fun in the XR4 than in an Aussie 6 (or 8). Especially on Australia’s country roads where the speed Nazis are less likely to be in attendance. I say each to their own but I reckon driving enjoyment is more about driver capability than than macho bravado and image.
If you don’t like it that’s fine but don’t rubbish those who may have more self confidence than yourself.
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November 7th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Where has all this homophobia come from? I was just looking for comments on the XR4 in regards to comfort, interior noise, driveability etc. I obviously move in different circles because I can’t ever remember friends sitting around talking about whether their car makes them feel like a man. Seek Help! I want a car under $25000 so I also can buy a house. It should be able to go uphills, be comfortable and fun to drive. I am over 6 ft and my favorite past time is weight lifting. I sure as hell don’t need to try and prove I’m heterosexual at every set of lights. I currently drive an old model festiva (99 with 280,000 km)that has never broken down and I can say I have never been laughed at. Try to be helpful guys, tell me about the lack of foot room and rest around the clutch or something. Save the sexual confusion for counselling. WHO WOULD SERIOUSLY PAY $8-10 MORE PER HUNDRED KILOMTERES TO BE ABLE TO GET TO 100KM/HR 1 SECOND QUICKER THAN ANOTHER CAR?
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December 2nd, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Just put a deposit down on a black xr4 with no stripes this morning. Getting it for 26k on road which I think is a pretty good price. Took it for a drive and fell in love straight away. It does feel a bit cheap inside but it’s forgivable because it is cheap. But compared with the 93 triton ute with brown vinyl interior and bench seat it’s replacing it is luxurious!
23yo male with no insecurities about sexuality here…
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December 10th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
look paul please open your eyes mate is a sexy car it performs well and the price is just right for most and im sure dat when a sexy perfomance blue XR4 blows d doors off your FAMILY FALCON around the streets and still has the fuel to go for seconds you will change your mind….
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December 11th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
All I can say is, anyone who feels “underdone” in the manly stakes because of the car they drive, is exactly that in reality.
The XR4 would be an awesome mild aftermarket job, a small turbo with fast spool up, revised cam, and open exhaust would eat an Xr5 alive. Personally I wouldnt get the stripes, save that for the Eights.
My missus just bought the base model with the 1.6, and I would seriously consider one on the merits of how well the LX drove. What a little car. Purely brilliant.
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December 21st, 2007 at 9:26 am
Dont like the front lights!
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February 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Well, I just drove a mates XR4 and I can agree with this review. Sure, it’s not a jaw-dropper, but compared to my AU III XR6 ST, it’s definately a refreshing change.
And lordy does it have poke in second
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February 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Im about to take the plunge and put a deposit down for an XR4. Can somebody here give me an idea about its fuel economy? I have a 26km drive to work everyday, and Im looking for a fun yet affordable car thats good on fuel.Would appreciate your input.
Thanks guys.
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March 6th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Fifth Gear just reviewed this and its a quick little bugger.
I have no doubts it’d be quicker round a track than my modified XR6 turbo. Just can’t beat something that barely weighs a ton around a track.
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May 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
my wife and and i have been checking out hatches under $30000 and were nicely surprised when we found this new XR4 in our local Ford dealership -instantly stood out! red as well! very impressed just what we where not expecting in this group of cars ps we are old rev heads pushing 50yr have had monaros, toranas skylines, datsun 1600s but in this fuel conscience age this is a little ripper!
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May 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
^Why not spend an extra few grand to buy a VW GTi Polo?
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May 25th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Thanks for the suggestion ive just compared them on redbook and it looks a better proposition! we will take them both for another run and my better half will make the final call (its her car!)
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May 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Ford XR4 is a great choice, I would easily buy it over the unreliable polo…
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May 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I haven’t heard of the Polo being unreliable, AC Cobra.
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May 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
golf the previous polo was a disgrace
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May 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
mind you this things is pretty ordinary as well
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May 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
^Well whats a good little performance hatch?
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May 25th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Earlier Polos wouldn’t pull a sailor off your sister. The current GTi, I’m led to believe, is huge fun.
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May 25th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
^I agree Uncle Golf (Is it alright if i call you that? Because if you don’t like it I wont call you that). There was a test between the Suzki Swift Sport V Mitsu Colt Ralliart V Peugeot 207 GTi V VW Polo. The Polo won!
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August 15th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
well whoever thinks you have to be a chick to own or drive a xr4 must be deluided because considering im a 21 yr old male,heavy dutie mechinic who works on the mines and im considering buying the xr4 ive taken one for a test drive and it was great apart from a couple of flaws like no foot rest or cruise it has 6 air bags great body kit wide opening doors leather 6 stacker dsc (dynamic stability control) abs fog lights well the list goes on you compare that to other cars in its price range it simply blows them out of the water!
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