Merkurs/Sierras - Any Thoughts?

I worked at a dealership years ago (washing and delivering cars, not selling - summer job) when the Mercury Merkur was the new thing. I drove a couple, but preferred my old CJ. I saw a write-up on the Ford Sierra in Practical Classics and it looks like the same car.

Any thoughts or vents on the Merkur? They look like a neat alternative to mid-eighties Mustangs, etc.

Its basically a Sierra with a 2.3L turbo four banger (later ones are intercooled) from Mustang/Thunderbird. Like the Capri Ford abandoned them as far as parts supply goes so some things can be expensive or hard to find. The cars themselves are usually a good price. People are swapping on the DOHC Volvo 2.3L head, upping the boast and making big power from them.

There were so many different models that theres' no one answer.
The basic 4-pot 1600 was just that - basic. The Sierra Cosworth was a classic.
I didn't have a Cossie - I forget what mine was called and I'm in the office so can't look it up, but it was a 2-litre ohc - engined model with fancy wheels. I had it for 2 1/2 years and liked it. One big pro was it was RWD - quite a rarity even then - 1985/6 - among ordinary affordable cars. Easy to work on, too.
One thumb up.

I was actually driving behind one yesterday. Very few still around but the ones I've seen have been well cared for.


PC.

Weren't Ford Granadas/Scorpios also sold as Merkurs in the States?

I always thought Merkurs were neat cars but everyone told me they were garbage.

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Weren't Ford Granadas/Scorpios also sold as Merkurs in the States?

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Yes they were.

While the Merkur was vastly unloved and forgotten over here they make quite good cars over the pond from what i,ve read..............Its very hard to compare cars here and over there.........The marketplace is different, the pollution and safety standards are different.......Thus leaving cars over here usually heavier, and less powerful.......Take the TR250 for instance......Approximately 110 hp over here as a twin carburetted model but over there as the TR5 has approx 150hp and fuel injection........Jags, MG's all through many manufacturers car lines..........There is no comparison in models north America to the rest of the world.........Whats an average clunker over here may well be a world beater over there.........About the only common ground they share is RUST /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Well, I'm an English Ford guy anyway, but I think that they are great. I'm not a big fan of the 2.3 Turbo, but I would buy the right XR4TI if I found it. The Type 9 5 speed can't handle much more torque, so you need a T5 conversion if you want that. An intercooler add on from a T Bird turbo is popular. Automatic cars were detuned to protect the transmission. The Rapido Group is a company in Portland Oregon which caters to the Merkur with parts and upgrades much as Team Blitz does with German Capri. There is another Merkur specialist, but I don't know the name. There are active clubs like the Pacific NW Merkur Owners Network.

I have no use for the Scorpio. Just the XR4TI.



Most I see are thrashed. They have been so inexpensive for so long.

The South African market got the beefiest version - a limited run of 250 Sierra XR8s were built fitted with Mustang 302 V8s without all the emissions stuff.
Emma

I drove an XR4TI for 4 years. I loved it. The 5 speed turbo was great. It was fun to accelerate and listen to the turbo wind up. The interior was very nice with leather. I would still be driving it if I hadn't cracked the head on it. Sold it to a neighbor for $800 as is. He swapped out the engine and is still driving it. I still see them for sale cheap but don't feel like buying another car.
Rick

OPMD in New York specializes in Merkur/Scorpio. The proprietor, Phil, had an XR4Ti and was tired of hunting for parts so he opened a business to supply them.

The website isn't especially efficient so if you don't see what you need email him or give him a call.

OPMD is also the US importer of Superlite wheels from the UK. I got the Superlites for my Jensen from Phil.


PC.

One of the ladies I work with when I am down in Huntsville, AL working (I live in New Mexico) has a husband who is a Merkur lover. One of our forum members here (Tony Barnhill) was trying to sell a Merkur the last time I was down here and this lady's husband bought it. I guess he restored it and won something up In Carlisle PA at the big show up there. If I did already have too many cars, I'd have bought it myself!

Basil