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Detroit, 12:35 AM
Thu Dec 10
27 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/02/09
In the Merkur marketplace, this price is on the high end of the spectrum, but the car here looks to be in excellent shape and all original. Plus, this particular color is quite rare. I can't think of what Ford called the color, but there were not many XR4Tis that received this color paint, a color that I find to be one of the nicest for the XR.
So bottom line on this one (IMHO): NICE PRICE!
09/02/09
09/02/09
09/02/09
Those who complain the car is $1000 overpriced, or who can find one for $1500 cheaper, can't afford it anyway. You either like the car or you don't. If you don't, it's not worth $6 let alone $6000.
I'm not a XR4Ti fanatic so I don't know where this one stacks up in the marketplace. But I do know that if you want a rare, enthusiast car, you need to buy the best one you can possibly find, and pay whatever it takes to get it. Anything less is a waster of money. In that respect, this car at this price seems like a good deal.
09/02/09
There were a few 1988ish XR4Ti's on AutoTrader with an average price of $2500. Add $5000 for this car being rare, and another $1500 for general awesomeness (come on, the name alone is awesome not to mention the Europeanness of the car in a time when Europeanness in the US is limited to brands based in places with Europeanness). Thus, the fair market value is $9000.
Buy it!
09/02/09
09/02/09
09/02/09
I drove imports through much of the 80's but when everybody else started doing it then it wasn't fun anymore. I haven't had one since 1995. Nothing is more objectionable to me than being mainstream.
The mantra used to be "Buy American" back when they had import burning parties and such. So I didn't. Then the conventional wisdom became "Buy Japanese" so I didn't do that any more.
Buy Canadian! I got nothin'
09/02/09
fests.
Plus it's kind of like a 2-door 1st-gen Taurus to the uninitiated.
Cons: A true XR4Ti *requires* the double wing. AND the rotary wheels. The color doesn't do the car any favors. The Turbo is probably due for a rebuild.
And it's kind of like a 2-door 1st-gen Taurus to the uninitiated.
Verdict: Just barely Nice Price, and only on the reasonable assumption you can haggle the seller down to $5K or less. The rear wing and wheels are probably some of the easier parts to find... but not having to find any of the odd trim bits and glass and interior panels and the like is arguably worth a $2K premium to a subset of fans.
09/02/09
Shave $3K off it, to start, and that's a good place for the seller to begin negotiation.
I really liked the Scorpio when it appeared. I take issue with the 'Merkur' name being what put US buyers off. Scion doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.... Too close to Mercury, and honestly, that's what Ford should have brought them here as, a Euro Merc.
09/02/09
09/02/09
EDIT: Conclusion, as my sons aim is a little high and far, so is the price.
09/02/09
09/02/09
09/02/09
I luv me some Xrattys and this one's a nice example...
...but you can find good'uns for $3000-$3500. Add on to that the dumbed-down spoiler (I want my double decker!) and generic rims (I want my rotary dial rims!) and the mehs! are piling up...
09/02/09
Well, an actual XR4Ti that looks like it's in great shape. But the price seems to be a bit high on this one though, so with the slightest of margins, I vote Crack. If it was priced below $3,000, then maybe.
If you want to know more about these little Turbocharged Fords, read here.