Used Car Reviews: Chevrolet Cavalier / Pontiac Sunfire / Sunbird / Toyota Cavalier

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New Poll Online: What's the best thing about driving a fun cheap car?

We cut to the chase with this poll question: what really is the best thing about driving and owning a fun cheap car? I've asked myself this question often but don't really have a clear answer.

But there is something about buying an inexpensive car, ghetto tuning it a little, giving it a little TLC, and then enjoying every mile behind the wheel. Is it because you didn't take out a second mortgage to buy the dang thing? A fun cheap car owes you nothing, and every month you drive one you're saving money for better things (like car parts).

Or maybe it's the ability to not sweat the little things. Strange engine ticking? Turn up the stereo. Ding in a parking lot? Who cares, was she hot? There is a sense of detachment that creates a form of affection: a car that doesn't trouble you becomes more of a pet than an automotive commitment. It enriches you and your life, rather than the opposite.

Or something like that...

Anyway, take a look at our latest poll and vote as you will. If you have anything to add, post a comment below--we read every one.

Used Car Reviews: Merkur XR4Ti

Ford / Merkur XR4Ti
Type: 3 door hatchback
Years: 1985-1989 (in North America)
Bling Rating: 1.0/5
Zing Rating: 2.3/5
Price Rating: 3.6/5
FunCheapFactor: 8.28

A commercial flop, a cult classic...kind of. The Ford/Mercury Merkur XR4Ti is something of a North American automotive oddity: what was it supposed to be, what was it really, what were they thinking, and what went wrong?

While I could spend several hours answering those questions, I'd rather talk about the car. Built by Ford Europe and sold as the Sierra over there, it was a modestly successful design. Some 2,700,000 Sierras were sold in Europe in various forms. Then someone at Ford (then Ford Vice President Bob Lutz, actually) had the bright idea to import the car to North America and sell it along side far cheaper, more appealingly (appallingly?) styled American cars--which turned out to be not such a bright idea after all.

The lacklustre North American sales of the Merkur XR4Ti wasn't really the cars fault, though. In North America it was perhaps a little ahead of its time in design, if nothing else. The XR4Ti came with a peppy turbo-charged 2.3 litre Pinto-derived engine (yup, a Pinto-derived engine) and independently sprung rear wheels with rear wheel drive. It was also well appointed, with heated leather seats, power windows, power door locks, moon roof, and heated power mirrors.

But make no bones about it, the Merkur XR4Ti was ugly. Not Saab ugly (appealing on a level not quite understood but still appreciated as stylistically foreign) but Ford ugly: trying too hard to look too good and acheiving the opposite result. Ugly is a subjective judgement I know, so if you're one of the seven people in the continental U.S. who think the Merkur XR4Ti was a good looking car, my...apologies?

Hyperbole aside, the Merkur XR4Ti was at least a driver's car. The turbo-charged engine put out a respectible 175hp with the stick shift, and the rear wheel drive made for a lot of fun in the corners. Today in North America the Merkur XR4Ti is about as rare as an informed electorate (a zinger!) and solid used examples are pretty hard to find (a quick Craiglist search in various cities returned mostly parts wanted ads).

But if you do want one enough to actually look for one, they can be found. While not exactly a fun cheap car favourite (spare parts are a little too difficult to find and a little too expensive when found) the Merkur XR4Ti is nonetheless a decent set of wheels if you want to spend very little money initally (average examples list for about $1200) and drive something serves to remind us of the blunders U.S. car companies can make when they scramble to bring European models to market in North America (like they're doing now).

Did I mention the Merkur XR4Ti is cheap, turbo-charged, and rear wheel drive?

Merkur XR4Ti Links:
http://www.xr4register.com/
http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/-1274004771/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur_Scorpio

VOTE: What's the best performance mod for under $100 bucks?

Forget the election (it's a farce anyway): our latest poll, "What's the best performance mod for under $100 bucks?" closes in 12 days (it's over there in the right hand column). If you haven't voted for your favourite cheap performance mod, get on it. We can't skew the results without your vote!

I've been all about hi-flo air filters, but I'm thinking a used header might be even better. More work to fit, but well worth the performance improvement--if you can find one at a local wrecker/auto recycler.