Ford Escort MK3/MK4

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Romantics It took the rest of the car world a decade to catch up with Alfa and Volkswagen - and here’s our selection of their alternative classics

AS GOOD AS A SUD?

It says a lot for this family favourite Ford that it was judged to be as good as a Sud when announced in 1980. This Escort was certainly streets ahead of the old, prehistoric Mk2, although the hot versions have never been held in the same esteem as the Mexico and RS1600/2000. But the XR3 (above) and the XR3i are genuine Golf GTi rivals and can still be bought quite cheaply, the exceptions being the motorsport-bred RS1600i and the RS Turbos. Rust can be rampant and there’s many scrappy cars out there so buy with care, but parts and club support is typically Ford excellent which makes them all wise and pleasing buys although the later 1990 revamped range is less revered. And justifiably so.