Ford Laser

2001 March: The SR2 (right) is the lead model of the Ford laser range. The SR and SR2 are "hot hatches" (what VW and Peugeot do so well). The Laser `SR' has 15" wheels and a 1.8 litre engine, the SR2 16" wheels and a 2-litre engine (98 at 6000, 178 at 4500). Both have a dress up body-kit of front and rear skirts and other trim. Of more substance, the body, and the front suspension, are said to be more rigid than before.

Prices: LXi hatch & sedan, 5-speed manual 20,415, LXi hatch & sedan, 4-speed auto' 22,203, GLXi hatch & sedan, 5-speed manual 23,600 (inc' alloy-wheels), GLXi hatch & sedan, 4-speed auto' 25,388 (inc' alloy-wheels), SR hatch, 5-speed manual 23,490, SR hatch, 4-speed auto' 25,278, SR2 5-speed manual 27,390, and SR2 4-speed auto' 29,178 ( 4/2001).

1990s: The Ford Laser was derived from the Mazda 323, originally a simple badge-engineering job, later with a bit more individuality.

Most Lasers were simple front wheel drive hatch-backs but some had boots and some (TX3, 1990-1993) were four wheel drive (right): 2-door coupe, 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder, 4-valves/cyl, dohc, inter-cooled and turbo-charged, 117 at 6500, 206 at 3000, loa:4270mm, width:1695mm, height:1385mm, wheelbase:2500mm, weight: 1200kg, tyres: 195/60R14. Ford must have been thinking about Subaru . . . but then let it slip.

Ford Laser TX3 4WDs were fully imported (built in Japan) and the quality was good but, if buying a second hand one, watch out for signs of boy or girl-racer abuse.

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