How To Be A True Jalop: Merkur Edition

"Raphmoe" (raphmoe) 01/29/2015 at 11:56 • Filed to: TOP GEAR, MERKUR XR4TI, Merkur, ford rs, ford, cosworth, craigslist

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Hello and good evening, we here at Jalopnik and Oppositelock love all cars; but especially the rare, seemingly ambiguous and quirky ones. You know, the hip ones. Much like Natural Spirit cigarettes and tightly trimmed facial hair, the Merkur XR4Ti fits that build to a Ti.

Found on craigslist, this beautiful Merkur could be had for $1800 in Burlignton, VT:

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Why is the Merkur XR4Ti a perfect Jalop car? It is in the same way that buying a Toyota Corolla is the same as a Lexus LFA. Here, let Hardibro explain:

Something about the Merkur struck me. My dream car is a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, which is basically a custom body over a Ford Sierra, and the Merkur is basically a Ford Sierra, which means if I bought it I would basically own a Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

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Basically, on the internet, anything can be justified. You can read that article over and over again well, it doesn't make much sense. But I digress, the Merkur, through the transitive property of car love and lust is the perfect Jalop car because our boss bought one, and then sold one without ever really driving it. But the feelings are what matters, and Merkurs, much like a good massage at a Korean Sushi restaurant provide the best rub and tugs of your life. How shall it rub thee? Let me count the ways:

Rear wheel drive. Check.

Ugly. Check.

Unreliable. Check.

Manual Transimssion. You're god damn right Heismanberg.

Beautiful. Prestigious. Hip. Quirky. Rare. Undriveable. Rusted. Jalop.

Hopefully it goes to a good Jalop home.

E. Julius > Raphmoe 01/29/2015 at 11:59

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Pfft, the XR4Ti is so mainstream. Scorpio is where it's at.

T5Killer > Raphmoe 01/29/2015 at 12:02

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I want one so bad. A friend of mine who used to own a speed shop had a heavily modified one. Volvo head swap, modern turbo, mustang T-5 trans. That car was a beast.

MonkeePuzzle > Raphmoe 01/29/2015 at 12:02

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why the hell does the ad for my new XR4Ti show someone already buying it and loading it up?

Raphmoe > MonkeePuzzle 01/29/2015 at 12:03

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What a conundrum.

For Sweden > Raphmoe 01/29/2015 at 12:04

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Tightly trimmed facial hair was last year. Get with the times, Raphmoe.

Raphmoe > For Sweden 01/29/2015 at 12:06

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I am not as hip or cool as you, nor will I ever be.

For Sweden > Raphmoe 01/29/2015 at 12:08

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Obviously; you're not in ABBA.

Svend > Raphmoe 01/30/2015 at 10:20

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Ugly: I don't ruddy think so sunshine.

Unreliable: Only as far as the owner or one of it's previous owners has allowed it to be from lack of maintenance or under appreciation in it's life. Do a full rebuild and start from scratch to truly know it's provenance.

Svend > E. Julius 01/30/2015 at 10:26

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Really? Which one?

Lol.