Real Road Test: Ford Granada Mk2 2.8 Ghia - Classic Luxury! 

What a classic and gorgeous motor. Our neighbours had a 2.8i Ghia when I was about 10 years old. I thought they were millionaires! We had an Allegro. Yeah enough said. We once went to Blackpool in the Granada (I lived in Birmingham at the time) and it was luxury sat in the back of it. Quiet, smooth and fast. Loved it! Absolute 80s classic.

My mate was a Granada Nut !!.He owned about 30 of them over the years..We swapped cars one weekend as I was going to the lake District with a girl😉.I gave him my 1980 Capri 3.0S ,I took his 2.8i Ghia X with grey leather....What a car.....A Jag with a blue badge.... comfortable,quiet,fast... I remember his missus swearing we'd never swap cars again as she'd spent the weekend going sideways around roundabouts...😄😄..And I had a lovely romantic weekend floating around the lakes😊😊

Back in the days when cars were proper, memories.

My Dad had a MK1 V6 GXL, red with black vinyl roof 👌 Always remember him letting me drive it after passing my test in 1985. Driving along he said stomp the throttle! The thing dropped down a gear and roared off. I felt like king of the road. My Dad was cool 😎x

There's one of these down my road. They still look the absolute business!

Whenever I see a Granada , my mind goes back to the Sweeny , and Mr Cowley in the Professionals

Lovely car, my dad used to drive Ghia’s and Ghia X’s in the mid 80’s. So glad they haven’t all been destroyed on the banger circuit! 👍

Those Fords were really popular in Austria, too. My Father was a Mechanic and got himself rather late a very nice used one, basic V 4 engine. It was also called the FORD "Ankara", as many Turkish Immigrants liked the realtively cheap, big, comfortable and reliable car for the long holiday drive in their holidays home to Turkey

The last time Ford had styling better than the price point.

Up there as one of my all time favourites, this particular example looks especially nice!

I took one on a tour of Germany in the early 80s 5 people and full of luggage, it went like a dream never a problem so comfortable too

My father had a Mk2 Ford Granada when I was a young lad in the 90's, fond memories of that car

This was my dream car as a boy. I wished my dad could have afforded one. One of our neighbours had one in metallic blue and I would look at it with envy and look through its windows at the luxurious interior! Seems ages ago now!

My Father had one of these. Same colour too! He had a bit of money so over the years his car would generally be a Merc or a BM, but I have to say that this machine beat all of them into the ground. Maybe a little bit ordinary on the outside, but on comfort, quietness, acceleration, power steering etc etc .it was exceptional. In the early 80s I had just started driving so even I occasionally got a go behind the wheel.

Hi and thanks for this. My dad had a string of Granada Ghia’s finishing with the Granada 2.8 Ghia X in about 1982. Complete with heated seats, fuel injection and air con, all on a car from the early 1980’s! Incredible. I got to drive the car regularity at the age of 18 after passing my driving test, and I was “king of the road”! Now 40 years later I still believe it’s the one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. I would give anything just to drive one again. Well done Ford. Thanks for the memories.

Ian you really surprised me with your comments about how smooth and quiet the Granda was. A lot of commentators at the time knocked the Cologne V6 for being rough at higher revs. Obviously, not so. Really complimentary review. Beautifully airy and comfortable looking car.

Great classic Ford! Over here in Cologne we love them of course :) Today we produce Fiestas over here and the future of the Cologne production does not look very bright ... By the way the ribbed tail lamps were invented by Mercedes back in 1971 already for the W107 SL and W116 S-class. The way how Mercedes designed them with the deeply recessed strips, those actually were a safety feature! Cause when the lamps are covered in dirt, you'd still see the relatively clean recessed bits.

"Do you want to look at the wiper linkage as much as I do?"...No one wants to look at the wiper linkage as much as YOU do!

I'm impressed! I wasn't expecting that kind of ride quality and engine smoothness from a car of that vintage.

For someone who’s never been around these. I absolutely love the creamy V6 thrum! Sounds soo satisfying!

I had a good used one of these when I was 19.....some 30 years ago. A good friend was an ambulance mechanic and at the time, they ran a fleet with this engine. He serviced mine and it ran sweet as a nut. I'd buy that car back in a heartbeat, although it probably doesn't exist now.

My Dad had one of these, brilliant thing. He later owned a Granada Scorpio and a Scorpio. All fantastic cars!

I remember my dads cousin regularly taking us to see the British super bikes at Donnington in the early 90’s in a 2.8 mk2 in white. Such a great understated Ford 💪🏻

See, there is a UK Ford that Ian genuinely likes!

Hi Ian. I'm grandad had a Ford granada mk2 ghia. I remember sitting in the back with my big sister and going for drivers in the countryside!

Loved my ghia x back in the 90s. Electric everything and some of it even worked. Lol.

This is fantastic and brought back so many memories for me. Two of my relatives owned these cars. My late Grandfather had a pre-facelift oyster gold 2.8 Ghia (PPX174S) and my uncle a facelift 2.8 Ghia X (A129DNJ) in the same colour as yours (was it called champagne silver?). The two things that hit the memory bank were the noise when you started it and the description of the noise/whine when you stopped at traffic lights! The pre-facelift one I recall had true brown velour seats that were like armchairs, with slabs of wood across the window line and classic Ford-of-that-era dials with green lighting and yellow pointers. Within 10 years (by 1988-ish) it was rotten in the rear arches, but it soldiered on until about 1993. The facelifted one was more durable, with slightly less thickly set seats and more toys. It had air conditioning I recall that was operated by pulling out the fan switch - something that was still used in late 90's Mondeos and a radio cassette with an LCD instead of a dial, which was something I was wowed by at the time. Both had electric aerials which I think you should do a test on when you get cars that have them, a bit like you do with wipers. "Does the aerial retract fully?" "How smoothly does it go up and down" etc...! It also had a fancy trip computer that would give consumption, distance to empty and so on. A129DNJ was hit by someone at a junction and sadly written off in about 1996, but was a lovely car right up until the end. Why in the facelifted ones was the rev counter dial offset compared to the speed? Always seemed a bit odd? Both had those alloys that Ford Ghias of that time had. Another object of desire to me! Anyway, please, please can you do a similar test on a Montego or Maestro, especially if a Perkins diesel, and even better if a facelifted early 90's Countryman or similar? I'd love one of those. There can't be many left now sadly. The wipers on Montegos were mad. They were meant to park below the bonnet line I recall, but when operating they parked half way up the screen!

Bloke i used to work with had a 2.8 Ghia X and was always bragging about it and cleaning it and to be honest,we were all a bit jealous.One day he came out out of his house to find it up on bricks and minus all of its Ghia X goodies.Absolutely no one grinned

As an apprentice, probably about 19 years old I guess, having to drive from Redditch down to Chippenham to collect a part for an induction furnace that had broken down. I had to use the company managers company car, a 1978 2.8 GL Granada. Needless to say, outside lane all the way down, and all the way back. That was a cool ride.

That's a handsome looking car! Fantastic condition too. Somehow it feels like a grown-up car. The main thing that strikes me is the amazing visibility - I know it is down to thinner pillars, reduced roll protection etc, but all the same, what an exceptional view. Those fog and driving lamps really suit it too.

I went to the launch of the MK3 Granada in 85 I was 11 and into cars they brought a inflatable pod and you walked down a tunnel all with lights and sounds and the car was at the end we spent all day playing in it I loved the electric back seats and thought it was amazing everything moved at the touch of a button so glad i was brought up with 80s tech it makes you appreciate today unlike many who take it all for granted.

A little fun fact regarding ribbed taillights.You mention Mercedes also.....the ribbed taillights on the Mercedes is quite different,or at least more extreme,,than on the Granadas.And the reason for Mercedes making them the way they did..was that when they are ribbed...they have a larger lighting surface.....so when the whirlwind in the back of the car makes the dirt and snow and such cling on to the taillights......having the larger area ,,and the "base" of the taillight beeing different height...the tailiights are actually staying more "visible" when covered in dirt...(if that explanation makes any sense..)anyways..that is the reason why they were designed like they were :)Also a littlf funfact regarding the Ghia And Ghia X.In Norway.....the Ghia WAS the Ghia X..in a way ...The Ghia was the top of the pops in a way..and had all the equipment like Cruise control...electronic dipstick level ,etc etc...I think Ghia X was a Uk thing only?..Anyways...Thank you soooooo much for another awesome video :) Greetings from Norway ,Stefan

Love a old skool ford and perfect lunchtime viewing, thanks Hubnut

I just love 💕 these old Granada’s, I had a 2.3L but it had a dark brown GL interior. It was what I call arm chair driving I would sit in that lovely seat and drive with one finger on the wheel. I salute the owner for a wonderful motor.👍🏾😊😊😊😊

Loved my Dads 2.8i Ghia X in glacier blue an 84 ‘A’ reg. Great memories.

My parents had a 2,3 L from 1983 that they bought in 1985 and drove until the mid-/late 1990s. Same color as the one in the video. I still remember the test drive in 1985 with my parents - I was 13 years old at that time. What a comfortable ride and very quiet inside the cabin. The car seemed to be way ahead of its time

Well this was a surprise! I just landed here randomly, this post came up as suggested viewing, which is nice, because I used to have one of these. Actually it was a 2.8i GhiaX in metallic blue. It was really good to see you giving this a road test in 2020, took me right back. So thank you for the presentation. Mine was A Reg and I liked it so much I kept it for about eight years. I bought it second hand in 87 I think and I loved it. Even a head on collision with a Renault 5 didn’t put me off it. In fact it did the opposite. The Renault five turned into a Renault 2.5 and was written off and I had to have new bumpers grill and radiators and lights. I didn’t even need new front wings. Like you, I loved its comfort and space and creamy but meaty V6. I also loved the solid ‘thunk’ the door sound made when i closed them, reassuring German build. It was the first car I had where actually liked the sound of the door closing. A little thing about the front lights, I had the spotlights too, which operated with the full beam only. If I was driving with the fog lights on and I put on the full beam, the bottom fog lights would go off and the grill spotlights would come on. Doing this repeatedly had the effect of getting traffic to move out of the way immediately, which I confess to using from time to time to amuse myself. The car I had before this was a 79 T reg gold Ford Cortina 2.3 V6 Ghia with brown vinyl roof. The car I had after the Granada was a black Granada Scorpio 2.9i hatchback E reg Which was replaced by a metallic green Granada Scorpio Cosworth 24 valve saloon M reg.

Aahhhh... the lovely eighties. My dad had a MK1 Granada AND a Consul befor he bought one of these 2.8 Ghias in Moonlight Blue. It took us through Europe, several times. I loved every moment in it.

It brings back great memories, my father bought one like this in 1982, and it was the first serious car I drove, I was a bit scared at first but very soon started to enjoy driving it, very comfortable on the highway and it felt very solid as well. Greetings and congratulations from Spain.

What a truly classic motorcar - my grandad had a few of these in South Africa- 3.0 GXL as they badged the 2.8 Ghia over there. Fab video Ian

Loved these back in the day, My dad was after one but they were just out of his price range. He ended up buying a 2.0 Cortina Ghia that had the same trim (was it called Chatsworth) lovely smooth cruisers with a surprisingly good turn of speed. Plus the concentration on the spotlight had me humming the Sweeney theme.

I owned a 2.0l mk 2,most comfortable car I've ever been in! One of my all time favourites.

Oh wow I’ve been waiting for this. My Dad got an 82 model, it was a 2.8 Ghia. It was used as a wedding car and had all the decorations in the boot. It was my dream car!

I like the styling of the Mk1, more character

The Granada was THE executive car back in the early 80's, BMW and Mercedes weren't getting a real look in back then.

I had a black 2.8i ghia x back in the day. Grey leather. Penta alloys. What a motor.

Just came across this little gem! Had a 2.3L one years ago, wonderful car. Got caught speeding (96mph!) in Yorkshire, bike cop was impressed how well it handled the twisties while he was trying to catch me lol.😁

The Professionals - One going through a plate glass window.

A proper guvnor car! Always liked these, although the 2.8 Injection estate is my all time favourite!

Don't forget about the Ghia X Executive, ultimate Ford luxury! I used to have the brochure as a kid and used to lust over it!

Thank you Ian! I've been looking forward to this test and as always it was awesome!

I always loved the estate versions

I had one of these.. Was like driving a sofa.

I had one as a patrol car when I was a cop in the 80's. Lovely car. When the Cavalier SRi arrived many people wanted to drive them but I stuck with my Granny, never tired of hearing that engine under hard acceleration.

The only time that was ever acceptable to ‘give your granny the boot!’. I could instantly smell what you did as soon as you opened the door of that car. Unmistakable! I especially love the touch that he’s left the Harry Moss alarm connected. They didn’t stop car thieves 30 years ago😆 Thanks for sharing!

That's just made my day, excellent video, always loved these old grandads..

We had a white ex-police 2.8i when I was a kid, I remember it being very quick!!

Very nice example of a mk2 Granada. Credit to its owner. Thank you for the roadtest. 👍

Changed days. Back in the 70’s and 80’s these were cars, along with the Vauxhall Carlton and Rover SD1, to aspire to. My pal’s dad had one the same colour as this, it was a corker.

I had the 2.3GL 5 speed manual. Inside it was almost exactly the same as this Ghia best trim of any car ever. BTW you were not high enough on the company ladder if you needed more boot space. Only the company rep`s needed more space LOL. My 2.GL had very long legs on the motorway from what I remember, much better than the Carlton`s 2200i we had on the fleet. It was one of the only company car I had that I really , really, really hated other staff driving, I wanted all to myself. Except when I could use the boss`s Cartlon 3000GSI.. tuff call that.

Three early 1980s words that sum this car up: Senior sales executive. 🤣

My own proper granada memory is from my sisters friends mum in the early 90s, they owned a sky blue 2.8 ghia x b reg one of these before they sold it. My parents didnt drive at the time. Even though it was getting on a bit in 1993 it retained a sense of luxury and grandeur. I loved getting in the thing for a lift home each week as i had to go and wait with my mum at my sisters after school dance class. The big soft velour seats, chrome and rear electric windows made me think it was the nuts. Even though my uncle had a newer sierra sapphire ghia at the time then a brand new scorpio k reg. I had a soft spot for this big old barge.

I had an 83 Ghia X auto estate at the tender age of 21 in 1990! Can honestly say it was one of the best cars i ever had! Was like driving a flying carpet it was that smooth! Had a Merc 190E after it and that wasn't a patch on the Granada. Of all the cars I have owned and driven it had to be the best of them all.

A great video as always and a brilliant car too👍. My grandad had a 1984 Granada 2.0L in forest green with a 5 speed manual box in the 80's. Even though it was the basic spec it still looked the part. My mum to this day says it was the best car she's ever driven🙂

In 1981, my mate Daz and me visited Quick's Ford in Ashton-under-Lyne to see one of these. 12 year old petrolheads aren't exactly target market fodder but the staff were very nice to us and gave us brocures. The showroom car was in Champagne gold like the one in the vid and we thought it was the coolest thing we'd seen. We always preferred executive cars to go-faster models. Hard to believe that was 39 years ago...

That's quite a handsome design. We got a "Granada" here in the US, but it was certainly nothing like that. Lovely indeed!

An excellent video featuring one of my all time favourite cars. Nothing you said I didn't want to know and was hooked all the way through. Thanks so much.

I had one these cars, an auto in gold. The German build quality showed!

For someone who has a reputation for not liking blue oval, pretty much all of the Ford reviews I’ve watched have been pretty positive. This is a lovely example of a lovely car.

Such a tidy example. I love the comparison between the XD Falcon and this car .....love your work Hub Nut.

A good investment for the owner....beautifully detailed too. Rear lights were polished and shining like new. Enjoyable test Mr. Hubnut.

In Germany you could get a 2 door version on lower spec cars, the V4 was dropped fairly quickly . Another German only option was a 2lt V6 sold in both Taunus(Cortina to us) and lower spec Granada's. The 2 door was not the coupe style (German mk1's differed from UK models as well)but simply a 2 door saloon, it's one of those odd German quirks that lingered into the mid 80's, a liking for 2 door saloons! A lovely car and one of the few you've done which I can claim to have owned in Mk1 3lt GXL, Mk2 2.8GL and Mk2 face lift 2.8i Ghia X the one thing they all liked was a good drink, infact a replacement XJ6 was more economical, just! The Sweeney and Minder had a lot to answer for back then.

WOW! what fantastic condition.

Oh there's loads of memories here... Hammering down with snow, and having to push start my dad's old Fraud Grandad in the late 80s at 5am... However, Ford did a great job of the styling and they were comfy.... Always wanted the two tone ghia X... That was a lovely motor! This one seems to be in pretty good nick too....

Genius! The old man had a 2.3 GL in '82 but it lacked the rear electric windows of the Ghia much to my chagrin as a 10 year old!

Really lovely styling. Totally, completely, unmistakably Ford.

That's a real nice example of a Granada! I remember we had one of these many many years ago (probably late 80's/early 90's). If I remember correctly it was a 2.8i GLS in metallic blue X reg. Same style alloys as that one in the video (the wheels seemed very wide compared to most other cars of the time!) Even though it was a GLS, I seem to remember it having pretty much all the extras this one has. It was a manual as well I think rather than auto, I thought it was a 5 speed but speaking to my dad about it, he tells me he's sure it was a 4 speed. Real nice car, remember going on holiday in it a good few times!

Being tank commanders thur sunroof and watching speedo on the M1 creeping to 120 mph joy

My dream car as a teenager was a Mk 1 Granada 3.0 V6 GXL/Ghia. A mate of mine who had a wealthy dad had one of these - silver and it was my aspiration. I would still love one of these. In the 80s another pal had a silver green (almost silver) Mk 2 2.8i Ghia X and I drove it many times - God was it the business!!!! They don't make 'em like they used to.

Man, whenever i see one (what is not very often) i remember my first car ever, a 79 mk2 2 door, with the carburated v6, steel bumpers, the black front grill, the oldschool of the granadas.. it was such an awesome car. I remember the door was so huge and heavy, that if you parked sideways on a slope, it was almost impossible to open :D

I actually got chlls down my spine when I heard you start that engine. I had a T reg 1978 Granadia Ghia 2.8 in champagne gold back in my late 20s. It had a highish milage when I bought it but I put another 80,000 on it until the wear and tear on the drivetrain and suspension took its toll and I was offered a company car.... It stood out the back of the house for a year until someone knocked on the door and took it off my hands. If I had to choose a car from all the cars I have had it would be either this or the Mk1 Granada Coupe - both lovely cars that effortlessly ate the miles in armchair comfort. Its a shame so many died in banger racing and they are basically collectors items now. I've also had a Mk3 Granada Scorpio and that was much the same to drive but not as pretty as its predecessors.. Than cologne V6 is beautiful,, and driven carefully not outrageously thirsty. Just don't get a lead foot....!

A double glove box version no less. 😄 Great stuff, thanks for not editing it out.

Back in the 1980's I owned a 2.3 Ford Granada. What a comfortable car it was. Even recall the registration number: VAN 600Y. A few years after I sold her I was watching a drama on TV and blow me up she pops.....still exists today but I bet she's worth way more than the money I sold her for.....

Having been a driver and passenger in these and the Rover SD1, I thought these had better build quality and felt more planted on the road.

Large washer bottle due to headlight washers.

This car has taken me back to my childhood I was 6 years when my dad had an A reg mk2 2.8 Ghia it was such a luxury

I had a 2L GL manual in the early 90s. Such a lurvly car to drive

All the years I worked at Austin Rover I owned many Granadas ! 👍🏻☮❤

I grew up in Taiwan. My dad had a Granada. It was one speed devil. The highway police used these cars as it was a fast car then. They also used Nissan Cedric with 2.4L, but it wasn’t as fast as these Granadas. Most people drove Datsun 210, 510, Blue Birds, Cedric’s if they were well off. Fords were also very popular. Escorts 1.3L, Cortina’s had 1.6L, or fancy Ford Granada with 2.6L first, then 2.8L. German made Ford Sierra was later very popular too.

The manual version were often used by various police forces as traffic department cars.

The Rear light design was known as easy clean. First seen I believe on Mercs and also used on the Mk 3 Capri or as Ford called it the Mk 2 face lift Capri . Plus the Cortina “80” or Mk 5 as you wish also the Escort Mk 3 .The idea being when it rains the overlap design helps wash the road grime away in between car washes helping towards road safety. If you’d checked the drivers seat adjustment you’d of noticed the electric adjustment switches down to the right just below the bolster. On the Ghia x version both front seats were electrically adjusted and heated. On the Ghia x Executive version with the leather seat option if the seat heaters were over used they caused the leather to prematurely crack so that’s why on the later scorpios if you look closely there are lots of small holes in the leather to stop this from happening so the seat could breath. Although the Ghia version was a luxury car the Ghia X added fuel trip computer where the digital clock sat, electric sunroof, air conditioning, and as already mentioned both front seats electric and heated. Plus front under bumper fog lamps. The fuel injected versions came with uprated suspension trx alloy wheels with metric tyres, front lip splitter and on the executive version front driving lamps as factory fit. A lot of the items fitted to lesser versions would be either dealer fit or fitted by the owners later. Then of course there was the 2.8 injection version with the recaro front seats usually with a 5 speed manual box plus all the outside spoilers including one on the boot as a factory fit and the suspension and wheel upgrades. Etc etc Great test keep up the good work 👍👍

Beautiful 😍😍😍😍😍 my favourite car you have ever driven.

These Granadas were everywhere when I moved to the UK in 1985 and I have fond memories of getting a lift in one regularly by some of my parents friends who helped us settle in. Great car, definately overlooked. A proper European 'wafter'. You should get one Ian ;-)

Lovely to see that video! I had two 2.8i Ghia '84 back in the '90th in Germany when everybody hated them. I loved 'em. My main one I used for daily drive on the 'Autobahn' with no speed limit, did make it to 240km/h and was still comfortably and good to handle. That's what I loved about the 3 speed automatic box. A friend had a 5 gear manual and it stopped at top speed 190km/h. The only 'bad' thing about a Granada driving German style is, she drinks a lot, easy up to 25 l/100km, if you push her... I had a few old Mercedes later on, but they couldn't beat the Granada by comfort at all! My last was a 2.8 Ghia '81 with carburator, like in your video, in Portugal till 2013. Then it was an eye catcher and very unique. Only three Ghias were sold in Potugal! Let's see when I get a chance to get one again, maybe here in UK. I'm kind of addicted to them... ;-) Thank you for your video! Cheers

I was a company chauffeur back in the early eighties and the first allocated car I had was a 2.8 Ghia estate (no company car tax back then) and it was a superb car the only real criticism was that the 2.8 engine could be a bit thrashy when extended. After two years it was replaced by a very late model Rover SD1 2.6 VDP as you said in your commentary you sat very much lower and the set up of the car was a lot softer and the engine although more refined was not as free revving as the Ford and more planning was needed when overtaking. I think it's a little unfair to compare the 2.8 Granada to the Jaguar XJ as the Jag was really the next level up from the Ford and that was reflected in the price. I remember the company that I worked for gave Granadas to senior managers up to division manager level and the Jags were reserved for directors only. A lovely car in a good colour too, excellent test.

Love that car. I do remember in the early 2000s when I moved to the UK there were lots of these around. They were kind of the car that refused to die despite pitiful values. Most other cars of the era had already died. I don't think there was anything in common with the Falcon except for the styling. I always thought these would have been a better car than the Falcon of the time for New Zealand roads (except when towing).

My Dad had a 2.3 and a 2.8 Ghia. I loved them

My parents used to have a pre-facelift v6 2.3 L estate. It was the base model where all the buttons were plastic covers, good to see this one fully spec'ed!

I never took to the styling of the mk2 granada or mk4 cortina, but it is nice when you see one. Sadly so many are lost to the banger racing crew and that is a tragedy. I spent one weekend as a marshall at Brafield arena and couldn't face doing it again, all that destruction.