I think a lot just associate the 3 door more readily with cossie as this was the first one, and the shape everyone remembers at the time kicking beemers A**E!!
I prefer the looks of the sapph, don't like the 3 door at all, have owned a xr4i(dad still does,V8) the shell on the sapphy is a LOT more rigid you can feel it just driving.
I look at it this way, the 3 door is the offspring of the 2wd and and 4wd sapphy when they go together, ie the 3 door is hooligan whereas the sapphy is very understated and restrained looks, but each to thier own, condition would be a major factor at the age that both of the cars are at though.
tabetha