Conference terri::cars_uk

    A 2 ltr Fiesta, that sounds like death on wheels !!!
    
    It will be interesting to see what the performance is like from an
    engine like that in the Fiesta. Well if that's released at the end of
    the year it only mean another 18mths till the lease is up on the
    current car.

    Shaz if you don't get an alarm fitted on the RS soon you might not
    have to wait that long :-)
    
    - Roy

     
    I havn't heard (or seen) the 2.0 litre fiesta 16v yet!! However, I was 
    told that the 2.0 ltr 16 v Zeta engine was going into the Escort RS2000,
     the 1.8 ltr 16v was going into the Fiesta RS/XR2i and the Escort XR3i 
    (but with different EMS chips) 
    
    
    	Sean

    Re. .3
    
    Sean, you seem to be the man with the ear to the ground. 
    Can you find out if the 2.0 is going in the Fiesta ?
    
    I find this hard to believe. However, I suppose its only a few more
    cubes than the Pug.
    
    - Roy

    Re: -1
    
    I guess the driver sits in the back in this car !! Cos there can't be
    any room left in the front with a 2 ltr jobby under the hood.
    
    

    Further to .0, I re-read the article last night.

    It stated that the XR2i _will_ get the 2.0 zeta engine developing
    130bhp with minor styling changes; it will get the bonnet air intakes
    like the RS.

    I don't know if there would be a problem fitting such a large engine in
    the Fiesta as the Metro 6R4 rally car carries a 2ltr engine.

    However, I believe Auto Express have got their facts wrong.
    According to an earlier article in A&M concerning the new Escort, it
    stated that the 1.8 to be fitted to the XR3i will deliver 130bhp and
    the 2.0 (RS2000), 150bhp.

    For AE to quote 130bhp for a 16v 2.0ltr engine seems very low
    considering the Renault 1.8 16v engine fitted to the 19 (and shortly in
    the Clio) gives 137bhp and my 1.6 Fiesta (albeit turbo) delivers
    133bhp.

    I think Sean's prophesy is more in-line with the XR2i to get a 1.8
    rather than a 2.0.

    - Roy

     Re: .3
    
    I know the PM of the Fiesta 'next version' project. He was testing the
    engines, the top engine I heard (this was about 4-6 mths ago) was the
    1.8 16v Zeta. The way I heard it was that the PM said "Just had 12 new
    Fiesta turbo's in and had to rip the engines out to get the 16v ones
    in !"
    
    Anybody want a 1.6 Fiesta turbo engine 12 going cheap....presently
    sitting in a workshop ready to be scrapped. shame 
    
    Sean

    
    re the 6R4, if i remember rightly, they also lengthened the wheelbase / 
    bodyshell by 6 inches to get it all in....
    
    
    Nigel

    The 6R4 was such a dainty, pretty looking little car.
    
    Ian.

    Better looking than an Intergrally (sp), cheeper and better
    depreciation.

    And bags of room for all the family!
    
    Ian.

    > It stated that the XR2i _will_ get the 2.0 zeta engine developing
    > 130bhp with minor styling changes.
    
    I doubt very much the XR2i will have the 2.0 16v engine, more
    than-likely the 1.8 16v like its sister XR3i, and then make
    another RS Fiesta with the 2 litre (scrapping the turbo).  Then after
    that proberly a Cosworth Fiesta!
    
    All in line with the Escort.
    
    ..Craig

Re: two litre Fiesta.

And who would insure one anyway???

    I think Keith Ripp ( Ripp speed shop chain ) used to have a 2.0l Fiesta
    Rally car , a few years ago .
    
    
                          KR
    
    
                       

    Well this months Autocar says that the fiesta wil get the 1800 cc
    enginer and the xr3i the 1800 16v jobby and the rs200 the 2 litre 16v
    jobby. No mention of a fiesta with a 2 litre engine at all
    
    Rich
    

    Has anybody got the performance figures of rthe RS1800 Fiesta.
    I'm thinking of ordering one but there's a toss up between this and a
    Clio 16v, has anyone got, driven, or seen, either of these close up.
    Also how do the in gear acceleration times of the 2 compare, i would
    imagine the Fiesta to be better as  the Renault engine is a bit weak
    in that department.
    Any thoughts, or reccomendations on the 2 would be appreciated.
    
    Nick.

    Well seeing has nobody else has i'll answer my own question (partly).
    I have just recieved through the post the new RS catalogue.
    The RS Fiesta's figures are quoted as follows.
    
    Max speed 124 mph
    0-60  8.1 secs
    30-50 6.0 secs (4t.
    
    I thought it would be a little quicker than that, how does that compare
    to the Clio 16v and also the old Fiesta Turbo.
    
    The car is fitted with rear drum brakes, i would have expected discs,
    did the turbo have drums or discs ?.
   
    cheers Nick.

    Nick, I've also been comparing these two models (not that my Fiesta
    Turbo is up for renewal yet). 

    You should really drive these two cars to see which you prefer for the
    only real answer.

    One of the things I would like to add is a comparisons of 'creature
    comforts'. The Clio has a little more in this department.

    The RS to its credit has a heated front windscreen as on option which
    is really handy in the Winter. They have changed the location of the 
    electric window switches to the doors rather than hidden away under the
    radio as on the model that I have. 

    The Clio has electric door mirrors which the RS sadly lacks and also
    a remote control for the stereo located near the steering wheel.
    It also has a disable switch which activates a flashing LED on the
    dashboard. It also has power steering and remote central locking.

    If you do drive both cars be sure to post a note here with your
    thoughts.

    I've just had the opportunity to test drive a Fiesta RS 1800.

    Its very interesting to compare it with my existing car (Fiesta RS
    Turbo) and the Clio 16v which I have also driven recently.

    The old engined XR2i and RS turbo (133bhp) were phased out in the 
    middle of last year and were replaced by the new 16v 1.8i Zeta engine 
    models -
    105 bhp for the XR2i and 130bhp for the RS model (now called RS 1800).

    Anyone who has driven the RS Turbo will know that the steering is
    heavy, the ride is hard and the engine harsh at high revs.

    Not so with the RS 1800. The steering is now a delight, the engine
    is superb, it pulls well from low revs in any gear and accelerates
    well. 

    Overall, the performance is slightly down on the turbo, but because it
    is a different style of power delivery I have not really noticed.

    The interior is pretty much the same as the turbo with just a few
    subtle changes. The window switches are now conveniently located on the
    doors, which is much better.

    After driving the Clio, I loved the driver comforts like elec/heated
    mirrors, outside temp display, remote locking, remote controls for the
    stereo, all of which the Fiesta lacks. However, the Fiesta does offer
    a heated front windscreem as an option.
     
    Ford appear to fitting RDS stereos as standard these days. IMO they are
    a real pain. I guess if you do a lot of long distance travelling they
    are great as they will always change to the strongest frequency. I find
    it very annoying though as the sound goes dead for a short time if it
    finds a stronger frequency and you can miss vital words of a sentence.
    Its also distracting when listening to music.
    Is there any way you can switch off the RDS facility ? I am quite happy
    with my preset frequencies. 

    What do others think about RDS ?

    Overall, I prefer the RS to the Clio. I will be looking at a few other 
    models before I submit any quotes (which I won't be doing for a while
    yet).

    Roy (I'm not a Ford lover, honest!)
 

>   However, the Fiesta does offer a heated front windscreem as an option.
     

	Having gone down this in another note, I would just like to say, if
	you decide to take this option, test drive one first, some people
	can't get on with the wires across the windscreen.


	Heather

    I rented a Ford Siesta 1.1 something-or-other the other day and its RDS
    radio had a manual tune option.
    
    In fact all three RDS radios I've been lucky enuff to use in rental
    cars have had the option of a manual tune.
    
    Reargards,
    
    Stephen
    
    Ps: No that wasn't a typo !

    
    Is there any one that has actually owned an RS 1800 fiesta and has
    any comments on it ?
    I am test driving one this week and would like to know what its like to
    own over a long period.
    Is the performance worth the extra money over the standard XR2i 16v.
    
    
    ...Simon

    The performance is a lot better - but the seats are worth any extra in
    money. The normal XR2i seats are awful compared to the Recaro's in the
    RS1800. No-where near as fast as the old RS Turbo Fiesta though ( i.e.
    8.2 seconds 0-60 as opposed to 7.2 seconds )
    
    The XR2i 16V cant break 9 seconds according to the magazines - although
    I've never driven the XR2i ( Ive driven the other two though )
    
    Rick