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Escort turbo or new car?


cherrybeard

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Ok so I need more power or a different car. Was hoping this thread would make my mind up for me!

Say I had an engine producing 200hp. Forgetting cornering, braking etc, 'how fast' would this be compared to cars with a factory 200hp? e.g. Suburu, mr2, supra, BMW

On one hand I keep thinking that a car that was designed with factory power would have suspension, brakes, gearing etc that all worked together in unison and would provide a more closely coupled package with regards to reliability, safety and all round performance.

On the other hand, there is something very attractive about having an old, understated car with a hidden beast lurking under the bonnet. Sadly, the escort doesn't 'feel' very stable with a 1.8 let alone anything bigger so it kinda feels like im trying to improve something that was never destined to get from 0-60 in less than 13 seconds (I don't know what the real figure is)

Just so you all know exactly what I am after - it isn't flying round corners or exceeding the national speed limit, its quite literally the thrill of the acceleration.

I have up to £4k to spend on either option and am fully aware that brake and tyre upgrades will have to come first. I am also fully aware that if the money is pumped into a £500 escort, it will never come back but then again, a £3-4k motor will be worth £500 in a few years anyway. There is also the argument that the factory power of standard turbo cars will be down after x amount of years and possibly won't match against a freshly built engine.

If it was you, and you had to pick one option, which one would it be and why? :)

 

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In what respect? It's a good car that should only appreciate in value. However it's not cheap to run or maintain (it is reliable, but to upgrade or change parts properly is expensive). This needs to be taken into account when buying a performance motor. They will costs thousands more per year to run.

 

It's fast enough for me as a daily driver, but 220bhp in a big ol' car isn't anything crazy these days when Corsas and average diesel estates put out ridiculous figures.

 

You can fling £4k at a mk6 Escort and it's just going to be a fast mk6 with all the existing problems it already has. IMO you'd have to spend a lot more than £4k on a mk6 to get it anywhere near the car that an Impreza, Supra, MR2, M3, S2 etc is out of the box.

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Just so you all know exactly what I am after - it isn't flying round corners or exceeding the national speed limit, its quite literally the thrill of the acceleration.

 

 

 

Really? Wouldn't you be better with a car that's maybe slightly slower to accelerate but has supreme handling. For me there's nothing better than a car with sorted handling, thrashing down a twisty country road (still within the speed limit) but pushing the car round corners.

 

As has been said, regardless, you don't throw 4k at a mk6 escort or whatever you have unless your really are for some reason a massive escort fan and not really looking for any return on that money in the future.

 

There a thousands of options out there for that sort of money. I had the exact same amount to buy myself a toy with at the start of the year and although my requirements/wishes were not the same as you I did consider some of the same cars that have been mentioned. In the end I went for a Porsche 944 S2. 210bhp, fantastic handling car and build quality and I liked the looks. Much like the Audi's BMW's etc already mentioned, upkeepwill be alot more than an Escort, some of the receipts that came with the car are bloody scary!

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Do whatever you want with it. When it comes to modifying cars there is no smart way, cheap way or best way. It's what you want. My car was designed for 40BHP. It's still going to end up with over 100BHP whether it's with this engine, a turbocharged version or a bike engine. When people ask me what i've spent and what i've done they think im mad, but it's what i want. Don't build a car to sell it, build it how you want it.

 

If you want a bog standard Subaru like every other person that owns one, then that's what you buy.

 

Or, you can have a car that will keep up with a Subaru which no-one will expect, again, it's up to you

 

Though i know what i'd rather have.

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Im with ahm on this one. For me at least, regardless of cost i am all for the built not bought thing bit thats me i guess

 

yes i could buy a supra for 3k thats super fast.....but id rather have a fiesta that can keep up with the supra.

 

no one here is trying to deter you from tuning something up, i think theyre just offering the different options despite how it sounds. For example sidricks audi is getting some porsche brakes iirc, even stus toyota/subaru is getting some nice parts when both of them could have bought a better car to start with but at the end of the day all of us r here because we like to modify cars. We like to take a vehicle and push it to be better

 

i hope everyone understands what i mean lol

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I wouldn't spend £4k personally. I did a RS2k conversion, which imo was good for the Escort or Orion I had then. Nice power hike and decent brakes etc. Spent around £300 total.

After I wanted something modern and with power, when Ford announced they were doing the RS Focus in 2008 and had the concept, I was definitely going for it. If they didn't I would have got an Escort RS Cosworth, as I always wanted one. But now could not justify spending that money for a car almost 15 years old. I did not regret buying the new Focus RS in 2009.

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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281292131737 Clio 182, 43k on the clock. Why would you want to waste money on an engine for an escort when a car like that is only £2500.....

because regardless of how much power it has. A renault clio is still a renault clio

 

i love how everyone bags on escorts so badly here lol

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One of the main reasons for putting the 'new car' money into the escort was that I actually rather liked the look of it. Nice colour and shape, just needs performance. I think I'm just bored of putting me foot down and nothing happening....

I'm trying to narrow it down now

T5-R (Nice bomb proof practical car but not sure if its too heavy to be fast)

Mk III 1jz / 2jz

Toyota Soarer

300zx

Legacy (I like this as its quite understated looking)

BMW 940 (wishful thinking!)

e55 amg (Not sure if I could stomach looking at that front end though :puke: )

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Hi Mate,

 

I was going to build a turbo'd escort and instead took the plunge and bought this:

 

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/SUBARU_2006/947043_10151471644744217_43183862_n_zps17ee23a3.jpg

 

JDM Integra Type R, youll pick one up for under 4k easy with UK cars in the region of £2-3k

 

Handling

Incredible - named best handling front wheel drive car of its time, and it flatters you as a driver

All sorts of standard bracing and design for weight reduction

 

Performace:

Its about 200bhp, LSD and short raito box means ive beaten WRX Subarus up the 1/4 mile then drove home and got 32mpg

 

Looks:

Ok it could be deemed as "Chavy" mine is completely standard and ill keep it that way, it has the red recaro seats which as they are recaros dont need any description, momo leather wheel and titanium gear knob

 

It weights about 1000-1100kg so it fair shifts, honestly theres absolutlety no way you will make an escort as good with even more than the £4k youre thinking of spending. Cos the teg spanks ST fiestas and focus's let alone RST and RS2k

 

No brainer, maybe its not your kind of thing. I needed MPG and performance so a Subaru etc was a no go as i couldnt deal with 19-22mpg maybe your commute is shorter than mine! haha hope that helps

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