Stupid things non petrolheads say....
Discussion
Halmyre said:
Some guys at work were talking about a colleague's car (can't remember make) which had suffered engine damage through over-revving. After a short discussion about whether it was a straight six or a V6, one pointed out that "it was a straight six until he over-revved it..."
...And now it's a straight five? 
Afromonk said:
Feel there is two sides to this.
As cars in general go these are quite a decent little motor on par with some of the early Japanese Kei stuff.
Tiny turbocharged engines, decent revvy power and high economy with parkers putting the 0-60 around 9 seconds (http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/ford/fiesta/hatchback-2008/57302/).
However I have a mate with one of these (the zetec s) and he goes on and on like its the fastest thing since the Thrust SSC when in practice a lot of thing beat it off the lights.
A really good chassis spoiled by an engine designed to feel powerful to bad drivers and soccer moms. It is not "revvy" at all - it has pretty much flat torque and power delivery because of the turbo, and it is wholly uninspiring and boring to drive. A small engine should enjoy having its tits revved off; the Ecoboost engines are more like turbo diesels (without the slug of torque). Hateful little things. The fact that one was put in a Caterham is so depressing.As cars in general go these are quite a decent little motor on par with some of the early Japanese Kei stuff.
Tiny turbocharged engines, decent revvy power and high economy with parkers putting the 0-60 around 9 seconds (http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/ford/fiesta/hatchback-2008/57302/).
However I have a mate with one of these (the zetec s) and he goes on and on like its the fastest thing since the Thrust SSC when in practice a lot of thing beat it off the lights.
ORD said:
...It is not "revvy" at all - it has pretty much flat torque and power delivery because of the turbo, and it is wholly uninspiring and boring to drive.
While I don't agree they are "hateful little things" I agree with you on the engine.My mother purchased one from new last year, I had a drive in it and found it pretty dull. A bit of go at lower revs, but little up top. Not massively more fun than the 65bhp 1.4 diesel fiesta van I had for work. The only reason it was fun at all was because of the fiesta's good chassis.
Agreed. I am probably OTT on the poor thing! It's only little, after all. An overreaction to all the positive press.
I think what Mazda is doing with slightly larger but very efficient NA engines is more interesting. Probably similar economy in the real world but with a bit more of an old-fashioned power delivery and no turbos to break.
I think what Mazda is doing with slightly larger but very efficient NA engines is more interesting. Probably similar economy in the real world but with a bit more of an old-fashioned power delivery and no turbos to break.
Mercury00 said:
My GF's brother is learning to drive and says the car he's learning to drive in has a special kind of gearbox which makes it easier to change gear, called 'spring-loaded gears'. Apparently you don't have to move the gearstick in the pattern shown on the gear knob to move into the gears, just up and down. It's a manual and gearstick is simply returning to centre as almost all cars do. His instructor is telling him this like it's a special feature of his Hyundai i20. I get frustrated just listening to this s
te 
There was something along those lines several years ago for the Evo.te IIRC it was called Ikeia sequential shifter.
driverrob said:
Ah, sorry - didn't catch on.
No, he was in Tesco car park while I was waiting for the OH.
When someone produces silly facts, I do the same, to see how far I can string them.No, he was in Tesco car park while I was waiting for the OH.
The confused looks on their faces is priceless.
IE:
- Yeah those rangers are mighty quick, would definitely beat the Jeep. Not surprising considering they cost £500,000.
- I used to have a ranger, but got rid of it because they had 31 gears and I just couldn't get used to it.
- Rangers are an excellent vehicle, Did you know Ferrari originally designed them? But Ford stole the plans?
ORD said:
A really good chassis spoiled by an engine designed to feel powerful to bad drivers and soccer moms. It is not "revvy" at all - it has pretty much flat torque and power delivery because of the turbo, and it is wholly uninspiring and boring to drive. A small engine should enjoy having its tits revved off; the Ecoboost engines are more like turbo diesels (without the slug of torque). Hateful little things. The fact that one was put in a Caterham is so depressing.
It's really not half as bad as you're making out.The 125 version feels likes it has more at the top end, but even the 100bhp engine has a good amount of shove at 3000-4000rpm and keeps going till about 6000.
For a 1 litre engine and considering the cost I can't think of anything better.
Don't get me wrong I love a responsive revvy engine but the Ecoboost unit is better than any small NA car I've ever come across.
And 57mpg on a run yesterday!
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