improve performance on focus 1.4

[dannyj1986]

Hi i am looking for a few tips on how to inhance the performance of my ford focus 1.4 mk1

any info would be appreciated

[otolith]

Why not sell it and buy something faster?

[paulshears]

otolith said:

Why not sell it and buy something faster?

I agree with Otolith I'm afraid

A 1.4 with performance air filter, sport's exhaust, lowered/uprated suspension would still be slower than say a 1.8

Then your insurance company will want more £££ because of the mod's

& you'll end up paying more £££ for your modded 1.4 than what a standard 1.8 will cost

[Chris_w666]

I agree with the 2 above, keep the car as is until you can afford to upgrade to something a bit quicker. The £500-£1000 you could spend on your 1.4 would get you into a 1.6 or 1.8 focus. That money will never get you a 25-40 horse power increase. Its the same story with most ordinary NA cars, extra power often costs a lot more than the next model up the range.

[thebigmacmoomin]

I wouldnt waste my time modding a 1.4. Just get a 1.8 or 2.0, both are just as cheap to run & insure & offer good performance.

[t84]

For what it's worth, it's rumoured that a lot of the 1.8's make the same power as the 2.0's anyway...

[dannyj1986]

Well to be honest i was considering the focus 2.0 esp model, iv heard the insurance is quite cheap.

What sort of performance mods should i consider for a 2.0 esp

[ymwoods]

I can help...I have the same problem but with a 1.1 Pug

Step 1 - Sell your car
Step 2 - Nick a trolley from Asda or other well known supermarket (Aldi ones are rubbish though)
Step 3 - Find a big hill
Step 4 - Sit in trolley
Step 5 - Rock forward a bit and let gravity do its thing.

You will be going like stig in no time.

Even better is if you can find a hill just inside of a supermarket with automatic brakes on the trolley. Once you get to the bottom the auto-brakes kick in.

Edited by ymwoods on Wednesday 4th August 23:57

[dannyj1986]

ymwoods said:

I can help...I have the same problem but with a 1.1 Pug

Step 1 - Sell your car
Step 2 - Nick a trolley from Asda or other well known supermarket (Aldi ones are rubbish though)
Step 3 - Find a big hill
Step 4 - Sit in trolley
Step 5 - Rock forward a bit and let gravity do its thing.

You will be going like stig in no time.

Even better is if you can find a hill just inside of a supermarket with automatic brakes on the trolley. Once you get to the bottom the auto-brakes kick in.

Edited by ymwoods on Wednesday 4th August 23:57

You probably are best of with a shopping trolley if you compare it to a 1.1 pug

[ymwoods]

dannyj1986 said:

ymwoods said:

I can help...I have the same problem but with a 1.1 Pug

Step 1 - Sell your car
Step 2 - Nick a trolley from Asda or other well known supermarket (Aldi ones are rubbish though)
Step 3 - Find a big hill
Step 4 - Sit in trolley
Step 5 - Rock forward a bit and let gravity do its thing.

You will be going like stig in no time.

Even better is if you can find a hill just inside of a supermarket with automatic brakes on the trolley. Once you get to the bottom the auto-brakes kick in.

Edited by ymwoods on Wednesday 4th August 23:57

You probably are best of with a shopping trolley if you compare it to a 1.1 pug

But seriously, for a 1.4, you could go the route of getting it bored out, bigger pistons etc and you would probably actually get a very good amount of extra grunt...it's just the cost of it...most of that grunt will take a big wedge of cash to get.

If your going to go down the route of a bigger pipe and backbox and a forced induction kit with a filter then with a 1.4 engine you will feel a bit of grunt but not a lot...hence why Corsa boys get the piss taken out of them.

I know someone that the full deal with a 1.3 KA and it does, pretty much, fly. However, he has spent the best part 6k on a 1.3 engine...and for that 6k he could have put a new engine in it, or got a bigger car which is much better at controlling the power it's trying to put down.

On the other hand, I have done it to an old Mk 1 Clio and it was amazing to drive back in the day. If you love to modify then its well worth the punt but just be mindfull that you will not get much grunt for your cash with such a small engine.

To start with you could just go the route of getting a better filter, and then if you want to tinker, buy yourself some quality piping and look at making some forced induction for yourself. Go for a filter made for forced induction if you go this route for the full gains.

One important one is the brakes, you need them so don't overlook them. I made that mistake in the Clio and down country lanes I could cook the brakes to the point that they were steaming pretty badly from overheating. It may also be worth looking into getting disk brakes on the back too if you only have drums.

Next you could spend your money on a better pipe but your best going somewhere like powerflow and having a talk with them about what is best for your car, they really do know their stuff and will help you if you don't just walk in and tell them you want the 10 inch pipe they have on the wall hanging off your car.

A Fuel boost valve will then give you some good grunt with the air intake and out-take sorted. I am not familiar with the Focus engine so you may just be able to turn the fuel pump up. Be warned though, turning it up too much will kill the engine so turn it up in miniscule amounts and don't get greedy for power. Your fuel pump will not last as long but thats one of the prices you pay.

A manifold system and a decat pipe may be good ideas at this point.

I went for some suspension upgrades at this point so that I could corner better, I went and had it all done professionally and spent silly money but it DID corner like a go-kart so well worth it, what you get will really depend on your budget but don't go cutting springs as its dangerous.

So how far are you looking to go? It might be worth logging onto a forum specifically about Ford Focuses and about modified ones and picking up ideas and tips from there as PH is very anti modified cars in the small hatchback category.

Edited by ymwoods on Thursday 5th August 04:40

[dannyj1986]

thanks for the advice maste i will most definetely go down the powerflow exhaust road and i was considering disc brakes on the back as well.

cheers mate

[anonymous-user]

dannyj1986 said:

Well to be honest i was considering the focus 2.0 esp model, iv heard the insurance is quite cheap.

What sort of performance mods should i consider for a 2.0 esp

Have you checked insurance with a modiffied 1.4?

[dannyj1986]

Dave_ST220 said:

dannyj1986 said:

Well to be honest i was considering the focus 2.0 esp model, iv heard the insurance is quite cheap.

What sort of performance mods should i consider for a 2.0 esp

Have you checked insurance with a modiffied 1.4?

Yes i have and like you said i am better of gettin a 1.8 or 2.0 because the premium for mods can be quite exspensive wspeciaslly if you include lowering springs and a powerflow exhaust. so to be honest mate i am now looking for a 2.0 esp which i may put a few mods on in due time tho. you see at the moment i am 23yrs and have 4 years NCB does anyone know of any insurance companys who wont be to harsh for a 2.0 esp perhaps with a few mods

[engineer21]

Hello, at 17 i was driving a 1.3i Escort insurance 1100 3rd party f&f
at 20 i was driving a 1.8ltr focus insurance was around £600 fully comp
now at 24 ive had an Audi S3 for 2yrs and insurance £440

however my brother who drives a 1.4 focus 2004 reg had it when he was learning paid £1000 for the year he passed after 4 mnths then to continue the insurance they wanted another £1200 robbing bxjjxhs!!! they said there would be a SMALL incrase when he passed his test!!

has insurance really go up that wildly for younger drivers?

try direct line OP as they were cheapest for me on the S3. forget that elephant crap.

[ClintonB]

As some others have said, don't throw good money away, even if you want to (or think you should).
The engine is basically poxy and you're never going to make it do great things (or even good for that matter). It will never amount to a hill 'o beans and you'll end up putting it in the show cars section of the classifieds and having the rise taken out of you!

Accept where you are, play the longer game (mgmt bullst alert!) and stick the cash somewhere where it might make a return. Then, when the time is right, spend it on something with half a chance.

[oj121]

I bought a Fiesta ST at the same age with the same NCB as you mate and it was around £650 p.a. For the sake of £50/60 a month you get something that actually moves. I wouldnt really worry about insurance too much at you are. You are now old enough with enough NCB to have the price lowered considerably. Also add your mum as a named driver on your policy. Lowers the cost massively for some reason even if she hardly ever drives it. Plus when you hit 25 your premium will start to go through the floor. Just go for the 2.0ltr. You only live once.

[dannyj1986]

oj121 said:

I bought a Fiesta ST at the same age with the same NCB as you mate and it was around £650 p.a. For the sake of £50/60 a month you get something that actually moves. I wouldnt really worry about insurance too much at you are. You are now old enough with enough NCB to have the price lowered considerably. Also add your mum as a named driver on your policy. Lowers the cost massively for some reason even if she hardly ever drives it. Plus when you hit 25 your premium will start to go through the floor. Just go for the 2.0ltr. You only live once.

Thanks for the advice mate i am going to view a 2.0 focus esp. the car sounds very tastefull, however i will have to wait and see who knows what could be lerking under the bonnet. But on the plus side its only had 2 owners from new (2003) and a full service history from a reputable mechanic

[dannyj1986]

oj121 said:

I bought a Fiesta ST at the same age with the same NCB as you mate and it was around £650 p.a. For the sake of £50/60 a month you get something that actually moves. I wouldnt really worry about insurance too much at you are. You are now old enough with enough NCB to have the price lowered considerably. Also add your mum as a named driver on your policy. Lowers the cost massively for some reason even if she hardly ever drives it. Plus when you hit 25 your premium will start to go through the floor. Just go for the 2.0ltr. You only live once.

Thanks for the advice mate i am going to view a 2.0 focus esp. the car sounds very tastefull, however i will have to wait and see who knows what could be lerking under the bonnet. But on the plus side its only had 2 owners from new (2003) and a full service history from a reputable mechanic

[t84]

My Focus 1.8 is much faster than I thought it was going to be, handles brilliantly as well, I'm eying up RS's in the classifieds now. You wont regret getting a 2.0, Focii are brilliant.

[oj121]

For the same sort of money you could get a Fiesta Zetec-s. They look good and handle like they are on rails. Similar performance to a focci 2.0ltr but more chuckable. Worth considering mate.


Im looking at an RS but not until january/Feb when my pay rise kicks in. Its killing me.