Quantum saloons
Discussion
Anyone here had one?
I have a 2+2 back home waiting for a new home for a spot of restoration, but used that daily for a few years and enjoyed it immensely. These days my taste in kit cars is a bit more extravagant, but if I do carry out my threat to get something with no doors or hood I'll need a sensible second car. Been looking at various sensible hatchbacks (my current favourite is a volvo - that's how sensible I'm talking!) but would a Quantum saloon also be worth a look? Need a hatchback and folding seats, can't remember whether the saloons have those? The space in the 2+2 just wouldn't be addequate, but I know the saloon is somewhat bigger and if the rear seats fold down to leave a gap all the way from the tailgate to the front seats like on a conventional hatch one just might be worth a look
Someone please talk me out of this. I'm supposed to be getting a sensible car.
I have a 2+2 back home waiting for a new home for a spot of restoration, but used that daily for a few years and enjoyed it immensely. These days my taste in kit cars is a bit more extravagant, but if I do carry out my threat to get something with no doors or hood I'll need a sensible second car. Been looking at various sensible hatchbacks (my current favourite is a volvo - that's how sensible I'm talking!) but would a Quantum saloon also be worth a look? Need a hatchback and folding seats, can't remember whether the saloons have those? The space in the 2+2 just wouldn't be addequate, but I know the saloon is somewhat bigger and if the rear seats fold down to leave a gap all the way from the tailgate to the front seats like on a conventional hatch one just might be worth a look
Someone please talk me out of this. I'm supposed to be getting a sensible car.
I have one.
Although mine doesn't have folding rear seats I think most do (it was certainly designed for them) but it has a boot not a hatchback. However, the original Mk1 was a hatchback if you can find one.
Mine's now my daily driver and it's just as practical as a production saloon - plus it won't ever go rusty.
Although mine doesn't have folding rear seats I think most do (it was certainly designed for them) but it has a boot not a hatchback. However, the original Mk1 was a hatchback if you can find one.
Mine's now my daily driver and it's just as practical as a production saloon - plus it won't ever go rusty.
I've got one of each (2+2 and Saloon)
There is more space in the Saloon, which given it's not actually that much bigger/longer on dimensions is surprising.
The problem you'll have is the Saloon is just that, the boot opens up at a slightly strange angle, just high and sticky out enough to whack your head on when trying to put shopping in the back. It's only other downfall is the rear parcel shelf slopes downwards, lowering the available height at the rear seats. I found this out trying to put a sub right up to the rear bench, and it doesnt fit. Mine's got a stealth acoustic shelf in though, so with maybe just the main one it'd be better. Depends what you're thinking of carrying in it
As a general daily hack, it's crossed my mind to get rid of the Mondeo and just have the Quantums. The only thing stopping me doing it is losing no claims bonus on a "real" insurance policy
There is more space in the Saloon, which given it's not actually that much bigger/longer on dimensions is surprising.
The problem you'll have is the Saloon is just that, the boot opens up at a slightly strange angle, just high and sticky out enough to whack your head on when trying to put shopping in the back. It's only other downfall is the rear parcel shelf slopes downwards, lowering the available height at the rear seats. I found this out trying to put a sub right up to the rear bench, and it doesnt fit. Mine's got a stealth acoustic shelf in though, so with maybe just the main one it'd be better. Depends what you're thinking of carrying in it
As a general daily hack, it's crossed my mind to get rid of the Mondeo and just have the Quantums. The only thing stopping me doing it is losing no claims bonus on a "real" insurance policy
and those damn GTM Libras keep calling me
grahambell said:
Although mine doesn't have folding rear seats I think most do (it was certainly designed for them) but it has a boot not a hatchback.
Does that mean the seats fold forward to give a 'post box' opening into the boot? i.e You can lay something all the way out from the back of the boot, to the tip of the front seats?I used to get my bike in the 2+2, just, by putting the frame behind the seats and the wheels in the boot. That had a conventional boot, completely sealed off from the cockpit, so should be a doddle if something could project from one bit into another.
To be honest, probably one of the main flaws in this plan is, like Andy said, insurance. I pay quite a lot for my daily driver now, specifically because I have little NCB after using the Quantum for the first few years of my driving and then a classic after that.
Another couple of coupe specific questions - how well do they seal? The hard top and boot both had minor leaks on my 2+2 and a fixed head car with decent carpets etc must be even worse to dry out! Also, what sort of MPG do you get? Mine returned low 20s on a good day, but that was a CVH in quite a high state of tune with a 19 year old at the wheel
Finally, what sort of price do the saloons go for these days? I was shocked to see most 2+2s have fallen to about £1500 (bought mine for £3.5k a few years back and it was competitively priced at the time) Can anyone comment on the differences in handling? Only been in one and that was round a track and it seemed fairly close to the 2+2.
Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 31st July 09:46
Right then...!
Annoying isnt it?! But it is relatively cheap insurance through the QOC
I found the Saloon more waterproof than the 2+2, which has it's most obvious leak point being where the soft top meets the top opf the windscreen. The Saloons are notorious for leaking via the rear windows, this doesnt mean the windows leak, it's the bonding that needs sorting out. On mine, I got Autoglass to do the nearside rear, which was held on with packing tape. Cost £20 and it's made the car waterproof now. The area to check is behind the rear seats, tilt the rear seats forward (or not if you're Graham!) and you'll see there's a little lip and some space where water tends to collect if it does leak
The Saloon is a bog standard 1.6 CVH which has quite a lot of miles on it. It's also got a round top carb, which isnt the sportiest of things comapred to the square top and returned around the 35 mpg mark on a trip. The 2+2 by comparison has had some head work and twin 40's, seeing 25 ish to the gallon
CVH 2+2's would probably get up to around the £2500 mark in really good nick, more for a ZVH/Zetec one
ETA - the handling should be better in a 2+2, as they're stiffer to account for the roof being chopped off. To be honest, my Saloon handles better than my 2+2, I'm putting this down to it being polybushed allround with gas adjustables. If I did the same with the 2+2 I think it'd handle slightly better but at a cost to comfort
Chris71 said:
Does that mean the seats fold forward to give a 'post box' opening into the boot? i.e You can lay something all the way out from the back of the boot, to the tip of the front seats?
I used to get my bike in the 2+2, just, by putting the frame behind the seats and the wheels in the boot. That had a conventional boot, completely sealed off from the cockpit, so should be a doddle if something could project from one bit into another.
You could probably do that in a Saloon, you might have to take a wheel off, but you'd get a bike in there laid flatI used to get my bike in the 2+2, just, by putting the frame behind the seats and the wheels in the boot. That had a conventional boot, completely sealed off from the cockpit, so should be a doddle if something could project from one bit into another.
Chris71 said:
To be honest, probably one of the main flaws in this plan is, like Andy said, insurance. I pay quite a lot for my daily driver now, specifically because I have little NCB after using the Quantum for the first few years of my driving and then a classic after that.
Annoying isnt it?! But it is relatively cheap insurance through the QOC
Chris71 said:
Another couple of coupe specific questions - how well do they seal? The hard top and boot both had minor leaks on my 2+2 and a fixed head car with decent carpets etc must be even worse to dry out!
I found the Saloon more waterproof than the 2+2, which has it's most obvious leak point being where the soft top meets the top opf the windscreen. The Saloons are notorious for leaking via the rear windows, this doesnt mean the windows leak, it's the bonding that needs sorting out. On mine, I got Autoglass to do the nearside rear, which was held on with packing tape. Cost £20 and it's made the car waterproof now. The area to check is behind the rear seats, tilt the rear seats forward (or not if you're Graham!) and you'll see there's a little lip and some space where water tends to collect if it does leak
Chris71 said:
Also, what sort of MPG do you get? Mine returned low 20s on a good day, but that was a CVH in quite a high state of tune with a 19 year old at the wheel
The Saloon is a bog standard 1.6 CVH which has quite a lot of miles on it. It's also got a round top carb, which isnt the sportiest of things comapred to the square top and returned around the 35 mpg mark on a trip. The 2+2 by comparison has had some head work and twin 40's, seeing 25 ish to the gallon
Chris71 said:
Finally, what sort of price do the saloons go for these days? I was shocked to see most 2+2s have fallen to about £1500 (bought mine for £3.5k a few years back and it was competitively priced at the time) Can anyone comment on the differences in handling? Only been in one and that was round a track and it seemed fairly close to the 2+2.
The QOC classifieds have them from £600 - £1500 on Saloons, same sort of thing with ebay. I got mine for a few hundred quid, but it needs a respray (which is where it's at now), and a new engine. Any more than £1000 for a CVH one and it'd have to be something special. There are some issues Zetec'ing one, space mainly and a hacksaw being another.CVH 2+2's would probably get up to around the £2500 mark in really good nick, more for a ZVH/Zetec one
ETA - the handling should be better in a 2+2, as they're stiffer to account for the roof being chopped off. To be honest, my Saloon handles better than my 2+2, I'm putting this down to it being polybushed allround with gas adjustables. If I did the same with the 2+2 I think it'd handle slightly better but at a cost to comfort
Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 31st July 09:46[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by andy_quantum on Tuesday 31st July 11:11Hi again Chris. I think Andy will have answered most of your questions but here's a bit more info.
Yes, as far as I know you get a 'letterbox' opening into the rear if the car is built using the standard Fiesta folding rear seats. The boot floor isn't flat though as there's a hump for the back axle, though I suspect a fold down seat would be a smililar level to that in front. Maybe Andy can confirm that.
Apart from the odd dribble from the sunroof the car seems reasonably watertight, though it did end up with a paddling pool in the rear footwell following one of the recent monsoons. Although it stayed bone dry during a later one...
Mine's just running a standard XR2 engine with crappy round top carb and on a long, mostly motorway run, did around 40mpg. Not sure what it does in everyday driving.
Yes, as far as I know you get a 'letterbox' opening into the rear if the car is built using the standard Fiesta folding rear seats. The boot floor isn't flat though as there's a hump for the back axle, though I suspect a fold down seat would be a smililar level to that in front. Maybe Andy can confirm that.
Apart from the odd dribble from the sunroof the car seems reasonably watertight, though it did end up with a paddling pool in the rear footwell following one of the recent monsoons. Although it stayed bone dry during a later one...
Mine's just running a standard XR2 engine with crappy round top carb and on a long, mostly motorway run, did around 40mpg. Not sure what it does in everyday driving.
grahambell said:
The boot floor isn't flat though as there's a hump for the back axle, though I suspect a fold down seat would be a smililar level to that in front. Maybe Andy can confirm that.
It's there or there abouts. The rear seats dont lie flat, as they catch on the bench, but there's enough room for you to definately push a bike through. Mine has hardboard across the boot floor to even out the bumpsAh, that's a familiar feeling. Had to put bin liners on the seats of my 2+2. Fortunately, the seats were sufficiently deeply dished that it collected there and rarely got as far as the floor. Consequently, if it had been a wet day, I'd get back to the car, pick up the bin liners and scoop up the water in the process!
Still my favourite car to own despite that!
Still my favourite car to own despite that!
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff