StandardShift.com

Performance: 5
Handling: 7
Practicality: 8
Reliability: 9
Cost to own: 6
Feasibility of Sexual Encounters: 6


Performace: The only engine available is the 2.0L Zetec (not a rip-off of VTEC). It makes 130hp and 130ft-lbs of torque. I owned the manual transmission car, and performance was very good. 0-60 happens in about 8 seconds. Around town you have prenty of power, even below 1500rpm, there is usable power so there is no stopping to get first gear.

The drive train is all Mazda, the Zetec is a Mazda engine that is non-interference (on the ZX2, the focus uses a different cylinder head and IS interference), it also uses the MTX-75, a Mazda transmission. The 2.0 Zetec should not be confused with the FS-DE, they have a different bore and stroke.

It is truly a baby Mustang.

There is a popular mod to disconnect the knock sensor for a smoother power band and full advance... You need Premium fuel, though.


Handling: Very good. Very comfortable and quiet to drive around town, and turns quite sharply with medium weight power-steering that's sharp and intuitive. It's quite fun to go around bends, and with the e-brake it's easy to get the tail out.

Practicality: Has a lot room, and with folding seats, it was even better. Back seats are a little useless, though. Clutch is light, and shifter is positive. It's hard to get into first unless you've stopped.

Reliability: All it needed was a tune up. It started in 0 degrees just like it would at 60 degrees. Never missed a beat... Oh yeah, it had 185,000 miles on the engine and transmission.

Cost to own: Gas = Cheap. Parts = Cheap. Easy to maintain yourself = Cheap. 'Nuff siad.

Feasibility of Sexual Encounters: Uhm.... You're kind of limited to the front. The back seat wont be comfortable enough for good sex or making out. You could open the back seats and "have fun" in the trunk and back seat area, but that backing on the back seat is pretty hard - avoid that. What I would do is just recline the passenger seat and hope he/she's willing to hit some bases, otherwise you're going to do the hug and kiss type of making out with no grinding or other contact - we all know that's no fun.

My friend has one of these (auto ) It's decently quick for what it is and quite practical. We made many Ikea runs when he was moving up to Central and it can fit some pretty large items. It's definitely a car I'd look into as a DD.

a friend of mine has one but I think it's older (95-96?). pretty spunky little car because it's geared insanely (like 4.3 or higher ring gear). makes for loud cruising (cruises about 4500@80mph...higher than my truck which doesn't have OD) and no need for a speed limiter... 5th redlines about 110.

they definitely don't work for my 6-4 230 lb self. the pedals are small, the dash is low, and the seat only goes so far back. for a minute I couldn't find the clutch till I turned my foot just so...

The ZX2 didn't actually start until production until model year 1998.

You maybe thinking of an Escort with the 1.9L 8-valve engine.

kthxbye.

ihartmacz wrote:The ZX2 didn't actually start until production until model year 1998.

You maybe thinking of an Escort with the 1.9L 8-valve engine.

kthxbye.

then I guess it's 98+ cause its got a big fat ZX2 molded into it's ass

kamesama980 wrote:cruises about 4500@80mph

I'm not sure that's exactly true. That's less than 2000 RPM from redline.

ihartmacz wrote:I'm not sure that's exactly true. That's less than 2000 RPM from redline.

Well, he did also say "5th redlines about 110." The math works out, approximately.

I'd hope the math works out... I figured the top speed based on the revs at 80.

I don't know if it's all the ZX2s or just the one I drove but as I said, it was 5 speed and pretty quick but ran of revs extremely fast. It was a while back but it was well past 4k and I wasn't doing more than 80. Crazy gearing: yes indeed. I never did credit ford with the best designers in the business

The gearing isn't that far off from the German engineering in my 2008 VW -- about 500 rpm difference. It's pretty lively at 70mph and I often wish I had 5 more gears...

how does the zetec compare to the FS-DE?

The Zetec and FS-DE are both Mazda engines, Zetec was a joint between Mazda and Ford.

They are different from each other, although they spin in the same direction, both displace 2 Liters, both are 16-valve DOHC engines, and both produce similar horsepower ratings (in 1999).


Zetec: 84.80 mm bore × 88.00 mm stroke Redline: 6,250rpm - Uses a Ford transaxle
FS-DE: 83 mm bore x 92 mm stroke Redline: 6,500rpm - Uses a Mazda Manual transaxle

As you can see, the Mazda FS-DE has a more under-square design. This means the stroke is longer and has more leverage on the crankshaft.

Strangely, despite being more undersquare it still has a higher redline.

It maybe because the face of the piston is smaller and has less friction on the sides since the circumference is smaller.

Also, I think the camshaft design on the Mazda is more mild along with other internal differences. Before electronic ignition, in the earlier (Below 1998) the FS-DE in the 626, Probe, and MX-6 made about 118hp.

The FS-DE doesn't like high-revs as much as the Zetec. Both have good power in the low RPMs, but if you push the FS-DE it sounds raspy and unwilling around 6,000RPM.

It's defiantly not as free-revving as a Honda motor. haha

long stroke is bad. good for torque but kills the rpms. thats why hondas can rev so high, they have no stroke.

F1 has no stroke, pistons are like 3" across, thats why it can rev to 19k rpms. high rpms is where you want the power at

FS revs higher because its a better engine . zetec by all means is a better engine, and with VCT it has the potential to make a lot more top end power than FS without sacrificing idle and low end (because most people think a car sitting there camming out is broke), why they made the redline a very lame 6200, thats probably for reliability. face it, most people buying escorts and focuses and contours arent buying them to race them.