1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
- ihartmacz
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1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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.
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.
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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.
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1986 Mazda RX-7 base - Project car, ???, In pieces, turbo parts around.
- kamesama980
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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...
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...
-Russ
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- ihartmacz
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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.
You maybe thinking of an Escort with the 1.9L 8-valve engine.
kthxbye.
- kamesama980
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
then I guess it's 98+ cause its got a big fat ZX2 molded into it's assihartmacz 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.
-Russ
2012 Nissan Frontier 4.0l M6 4x4
1990 Toyota Cressida 3.0l M5
1994 Pontiac Firebird LT1 M6
1970 Volkwagen Beetle M4
1990 Suzuki VX800 SM5
2012 Nissan Frontier 4.0l M6 4x4
1990 Toyota Cressida 3.0l M5
1994 Pontiac Firebird LT1 M6
1970 Volkwagen Beetle M4
1990 Suzuki VX800 SM5
- theholycow
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
kamesama980 wrote:cruises about 4500@80mph
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT
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watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
- ihartmacz
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
I'm not sure that's exactly true. That's less than 2000 RPM from redline.
- theholycow
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
Well, he did also say "5th redlines about 110." The math works out, approximately.ihartmacz wrote:I'm not sure that's exactly true. That's less than 2000 RPM from redline.
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watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
- kamesama980
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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
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
-Russ
2012 Nissan Frontier 4.0l M6 4x4
1990 Toyota Cressida 3.0l M5
1994 Pontiac Firebird LT1 M6
1970 Volkwagen Beetle M4
1990 Suzuki VX800 SM5
2012 Nissan Frontier 4.0l M6 4x4
1990 Toyota Cressida 3.0l M5
1994 Pontiac Firebird LT1 M6
1970 Volkwagen Beetle M4
1990 Suzuki VX800 SM5
- theholycow
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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...
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watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
how does the zetec compare to the FS-DE?
- ihartmacz
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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.
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.
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
Strangely, despite being more undersquare it still has a higher redline.
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- ihartmacz
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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
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
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Re: 1998+ Ford Escort ZX2
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.
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.