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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1401.0. "XR2 TURBO" by REPAIR::CARTER () Fri Mar 22 1991 15:23

                         TURBO XR2
    
    I have been considering having a TURBO TECHNICS done on my
    XR2.
     Has anyone had it done to their car: if so i would be
    interested to here your comments and views.
    Apparently the turbo takes the BHP up to 125 which can't be
    bad in a small car. I'm not sure whether the suspension would
    have to be modified. Also would the turbo addition make the
    car unreliable?
    Does fuel economy dramatically drop also?
     
                        Regards Simon
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1401.1ROCKY::QUICKIt's no good, Melchett, I'm still boredFri Mar 22 1991 15:292
	You might find your insurance premium rising a little...
1401.2RUTILE::BISHOPMon Mar 25 1991 09:3513
    TT will only do the conversion if you engine has less then 30,000
    miles on the clock, and then they don't guarentee that your engine
    will be able to hack the extra output. Although they do say they'll
    rebuild you bottom end...
    
    I was looking at this for my XR2, but decided against it. I then
    started looking at the SYSTEM+ POWER Engineering option of the 2 litre
    conversion... including all mods to brakes, suspension... etc...
    
    Check out a note by me, with title of either system or power...
    
    Oh, and yes, your insurance will rise alot...
    
1401.3125 bhp Peak could be Bad!SUBURB::SCREENERRobert Screene, UK Finance EUCMon Mar 25 1991 13:0728
     Remember you are just refering to the maximum power at a certain RPM.
     
     You might find that a torque peak at a higher RPM and extreme bhp peak 
     could completely change the 1.6 engine's character.  As for the turbo 
     lag...
          
     Could make driving the car on a normal road a hard task.  My small 
     experience of XR2's tells me they are well strapped down though.  The 
     term skateboard springs to mind!
     
     125 BHP is not a wild amount for the out lay of many hours labour and 
     parts.  I guess the cost is over 1K?
          
     I have seen praise on the power from Turbo Technics conversions for VW's.  
     But would still doubt the reliability of the end result.
     
     I wonder what you would then be able to sell your car for afterwards?
     
     
     An a positive note:
     Wow, just think powering out of that (dry!) corner just as the boost come 
     on-line!
     
     I have a review of their 1800cc 16-valve Golf GTI Turbo conversion.  Very 
     little lag, 180bhp and torque to match!  Let me know if you want the few 
     pages.
     
     Robert.
1401.4SHIPS::SAXBY_MSmoke me a kipper...Mon Mar 25 1991 14:0410
    
    Re .3
    
    A good turbo will always beat a good non-turbo IMO (IE if you put a 
    turbo on a car it'll be better, because it's original good features
    will be suplemented by excellent mid-range torque), but I once saw a 
    very sickly sounding TT XR2 turbo on the way to Le Mans. If you are
    going to spend that kind of many get a proper turbo, a Renault 5.
    
    Mark
1401.5EVOAI1::ALLYMon Mar 25 1991 16:077
    >- "a proper turbo, a Renault 5"
    
    You gotta be joking !!!
    
    Instead of a French tin can, get a real turbo a, Fiesta R.S !!!!!!
    
    
1401.6Ho ho ho.SHIPS::SAXBY_MSmoke me a kipper...Mon Mar 25 1991 16:318
 >>    Instead of a French tin can, get a real turbo a, Fiesta R.S !!!!!!
    
    
    Rather depends if you want to drive it or make lots of visits to your
    local dealer!
    
    Mark (Who reckons the French make better tin cans than the Spanish!).
    
1401.7KERNEL::SHELLEYRRS with the RSMon Mar 25 1991 16:446
    There is certainly some rivalry between RS and 5GTT owners these days
    :-)
    
    Yes Mark you are right. Fiestas are made in Spain.
    
    - Roy (300 miles on the clock and no probs yet in the RS )
1401.8you're generalizing again !SHIPS::ALFORD_Jan elephant is a mouse with an oper. sys.Tue Mar 26 1991 11:378
    
>    Mark (Who reckons the French make better tin cans than the Spanish!).
    
Well, my spanish tin can is far superior to any french/german/italian/british
tin can that I have previously driven (with the possible exception of my last
Mini :-)).

I'll even go for another one after this one...
1401.9SHIPS::SAXBY_MSmoke me a kipper...Tue Mar 26 1991 11:437
    
    Re .8
     
    I NEVER generalise! :^)
    
    Mark 
    
1401.10KERNEL::SHELLEYRRS with the RS (Spanish tin can)Tue Mar 26 1991 12:0917
    I have to agree with SHIPS::ALFORD_Jwith his comments on the RS Fiesta
    (I assume this is what he is referring to).
    
    Usually when I get a new car, the first thing I find myself thinking is
    what am I going to replace it with. Or what should I have got instead.
    
    NOT SO WITH THE RS. I know i've only had the car less than a week but
    it is by far the most superior car I've driven in 13 years of driving.
    Sure the 5gtt is a brilliant little car, I love it. But the RS is in a
    different league. I know it can't out perform the 5 but the all round
    finish on the RS is brilliant. When driving it, it certainly doesn't
    feel like a Fiesta. The first report I read on the RS (A&M) summed it
    up by saying Ford had missed the mark. I disagree. Ford have hit the
    mark dead centre in my opinion. I can't for the life of me understand
    why there are not more of these on the road.
    
    - Roy
1401.11SHIPS::SAXBY_MSmoke me a kipper...Tue Mar 26 1991 12:128
    
    Ah,
    
    ALFORD_J is a she and she drives a GM Spanish tin-can! :^)
    
    Mark
    
    PS I agree that the Fiasco is in a different league to the 5GTT!
1401.12EVOAI1::ALLYTue Mar 26 1991 12:5410
    re:-1
    
    The Fiasco may have been built in Spain but was it designed there ???
    
    
    Shaz 
    
    - who is currently zipping around Every in a French tincan or is it
    a Clio"
   
1401.13Well if you don't sign your name.KERNEL::SHELLEYRRS with the RS (Spanish tin can)Tue Mar 26 1991 13:246
    re: �ALFORD_J is a she and she drives a GM Spanish tin-can
    
    Oops. Sorry ALFORD_J for calling you a "he". By the way, what car  do
    you drive.
    
    - Roy
1401.14SHIPS::ALFORD_Jan elephant is a mouse with an oper. sys.Tue Mar 26 1991 14:1515

>                     -< Well if you don't sign your name. >-

>    Oops. Sorry ALFORD_J for calling you a "he". By the way, what car  do
>    you drive.
    
I wasn't complaining...I don't sign deliberately...prevents pre-conceptions :-)

It's a Vauxhall Nova GTEi  and the standard of tincan assembling is very high.
no squeaks or rattles or leaks...even after 33,000 miles...as well as being the 
"safest small car [in an accident] on the road" !

And yes, I have driven fiestas, including the RS, and apart from the first one
I ever drove (a 1.1), don't think much of them...