1.8 FTO worth it?

[gav022]

Can anyone tell me abit about the 1.8 ( i know every goes on about the GPX but is this any use?)

Pro's and Con's for this car.

cheers

[kevinod]

Never driven one, but 2 pros come to mind straight away:

* road tax cheaper
* if importing VRT is 25% instead of 30% (although not that much cheaper, quotes I've got on 95 manuals €1698 for 2 litre, €1415 for 1.8 )

[soc]

Can anyone tell me abit about the 1.8 ( i know every goes on about the GPX but is this any use?)

Pro's and Con's for this car.

cheers

I've owned a Tip GS and (currently) a Tip GR


Pros for a GS are:
* Engine is easier to tune
* Cheaper maintenance for engine (most other parts are the same)
* Unlikely to bust the tip gearbox as there is less torque going through box
* Cheaper insurance (NOTE: This is not always the case so you should alwasy get a quote for the GS and the GR/GPX)
* Car will be cheaper to buy
* Handling is just as brilliant as GR/GPX

Cons for a GS are:
* Tip has no low down - ok when moving though - get a manual if you can
* MUCH slower than GR/GPX
* Insurance is high for a 1.8
* Engine sound is rubbish (ok this is when compared to the V6)

Having owned both I would say go V6 everytime. It cost me the same in insurance to change from the 1.8 to the V6 (dunno why but others have seen the same thing - ask CJ). The V6 is waaaaayyyyy faster than the GS but you are likely to have higher running costs (petrol, tax) and are prone to higher maintenance costs (I've had tip box replaced) thanks to more expensive engine parts and labour (for example: the spark plugs are not simple bolt out bolt in job - you have to remove the inlet manifold to get at the back set - a cambelt change could cost close to €500)


Hope this helps....

[Speedyboy]

I would by the V6 defenitely, Even if you buy the 1.8 you will want a 2L soon or later so save yourself the hastle of changing!

Get a good drive of the 3 common models GS,GR,GPX and then decide

[CJ]

I'm like Shane in that I owned a GS for a year and a half and then swapped over to a GPX. The difference in power between both cars is quite considerable. It was the same for me in that that my premium remained unchanged when trading up, this is not the case with all insurers.
As has been said, running costs are higher and engine parts can be slighly more expensive, but don't let this put you off. The main problem with the V6 engined FTOs is that you develop a heavy right foot after drivning oine for a while! At the end of the day, it depends on your own circumstances but I would recommend getting a GR\GPX over a GS, they're simply much more fun to drive.

Ciaran

[soc]

The main problem with the V6 engined FTOs is that you develop a heavy right foot after drivning oine for a while!

I've noticed this too - sometimes I have to try really, really hard not to mash the loud pedal.

[gav022]

thanks for the info lads,


anyone got performance times for the 1.8 ?

[Dave]

i may be selling my GS in a couple of months, and for the right price you'd get the kit and a single exhaust each side, the alloys will have to go though, and the leather but i've got the results of the rolling road day at home and i'll post up results tomorrow.

[Ivan E]

Find out about your insurance and test drive both. As simple as that.

[gav022]

can ya not sell it in a few weeks?

what can the gs do 0 - 60 in?
what can it do top end?

[Dave]

it depends on how quick i get my new car, because i have a few things i have to wait till i get it to transfer them, i.e alloys and seats......

[CJ]

what can the gs do 0 - 60 in?
what can it do top end?

The 4G93 engine in the GS is rated at 125BHP @ 6000rpm. It will do 0-60 in about 10 secs and its top end will be approx 120Mph. The last two figures are based on my own experiences so they may not be spot on.

Ciaran

[gav022]

no bother,

dave u know performance times for ur car?

[CJ]

no bother,

dave u know performance times for ur car?

Daves RR printout won't have top speed or 0-60 time listed by the way. The figures I quoted are an estimate based on my driving experiences in a manual GS, I never did come across official figures.

Ciaran

[gav022]

0 - 60 in 10 pretty slugish eh...

Ive heard that the engine can be easily tuned?.. any advice on that cj. u seem to know alot about em

[CJ]

0 - 60 in 10 pretty slugish eh...

Ive heard that the engine can be easily tuned?.. any advice on that cj

They can be tuned easier than the V6 models, but thats not to say its much cheaper to do so. For any serious gains, you would want to be turbo charging. This will cost you approx €3000, which in my view is not worth it. It would be easier and cheaper to purchase a GPX in the long run.

If you're looking for a few bhp extra, get yourself a filter and a full SS exhaust with a cat bypass pipe. In saying that, I only managed 119bhp @ the flywheel with the aforementioned mods.

The GS is a great car to drive, but there is a world of differences between it and the V6 models when it comes to available power. Try both before you decide.

Ciaran

[Ivan E]

I seem to remember the GR being able to do 0-60 in 6.2 secs according to some of the sites about.

[daniel]

the GR has a 2.0 liter V6 DOHC 24 valve MPI engine, its the gs has the 1.8

[CJ]

I seem to remember the GR being able to do 0-60 in 6.2 secs according to some of the sites about.

6.2 is a bit low, depending on who you talk to, a manual GPX is 6.9 or 7.0 secs, a manual GR is marginally more at 7.2secs if memory serves me.
Check out Martin Whiles 0.60 league for some real world figures, theres a GS listed @ 10.27 which isn't far off my original estimate of 10secs.

Ciaran

[Dave]

i reckon the GS would do it under 10 seconds, i think they did that test in one of Giles' cars and he said he wasn't pushing it to the max.