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Hey everyone.
Recently i sold off all my other project cars, now i have only My wifes car a 2012 Kia soul, which i do nothing but drive occasionally, and my 91 Festiva L
Im writing this as both a Rant and possibly informative.
Like many i believe i dream too big for my britches. I buy and sell constantly, and never keep anything long enough to get my full enjoyment out of it. I usually buy something cheap, have my way it then sell it off. Only to realize i should have kept it and did more with it.
Where was i.
About a month ago a friend told me that Carsense, a local Used car Dealer had a 2012 Golf R on there lot. {Im a fan of Hatchbacks, and i enjoy the occasional vw}
I test drove it and man, probably the best car i've ever driven as far as balance, power, and handling are concerned. Again this is just my case.
Id love to buy it, but it was 31K$. Thats more than i want to spend on my daily driver.
Finally my local dealer gets a few Focus ST's in. I call them up, schedule a drive and im on my way.
Positives:
It does work as a city car. It goes from Point A to Point B Just fine.
252hp, and 270ft lbs tq. Very impressive from a little 2.0L Turbo
Its calm and collective at low RPM with only a hint of turbo whistle.
From a Stand Still, it uses the computer sensors to distribute power to either wheel while using a limited slip front diff. Theres no Tq Steer, whatsoever, even when going around corners and putting your foot in it.
The Best part about it in my opinion is the noise. It reminds me of the SRT4 engine noise. That burble fart sort of grunt noise you find in a high strung turbo engine. Although it does not feel high strung, it feels as tho its got ample power to give.
Negatives:
I really dont fit in the seats, the side bolsters are too tight for a person of my.....Generousness Proportions. 6' 230lbs. Not muscle lol
Because the car doesn't let the wheels loose, or pull you in a torque steer manner it feels slower for some reason. Almost the same feeling as a big suv with 400hp. Sure its got power, but you just don't notice it as much.
Because of the car feeling rather slow, it set me off. When i drove the Golf R, it has that turbo that's just a little bigger than the engine its attached to.
Example: Golf R, small 2 liter, with moderate Turbo, so it has that freight train pull that those cars normally do. The power just Builds and Builds.
: Focus ST, Small 2 liter, with Small Turbo, Very well matched for each other, but no pull like in the Golf. It just gives you all the power right from the get go. Almost like there's no Turbo Lag, which is probably better in the long run, just not the feeling i'm looking for.
Also the Focus ST is 3150 lbs. I'm so used to the way my festiva feels light weight and all that i'm lacking something in a heavier car.
I suppose this brings me to my Closer final point.
Also i'm sure some of you. Eurotiva, Damkid, and all you other fantastic lunatics. Have thought about putting the ST motor into the festiva. Think about it.
Small 2.0 Turbo motor, into our light weight bodys.
I took some pics to help with my cause.
Heres the Front seats, that i don't fit that well into.
Heres my Crappy Stock Seats
Heres the back seats i would have used to haul around my son in, but hes not born yet, another 4 weeks to go.
And heres my crappy Back seat
The boot has plenty of space, which i was surprised with
But heres the meat and potatoes
too bad its all covered by the plastic bits.
And heres what id like to put it in.
Im sure Greg will chime in with just do it, or give up you'll never accomplish this. Or something along those lines because hes a fabrication Genius and he gets S done. But here's what i have come up with.
No dimensions, lol i have taken or found no dimensions of the ST engine.
I'm wondering how the computer will react not being in the car of its original design, such as all the wheel sensors in the ST, I know i will basically need to use the majority of the front clip from a St to graft into the festiva. This means using all the Suspension/steering/wheels/transmission/axles and so on from the ST. As many people say, its just Time/Money. But i wonder how many others have thought of this, and what they've uncovered while looking into it.
Overall, The thought of a 1700lb Festiva, with 252hp, and 270ft lbs of tq, Using the Stock ST 6 speed and the reliable Stock 2.0 Direct Injected Ford motor sounds wonderful. This means the engine makes tons of power, all in stock design. So wear and tear should be on the low side. Unless you crave more boosted power....
I know anything can be done, but finding a donor car with so little of them on the road will be difficult.
I guess that's all i have to say about that. Chime in anyone that likes. Id like to see you view on it.
Thanks,
Andrew
Ps... Just about every dealer in the ford lot came out to look at my festiva. All of them asking if i was trading it in and if id be willing to sell it. NOPE!! One dealer was telling me about how he used to sell them when they were new. Hopefully he likes being a dealer, because he's been doing it for a very long time.
Recently i sold off all my other project cars, now i have only My wifes car a 2012 Kia soul, which i do nothing but drive occasionally, and my 91 Festiva L
Im writing this as both a Rant and possibly informative.
Like many i believe i dream too big for my britches. I buy and sell constantly, and never keep anything long enough to get my full enjoyment out of it. I usually buy something cheap, have my way it then sell it off. Only to realize i should have kept it and did more with it.
Where was i.
About a month ago a friend told me that Carsense, a local Used car Dealer had a 2012 Golf R on there lot. {Im a fan of Hatchbacks, and i enjoy the occasional vw}
I test drove it and man, probably the best car i've ever driven as far as balance, power, and handling are concerned. Again this is just my case.
Id love to buy it, but it was 31K$. Thats more than i want to spend on my daily driver.
Finally my local dealer gets a few Focus ST's in. I call them up, schedule a drive and im on my way.
Positives:
It does work as a city car. It goes from Point A to Point B Just fine.
252hp, and 270ft lbs tq. Very impressive from a little 2.0L Turbo
Its calm and collective at low RPM with only a hint of turbo whistle.
From a Stand Still, it uses the computer sensors to distribute power to either wheel while using a limited slip front diff. Theres no Tq Steer, whatsoever, even when going around corners and putting your foot in it.
The Best part about it in my opinion is the noise. It reminds me of the SRT4 engine noise. That burble fart sort of grunt noise you find in a high strung turbo engine. Although it does not feel high strung, it feels as tho its got ample power to give.
Negatives:
I really dont fit in the seats, the side bolsters are too tight for a person of my.....Generousness Proportions. 6' 230lbs. Not muscle lol
Because the car doesn't let the wheels loose, or pull you in a torque steer manner it feels slower for some reason. Almost the same feeling as a big suv with 400hp. Sure its got power, but you just don't notice it as much.
Because of the car feeling rather slow, it set me off. When i drove the Golf R, it has that turbo that's just a little bigger than the engine its attached to.
Example: Golf R, small 2 liter, with moderate Turbo, so it has that freight train pull that those cars normally do. The power just Builds and Builds.
: Focus ST, Small 2 liter, with Small Turbo, Very well matched for each other, but no pull like in the Golf. It just gives you all the power right from the get go. Almost like there's no Turbo Lag, which is probably better in the long run, just not the feeling i'm looking for.
Also the Focus ST is 3150 lbs. I'm so used to the way my festiva feels light weight and all that i'm lacking something in a heavier car.
I suppose this brings me to my Closer final point.
Also i'm sure some of you. Eurotiva, Damkid, and all you other fantastic lunatics. Have thought about putting the ST motor into the festiva. Think about it.
Small 2.0 Turbo motor, into our light weight bodys.
I took some pics to help with my cause.
Heres the Front seats, that i don't fit that well into.
Heres my Crappy Stock Seats
Heres the back seats i would have used to haul around my son in, but hes not born yet, another 4 weeks to go.
And heres my crappy Back seat
The boot has plenty of space, which i was surprised with
But heres the meat and potatoes
too bad its all covered by the plastic bits.
And heres what id like to put it in.
Im sure Greg will chime in with just do it, or give up you'll never accomplish this. Or something along those lines because hes a fabrication Genius and he gets S done. But here's what i have come up with.
No dimensions, lol i have taken or found no dimensions of the ST engine.
I'm wondering how the computer will react not being in the car of its original design, such as all the wheel sensors in the ST, I know i will basically need to use the majority of the front clip from a St to graft into the festiva. This means using all the Suspension/steering/wheels/transmission/axles and so on from the ST. As many people say, its just Time/Money. But i wonder how many others have thought of this, and what they've uncovered while looking into it.
Overall, The thought of a 1700lb Festiva, with 252hp, and 270ft lbs of tq, Using the Stock ST 6 speed and the reliable Stock 2.0 Direct Injected Ford motor sounds wonderful. This means the engine makes tons of power, all in stock design. So wear and tear should be on the low side. Unless you crave more boosted power....
I know anything can be done, but finding a donor car with so little of them on the road will be difficult.
I guess that's all i have to say about that. Chime in anyone that likes. Id like to see you view on it.
Thanks,
Andrew
Ps... Just about every dealer in the ford lot came out to look at my festiva. All of them asking if i was trading it in and if id be willing to sell it. NOPE!! One dealer was telling me about how he used to sell them when they were new. Hopefully he likes being a dealer, because he's been doing it for a very long time.
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