Faults:
Fuel lines corroded at 120,000.
Replaced rear wheel arches and sills because of rust, a common problem.
Front wings rust easily too, at the join of the bumper and wings.
General Comments:
Health warning: this is a 140mph car, drive at your own risk.
A combination of slippery shape and what is regarded as one of the best normally aspirated engines in road and competition use makes this car something to believed. At the time of launch this car was the class leader, up against the Escort RS Turbo and Golf GTi, and it put both cars to shame in out and out performance. The car boasts factory figures of 137mph top speed, 0-60 in 7.6 seconds and a combined mpg of 32.
The recaro interior wears well, and this model sports a leather steering wheel and gear knob with extras that would put most brand new cars to shame like ABS, power steering, electric sunroof, electric windows, cat converter on late models, electric heated wing mirrors.
To top this lot off is a stonking 2 litre engine with a Cosworth designed cylinder head and state of the art learning electronic control unit.
Just one let down is the handling - high sided 14 inch tyres and suspension designed for competition use makes this car a handful if you push it to the limit. The suspension was just uprated an 8 valve setup with extra rear antiroll bars and lowered springs. If you get cocky this is a one way hedge ticket.
26th Dec 2009, 05:50
The 16V also had different wheel camber and toe settings for those on the rear of the car.