FTO Questions...

timbob

timbob

timbob

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27 Nov 2002
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Remember a while ago I posted a thread asking preliminary questions about an FTO for the girlfriend? Well, things are on the move.

We went out today, and saw a lot of them, 7 or 8 that were pretty good, not quite the right spec, a few scratches. Then one perfect one.

It was a manual (the first we'd seen), GX spec - only 180bhp as opposed to the 200bhp mivec, but who's counting? Cheaper on the insurance anyway! Perfect condition bodywork, underside, all the usual good things.

So, I've got a list as long as my arm of suspect things to look out for, like the rusty roof, ARB bushes etc., but just thought I'd put the obligatory post up in motors in case someone comes up with anything I've missed off the "List of things to look out for when buying...."

Over to you... (Piggymon in particular!)
 
Never owned or driven one, but here are my observations:

Not as fast as they look, especially when you consider the high insurance costs.
They apparently handle very well indeed.
Look nice.
Sound nice.

Personally I don't think the laclustre performance justifies the insurance premiums they fetch, but they are nice cars. Just not enough power.
 
Well, she's been looking for something somewhere in the 150-200bhp category, nice looking, sporty but semi-practical (no back seat bench in the MR2 rules it out for example), about £5-6k, reliable.... The FTO seems to be the perfect car to fit the bill

The GX is the 2 litre 24v V6, but 180PS as opposed to the 200 in the GPX. It's plenty fast enough for her coming from an interstellar mileage, 13 year old TD Astra that's probably only pushing out 60bhp in it's knackered state! Insurance is about £750 fully comp (and only a tenner more to add myself as a named driver (hurrah!)), so not too bad in all honesty.
 
GX ?

Either GS or GR .. Avoid the GS as it's the 1.8 and really doesn't drive very well compared to the GR or the GPX ( MIVEC )

Dexy is a GR and went like poo off a shovel - I'm really , really gonna miss that :/

Look out for the electrics and the stepper motor , seems to be quite a common fault on them

Not an awful lot more to look out for really , you kinda take your chance with a 10 year old car :o

Hope your ownership is a happy one and be sure to pop on the owners club ( www.ftooc.org ) full of friendly advice and a fantastic bunch of people :)

Post pics when you get her
 
Piggymon said:
GX ?

Either GS or GR .. Avoid the GS as it's the 1.8 and really doesn't drive very well compared to the GR or the GPX ( MIVEC )
Click to expand...

Indeed - done a little research. Essentially it's the GR wearing a GPX body (interior kit, whatever exterior things are different, etc).

http://www.mivec.co.uk/ - go here, then onto FTO Lineup.
 
Join the FTOOC Forums, stacks of information there.

Here's what to look out for when buying an FTO :)

The manual is faster and offers a more involving ride, you'd probably find a manual GR faster than a GPX tip. All down to preference - some prefer the tip box. I don't like the idea of a car not having a clutch so manual all the way for me ;)
 
DreXeL said:
Never owned or driven one, but here are my observations:

Not as fast as they look, especially when you consider the high insurance costs.
They apparently handle very well indeed.
Look nice.
Sound nice.

Personally I don't think the laclustre performance justifies the insurance premiums they fetch, but they are nice cars. Just not enough power.
Click to expand...

Lacklustre performance? Come on, the manual GPX does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds. It's not as fast as an RX7 but then not much on the road is!

It's a pretty looking 2 litre normally aspirated Coupe. How much faster does it need to be?
 
[TW]Fox said:
Lacklustre performance? Come on, the manual GPX does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds. It's not as fast as an RX7 but then not much on the road is!

It's a pretty looking 2 litre normally aspirated Coupe. How much faster does it need to be?
Click to expand...

You have been in a possitive mood lately :eek:
Have you turned over a new leaf?
Are you sick? :confused:
 
[TW]Fox said:
Lacklustre performance? Come on, the manual GPX does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds. It's not as fast as an RX7 but then not much on the road is!

It's a pretty looking 2 litre normally aspirated Coupe. How much faster does it need to be?
Click to expand...

Amen!

A few little mods here and there and you can probably push about 285BHP out of a GPX. It's not the fastest jap coupe out there, but it isn't the slowest either.
 
Pretty? women, homosexuals and flowers are pretty!! Cars are not. :cool: :cool:

Drove one a very long time ago and it was good fun, quick but not fast enough to be dangerous - deffo an excellent car for those that want the looks of something sporty yet comfy and not dangerous for someone who isnt much of a "driver"
 
Leeum said:
Amen!

A few little mods here and there and you can probably push about 285BHP out of a GPX.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, not sure I agree with that :)

The fantastic 2.0 MIVEC engine in the FTO is a bit of a double edged sword - on the one hand, you get 100bhp a litre which is simply great engineering even today let alone for an 11+ year old design.

Unfortunately, becuase it's so highly 'strung' so to speak, there are little gains to be had through modifications unless you spend large amounts of cash on forced induction :(

It's not the fastest jap coupe out there, but it isn't the slowest either.
Click to expand...

Agreed :)
 
cymatty said:
Ok then can cars be beautiful?
Click to expand...

Oh yes :D

9zsgf20.JPG
 
Oh dear.. 'Is the Escort Cosworth a thing of beauty or an old Escort with an ironing board on the back' has been done to death and only ends in tears :p

FTO's please ;)
 
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