fiestaturbo.com

[XRoriginal]

Right, got myself a nice MK3.5 RS1800 with a stack of service history and 72k on the clock.

Now after 3k rpm it gets slightly interesting but on the whole it feels rather slow compared to other cars I've had (Puma 1.7, Focus TDCI 115ps). Before anyone asks, it is a legitimate Rs and has the original 130PS lump in it.

Have bought a whole wack of service parts to give it the full treatment over the weekend.

But, can an anyone recommend any 'value for money' and worthwhile mods I could do to bring it up to speed?

Cheers guys.

[RS_Raz]

Is it just me or are the poll choices a bit biased?

No complaints bout my RS.

[jdfiesta]

i think most people associate the RS badge with a turbocharged car, and in my opinion thats where the car lets itself down. i cant understand why Ford tuned the 1.8 when they have a fantastic 2.0 that would have gone in the same, and had more power/torque
JJ

[RS_Raz]

but its the RS2000s little brother

[Excursion]

The 130ps 1.8 isn't that good TBH, no torque and it doesn't go that well. The 2.0 is a world away as far as performance goes, for the price they fetch now it would be worth swapping

[javablu]

but its the RS2000s little brother

A-men to that..

1800, cant be a 2000cc can it? ones already out.

Rs badge is what you make of it.. i'd rather an RS1800 than an XR2i and in a lot of respects it is a better car over the RS turbo.

[RS_Raz]

but its the RS2000s little brother

A-men to that..

1800, cant be a 2000cc can it? ones already out.

Rs badge is what you make of it.. i'd rather an RS1800 than an XR2i and in a lot of respects it is a better car over the RS turbo.

Especially the mk3.5s.

[Oranoco]

The Fiesta RS1800 is a cracking little car.

However I have never seen an RS1800 make it's stock claimed power figure. They always seem to fall short by between 8-12bhp. They just seem to lack in the grunt department. Rather than being a true RS many see it as a bean counters car.

Personally I'm a little unsure as in some lights it's little more than a warmed over 16v XR2i but then in other lights it's more than that.

This is one of those debates that will divide people

[RS1800pec]

As a hole its a great car and definatly deserves the RS badge
But it does seem to lack a bit of grunt lower down the revs but once it picks up they really go. Nothing a cam kit and chip wouldnt fix i suppose

[RS1800pec]

Right, got myself a nice MK3.5 RS1800 with a stack of service history and 72k on the clock.

Now after 3k rpm it gets slightly interesting but on the whole it feels rather slow compared to other cars I've had (Puma 1.7, Focus TDCI 115ps). Before anyone asks, it is a legitimate Rs and has the original 130PS lump in it.

Have bought a whole wack of service parts to give it the full treatment over the weekend.

But, can an anyone recommend any 'value for money' and worthwhile mods I could do to bring it up to speed?

Cheers guys.

Zorst, air filter, Cam kit and chip are the best mods you could do matey. Cam and chip should make it alot more torqier.

[RS1800pec]

Right, got myself a nice MK3.5 RS1800 with a stack of service history and 72k on the clock.

Now after 3k rpm it gets slightly interesting but on the whole it feels rather slow compared to other cars I've had (Puma 1.7, Focus TDCI 115ps). Before anyone asks, it is a legitimate Rs and has the original 130PS lump in it.

Have bought a whole wack of service parts to give it the full treatment over the weekend.

But, can an anyone recommend any 'value for money' and worthwhile mods I could do to bring it up to speed?

Cheers guys.

Zorst, air filter, Cam kit and chip are the best mods you could do matey. Cam and chip should give it alot more grunt lower down the revs plus your be on around 150bhp

[Oranoco]

It would be claimed 150bhp and I think that's very optimistic. I would hazard a guess far closer to 140bhp almost certainly less. The cylinder head flows very well as it is and cam kits do not give the huge increases a lot of people would have you believe on a n/a car

[Excursion]

Oranoco talks a lot of sense, 130ps is a generous power rating for the 1800. The manifolds and standard map are the limitations.

I don't have anything against the RS1800, it's a nice base to work with, especially in Mk3.5 form. I do think the 2.0 is required to do it justice though

[XRoriginal]

Cheers for the opinions and info guys. It does keep up with traffic just fine and can overtake safely just expected a little more performance to warrant the badge - Also alot has changed in 10 years so I suppose comparing old to new isn't too fair; back in 1995 it must have been quite an amazing car.

Will look into the suggested mods (cheers si - the lower grunt is what I'm looking for) and see what the deal is

[phil_pearce]

I love my little rs1800, but the one thing i would say if u can ditch the cat. I had a massive improvment as my cat was 6yrs old and didnt flow at all! But saying that i am looking for a 2ltr soon as you dont really get any good gains with the 1800 lump