New Car - Zetec S
Discussion
on wednesday i picked up my ZS from a Ford Dealership -
£5250 For the ZS - 02 35k leccy mirrors / Air con / 11 months Tax / 11 Months MOT / Imp Blue
£100 for 1 years extended warrenty
ABSOLUTELY MINT AND I LOVE IT TO BITS . So much better than my 1.4 ghia in every possible way.
Heres a few pics
>> Edited by atgsambo on Saturday 4th June 21:26
£5250 For the ZS - 02 35k leccy mirrors / Air con / 11 months Tax / 11 Months MOT / Imp Blue
£100 for 1 years extended warrenty
ABSOLUTELY MINT AND I LOVE IT TO BITS . So much better than my 1.4 ghia in every possible way.
Heres a few pics
>> Edited by atgsambo on Saturday 4th June 21:26
Nice
The car looks well
The series2 zetec S is a fun car, can be made better though for a few quid
I used to have a series1 on a Y plate as a play car, after it was dropped 40mm the handling becomes fantastic. The only down side to them is the 100 horses, another 50 would really transform the car, but insurance gets in the way then
I took the orange lenses out of the headlights on mine too and used silver vision bulbs, really transformed the look at the front, among the other bits and bobs i did to it.
Have fun
The car looks well
The series2 zetec S is a fun car, can be made better though for a few quid
I used to have a series1 on a Y plate as a play car, after it was dropped 40mm the handling becomes fantastic. The only down side to them is the 100 horses, another 50 would really transform the car, but insurance gets in the way then
I took the orange lenses out of the headlights on mine too and used silver vision bulbs, really transformed the look at the front, among the other bits and bobs i did to it.
Have fun
Nice motor Sam - the missus has got exactly the same (51-plate), and I love taking it out.
Don't drop the suspension, especially not by 40mm...tbh that sounds like so much b
ks.
Drop it even by an inch and you'll run out of suspension travel over rough B-roads, and you'll crash even more into potholes (initial suspension compression is one of my only complaints on the car - they've got a good suspension set-up but I think have used cheap springs and dampers...the 'teg has as compliant a ride over bad surfaces!)
But it's great fun - you soon learn to trust the tail to dig in and bite, it's got great turn-in on the right tyres (get rid of those P6000's ASAP, we've got Eagle F1 GSD-3's on at the mo', and it's SOOO much better. Bit harder ride, but crisper in the dry and very reassuring in the wet. Have heard Proxies are also good)
Would agree on the power though - it revs round to the redline nicely (unlike some Ford engines), but it could do with another 20-30bhp all-round. Don't know enough about tuning modern Ford lumps to advise you (IF you want to modify it, that is - it's plenty good enough stock if you've come from a 1.4), but liberating perhaps 20bhp shouldn't be more than sorting the breathing out and getting a piggy-back chip.
Don't drop the suspension, especially not by 40mm...tbh that sounds like so much b
ks. Drop it even by an inch and you'll run out of suspension travel over rough B-roads, and you'll crash even more into potholes (initial suspension compression is one of my only complaints on the car - they've got a good suspension set-up but I think have used cheap springs and dampers...the 'teg has as compliant a ride over bad surfaces!)
But it's great fun - you soon learn to trust the tail to dig in and bite, it's got great turn-in on the right tyres (get rid of those P6000's ASAP, we've got Eagle F1 GSD-3's on at the mo', and it's SOOO much better. Bit harder ride, but crisper in the dry and very reassuring in the wet. Have heard Proxies are also good)
Would agree on the power though - it revs round to the redline nicely (unlike some Ford engines), but it could do with another 20-30bhp all-round. Don't know enough about tuning modern Ford lumps to advise you (IF you want to modify it, that is - it's plenty good enough stock if you've come from a 1.4), but liberating perhaps 20bhp shouldn't be more than sorting the breathing out and getting a piggy-back chip.
havoc said:
Don't drop the suspension, especially not by 40mm...tbh that sounds like so much b
And why is that?
40mm is the most common drop from the aftermarket suspension manufactures. while I had mine other owners had gone to real extremes of using coilovers and 60mm lower is easily achieved. The 40mm was a fraction harder in terms of ride, but the improvement in turn in is far greater than any set of tyres could give, Yes the Toyo's do work well on the ZS too I had those after the P6000's gave up.
Piggy back chips are crud, they suffer with poor connection issues and in the main just over fuel. The superchips buefin is a better bet as it's a software remap that can be reversed if needed and the install handset doubles as a code reader too.
It'll not see a 20bhp increase on a chip and exhaust/intake mods though, expect 8-10 max.
Cheers for the tuning info nighthawk...bit surprised that intake, exhaust and chip can't do more than 10bhp...with that on an already highly-tuned Honda 1.6 engine you'd be seeing at least 15bhp, perhaps 20.
Not surprised about piggy-back...I've heard of some that work, some that don't.
Suspension...each to their own, but to me 40mm sounds like a big drop, much better gains to be had from replacing springs and dampers entirely, then you can preserve the travel.
Not surprised about piggy-back...I've heard of some that work, some that don't.
Suspension...each to their own, but to me 40mm sounds like a big drop, much better gains to be had from replacing springs and dampers entirely, then you can preserve the travel.
Cracking cars these... great fun too. Not quite as much power as the Saxo, but handles SO much better (IMHO).
I made a few subtle mods to mine. Removed the orange indicator lenses at the front, and put in the silver bulbs... replaced the side repeaters with smoke ones (so they're almost hidden by the side strip)... the interior light can be replaced with one from a Puma / Fiesta Ghia (so you get map lights)... Puma gear knob
.. Fords are a modular build, so most things will fit... ... dig out a Haynes manual!!
I made a few subtle mods to mine. Removed the orange indicator lenses at the front, and put in the silver bulbs... replaced the side repeaters with smoke ones (so they're almost hidden by the side strip)... the interior light can be replaced with one from a Puma / Fiesta Ghia (so you get map lights)... Puma gear knob
.. Fords are a modular build, so most things will fit... ... dig out a Haynes manual!!
My missus has one of these too!! (I chose it for her though!!!)
You do want for more power, but only because the chassis is sooo good. To be honest you can really fly in the thing on your average B road because you can carry so much speed through the corners.
The first thing I would suggest upgrading is the brakes... they don't seem to have much bite, and when you are playing as hard as it encourages, they fade quite quickly too!!!
You do want for more power, but only because the chassis is sooo good. To be honest you can really fly in the thing on your average B road because you can carry so much speed through the corners.
The first thing I would suggest upgrading is the brakes... they don't seem to have much bite, and when you are playing as hard as it encourages, they fade quite quickly too!!!
Havoc
I might have confused you a little, my car was dropped by using replacement dampers and coils, my car was one of the first to use a SPAX suspension set up
The exhaust and inlet on the standard ZS is already very free flowing, so the gains aren't as much as you'd imagine, After spending LOTS of cash, the most I managed to get out of it was 132bhp which really made it a different car, at the expense of only being able to use super UL
My slightly tuned honda engine didn't make any mentionable gains either with the replacement of the cat back and inlet systems as both are already well sorted from the off.
I might have confused you a little, my car was dropped by using replacement dampers and coils, my car was one of the first to use a SPAX suspension set up
The exhaust and inlet on the standard ZS is already very free flowing, so the gains aren't as much as you'd imagine, After spending LOTS of cash, the most I managed to get out of it was 132bhp which really made it a different car, at the expense of only being able to use super UL
My slightly tuned honda engine didn't make any mentionable gains either with the replacement of the cat back and inlet systems as both are already well sorted from the off.
The 1.6 Zetec unit often produces a bit more grunt than it says on the tin too...
Check out www.zetecs.com/ - it certainly used to be a cracking site... but not been there for a few years now...
Check out www.zetecs.com/ - it certainly used to be a cracking site... but not been there for a few years now...
Hi Guys
Been driving the car as much as possible and im really enjoying it
. Its not that much quicker than my 1.4 0 - 40 but above that you can really feel it pull better. Around the corners is where you notice the diffrence. This thing just sticks to the road and you really feel "connected", loads of fun. The short throw gear box is pretty wicked
The whole car feels like its screwed together better too and i dont get any squeaks or rattles like i did in my old one. Having a CD Changer in the front is pretty cool and i have found the standard speaker system pretty damm good. Air con and leccy mirros have come in handy more than a few times. I couldent ever go back to my old one
>> Edited by atgsambo on Monday 6th June 21:10
>> Edited by atgsambo on Monday 6th June 21:50
Been driving the car as much as possible and im really enjoying it
. Its not that much quicker than my 1.4 0 - 40 but above that you can really feel it pull better. Around the corners is where you notice the diffrence. This thing just sticks to the road and you really feel "connected", loads of fun. The short throw gear box is pretty wicked The whole car feels like its screwed together better too and i dont get any squeaks or rattles like i did in my old one. Having a CD Changer in the front is pretty cool and i have found the standard speaker system pretty damm good. Air con and leccy mirros have come in handy more than a few times. I couldent ever go back to my old one
>> Edited by atgsambo on Monday 6th June 21:10
>> Edited by atgsambo on Monday 6th June 21:50
nighthawk said:
Havoc
I might have confused you a little, my car was dropped by using replacement dampers and coils, my car was one of the first to use a SPAX suspension set up
Aah...in which case I take (at least some of) it back!
[Being honest, i thought you were one of the "lets get a lowering kit and slam it, then we'll fit some neon's, some 17's, and a big 'zorst" crew - my apologies.]
LOL
I went through that 16 years ago when I entered the motor trade
Everything I do now is done correctly
I got the ZS as a play car (and because the wife could handle it without knocking the corners off) I live on the border of north wales, the roads round here aren't about maximum speed, but more about the fun you can have within the limits on the twisty B roads. Thats something the little zetec S manages better than the Civic R that replaced it.
I went through that 16 years ago when I entered the motor trade
Everything I do now is done correctly
I got the ZS as a play car (and because the wife could handle it without knocking the corners off) I live on the border of north wales, the roads round here aren't about maximum speed, but more about the fun you can have within the limits on the twisty B roads. Thats something the little zetec S manages better than the Civic R that replaced it.
All the info you need on the ZS on here
www.zsoc.com/forum/index.php?
Use the search facility just like on here
www.zsoc.com/forum/index.php?
Use the search facility just like on here
havoc said:
would agree on the power though - it revs round to the redline nicely (unlike some Ford engines), but it could do with another 20-30bhp all-round. Don't know enough about tuning modern Ford lumps to advise you (IF you want to modify it, that is - it's plenty good enough stock if you've come from a 1.4), but liberating perhaps 20bhp shouldn't be more than sorting the breathing out and getting a piggy-back chip.
I did chip our Fiesta Zetec-S, did crude 30-70 times through the gears before and after and the "chipped" ecu was producing figures nearly 1.5 sec SLOWER than standard
Just as well it was a piggy back chip and easierly removed, and Nighthawk is right about the ECU connections possibily due to the "wax" type stuff they use to protect the terminals??
I don't know if the piggy back chips connection through the PCB protection of if it's the poor program within it. A friend of mine had a plug in chip on his 1.7 puma and it'd often stall from cold starts. I plugged WDS and when it got an ID on the vehicle it thought it was a mustang 
The bluefin is pure software blown into the pcm and you don't even need to access the pcm to do it
, I had a dastek unichip on mine which was mapped on rollers.
The bluefin is pure software blown into the pcm and you don't even need to access the pcm to do it
, I had a dastek unichip on mine which was mapped on rollers.
Great car - i used to have one before i got my Chimaera. I still miss it sometimes!
They are faster than Ford's figures suggest. I managed a 9.1s 0-60 in standard trim. Put on a Magnex exhaust and K&N induction air filter and they get a bit faster too, but also soung fantastic.
Here's a few sound clip and a power graph showing the difference a exhaust and filter makes.
They are faster than Ford's figures suggest. I managed a 9.1s 0-60 in standard trim. Put on a Magnex exhaust and K&N induction air filter and they get a bit faster too, but also soung fantastic.
Here's a few sound clip and a power graph showing the difference a exhaust and filter makes.
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