NC BHP Figures

[RS404]

Are all 2 litre cars 160bhp or just the sport? This ad is for a 2.0i and says it has 125bhp, is that a mistake?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[hobobaggins]

yup, all 2.0s are the same power pretty much. The later NCs have a higher red line though.

[RS404]

Good to know, cheers.

[SmilerFTM]

158bhp for them all unless you are American in which case it's 168bhp for some reason

[MX-5 Lazza]

I think 125bhp is the 1.8 so it might be that they have the bhp right but the engine size wrong. Best check

[hobobaggins]

I found when starting to modify mine that various sourced are either confusing US/US auto/UK/UK auto HP figures and then also mixing up crank and wheel HP figures. Even some of the car sites who tested NCs quoted the wrong figures. Mazda in the NC 3.75 paperwork had it listed as 167hp which you will also see on sites like wikipedia and so on.

Whatever you buy have a remap done as it sweetens these cars up and smooths out the power even if you don't make massive gains with the stock manifold and exhaust.

[Darryl247W]

The wheels fitted are 16" as fitted to the 1.8 model. 2.0 Sport models were fitted with 17" wheels in a different style.
I'd put money on the advertised car being a 1.8

2.0 Sport also has a 6-speed gearbox which helps to differentiate them, but my eyesight's not so good to tell the difference in the pics.

Edited by Darryl247W on Saturday 7th May 20:25

Edited by Darryl247W on Saturday 7th May 20:26

[SmilerFTM]

Darryl247W said:

The wheels fitted are 16" as fitted to the 1.8 model. 2.0 Sport models were fitted with 17" wheels in a different style.
I'd put money on the advertised car being a 1.8

2.0 Sport also has a 6-speed gearbox which helps to differentiate them, but my eyesight's not so good to tell the difference in the pics.

Edited by Darryl247W on Saturday 7th May 20:25

Edited by Darryl247W on Saturday 7th May 20:26

Plenty of 2.0 cars came with 16's and 5 speed boxes on the option pack

[sbird]

From the pictures, it's got a 5-speed gear knob. As Smiler says, 16" wheels and a 5-speed doesn't mean that it's not a 2L.

The easiest way to tell, BTW, is to look for the DSC switch behind the steering wheel (No 1.8 had DSC until quite late on). You can't see it on the pictures though.

Running the reg (e.g. on Euro Car Parts website) says that it's a 2L.


Personally, if I was looking for an early Mk3, I'd get a Sport, unless I was going for a track/sprint/race car.

[hobobaggins]

btw if it helps. that car is a 2 litre according to the DVLA. So probably a base spec 2.0, not a sport. Still a tidy car for that money.

[Ninja59]

sbird said:

From the pictures, it's got a 5-speed gear knob. As Smiler says, 16" wheels and a 5-speed doesn't mean that it's not a 2L.

The easiest way to tell, BTW, is to look for the DSC switch behind the steering wheel (No 1.8 had DSC until quite late on). You can't see it on the pictures though.

Running the reg (e.g. on Euro Car Parts website) says that it's a 2L.


Personally, if I was looking for an early Mk3, I'd get a Sport, unless I was going for a track/sprint/race car.

DSC was introduced in the 1.8 only because of EU Type Approval requirements.

The only ultimate way really is to look under the bonnet, no 1.8 ever had VVT so won't have the actuator at the front top on the engine.

[hobobaggins]

Ninja59 said:

The only ultimate way really is to look under the bonnet, no 1.8 ever had VVT so won't have the actuator at the front top on the engine.

I think that was a good idea, as unless you are a bit sad (like PH users) you won't be able to tell. Which is nice because it allows people who wanted something cheaper to run; didn't need the power; just found a good deal on a 1.8, to enjoy the car with no badge stigma like many other brands.
I tend to just DVLA check anything I look at to be sure: https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/