Power outputs...

[theironduke]

Hi

I have read that the earlier 1.6 UK cars put out less power than later ones. I am looking at a 1995 UK 1.6 car, what sort of HP would it have left the factory with?

Also on the same topic...is the 1.8 significantly quicker than the 1.6? Is one preferable to the other?


thanks

[GravelBen]

I think its the other way round - AFAIK after the 1.8 was released (1994?) the UK 1.6 was downgraded from 115 to 90 bhp to create a bigger gap between it and the 1.8.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 28th January 19:45

[Oldandslow]

Early Mk1 1.6 110-115 bhp, later 1.6 Mk1 around 96 had 90bhp.

And then the Mk2 1.6 got more powerful again.

[pbirkett]

theironduke said:

Also on the same topic...is the 1.8 significantly quicker than the 1.6? Is one preferable to the other?

Ultimately, assuming we're talking about Mk1s, the 1.6 (115 bhp version) and the 1.8 tend to be a similar performance outright.

I think the 1.8 has more torque, so it can make it more effortless to pedal along. The 1.6 is more gutless, but seems revvier according to most. Also, while the 1.6 is down on power slightly, it usually has less weight too. I think the 1.6 model is around 950 kg, whereas the 1.8 tends to be around 1025 kg IIRC.

Best of both worlds would be an RS-Ltd, which has shorter ratios, weighs about the same as the 1.6, has a lighter flywheel and a 1.8 litre engine.

Personally, I'd buy on condition rather than engine size as it really matters not on the grand scale of things.

[johnnyboy666]

Early 1.6 ('89 to '94ish)was about 110-115bhp and do 0-60 in low to mid 9s. Then the 1.8 came out in '94 with 130bhp and a 0-60 of low to mid 8s. A few extra braces, bigger brakes and an extra 75ish kgs I believe. After a year of 1.8s only the 1.6 was reintroduced with a slightly different head and a power output of 90bhp, not sure what the performance figures are I would guess mid to late 10s?

All the figures seem to be slightly different depending on where you look, but these seem to be the average of what I have seen. Bottom line would be avoid the later 1.6s and ideally go for a 1.8, if not for the small increase in performance then for the bigger brakes and extra bracing.

John

[Gizmo!]

Early 1.6 or late 1.8.

It makes no difference at all - even the newest are over 10 years old now. Buy on condition.