Better Car VTS or VTR

Like hell it does.

The Duratec is _not_ CVH based.

Because it _won't_ fit without extensive modifications.

Both Ka engines are Duratecs these days - the 1.3 and the 1.6 - but the Streetka and Sportka get the 1.6.

Oh, yes, you're right, Ford have tried to market the Sportka as a hot supermini. But it's not. It's a quicker, grippier, stiffer Ka.

It may be slower in a linear fashion, but wasn't it Evo that managed to lap the Sportka significantly quicker than all other cars that were quicker in a straight line?

It does _not_ have a "rattly old re-badged CVH" donk, it has a Duratec piece of kit.

Go try one. Better yet, go try a 1.3 Duratec.

I don't care what they say, the specs just look a little too similar for it to be a coincidence. More or less the same capacity (ISTR), power output is about the same as the old CVH, and it exhibits the same roughness at higher revs.

Given that they've made some pretty major mods. to the Ka when creating the StreetKa and SportKa, it would have made sense to re-engineer stuff to allow fitment of the Zetec lumps rather than resorting to old tat like the Duratec.

About bloody time, too. It seems someone reminded Ford of the proper place to put a camshaft.......

Ahh, right. It's a shopping trolley with bugger-all suspension travel now. Great.

Lol..... I can think of lots of engines I'd prefer even before looking at the Duratec. Which I still say is a re-engineered CVH.

neither, save the pennies and by a jap import yaris with all the toys and add a supercharger kit :)

makes even the 1litre fun :-D

I dunno - i can't afford to buy magazines :)

Lord - someone might see me....

I'm doing a project in which i've somehow managed to make test driving cars a part of it, hot hatches mainly :) Punto HGT is next on the list, along with the Civic Type R - dunno how likely this one is, Honda dealers might not let me take their expensive cars away!

Oh come on now man! You cannot deny that Ka's have rust issues!

I wouldn't be surprised....

You'd be amazed at how much a CVH-based lump will burn once the valve-stem seals have gone..... I speak from experience of this one.

Got it through an MOT using Wynn's [1] 'Smoke Stop'.

Perhaps we're talking about the mark 3.5 Ka, the one that doesn't rust. (c:

Douglas

Lol.... I thought the 3.5 was the one that rusted around the fuel filler?

Or is that the 4?

Is that the stuff looks like treacle? A mate poured that into his XR2 (mk2 - CVH isnt it?!) to try and stop the smoke - didnt work!

So you think that almost all current 1.6 SOHC donks are related to the CVH?!

Nonsense.

Nonsense.

Err, no. Wider track, revised suspension on the Sportka . . .

The problem with that luscious 1.7 Zetec-SE is that it requires a smaller front crossmember.

You'll find that the 1.6 Duratec is a great piece of kit - it's engineered to produce good low down torque. Kinda the opposite of the luscious twin spark donks.

So you're immediately discounting the Zetec, Zetec-E, Zetec-SE, Duratec (and all similar) engines?!

Where do you get that idea from?!

/cough/ oil consumption woes? Bugger all torque and power below 4,000 rpm? Rusting?

handlering? You have GOT to be kiddling...

No... but I do know that Ford dusted off the CVH and looked at refining it for use in their current range..... I know it reappeared in the Focus earlier this year.

Erm.... it is about the same. 95PS quoted for the SportKa, against the

Read the reviews - it's typical, dog-rough Ford motor.

It's a cheap solution to a problem that didn't exist. But that's Ford all over. Why produce something really special when 'adequate' will sell to the average UK buyer?

Oh, yes. The Zetecs were great when launched and are still pretty damned good now. But only because Ford commissioned Yamaha to design it for them.... good job, too, given their previous f*ck-ups with OHC lumps.

But I was only making the point that they've only just caught up with the rest of the world in sticking an OHC lump in the Ka. How they got away with a s***ty old pushod lump for so long, I'll never know.

Check - Ford CVH.... and most likely Duratec once it's done a few miles.

You say that like it's a bad thing. I mean, 'Sport' Ka suggests something zingy and fun - a dog-rough 8v lump will never be that. In a small car you _need_ revvy if it's going to be any fun at all.

That's the Ka again, innit?

The 'Sport' Ka only has a quoted 90bhp dunnit?

Surely it would've made more sense to make a few engineering changes and make a genuine SportKa with the 1.7 Yamaha Zetec, as it would've surely sold better as it would actually be a good car.

I was gonna point that out :) Most of Fords current range was bought from other makers, the decent Zetecs from Yamaha, the diesels from PSA...

Small, sporty cars are supposed to be light anyway, hence torque isn't as important. Plus, as Steve said, sporty isn't so much about torque in a little car, you don't buy it with a view to comfy motorway cruising.

From what i've heard...