A Challenge for you

[Daz-RSK]

OK, OK - let's get this perfect. My god - some of you lot are really on the case. I'll have to watch what I post.

1) 2016/17 Focus RS - 4.5s
2) 2016- Mustang V8 - 4.8s
3) 2011 Focus RS500 - 5.0s
4) 2009/11 Focus RS - 5.2s
5) 2016- Mustang Ecobooooost - 5.6s
6) 1987 Sierra RS500 - 5.6s
7) 1986-2000 - Sierra RS Cossie (3door and Sapphire) - 5.8s
8) 1992-1996 Escort RS Cossie - 5.8s
9) 2012- Focus ST - 6.2s
10) 2005-2011 Focus ST - 6.5s
11) 1990-92 Sierra RS Cossie 4x4 - 6.5s
12) 2002/03 Focus RS - 6.5s
13) 2016- Fiesta ST - 6.5s
14) 2012-2016 Fiesta ST - 6.7s
15) 2002-2007 Mondeo ST220 - 6.8s
16) 1973 Capri RS3100 - 7.3s wooooooohoooooo
17) 2007-2010 Mondeo 2.5T Titanium / X / Ghia - 7.3s
18) 2006-2010 S-Max 2.5T Titanium / X - 7.3s
19) 2010- Mondeo 2.0L Ecobooooost 240PS Titanium / X / Vignale / ST Line etc - 7.4s
20) 2015- Mondeo 2.0TDCi 210PS Titanium / X/ Vignale / ST LIne - 7.6s
21) 1983-85 Sierra XR4i - 7.7s
21) 2012- Focus 1.6T 180PS Titanium / Zertec S / ST Line - 7.8s
22) 1981-January 20th 1983, 6pm Cologne time - Capri 2.8i - 7.9s ----------woooooohooooooo
23) 2010-2014 Mondeo 2.2TDCi 200PS Titanium / X / Vignale etc - 7.9s
24) 1990-92 Fiesta RS Turbo - 7.9s



1) 2016- Mustang V8 - 4.8s
2) 2016- Mustang Ecobooooost - 5.6s
3) 2007-2010 Mondeo 2.5T Titanium / X / Ghia - 7.3s
4) 2006-2010 S-Max 2.5T Titanium / X - 7.3s
5) 2010- Mondeo 2.0L Ecobooooost 240PS Titanium / X / Vignale / ST Line etc - 7.4s
6) 2015- Mondeo 2.0TDCi 210PS Titanium / X/ Vignale / ST LIne - 7.6s
7) 2012- Focus 1.6T 180PS Titanium / Zertec S / ST Line - 7.8s
8) 1981-January 20th 1983, 6pm Cologne time - Capri 2.8i - 7.9s ----------woooooohooooooo
9) 2010-2014 Mondeo 2.2TDCi 200PS Titanium / X / Vignale etc - 7.9s

[Daz-RSK]

Most of us on here are in the slow 2.8 camp

When I had my original 2.8i Capri in 1992/96 period, it was one of things that beat me. Why would the heavier XR4i be quicker to 60 than the Capri ? And they did beat me quite literally.

I wouldn't encourage this today because I am a stickler for keeping the cars as original as possible. I feel the best values / most treasured ones are those that look, drive and appear to be out of the showroom, not modified beyond all reason. That's not to say people on here shouldn't modify nor that the modifications are poor. But an original looking showroom Capri is the most sought after, IMHO.

However, back then, when Capri's were 3pence in value, the XR4i was £4000 (yes there was a time when the XR commanded more money than the Capri), I took great delight in 4i bashing! Flippin 'eck, did I give most a roasting.

I knew someone who had a 4i and it was true with the Ford figures - it was only a smidge, but the 4i was quicker. Then £30 spent (£30!!!!!), and I made toast of this 4i and others.

If you want to knock your 2.8i down to early 7's to the 60, keeping looking. Not sure you'll do it for £30 today due to scarcity.

If you don't want to know because modification is not your scene and this is kid's stuff, look away now.

It's all down to ratios. I had someone at Dunton draw it all up for me and given set of criteria that I provided. The reason the 4 speed is quicker than 5 speed is because it is a smidge lighter, but the ratios get it to 60 better. The reason the XR4i was quicker on paper was because of the same reason - but that also had a 5 speed. So what's going on ? Why would a 5 speed in one be quicker than the 5 speed in the other ?

The clue was in the rear diff. The 3.09 in the 2.8 is a bit "heavy" and that's why you all notice the low rpm per mph and that top speed is in 4th not 5th. So if you want to address which gear top speed is in and get your car to 60 more quickly, you could see ST220 taunting accelerations.

The key is to change the axle to a 2.0l versions, with the 3.44 drive, and that brings the ratio in line with the 4i. But witht he Capri being 150kgs lighter than the 4i, early 7's is seen. You need to complete all of the work, obviously, to bring the 2.8i items across across from one axle to the other.

Bob's your uncle - you will have a scorcher of a 2.8i.

However, now that I am nearly 50 and I drive like the vicar at your local church, whilst also respecting the age of the car, this is not the next thing on my wishlist. When I was 23, like all 23 yr olds, the next performance motor you saw at the lights was a challenge.

Not like today where I see "so what if you have 19" diameter alloys & exhaust" and pass it off that the roads are so busy today, I'll probably end up behind him at the next lights or whatever, 16ft further back from where I should have been if we had raced and I had beaten him.

[andyd]

Most of us on here are in the slow 2.8 camp

The key is to change the axle to a 2.0l versions, with the 3.44 drive, and that brings the ratio in line with the 4i. But witht he Capri being 150kgs lighter than the 4i, early 7's is seen. You need to complete all of the work, obviously, to bring the 2.8i items across across from one axle to the other.

My mate has a 2.0 axle on his 2.8, as the original blew up and spun him into the barrier just outside Exeter 5 or 6 years ago, and I think he had the axle rather than source a 2.8 one.
I have driven the car but not hard enough to feel any differene. He is hoping to restore it at some stage so will see what axle he puts back on it....

[Daz-RSK]

The thing with the 2.0L diff is that it makes every gear a driving gear.

Obviously XR4i bashing was fun. But that wasn't the aim entirely. It was the result of questioning why the 4i was quicker to 60 and what small budget could get me there now I know why the 4i was quicker.

But there were other facets to this.

First, 5th gear became an easy driveable gear where accelerating into the outside lane was effortless. 5th gear's performance became more like 4.5th gear. Don't forget that peak torque in the 2.8 is over 4k rpm. That is not the type of engine you want for tall gearing.

Second, economy improved as the drop in gears to move along a bit quicker was lower - you could hold a higher gear for nearly the same performance. So overtakes were done in 3rd instead of 2nd or 4th instead of 3rd. There wasn't this immense length of time to hold one gear.

But it's really down to individual preference. I wouldn't do it today on this one I have because there's no added benefit for a motor that sees less than 1000 miles pa. That was slightly different back then - a different mindset, usage, what I wanted from the motor etc.

[andyd]

Not a but it eats 'Supercars' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DDswtLUhdM

You can't beat the sound of American Muscle

[sheff]

The 4 speeders had a very tall first gear. Catch it right and ignore the red line and you were hitting 60 mph in first gear without the need to change gear. Something I did 30 years ago and not a style of driving I would recommend now in a Capri!

[Daz-RSK]

Leading on from what Sheff has said - I just found something quite interesting. The whole article is interesting (to me anyway). But the gear ratios - so the 4 speed has a taller 1st and shorter 2nd gear than the 5 speed. I didn't realise that.

So what that would mean that where the max torque on the 2.8i comes in at over 4k rpm, this would lead to probably a shift into 2nd gear bang on the torque, which would propel to 60 quicker in the 4 speed.

For years, I thought it was to do with the lighter weight of the 4 speed. But that is probably wrong. Whilst still true that the 4 speed is lighter, the 5 speed is not that lardy to slow the car that much.

Here is the link I found - sorry if it had been posted before.

https://www.capri.pl/garage/5speed.html