wildwesty Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 hello, having sold my Pinto SE westy for an elise 2 years ago ive decided to return to the fold. Ive sold my elise and will soon be looking for an SEIW, but cant decide on which engine. VX Zetec V8 could you give me some guidence as to the pro's & con's of each engine? I dont want to bec, i realise that the V8 option would be at the top end of my budget and the bottom end of the scale for a decent one where as going VX or zetec would get me a tidy car and hopfully a powerful & reliable engine. Use would be weekends and dry (3k a year) I would like to do my own engine work on the car if it goes wrong but not at great expence. I would like to tinker & maybe upgrade little bits in the future again on a low budget after the initial purchase. Just an idea of what to look out for or expect with each option. ta WW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Ashcroft Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 A Zetec & VX are great cars but a V8 is an AWESOME car not that I'm biased you understand Good decision on not havin a BEC there for girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffC Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 A Zetec & VX are great cars but a V8 is an AWESOME car not that I'm biased you understand Good decision on not havin a BEC there for girls you got in quick the Barry you forgot to mention that a tartan rug is compulsary for V8 cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Welcome back Wildwesty, I'm no expert on anything really but my 2p worth as I've seen it is: V8 For: Excellent torque, great power, lovely sound and puts a smile on your face everytime. Against: Pricewise, expensive to uprgade as there is 2x everything being V8 VX For: Great power off the shelf, strong engines, cheaper than a Zetec to get up to 200bhp, loads of upgrades available Against: Heavy engines Zetec For: Good power, plenty available, Ford prices for servicing. Plenty of upgrades available. Against: Slightly dearer to get 200bhp but not much in it. Duratec You forgot this one! For: Great power, loads of upgrades, Strong Modern engines and light being all alloy. Agaist: b****y expensive I'm sure there will be some other comments but that's my view Tigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu999 Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Do you intend to do many trackdays - or is it for road use/polishing? Whilst a V8 may be awesome, put a few bends in the track, and any power advantage they may of had will be quickly eroded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perksy Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 VX as an all round package you'll find a VX hard to beat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Yeah but Persky, your heavily biased, I'm starting to think you WORK for Vauxhall's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu999 Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Perksy has also sampled both VX and Zetec though Tiggs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perksy Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Yeah but Persky, your heavily biased, I'm starting to think you WORK for Vauxhall's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Perksy has also sampled both VX and Zetec though Tiggs... True, True. Probably more of an authority on comparing them then. I still think he works for Vauxhall though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildwesty Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 Thank you all for your comments. The car may see a track once a year, but it would mainly be for weekends & polishing. Your comments Trigger are exactly what i am after, though the V8 would be nice, my price range is around 8K so i will be sniffing around the bottom of the pile, where as i could pick up a nice zetec or vx for that ££. I spent a lot of time fixing the pinto i had and thou it was enjoyable i have liked the reliability of the elise ive sold and would like an engine that is reliable yet cheap to fettle with. I think from all your comments it may be reasonable to say that either engine would be good and to select either a zetec or vx based on the build as both are comparable. what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samcooke Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Spot on. £8k won't get you a V8 worth having unless you're very very lucky. Fag paper between VX and Zetec so just buy the best you can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildwesty Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 2000 posts SC, congrats thanks for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Billsberry Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 · Posted on Aug. 16 2007,20:46Do you intend to do many trackdays - or is it for road use/polishing? Whilst a V8 may be awesome, put a few bends in the track, and any power advantage they may of had will be quickly eroded... I've never had problems with bends as the V8 is sorted . Oh and don't forget Mark Minshaw won the the Speed series class B Championship a few years a go in a chubby V8 with a lot stiff competition. I'm also sure John Fish would put you in your place as well.I do love those gems about V8's and corners they do make me giggle! You track day boys sure are a laugh Buzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V 8 Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 I've never had problems with bends as the V8 is sorted . Oh and don't forget Mark Minshaw won the the Speed series class B Championship a few years a go in a chubby V8 with a lot stiff competition. I'm also sure John Fish would put you in your place as well.I do love those gems about V8's and corners they do make me giggle! You track day boys sure are a laugh Buzz What about little old me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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