A Fiesta van made me think of this. Droning its way along, like a git.
Causing plain aural offence.
No wonder diesel was a dirty word within Ford for years. When it was making clunkers like this, I pity for the poor durability engineers who had to put 150k miles on the things.
It’s just so droningly raucous, the 1.8D. In anything it’s in, from Fiesta van, to Escort LX hatch, to Orion Ghia saloon. Clattery, like kettles packed into a cement mixer – yet, totally ineffective with it.
Sans turbo, this thing is dog slow. Not particularly torquey. Simply, old school diesel.
No hill will defeat it, say old school diesel stalwarts. As if the ability not to grind to a halt up a hill is something to boast about. My mum’s old 950cc Fiesta could do that, without the need to proudly compare itself to a Sherpa.
I drove one in a Fiesta, which revealed to me something else about this idiot of an engine. Not only is it clattery and slow, it also resonates, horrendously. Drones, moans. Buzzes. Is, basically, an irritating fool.
Not even those in the sanctity of other cars can escape it. No Euro V here – you’ll often spot them by the smoke they emit. Plumes. Lovely.
Ford put a whole lot of ghosts to bed when it common-rail’d this unit back in 2001. Transformed it, natch.
Shame the brands popularity mean there are still far too many of these on the road, depressing me.
The Alpina that’s faster/greener/rarer than a 325d
bmwblog and UK car dealer agree
Volkswagen looks to history for GTD inspiration
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I