I'm currently looking at purchasing a 1.8 tdci ford focus. I've noticed that many later cars have the lower output version of the 1.8 tdci engine, can anyone explain why this is?, is the 115 not reliable in that state of tune?. Also are there mechanical differences between the two engines or is the difference just different software.
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I'm not sure if this should have posted to 'Discussion', moderators please move the message if you feel appropriate.
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The 115 was introduced first that is why there are more early 115 TDCis. The TDDi 90 was produced along side the TDCi 115 for a while until the TDCi 100 was launched. No issues with the 115, it can be had in the new Focus and C-Max and in the S-Max in 125 bhp form.
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Ford dealers are able to upgrade the '100' to 115bhp via their WDS? diagnostic equipment. It's just a matter of having a close happy relationship with said dealer/technician, and slipping them a few quid....in theory...
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Be very wary about doing this due to any warranty & insurance reasons.
Also, the majority of (all newer ones) 115 cars have rear disc brakes, wheras the 100's have rear drums.
Just be aware ................
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How interesting to note that with computerisation of cars similar practices seem to have followed. Build something good/fast/efficient then slow it down and sell it as two versions sometimes with a 'upgrade' option. Sounds like an ICL mainframe to me....
Or a 486 cpu.
Steve
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
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Yup - The classic Pentium and Celeron thing.
I suppose it's just a logical (and more profitable) extension of the trim level rip-off that's been going on for years. For example, how much of the £8,200 difference between a Mondeo 1.8LX and ST220 is genuinely represented by additional build and component costs?
I pick on Ford here, but they all do it.
Cheers
DP
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It is only really the same as making 1.6 a 2.0 ltr versions of the same engine, same production cost though the 2.0 can be sold for more.
However I am not sure though there may well be physical differences between the Focus 100 and 115 engines as there is for instance between Mondeo 115 and 130 engines. The point about rear discs is well made.
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Thanks for the replies folks. Must say I'm surprised that ford still deliver cars with drum brakes. My 96 fiesta has front only disks and I've never been impressed with the setup. Is it cheaper for ford to supply rear drums rather than disks all round.
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ICL mainframe models not quite the same as the Pentium/Celeron differences. ICL only physcially had about three different models and the other's were all slugged versions of these. You could upgrade from a lower to higher model by turning a key - well ICL came out with the key. The slower models literally spent time doing nothing to slow them down. Hence the original comparsion to Ford upgrading the engines.
Other mainframe manufactuturers did exactly the same. I think Amdahl would let you upgrade for short period (e.g. month end batch job) and only pay for the upgrade. And the upgrade/downgrade could be done remotely. Of course there's capacity on demand now where redundant componets are switched on when needed.
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Thanks for explaining, and no it's not quite the same. IIRC, the Celeron is a Pentium with a chunk of its cache missing to slow it down.
The ICL situation is ludicrous. Lucrative though I would imagine. Those were the days to be in IT.
Cheers
DP
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Don't forget Ford was still fobbing people off with side-valve engines, vacuum windscreen wipers (not) and cart springs long after most other manufacturers had moved on. So drum brakes come as no surprise.
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Ford was not fobbing people off with these items-at that time Ford was offering the public a range of cars from the very cheap to the moderately expensive-you got what you paid for.Ford were the first manufacturer to fit disc brakes as standard to volume production cars.
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>>>>>Also, the majority of (all newer ones) 115 cars have rear disc brakes, wheras the 100's have rear drums.
My 52 reg 115bhp Focus has rear drum brakes, a friend's 53 reg 100bhp has rear discs.
The 115bhp goes fast and stops slow, the 100bhp goes much slower but stops much quicker.
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On most cars witha forwards weight bias, rear discs are little more than an expensive gimmick, and drum brakes are the right specification. In many cases, owing to forwards weight transfer increasing the forward weight bias further, the rear brakes do virtually zip during a high deceleration stop.
But, because the popular image/myth is that drum brakes aren't any good, rear disc brakes and their awful handbrake mechanisms are spreading in popularity.
Number_Cruncher
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I have to say, both my previous Focii, and SWMBO's old Fiesta Zetec-S had rear drum brakes and the feel / performance of the brakes on all three cars was superb.
I do hate dismantling drum brakes though with their infernal steady springs. It's generally easier and quicker to change pads than shoes.
Cheers
DP
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Rear drums are cheaper than disks to produce, but as already said drums do the job just as well as diskcexcept when stopping from high speeds in which case drums & brake liners get v.hot and do not cool as well as discs brake and as such braking performance is affected, also drum brake liners can get cooked in the process of a high speed stop.
As for the handbrakes on numerous rear disc setups, grrr, adding a small pair of rear drums for the parking brake sounds like a good idea but ever experienced your car starting to roll if you haven't ramped on the handbrake !
There is a difference in the 1.6 TDCi and 2.0 TDCi as the 2.0 is heavier and cost more to produce, plus other extra cost items as a result, hence there is some justification in addition costs. Manufactories are careful not to give away anything without a cost implication, look how careful they have worked out the running costs of a car verses it's real cost to produce, we'd all need to have PH.Ds to figured out all the ins/outs etc. Overall a high percentage of cost come in a new cars concept, design and manufacturing setting up processes, then the bread and butter stuff start to role out when the big bucks have already been spent. Get the initial product right and the bread & butter should be so much better in the long run.
The 115 TDCi is already a pretty good engine, just wait until the 16 valve one is released along with PDF etc., nice.
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Read today's "Telegraph Motoring" about the disadvantages of rear discs;I've heard similar;I would avoid any car with rear discs.
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jc2 - That's annoying, they were sold out when we we tried to buy the Torygraph today, and had to get the other acceptable paper.
What's the jist of the article about rear discs?
Number_Cruncher
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Basically,disc handbrakes don't work as they shrink when they cool;the original letter was from some person who'd had his car run away twice-once across three lanes of a motorway,when he stopped to read a map!!!
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Having the handbrake set to use the disc is asking for trouble, I'd go as far to say it's a serious design defect in some circumstances. Using rear drums for the hand brake in addition to rear discs is better and a far safer option unless someone has come out with an independent coolant system for rear brakes.
It is recommended a car is put into gear and the front wheels turned in/out whenever a car is parked on anything other than level ground.
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There is a difference in the 1.6 TDCi and 2.0 TDCi as the 2.0 is heavier and cost more to produce, plus other extra cost items as a result, >>
The OP was enquiring with regard to the 100 and 115ps versions of the 1.8 TDCi in the previous Focus, not the 1.6 and 2.0 Ford/PSA units.
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