Hey everyone, I couldn't find any kind of Introductions area so I figured this would be the best place for it, I also have a couple of questions, so it's a bit more than an intro thread.

I'm 18 and I am just starting a mechanics course in college, I have always always always loved cars, bikes and engines of all shapes and sizes but I am guilty of not having a clue as to how they actually work. I have a good head on me though so I would imagine, like other things of similar attributes, I will get the grip of it pretty quickly.

To the business end of things. The bursary that I have been awarded from college is around £500 a month which is going to be spare cash as I have an adiquate job. So I am in the market for buying my first car and I have fallen head over heels in love with the Fiesta si 1.6 16v. Would you say this car is a good choice for my interests? Which is to have a car with minor problems that I am able to tinker with over the course of my college, and something that I can slowly spend more and more money on making it my own. Is it worth spending my money and effort on it if it will merely nudge up the bhp by 2 or 3 at a time? And what kind of things would you advise I start on, the sort of beginers level?

Another problem is that it seems the market of Si's is purely English, I am from the NE of Scotland, around Inverness area and I can't find a single working Si!

Anyway, I hope to be around here for a long time and learn a lot of things from you guys. If I don't hang around for too long it's because the guy at work has convinced me not to go with the Si and go for something more powerful and more expensive.

Cheers in advance guys, I look forward to chatting.

Tim

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welcome to fsi tim!i would try and answer your questions but i'm on my phone and it would take me an age!lol

Buy an Si! Its a great start.

There are so many things you can do with them and you'll find that out once you've looked around the forum.

You have the choice of bolting in a new engine (good experience, not that expensive and give somewhat 40-50bhp depending on engine)

Thats one thing.

I don't really want to go into others because im not so experienced, i know what they are just don't really know much about them theres so much you can do with an Si, and when done right they look the Dogs, and they go fast, and you'll love it.


(And if anyone replies saying go french, ignore them)

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I'd find the best possible base to start from. I wouldn't limit yourself to an Si to start with. Look at every possible Mk3.5 Fiesta and find one with NO rust or rot. The Si bits can be easily slapped on and you could find a donor car easily if you wanted to just swap the bits but if you start with a shitter it's never gonna get any better!

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Welcome

I would say an si is the perfect base for you to start with. They are brilliant little cars, look really good, are pretty nippy and are an awesome car to learn from. I got my si when I was 17 and took it to bits and rebuilt it with new bits, also removing the rust along the way. I didn't know anything about cars when I got it and now there's not much I don't know about cars lol!

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In terms of engines, if you get a 1.6 zetec then its a straight swap with the 2.0 litre out of the mondeo. Its not too big a task, get yourself a haynes manual and it tells you everything you need to know to do anything on the car.

If you get a 1.4 then you can drop an rs turbo engine in so either are good.

And yes, the si is a mk3.5, but look into getting any mk3.5, not specifically an si, and then make it into an si replica with the bumpers and spoiler if you are struggling to find an actual si

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from my experience.. Buy a 1.4 to start. You'll love it. Modify it a but, just fiddle with it for a year. Then get a 1.6 the insurance is cheaper and you are aloud a mod or two on the insurance. And your away! And you can start spending big bucks on good mods

Just an idea. It's what i've done so far. And going Dom a 1.4 to a 1.6 makes you appreciate the speed of the 1.6 si

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i meant run the 1.6 for a year then convert lol, 2ltr fiesta probably isnt the best 1st car.

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I have been quoted £300 deposit (if I can remember right) and £90-£100 a month. Not too keen on spending much more than that on insurance, I was honestly expecting it to be more than that. I have been driving for a year in a 1.2 zetec fiesta (R reg) but with my mum as main driver so no ncb. Plus I was caught speeding In all fairness I was overtaking and they sped up too. lol.

So in conclusion (lol) get a 1.6. Other than the Si what would you guys advise? I can't wait to get stuck in, and in the long run, I can't wait to have a proper modified car, all you get around here is "I'm doin up my micra, I think I'll stick a new exhaust on it and tint the windows" and "Wow, did you hear the exhaust on that!" They just put an old beer can of a muffler on it and the car sounds like it's farting.

I can't wait to hear the engine of a well modified car, I can sit for ages just listening to cars revving if they are done well. Sorry if I'm babbling by the way, I'm three quarters of my way through a night shift and I feel drunk...

By the way, is a racing harness a worthwhile substitute for an airbag, or would I be best sticking to a steering wheel with one. I have a few mates whos lives were saved by their airbag so I've always been a bit cautious about getting rid of it. But performance steering wheels are cool...

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i would rather be alive, than die looking cool with my 'racing' wheel. just a thought.

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That is what I was asking. Does the harness keep your face off of the steering wheel? I'm guessing not.

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If you had Harnesses and buckets I'd ditch the airbag without worries. Airbag would only work on an inertia seatbelt anyways.

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Quinn Direct is quoting me £242.80 + £97.13 for 10 months for a xr2i 1.8 16v

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