V6 v2.0 performance

Topfish

Topfish

Well-known user
Jun 8, 2012
139
20
Littlehamptom
I've been considering a 2.0 but will I lose much performance going down this route ? I'm currently running a v6 auto I don't want to turbo but would want to mod it for lively performance also any savings on fuel to be had ?
cheers
 
The V6 auto is about the same as the 2.0L four pot for performance, if anything the 2.0L maybe quicker 0 to 60 mph, engine power wise there isn't much in them either (check out my thread, "Whats the difference between me and you C1 & C2" as it has the full tech spec of the engines, its a sticky in the general info section)
Turbo 4 pots are easier than trying to extract power from the V6, but don't expect better mpg, bobsters Snowcat was doing low 10's i believe in fuel economy when he boosted it ;)
 
40-ish horses is what you'll be giving away, and a lovely noise!

'Performance' figures.....
2.0 Manual - top speed 130mph____0-60 in 9.6s____30-50mph in 4th 7.8s____combined economy 34.0mpg
2.5 Manual - top speed 140mph____0-60 in 8.1s____30-50mph in 4th 6.7s____combined economy 29.4mpg
2.5 Auto --- top speed 129mph____0-60 in 9.8s____30-50mph in 4th 8.3s____combined economy 29.1mpg

so compared to your V6 auto a zetec is pretty comparable performance wise, I had a 2.0 Zetec Mondy and it was certainly sprightly enough.

Have you considered what you'll be giving away with regard to toys, leather/fogs/overhead console/funky sun visors/TC/heated screen, the Zetec's equipment is pretty basic when compared to a full on X-packed V6. although of course you have a breaker to hand so maybe not such an issue...
 
Having driven both the V6 and Zetec (and both in 4x4 flavour I may add!), the difference is not a great as you'd imagine. Sure the Zetec needs to be driven harder but can be just as quick and grin inducing as the V6.
 
No significant differences anywhere, unless you drive the Zetec quite gently where you'll save a little big on fuel consumption. Whether you drive significant milage may or may not make it worth the swap. If you drive for lively performance you'll see minimal difference in fuel consumption over the course of a week.
 
I will say one thing, the V6 is a thirsty old girl around town, I would imagine you'd see quite an increase in economy there!
 
scunnycougar said:
Ironically my experience that the Zetec is better on the open road.

Goes against theory, but that is what I have found.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, both with my standard engine and the one i have currently. With me, i tend to use short quick gearchanges around town rather than cruising through, it's pointless as you're forever changing gear anyway, and it sounds nice on the overrun :):music:.
On motorways etc, get up to a decent cruise speed, and......basically cruise. This is where i find my mpg figures building.
 
Totally agree, Scunny and Al. The Zetec is an absolute princess on the motorway.

The fuel savings over the V6 aren't huge though, unless you're happy to sit at 65-70 on the dial.
 
If you are weighing up one or the other on the basis of fuel consumption then there is sod all to chose from between them quite frankly. I went the Zetec route for ease of maintenance
 
Interesting input guys (y) it's given me something to ponder over
I think I will get a test drive on one and see how it compares with my v6 auto which is fairly modded and feels quite quick do you think it would now be the same or better performance than a standard manual v6 this is with st200 throttle body and uim free flow exhaust
and cone filter gutted main cat
 
From most of what I've read over the years about Zetec tuning, a fairly highly tuned Zetec (turbo route excluded) such as Al Pid's, will near-enough match a standard V6 for power and torque. A fairly highly tuned V6 is... negligibly quicker than standard - they just don't respond well to tuning. I'm sure Jamie Duff has said in the past that this is because it was designed and built almost perfectly to brief, so the 'unexploited potential' one can often unlock in engine tuning just isn't there to be had. Yes, you can source and add various ST200 addenda (or even swap in a complete ST200 engine), but you'll be spending hundreds for every BHP or ft/lb gained, with a realistic upper limit of little more than 200 BHP.

Zetecs can obviously be turbo'd. This has been done countless times in wider Ford tuning circles and at least once within this very club. It takes relatively big money to do correctly (ie reliably) though and, as has been said above, will also mean big fuel bills.

V6s can be turbo'd, as evidenced by a quick look at our American cousins over on NECO, but I've never personally heard of it being done over here. Supercharging is possible and has been done once in this club, the result was very powerful (350 BHP) but far from reliable. Both of these options are proper make-you-feel-sick expensive, which goes some way to explaining their rarity.

Bang for buck? I think the most cost effective tuning option for a Cougar is a complete ST220 engine transplant. The Bolton Mafia can do this drive in/drive out for about £1500 and you'll instantly have 220 BHP of solidly reliable 3.0 V6 power and comparable fuel economy to a standard V6, with scope for tuning to around 240 BHP with the same sort of filter/exhaust/map mods that most people chuck at the standard V6.
 
I was wondering would a tuned auto be comparable to a standard v6 I suppose the torque converter is going to be a big factor here
 
The limitations of the gearbox would make it expensive at the end of the day it is slushbox 3 forward gears and overdrive. You would be better getting a manual replacement!. Without spending the money on superchargeing or turboing which would cause the early demise of the slushbox. The zetec parts are more available and do respond to head work but unless you're keeping the car until it gets scrapped you would be wasting your money.
 
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