How to top the FTO

[soc]

Sometimes I hate my FTO - it sets such a high standard in all things driving. The sound of the V6 (even with std exhaust) is amazing, the handling if brilliant, it's a fast car (maybe no low down torque but over 3.5K rpm it is a fast car) and it looks great.

So what's the problem...... what the hell car do you get next????? I'm gonna change in August and I really want something that has all of the FTO's best characteristics but more interior toys / luxury. There are some great cars out there but they all seem to have pretty big downsides...... I don't really want to spend crazy money but Im looking for something fast, excellent handling, sweet interior and looks, some rarity value and not too expensive..... am I asking too much

Honda S2000 - sweet looking car, fast, rwd, nice interior but it's a 2 seater and I think it's just too expensive.

Audi TT - brilliant interior but it's way overpriced and despite the 4wd handles like crap compared to the FTO - oh yea, there are way too many on the roads.

Subaru STI - fast as feck, handles great but it's ugly as hell and has a crap interior

EVO V - even faster, better handling than STI but again crap interior and it's probably a scum magnet not to mention insurance being higher than anything this side of a Ferrari

Seat Leon Cupra - looks good as standard, fast with potental for tuning, nice interior but it ain't no V6 and I wonder what the handling is like

Ouch, this is a head wrecker....... am I going to just end up getting another FTO. Maybe I should really look at importing a late model (98/99) manual GPX in red and spend some money on shaping it

[adrian]

Yip, I had the extact same predicament.....but sooooooo glad I went for the S2000. Unreal to drive, that VTEC sound, 90 mph in 3rd, 9200 PRM, 6 speed manual, convertible yet Hard Top Option.....emmmmmm!!

Rathdown Motors have a 00 Silver Red leather one in at the moment, but with a few scrapes and no hardtop or rear spoiler it is expensive at 30K asking price.
But, having said all this the FTO is one of thee nicest cars on the road....so if you could import a 99 then go for that....cheaper and arguably as head turning.

[Ivan E]

Know where you are coming on. Once you decide to get an FTO and spend time looking and getting one its very difficult to switch off from still looking. As nice as your car prob. is Adrian, it goes against the whole affordable cost of the FTO.

Personally I would love a 99-03 BMW coupe but they're fairly expensive and aside from the top models, nowhere as fast. But sometimes you do miss the luxury and smoothness of a normal car. Feeling like crap yesterday and the drive home didn't help going over those speed bumps.

I think the ideal thing is to have an FTO as well as a comfortable practical car. If only cars were cheaper to keep.

But for the same price range as the fto cost us, there's not much else out there.

[pergau]

I sort of have the same problem only I'm not going to get rid of the FTO. I can't think of a car that gives the same fun as the FTO at a reasonable price - or even an unreasonable but affordable price.

I might go the other way and buy an old Mini and do it up or a MKII Jag.

The problem is that the FTO is such good value for the money.

My solution: Hold on to the FTO for another 10 years and then buy a secondhand Mazda RX8 - simple really.

[CJ]

But sometimes you do miss the luxury and smoothness of a normal car. Feeling like s*** yesterday and the drive home didn't help going over those speed bumps

Totally agree, but then you easily out-manoeuvre a TT or an M3 on a few roundabouts and the FTO is back on your Christmas card list again

Shane, only you can decide what car suits your style and budget, just don't buy a Seat, they've no street cred My current list in order of preference is:

99/00 GPvR
Supra TT
Skyline GTS-T

Three totally different cars in terms of performance and looks but all around the same price.

Ciaran

[soc]

Totally agree, but then you easily out-manoeuvre a TT or an M3 on a few roundabouts and the FTO is back on your Christmas card list again

you said it here - it's such a sweet car to drive

Shane, only you can decide what car suits your style and budget, just don't buy a Seat, they've no street cred My current list in order of preference is:

99/00 GPvR
Supra TT
Skyline GTS-T

Three totally different cars in terms of performance and looks but all around the same price.

Ciaran

Ideally I'd like a 99/00 manual GPX or GPvR with leather, no rattles, a sweet exhaust, 17's and some nice ice. But can you get FTO's that don't rattle?

[kevinod]

Ideally I'd like a 99/00 manual GPX or GPvR with leather, no rattles, a sweet exhaust, 17's and some nice ice. But can you get FTO's that don't rattle?

Eek, they all rattle?? Have a rattle in my Xsara sunroof that is driving me demented at the moment... really need to sort it out.

Anyone know of a good sunroof place around Cork?

Kev.

[soc]

Eek, they all rattle?? Have a rattle in my Xsara sunroof that is driving me demented at the moment... really need to sort it out.

Anyone know of a good sunroof place around Cork?

Kev.

Unfortunately I reckon any car with reasonably stiff suspesion (especially after lowering the FTO) will suffer in Ireland thanks to us having the worst roads in Europe

Maybe they don't all rattle but the 2 I've had did have a few rattles in them - mainly from the rear 3/4 & boot area. I think the seat belt holders / reels for the front seat belts rattle a lot. Also there are the usual FTO nuances such as drivers window guide & bonnet stay that can rattle. Not to mention if the front and rear arb bushes or drop links go But to be honest it's the rattling from the rear 3/4, parcel shelf and boot that gets me. Probably time to take another day off work, get the flashband out and paper the rear 3/4. Maybe put an MDF board behine the back seat rest and under the parcel shelf.

[CJ]

Probably time to take another day off work, get the flashband out and paper the rear 3/4. Maybe put an MDF board behine the back seat rest and under the parcel shelf.

I placed MDF between the rear seat and the boot area to mounts amps etc, I did notice that there was less boot noise after fitting. Make sure you keep the original plastic divider in place, this acts as an addidional sound insulator.
I completely flashbanded the speaker shelf and all rattles have disappeared. The only noises I'm getting now is from some bush or other in the rear suspension and from both doors as a result of over-insulating at the edges.

Ciaran

[soc]

The only noises I'm getting now is from some bush or other in the rear suspension and from both doors as a result of over-insulating at the edges.

Ciaran

Atm I'm getting noise from the parcel shelf (I think), rear 3/4 section (I think this is the seatbelt holders), window guide on drivers side and (the most annoying) the metal bar (under the drivers door hinge) that stops door opening too far is knocking.

So it looks like a day of flashbanding the parcel shelf and rear 3/4 panels is needed along with a pliers to squeeze the window guide and fitting that mdf board....... -

I think I'll combine this and have a go at cleaning the tappets and painting the rocker cover and inlet maifold.

[JD]

.....along with a pliers to squeeze the window guide...... -

Shane,
Be careful when you're doing this - I recall one of the lads cracking their window a few months ago doing it - that put me off trying it myself.
Good luck with the rest of it.
JD

[CJ]

Be careful when you're doing this - I recall one of the lads cracking their window a few months ago doing it - that put me off trying it myself.

Yeah, that was me

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... .php?t=309

Don't be put off but do learn from my mistakes!

Ciaran

[soc]

.....along with a pliers to squeeze the window guide...... -

Shane,
Be careful when you're doing this - I recall one of the lads cracking their window a few months ago doing it - that put me off trying it myself.
Good luck with the rest of it.
JD

How bad did I feel when this happened cause I suggested this as a way to fix the rattling window without replacing the guides - my mechanics did this for me on the GS.

But now I'm confused - I had a quick read of CJ's post when he broke the window but I'm wondering why you have to have the window 3/4 down?? When I had the door cards off (for soundproofing) I thought that the guides where the metal runners that ran down each end of the door - are these not what should be squeezed tight? Am I thinking of the wrong things?

[CJ]

But now I'm confused - I had a quick read of CJ's post when he broke the window but I'm wondering why you have to have the window 3/4 down??

You need the window 3/4 of the way down so as you can get access to the guide, check out this link.

Ciaran

[ronbyrne]

everything above is true of the fto, it's soooo affordable. if i was you i would strongly consider upgrading the fto. ie. if its a tip then spend a few grand and get a manual box conversion. that will make it a much different car and a better one. another few hundred on maybe a leather interior or respray and you have a new car ! you cant beat the fto for value and fun, i'm in the same situation myself. the only thing i woul consider is a classic. a fiat dino or something with a bit of character .

[soc]

everything above is true of the fto, it's soooo affordable. if i was you i would strongly consider upgrading the fto. ie. if its a tip then spend a few grand and get a manual box conversion. that will make it a much different car and a better one. another few hundred on maybe a leather interior or respray and you have a new car ! you cant beat the fto for value and fun, i'm in the same situation myself. the only thing i woul consider is a classic. a fiat dino or something with a bit of character .

among other things I am considering trying to import a manual 99 GPX preferably in red, lowering with new shocks & springs and poly bushes all around, popping on some17's or 18's, full stainless exhaust, induction kit, leather retrim, stainless interior bits (gearknob, dials etc) and getting one of the brembo brake conversions.... now that would be cool..... I wonder if you could do all that for under €18K........ although I would like a Mazda RX8

[adrian]

The RX8, wow, that is a serious machine.... but over 45K new I think

There is a plce in Drogheda selling a 1997 facelift gold FTO at the moment...... It's the riverside motors, 041 9877888 or 087 9551323.

Looks class in the advert, but looking 14,500 for it! You could beat him down at that price I think......

"97 FTO, 2.0, 5 sp tip, mint condition"

[soc]

The RX8, wow, that is a serious machine.... but over 45K new I think

probably in same league as the S2000

There is a plce in Drogheda selling a 1997 facelift gold FTO at the moment...... It's the riverside motors, 041 9877888 or 087 9551323.

Looks class in the advert, but looking 14,500 for it! You could beat him down at that price I think......

"97 FTO, 2.0, 5 sp tip, mint condition"

€14.5K sounds like a lot for a '97 when you can pick up a '95 for €5-6K. I'd hate to think what a '99 would cost over here.

Incidently I had a spin in a 225bhp TT at the weekend. And although €25k is a lot of cash for a car (let alone a 4 year old car) the TT felt like it had just rolled off the forecourt. The seats are amazing - not just cause of the leather. They give a nice wrap around feel with the very well padded out bolsters. Have to say it's a very rapid car, particularly the mid range. Handles nice but not as responsive as the FTO. Even though it was pretty wet out the car was still very grippy and felt really safe. But to be honest I really missed the sound and feel of the FTO as the revs climb.

Anyway If you're looking for a fast, good handling car that is extremely well built and has a real feel of luxury then this is the car - unfortunately my fiancé now loves the damn thing...... that'll make it interesting come August and car buying time........ wonder what you'd be talking to get it chipped, filter, exhaust + some suspension work....

[adrian]

probably in same league as the S2000

Same league as the S2000 for power (the higher output model of the RX8) but an S2000 with a hardtop bran new is a silly 62,000!! But, be smart and shop around, bide your time and you'll get one with about 28,000 miles on a 00 plate for well less then half that!!!

[soc]

probably in same league as the S2000

Same league as the S2000 for power (the higher output model of the RX8) but an S2000 with a hardtop bran new is a silly 62,000!! But, be smart and shop around, bide your time and you'll get one with about 28,000 miles on a 00 plate for well less then half that!!!

<start rant>

Is it just me or have car prices in Ireland gone totally crazy over the last 5-10 years???

I was looking in the UK and new S2000 will set you back about 27,000 sterling - so on todays exchange rates that's about €40,000 - so where the hell does the extra 20,000 come from over here - damn government is cleaning up on us motorists. And don't get me started on the price of petrol.

Maybe it's time someone took them to task over VRT - I mean it's supposed to be illegal isn't it????

</rant over>

[kevinod]

<start rant>

Is it just me or have car prices in Ireland gone totally crazy over the last 5-10 years???

...

Maybe it's time someone took them to task over VRT - I mean it's supposed to be illegal isn't it????

</rant over>

I agree completely, I thought I heard a while back that someone was or had challenged it with the EU but don't know what happened it.

Only problem, the damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario... Going on your example alone you can see how much €€ they're raising out of this daylight robbery. If that disappears they're just going to raise taxes somewhere else instead, end up tolling streets, dirt roads and pedestrian crossings or something!

[kevinod]

If it makes you feel any better about it though FTOs seem to be very expensive in the UK - say €6500 here you're looking at Stg£6500 over there, at least from what I was looking at a while back...

[soc]

I agree completely, I thought I heard a while back that someone was or had challenged it with the EU but don't know what happened it.

Only problem, the damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario... Going on your example alone you can see how much €€ they're raising out of this daylight robbery. If that disappears they're just going to raise taxes somewhere else instead, end up tolling streets, dirt roads and pedestrian crossings or something!

Yea I hear that I suppose that's the basic problem we have here - irish governments seem incapable of not wasting money. I mean look at all the money that gets wasted on the damn flood tribunal - there should be some cap on barristers/solicitors fees for stuff like that. And car insurance fraud - where's this personal injuries assessment board (they should take a leaf out of the UK gov's book on this one). And of course then there is the usual rubbish that seems to come with motorway building (carrickmines problem) and tunnel building (late, over budget and might not fit the super-trucks). Waste, waste, waste. And where is all this extra tax revenue from all the bogus non-resident accounts going to go???? I sure as hell haven't seen any plans to funnel it back to those that were really robbed (indirectly), i.e. normal tax paying people.

It's funny, there are so many people out there that think things were great over the past 5 years. Lot's of tax breaks but look around - everywhere prices have sky rocketed. I mean 60c for a bloody mars bar or 40c for one banana is a complete rip off! Petrol is a rip off, alcohol (even though I don't drink) is a rip off. And if I start on house prices I'll be hear all day. Fianna Fail have successfully pulled wool over everyone eyes and silently made this a very expensive place to live - and let's be honest you really don't get what you pay for over here. At least somewhere like london if you're paying 100 quid for a meal you're gonna get quality - over here you'll probably get a cranky waitress, dirty plates and glasses and a steak you could crack a coconut with!!!