And from elsewhere..

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1490354&i=60

The gearing has always been the area of doubt... but easy enough with a parts list I guess!

Just need someone with parts access to compare the differential on the 140PS and 125PS Zetec S and it should list a different part.

I'd be interested to know if it is the same as the one on the Fiesta ST, as they use the same ratio.

Hi. Have test driven a standard spec ST and more relevant to this thread a Red Edition 140PS a couple of times (each version) over the past week or so whilst also having the benefit of running a Zetec S 125PS for the past couple years or more. I will report back within next week or so with the main emphasis on the Red Edition to relate my first hand, first impressions and will hopefully follow these up in due course if anyone is interested. To kick-off here's a little background:

We are 'Silver Surfers' - imagine Paul Whitehouse Organic Juice Bar AVIVA ad and you are spot-on. Lifetime karting/racing/bike history. Still enjoy brisk, press-on, superior North Yorkshire roads when the mood beckons. Current car: Zetec S in standard tune 125PS. Uprated bulbs (Ozram dipped beam - Fueled with Shell V Power 95% of the time).

Gearing is too long! Okay-ish whilst on the open road, can be tiresome in urban areas/around town. Top (5th) ample long enough for relaxed (very) occasional motorway work. 16" wheels fitted as without any doubt were much sweeter a drive than admittedly far superior stunning-looking 17". Tried both back-to-back before choosing. Cheaper to replace, better steering lock, slightly better in snow also narrower, more aerodynamic. All equals faster....well so the salesman said!!!

Experiences of Red Edition and differences to S on tests drives. Red Editions gearing is shorter. Roughly (in 5th) 70mph indicated just over 2,500rpm on S; just under 3,000rpm on Red Edition. The steering was more like my S than I recall before with 17" wheels fitted. Not as sweet as 16" but a lot closer as to make hardly any difference I think.

I understand that the engine mods are more than just a remap and involve the intercooler amongst other things? There is an more obscure road test out there somewhere that details all the Red Editions differences. Found it once and can't find it again after a brief look. Must try again/harder!

Finally for this post. We dismissed the ST after aforementioned test drives. I really wanted to like, my wife too who was impressed with it all too! But for us its low speed 'noisy', tiresome, jittery ride and similar style motorway downsides killed it off for us. It was everything people rave about, it really was but quite simply not for us. Getting into a Red Edition straight after was like been cosseted in a warm, (pun accidentally intended!) comfy blanket but still with a reasonable amount of grunt and a super V-6 like burble too, and cheaper VED/insurance/better mpg etc...etc...

 

2 minutes ago, Maltozo said:

Hi. Have test driven a standard spec ST and more relevant to this thread a Red Edition 140PS a couple of times (each version) over the past week or so whilst also having the benefit of running a Zetec S 125PS for the past couple years or more. I will report back within next week or so with the main emphasis on the Red Edition to relate my first hand, first impressions and will hopefully follow these up in due course if anyone is interested. To kick-off here's a little background:

We are 'Silver Surfers' - imagine Paul Whitehouse Organic Juice Bar AVIVA ad and you are spot-on. Lifetime karting/racing/bike history. Still enjoy brisk, press-on, superior North Yorkshire roads when the mood beckons. Current car: Zetec S in standard tune 125PS. Uprated bulbs (Ozram dipped beam - Fueled with Shell V Power 95% of the time).

Gearing is too long! Okay-ish whilst on the open road, can be tiresome in urban areas/around town. Top (5th) ample long enough for relaxed (very) occasional motorway work. 16" wheels fitted as without any doubt were much sweeter a drive than admittedly far superior stunning-looking 17". Tried both back-to-back before choosing. Cheaper to replace, better steering lock, slightly better in snow also narrower, more aerodynamic. All equals faster....well so the salesman said!!!

Experiences of Red Edition and differences to S on tests drives. Red Editions gearing is shorter. Roughly (in 5th) 70mph indicated just over 2,500rpm on S; just under 3,000rpm on Red Edition. The steering was more like my S than I recall before with 17" wheels fitted. Not as sweet as 16" but a lot closer as to make hardly any difference I think.

I understand that the engine mods are more than just a remap and involve the intercooler amongst other things? There is an more obscure road test out there somewhere that details all the Red Editions differences. Found it once and can't find it again after a brief look. Must try again/harder!

Finally for this post. We dismissed the ST after aforementioned test drives. I really wanted to like, my wife too who was impressed with it all too! But for us its low speed 'noisy', tiresome, jittery ride and similar style motorway downsides killed it off for us. It was everything people rave about, it really was but quite simply not for us. Getting into a Red Edition straight after was like been cosseted in a warm, (pun accidentally intended!) comfy blanket but still with a reasonable amount of grunt and a super V-6 like burble too, and cheaper VED/insurance/better mpg etc...etc...

 

Nice write up and interesting read, but just to point out, as has been mentioned in this thread. The only mechanical differences are the head gasket and diff - there is no different intercooler setup or anything between the 125 and 140.

i can confirm there is no difference in intercooler, i checked physically and part numbers, all the same 100hp,125 and 140.

2 hours ago, alexp999 said:

Nice write up and interesting read, but just to point out, as has been mentioned in this thread. The only mechanical differences are the head gasket and diff - there is no different intercooler setup or anything between the 125 and 140.

Many thanks for your kind words. Rushed my post a little I guess and apologize to all. Great to have aficionados like yourself who research and clarify such details. Much appreciated. Picking up a late 2014/'64 plate Red Edition this Saturday. As said I will try and post with initial impressions et 'al in due course, particularly if I feel it may assist others. Any/all (non-tech) questions on 125 Zetec S and perhaps a little later after I have posted on Red Edition also most welcome. Can also confirm that as mentioned previously in this thread the140PS can now be ordered in Zetec S guise/colours etc. They tried to sell us a new one that was in the showroom! The cost premium was far too expensive to essentially choose the colour we wanted (Frozen White) and nothing much else. Our budget did not allow for it. Whilst we are not exactly over enamoured at the Red's colour scheme its certainly far easier to live with than the ST's ride! The immediate back-to-back comparison road test was surprisingly stark. The sheer grunt (torque) of the ST and the compliant ride and quite comfort of the Red Edition - with all respect to ST owners - as said purely personal choice, perhaps if 15 years younger??!!  

If you Superchip the Red Edition it will be close to 165bhp and not far behind the 182 on the ST and you will still have the more comfy car 

23 minutes ago, Maltozo said:

Can also confirm that as mentioned previously in this thread the140PS can now be ordered in Zetec S guise/colours etc. 

Check out this link Zetec S config - click on engine & transmission on the left hand side and it gives the option of three engines, diesel, 125PS and 140PS

2 minutes ago, 666Damian666 said:

If you Superchip the Red Edition it will be close to 165bhp and not far behind the 182 on the ST and you will still have the more comfy car 

Very true but our warranty deal would enter into the equation and general peace of mind and how far do you go with mere drums on the rear? etc etc The ST's braking performance was noticeably superior by quite a long way too.

I'm running mountunes MR165 on a 125 Titanium. No braking issues if you drive within the conditions.

I'd say that the HP may have gone up but the cars handling and weight hasn't changed.

The Red / Black edition is a great car and would have loved one if a 5 door was available, but then again I'd have got an ST too.

Has anybody had both a Zetec S with the optional 17's and an ST as I'm guessing the ride quality is closer than the Zetec S with the 16's as they don't have such low profile tyres 

3 minutes ago, bwoody said:

Check out this link Zetec S config - click on engine & transmission on the left hand side and it gives the option of three engines, diesel, 125PS and 140PS

Thanks for clarification dear namesake! Instantaneous (well almost), informative, authoritative answers abound here on FOC so it seems! So far I am very impressed. As you can see I've not posted that often on here yet, but should now I guess? What with getting a 'new' car I have the ideal opportunity to contribute more (often) in the future given that rare source: time!

4 minutes ago, Maltozo said:

Thanks for clarification dear namesake! Instantaneous (well almost), informative, authoritative answers abound here on FOC so it seems! So far I am very impressed. As you can see I've not posted that often on here yet, but should now I guess? What with getting a 'new' car I have the ideal opportunity to contribute more (often) in the future given that rare source: time!

No probs, I have only been on here since Nov 2015 and I am on about 150 posts already, found the forum to be good with a good amount of active users.

I have been a member of a car forum for my last 4 cars, great way to find out info and just engage with other people that like the same things :)

12 minutes ago, 666Damian666 said:

Has anybody had both a Zetec S with the optional 17's and an ST as I'm guessing the ride quality is closer than the Zetec S with the 16's as they don't have such low profile tyres 

I think the 17's are standard on the Zetec S these days 

18 hours ago, bwoody said:

I think the 17's are standard on the Zetec S these days 

Should of always been standard, the 16's made the whole car look silly if I'm honest

Slightly lowered

Mildly different cam timing

Slightly different gear ratios

Slightly different steering assistance weighting

There are minor differences, but not huge (ignoring the headline numbers) my 140 Black Edition is very much like my previous 120 ZS.

Sent from my iPad using Ford OC mobile app

9 hours ago, Ffoxy said:

Slightly lowered

Mildly different cam timing

Slightly different gear ratios

Slightly different steering assistance weighting

There are minor differences, but not huge (ignoring the headline numbers) my 140 Black Edition is very much like my previous 120 ZS.

Sent from my iPad using Ford OC mobile app

Yeah I doubt 15bhp difference is going to feel like night and day 

I'm guessing from the 100ps to 125/140 there is a different/bigger turbo? (touch off topic I know!) I was just wondering if a Zetec could be similar to an S with a remap alone (bar the riding/suspension etc)

EDIT* I heard somewhere it was simply a different head gasket and injectors but then also heard something different. 

Turbo is the same.

I thought when it first came out it was different, but is now the same?

When first came out there were different part numbers for 100 and 125, then later they both used the 125 part number, then when 140 came out the 100 stayed the same and 125 used the 140 version. So yes and no I suppose

100 used 125, 125 used 140. So all basically the same.

Touch confusing but thanks for that! So 100 now uses 125, 125 now uses 140. (Pretty much meaning the 125 is now the 100 turbo, and the 140 turbo is used on 125 and 140). Interesting