04-11-2008, 09:06 AM
time for a review after 1 week :-)
This car continues to impress me and I absolutely love it. I had previously commented the torque feels lacking, but that isn't really all that true. Lindsey's Escort definitely has a lot more "oomph" in the lower RPMs but then it peters out (still breathes well, just doesn't come 'alive') and I think thats what I was expecting. Instead, the NX pulls fairly well, but turns into a rabid, fire-breathing dragon as it nears 4000 and moves like a bullet train to redline. Interstate onramps are a breeze to negotiate (soooooo much better than the truck) and this thing is a billion times easier to navigate around town. The gas mileage is also great; this week I averaged 29.3 mpg and did more city driving than I usually do and was considerably more aggressive. I have no doubt that once the novelty wears off (and I stop driving like a bat out of hell) and on a normal week, I'll see over 30 without any trouble. My only displeasure on this end is that the tank is a lot smaller, and therefore I can only commute 4 days on a tank, where the truck would get me through a whole week with a 1/4 tank to spare. No worries though, that's the difference between 10 gallons of gas and 24 gallons of diesel :-).
The looks have also grown on me a lot. I had said that from the side it was absolutely gorgeous and then a big letdown from the front or rear. I still hold true to the profile of the car, but the other ends have grown on me considerably and I smile whenever I see it in the parking garage. I don't know if I'm laughing inside, enjoying the uniqueness or what, but it's refreshing to see the little egg in my parking spot :-).
I still feel that a good intake will unlock a couple more ponies and I bet finishing off the exhaust would wake the car up even more. However, unless I get a stellar deal on any of said parts, I really see no reason why I should give this car any more power, since it puts a smile on my face every time I hit the loud pedal and I'm certainly not having any trouble getting around. I can't even imagine what this thing would feel like with a SR20VE in it...
Cliff's notes: The little egg rocks my socks off. Absolutely zero complaints about the car.
This car continues to impress me and I absolutely love it. I had previously commented the torque feels lacking, but that isn't really all that true. Lindsey's Escort definitely has a lot more "oomph" in the lower RPMs but then it peters out (still breathes well, just doesn't come 'alive') and I think thats what I was expecting. Instead, the NX pulls fairly well, but turns into a rabid, fire-breathing dragon as it nears 4000 and moves like a bullet train to redline. Interstate onramps are a breeze to negotiate (soooooo much better than the truck) and this thing is a billion times easier to navigate around town. The gas mileage is also great; this week I averaged 29.3 mpg and did more city driving than I usually do and was considerably more aggressive. I have no doubt that once the novelty wears off (and I stop driving like a bat out of hell) and on a normal week, I'll see over 30 without any trouble. My only displeasure on this end is that the tank is a lot smaller, and therefore I can only commute 4 days on a tank, where the truck would get me through a whole week with a 1/4 tank to spare. No worries though, that's the difference between 10 gallons of gas and 24 gallons of diesel :-).
The looks have also grown on me a lot. I had said that from the side it was absolutely gorgeous and then a big letdown from the front or rear. I still hold true to the profile of the car, but the other ends have grown on me considerably and I smile whenever I see it in the parking garage. I don't know if I'm laughing inside, enjoying the uniqueness or what, but it's refreshing to see the little egg in my parking spot :-).
I still feel that a good intake will unlock a couple more ponies and I bet finishing off the exhaust would wake the car up even more. However, unless I get a stellar deal on any of said parts, I really see no reason why I should give this car any more power, since it puts a smile on my face every time I hit the loud pedal and I'm certainly not having any trouble getting around. I can't even imagine what this thing would feel like with a SR20VE in it...
Cliff's notes: The little egg rocks my socks off. Absolutely zero complaints about the car.