robasset

hi i currently have an astra 2.016v gsi and im looking for a new car shortly it will have to be either a 93/94 uk scooby or a fto gpx i know the scooby is a bit faster but i think the fto makes up in the looks department.just wondered what everyone else thinks thanks

Brun

FTO - Looks are you kidding? Sommat deffo went wrong with the back end when they built them.
I know the Scoob ain't that fantastic to look at but it would win every time for me.
IMO you've got to decide between a serious driving tool or sommat to pose in.

Gidney&Knowlesy

Susupension struts are complete vulcanised units on FTO and are expensive , whilst the interior is better tahn that of the Scoob overall performance of the Scoob is far better than taht of the FTO.

Naturally I'd recommend an independant specialist to look over whatever car you decide to buy..............

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I think that you will be hard pressed to find a 93/94 model scoob as the first official ones were my95

Tony

5 Type R

Used to have a FTO GPX with Full D'Cuatro Kit.........Looked Immense and was a total scream to drive. Wasnt as fast as it looked but you could throw it virtually anywhere and drive 10/10ths and never get into trouble.

I now have a Version 5 Type R with 250@wheels and 310lbft......
Cannot compare the 2 for performance obvioiusly........16s Qtr Mile compared to a 12+s Qtr.

However I still look back with fond memories the smiles the FTO brought.........The noise of the MIVEC when it came on song never failed to put a smile on the face........

Having said that a H&S Downipe with Nur Spec R system on the Scoob does the same thing

RICH WILD

I can imagine it's be an awful lot easier to get bits for the UK sub, as the FTO's are all import only.

Also what's the insurance difference between the 2?

Tony, are you sure about that? I'm sure there are MY94 UKs.

Cheers

Rich

MrShades

I've been here before as well....

A few years ago I made the same decision - and went with the FTO.

It's a much better looking car than the Scoob - no argument - but typically the performance is down. A good manual FTO GPX will do 0-60 in about 6.5s and well over 140mph top end.

As has been said previously, they used to be considered the best handling FWD car in the world prior to the teg-r appearing. The handling is still excellent though - and a well sorted FTO (like mine was) would outhandle a standard WRX... I took a WRX for a test drive whilst still owning the FTO and was VERY disappointed in it - understeering, etc. etc.

However - feeling the pull of AWD and turbo torque, late last year the FTO went and a few weeks ago a 300bhp STi8 appeared - which is another game altogether.

If you want the looks and the 'what the heck is that' factor - go for the FTO. If you want the road-going rally car, serious performance and with enough room for 5 grown adults - go for the Scoob.

From experience I've had, girls who are nuts about cars like the Scoob - period. Girls that know nothing about cars love the FTO and hate the Scoob (as it has purposeful scoops and big spoilers - read "ugly").

On the subject of support for the FTO - it's very easy now - it's a fully Mitsubishi dealer supported vehicle. They'll service it, fix it, get parts for it, etc. etc. There are also quite a few good 3rd party specialises and breakers who look after the FTO community well.

Insurance - when I was looking to change to a standard, brand new WRX, my insurance company was happy to just swap over from my '95 FTO (worth about 7K). IIRC, with the 100 groups method, the FTO was something like 73 - the WRX was 71, but an STi7 was 83.

Anyway - just my thoughts.... interested to hear what you do.

Shades

(Edited to add Insurance notes)

[Edited by MrShades - 5/14/2003 9:43:52 AM]

Dizzy

PMSL I think we'll have to agree to dissagree on that one

"will outhandle" er.. your saying the scoob will understeer more than an fto... hmm. Then take leaving a slow tight corner (read roundabout) NO powerfull front wheel drive car can match the scoob.

However I quite like the FTO and considered it when shopping for my car. It really is a viable competitor / option to an early scoob. Just make sure you go for a manual The scoob is much more "modable" from standard. Anyway each to there own, I went for the scoob

[-edited coz theres not u in corner -]

[Edited by Dizzy - 5/14/2003 11:28:14 AM]

horrgakx

Nicely said Shades, spot on. You are right about the handling of the FTO, on a circuit I could easily keep up with some of the lesser Scoob & even EVO drivers through the twisties but on the straights they had me. However put someone in the driving seat of a Scoob that knew what he was doing and it certainly would get away from the FTO at any point.

They aren't as tunable as the Scoob - the V6 engine is pretty spot on and the only reasonable bang-for-bucks mod is Nitrous.

I had an FTO for around 4 years and it was the best car I had. I bought an EVO6TME last year because I didn't want compromise and I'm still involved heavily in the FTO scene. But a choice between the Scoob and an FTO is difficult because you can pick up a pristine FTO for under 6 grand, how much can you pick up a pristine Scoob for these days (more than that I bet). So, you pays yer money & makes yer choice.

Check out MIVEC.co.uk for some FTO pics (movies taken off for the moment but shoud be back soon).

[Edited by horrgakx - 5/14/2003 12:31:27 PM]

MrShades

Yes - absolutely.

I took a standard MY02 WRX for a spirited test drive and it certainly didn't handle as well as my FTO - or give me the big performance difference/rush I was expecting. Hence I didn't buy the car, but waited for an MY03 STi - which, with all the PowerStation suspension mods and stiffer anti-roll bars / solid drop links, etc. etc. and 300BHP, does handle better and does give me the performance that I was after.

A roundabout was exactly where the FTO was noticeably better than the standard 02 WRX, and exactly where I decided I didn't want one...

A well sorted FTO doesn't handle like a typical FWD car - that's the point - and I'm sure there are plenty of ex FTO owners on here that will back me up.

Shades

MrShades

Ahhh... horrgakx.... Now I know who you are - sussed me as well no doubt? Keep fighting the FTO corner - If there's one guy that had a well sorted FTO and could drive it quickly, I think I know who it is

Very similar previous vehicles - both jumping to different sides of the AWD fence...

Noticed your post on Jcars, concerning my new steed, the other day as well. Had a good look through mivec as well yesterday - good photos of the Keswick mini-meet.

Japfest Dave?

Shades

SiPie

FTO



NO

horrgakx

Mr. Wright I presume?

SiPie, the same one as I'm thinking of?

Small world.......

MrShades

Indeed.

Good to see you!

Japfest too far to go for you, or will you be around with the MLR gang?

Probably going myself, with SH and DW - though Steve gets a bit nervous when being driven in the back of the Scoob....

chockymonster

Absolutely! The FTO doesn't handle like an FWD car, the number of times the back end stepped out was unreal! It doesn't understeer that much if properly set up, especially if a loony in a nice metallic red one shows you how to drive them properly

I embarassed many a uk scoob in the fto, probably the best 2 years motoring until I got the wrx

robasset

thanks for everyones input been some intresting comments but everyone that has owned an fto praises them but those that havnt slag them off

scoobynutta555

Why did you take a wrx02 for a test drive in the first place? If you wanted a car that had no understeer at all you should have gone fo an sti4/5 typeR. Being lighter more powerful and having diff control i think would have been a different drive altogether. Either that or get any sti and get bump steer done.

Not a fan of fto myself, in fact i think they look quite weird. How anyone can say that an FTO looks better than cars like the 22b or P1 is beyond me.

MrShades

Here we go.....

Errr... because I wanted to buy a new car, and at the end of last year there were no STis left.

Again, I wanted a NEW car... Agreed, the STi is (as I said) completely different - which is why I now have an STi8 on the drive.

..and FYI, Subaru now include the bump-steer geometry fix in the STi, so you don't need the bump-steer mod.

However - I do have the anti-lift and stiffer, uprated rear anti-roll bar and solid drop links, and a 4 wheel align. This makes it handle.... brilliantly.



Obviously, having never owned one and probably never driven or even been a passenger in one...

I think you'll find that the 22b and P1, whilst being built for purpose, are not built for outright looks. The FTO was a design experiment by Mitsubishi based essentially around looks and handling.

I would put SERIOUS money on getting a group of people together who know nothing about cars (though still appreciate aesthetic qualities) and asking them which they think is the better looking car - any classic scoob (22b, P1, whatever), or an FTO (any really, but I'm sure as you pick special editions then so could I) - and the majority would state the FTO.

Look here and then here ...

... and tell me which is the best looking (and ignore the fact that you know the 22b is much faster, handles better, is a rally icon, etc. and examine the flowing lines, sculpted arches, and relative automotive beauty of each). If you're being honest with yourself, which from your previous post you probably won't allow, you'll go with the FTO... very time.

I own an STi8 and certainly didn't buy it for the looks.... if I wanted that, I'd have stayed with my FTO.


[Edited by MrShades - 5/15/2003 12:46:38 PM]

scoobynutta555

edited because i cant be ar5ed with this pointless discussion.

[Edited by scoobynutta555 - 5/15/2003 1:15:02 PM]

horrgakx

> Think you need to ditch the chip on your shoulder.

Mr.Pot ... meet Mr.Kettle, he has a nice FTO...



[Edited by horrgakx - 5/15/2003 1:10:54 PM]

scoobynutta555

see above.

MrShades

I know when I'm beaten......

...it was the 'cut and paste' jibe that finished me off.

I've now come to my senses, learnt to type properly (and use punctuation), and can see that the P1 (oh - you own one, I see now) is far prettier than any FTO (however tarted it may be).

Please accept my apologies.

scoobynutta555

Yes its obviously the greatest car ever built (P1), if I had my way and was allowed onto the track I'd lap Schumacher several times over in his hyped Ferrari in my P1.

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

I agree with Mr Shades. Well said


Would always have a Scooby over an FTO everytime. But well said Mr Shades. Inside and out FTOs they are a more well thought out sleek design than a Scooby. FACT.

However well modified Scoobs, P1s and 22Bs are good looking cars

Steve

( R6 CDW )

FTO = JAP CAPRI = HEDGEHOG = THE DIFF IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW THE HEDGEHOG HAS ITS ****** ON THE OUTSIDE...LOL

blackbeastcrap

FTO = quality car
Scoob = Common piece of tin

DreXeL

There you are again. GO AWAY.

slasha

Sorry guys it can't possibly be a fact that a FTO is a better looking car than a scooby as it's all a matter of opinion and lets face it the designer was on an overtime ban and clocked off before even getting to the rear of the car. I personally bought my scooby for the look without having even been in one and the first time i drove it was the day i handed over the readies!

I don't doubt that they may handle well etc because you've obviously owned them and i haven't but my opinion is that they look bloody awful.

Now if you want a nice looking car get yourself on the waiting list for a 350Z.

Davestamf

I think it's silly to regard every other brand of car to be rubbish. The FTO is a superb car and I can see you would have difficulty in deciding. Personally, I like my WRX, but if I was looking for a car in the range you have indicated, the Mitsubishi makes an extremely tempting option. Yes, it does look good too.

Dave