Info ON WQ Issues / Parts Prices

[Professor Farnsworth]

Howdy little car friends,

I'm seriously considering putting the EL V8 out to pasture (in the garage, only used for trips etc) instead of running it into the ground for daily duty.

I'm looking at getting into a WQ, preferably a Zetec but any will suffice. I've read some stories of the water pumps being dodgy, but some say this was rectified with WQ? We owned a WP Zetec from new back in 2006 and it was a great little car, apart from doing the clutch before 1000km, and sounding a bit like a diesel when idling, and the passenger seat sucking for anything more than a 10 minute trip. It rode pretty hard.

Questions:

1.) What's different about the WQ over the WP? Other than headlights/tail lights, bumper & reflectors, wheels, centre console, cluster. Anything mechanically?

2.) Does the WQ Zetec HAVE to run on premium?

3.) If done at a local mechanic, what are average prices for things like pads, rotors, starter motors, alternators, batteries, clutches etc. I've heard you HAVE to use a special type of battery? Also minor servicing costs?

4.) What's the engine life like with high km?

Also heard of the manuals slipping out of gear (second) down hills??

Any info welcomed!

cheers.

[kiwijohn42]

1, Zetec gets sports suspension & close ratio gearbox
2, Mine certainly runs better on 98. Wouldn't use 91 at all.
3, don't know about brakes yet, but the battery is a special smaller type, not cheap either. Service costs seem reasonable.
4, only done 85k, and all good. No issues with the gearbox.

[Professor Farnsworth]

when you say service costs are reasonable, (minor service i mean), what roughly? Coming from paying $100 for a minor service to a Falcon/Fairmont for years, i'm curious to know how much more these things cost.

I know what the Zetec gets! As i said i owned one in WP form, i was asking if the WQ Zetec is any different mechanically to the WP Zetec.

Thanks for the reply.

[Twinpiston]

Yeah the main difference is the gearbox, with closer ratios.