“NEW” Used Telstar, end of 1st year owner’s report. + V6 model too!

On 8/8/2005 my dad bought a used 1999 Ford Telstar 4 cyl 2.0i Auto meant for himself, but he is based in Hong Kong, so I am the one driving the car. (Co-incidentally, on the same date in 1990, my dad also a bought Ford, the Laser TX3 featured earlier). Back to the Telstar, the car came with V-Kool tinting and Standard Semi-Bucket front seats with luxurious Ghia trimmings AND Nice no plate “WG_ 1222”. It is a Clone of Mazda 626. It is assembled in Malaysia (CKD- Completely knocked down with Jigs from Australia). This means that the car is “Half Japanese, Half Australian and born in Malaysia. Strangely, this car has oscillating center air vents and climate control with “Heater” which is absurd and useless in Malaysia.

Well, it’s been a year since “I” owned the car. Believe it or not, I only covered 6,000kms during the period of 1 year which means averaged of 500kms per month only. It was 93,600kms when It reached my garage. Now the odometer reads 99960kms (about 63000 miles). Pretty low mileage for a 7 years old car… Why so little mileage?

Because I have my own car, A UK-spec Proton 1.5 MPI (A) (3 speed Auto, Sux eh?) so the Telstar is driven 2-3 times a week only.

How is the running costs?

The car fuel consumption (FC) varies. Full tank (60Litres) lasted about 280kms only city driving but goes as far as 450kms on highways.

The Telstar is quite reliable. There’s only 3 problems during the entire 1 year owning the car. First, the Fuel tank leaked – discovered on the 1^st week owning the car. Took 3 days and 6 chop shops (junkyards) finding the right fuel tank (from Mazda 626). Paid RM600 for the fuel tank.

Second problem which I haven’t fix since the car was bought. It’s the Engine mounting. The costs of replacing the engine mountings were expensive (RM1600 (USD450) for 1 set). The effects? The car vibrates when idle in “D” mode. Putting it in “N” mode solved the problem.

Recently, the front right headlight not working. Contemplating whether or not want to change to HiD (Xenon).

How is the ride and handling and performance of the car?

Pioneered by Ford (1st seen in Escort) the Telstar suspensions consists of Front and rear McPhersons and front and rear anti-roll bars, Lower “A” arms front and trapezoidal multi-link at the rear! All round dampers and springs (duh!). Thanks to the hi-tech suspension, it can soaked up any bumps and/or potholes surfaced. There is little nose-diving at hard braking and also little body roll at high speed cornering, I think the semi-bucket seats also helped. Imagine what it can do when it’s fitted with 215/45R17 tyres. I just can’t wait…

The car is very stable even with 195/65R15 tyres. It is not only stable but quiet at high speed with almost non-existence wind noise, I reached 160km/h without me and my friends realizing during a trip to Port Dickson back in early July. It’s like doing 110km/h, very stable. As a comparison, my main car Proton Iswara 1.5MPI(A) whole car floats and unbearable wind noise came in above 120km/h. Ie. Whenever I do 120km/h, my friend will noticed and say
that I’m speeding (the Malaysian speed limit is 110km/h).

Anyway, back to the Telstar, How is the performance? The acceleration is quite brisk, 0-100 in slightly below 12 seconds. 50 to 80km/h overtaking is 5.7 seconds. The top speed I don’t need to test, found out from a car magazine, that it reaches 200km/h at slightly below 6000rpm.

To complement the advanced suspension, the car has 4 discs brakes and ABS. I haven’t really tested the brakes. But emergency braking is quite effective with no brake locking (got ABS mah! - Duh!) and minimal nose-dive (co-operation with suspension?). So the suspensions and brakes department is well checked.

I was not-so happy having difficulty finding out the specifications of the car. Not many information available in the Internet it till today. But I found a brochure of Ford Telstar when I spring-cleaned my room. Apparently, my dad checked out the Telstar at the launch back in 1992 and brought home a brochure which has all the necessary details of the car… You have to thank me for blogging it here to all of you…

SPECIFICATIONS: FORD TELSTAR 2.0I4 16V (2.0I v6 QOHC 24V)

Engine:

In line 4, DOHC 16v 1991cc EFI and VRIS system (Variable rate Induction System – I don’t understand how it works, anyone can help?)
Bore and stroke: 83x92mm, Compression ratio: 9:1

(v6 1991CC QOHC 24v EFI and VRIS system

Bore stroke: NA, compression ratio: 9:1

Maximum power: mailto:130hp@6000rpm,

(v6: 147hp@6300rpm)

Torque: 170nm@4600rpm (V6: 179nm@5000rpm)

Transmissions: 4 speed auto. Gear ratios:

1^st 2800

2^nd 1540

3^rd 1000

4^th 0700

Rev 2333

Final ratio: 4.157

Suspensions: See review above (in bold)

Steering: Rack and pinion speed sensitive variable power steering, height adjustable.

Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear discs, servo assisted, 4 channel ABS

Dimensions: (all milimetres)

Length: 4670

Width: 1670

Hight: 1400

Wheelbase: 2610

Front track: 1500

Rear track: 1500

Weight: 1145kg

Wheels: 195/65R14 steel rims. Alloy rims for V6 model.

Fuel consumption:

FC: 6.5km/litres combined.

Fuel tank Capacity: 60Litres

Performance:

See review above for 2.0 4 cyl model.

(for V6 model: Top speed: 212km/h, 0-100km/h: 10.4 secs.)

Other features: Oscillating centre air-vents, intermittent wipers, 2 concealed front cupholders, 60:40 split rear seatback with armrest, Lockable glovebox with light, semi bucket front seats with lumber adjustable.

PRICE: RM115,000 OTR when new. My dad bought it for RM42000 in 2005. This amounts to only 39% retained value after 6 years which is quite bad, consider a Toyota Camry 2.2i has 58% retained value after 6 years. (For v6 2.0i model, it was priced at a whooping RM129,000 back in 1996, this explained why there's only few units on the road. the v6 model came with extra features like Driver airbag, cruise control, alloy rims. A 1996 used Telstar V6 can be bought for RM28,000 only).

What I did to the car?

Changed the ICE (In car entertainment) Head unit to Pioneer DEH-4750MP as the previous JVC CD player were faulty (Cannot play CD). Paid RM580 for it. It plays CD/CDR-W/MP3/WMA/WAV discs. Also, CD-Changer and I-Pod interface control. Also, transferred the rear speakers to DB-Max 3 way from my Proton.

Currently running on 15” rims and Goodyear Ducaro GA. But I just bought a set of used “LENSO” 6 spoke semi-chromed 17” rims 2 weeks ago (below RM700 – USD185). Now saving money for the tyres. Thinking of Continental ContiSport 2 tyres

THAT”S ALL I Spent at the moment.

Future modifications:

Learned that one engine fits like a glove. It is no other than KZ-VE (?) V6 2.5i 24V from Mazda MX-6 or 626 V6 Hatchback OR Ford Telstar TX5. Just drop in the engine, no need modification on the mountings, no changing the gearbox/brakes/fuel tank needed. Heard it’s cheap too RM1500 only including workmanship (USD410 only), one “ZTH forummer” did it… WHEN? It’s just a dream… Imagine all the red tapes with JPJ (due to change in engine capacity) I will go through.

17” rims (Already bought, Lenso 6 spoke semi chromed) and tyres (VERY SOON).

Changing the Extractor (Hotbits?)…

THAT’S ALL Folks! Will update on the 24^th month (2^nd year of owning the car).