Difference between 1.8rt and RSI

[colin241182]

besides the Extra 15bhp and the jump of about 4 insurance groups and the obvious fact the two extra doors. what is the difference in the engine?? dont the both run on the same FP3 engine? Im sure ive heared somthing metioned about the RSI being an 8 valve and the RT not but surely it would be in the haynes manual? is it running on the same engine or is it different?? thanks colin

 

[Craggy]

rsi is mpi i think, and is considerably faster, especially when de-cat and chipped etc. has better seats etc and the phase 3 has the oil temp dials etc fe other bits and bobs i guess, there a nice motor

 

[Daz]

I think they same engine, but close ration gearbox on the RSi.

 

[Craggy]

no rsi is 1.8mpi 110 bhp, rt is spi 95bhp. im pretty sure too!

 

[Daz]

Yea, I think you are too...

RSi does have a Close Ratio Gear box tho! hehe.

 

[Ben H]

They both use the same bottom ends and are both developments of the F3P engine series. Like Craggy says, the RSis engine has multi-point injection and the 1.8 found in the 1.8 RT and Bacarra models has mono-point injection.

The 1.8 RT would not be able to gain the extra 15bhp (i.e. not pub talk, but a real recorded difference) without considerable work. But tuning parts will be very, very rare and chipping will not be as effective as normal due in part to the mono-point injection. If insurance really is that important, then go for the 1.8 RT, but dont do it if you think its a cheap way to RSi pace. The 1.8 RT will be somewhere between 1.4 RT and RSi in performance terms.