Vauxhall Nova 1.4 SR Reviews
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“My Nova SRI is the best thing that has ever graced...”
★★★★★
written by on 09/01/2008
My Nova SRI is the best thing that has ever graced itself on my life. Although she no longer runs due to a bad day on the M62, i still have my beast in full view for all to see on my drive. I am currently looking for another Nova, preferably a GSI or GTE, but its hard to come across one in good condition as the chavs love to cut holes in them for their large chunks of plastic they stick on.
The cars are fairly reliable for their age, still managed to anihilate any Corsa's or Saxo's i came across and managed to keep up and often overtake my mates newer cars such as a polo GTI and a Ibiza sport.
I like to keep mine looking as standard as possible. The main reason being, some lucky man got to design this car and earnt lots of money making it as best as possible, not for a giant spoiler on the back, or tribal dragon graphics on the side.
I was and still do get mocked by most people I come across, but to be honest, if I could have any car in the world, my first choice would be a brand new GSI from the showroom. Second would be a Nova Sport.
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“The Nova, one of the best boy racer cars Fast, light,...”
★★★★★
written by JOHNKIRK on 05/01/2008
The Nova, one of the best boy racer cars Fast, light, easy to fix, Cheap and you can do anything with them. BRILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!! That's all.
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“Full Novadose bodykit, GTi-r bonnet scoop, 17 inch...”
★★★★★
written by motoxtreme on 24/05/2006
Full Novadose bodykit, GTi-r bonnet scoop, 17 inch alloys, uprated brakes all round, uprated suspension lowered 4cm off the ground full Pipercross exhaust system with Pipercross induction kit, K and N filter, full GSi interior, tinted windows, rear spoiler. Yokahama tyres low profile, Sparco gearknob, full kenwood ice intall with huge kicker sub and amplifier. car is in perfect conditon apart from slight rust on the rear aches
This is a very powerful car, I have left most cars standing and the ones I love beating is the much loved 106
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“I have a Mercedes Black Vauxhall Nova 1.4. GSI front...”
★★★★★
written by Novaspec on 18/02/2005
I have a Mercedes Black Vauxhall Nova 1.4. GSI front bumper & spoiler with GTE rear bumper & side skirts. Eibach 55mm lowering kit & black 15" Mille Miglia 'Spider' alloys. The engine had a complete re-build with a Kent AST22 hi-lift cam added. The inlet manifold was modded to take a Weber 32/34 TLDE twin-choke carb from a Fiat Tipo. A lightened flywheel & pulley were installed along with an F13 close-ratio gearbox. Calibra Turbo front calipers with Tarox grooved discs & uprated rear drums.
The result... 0-60MPH 8.92s; 1/4 mile 12.64s @ 113MPH. Top speed is 152MPH. It was kicking out 168BHP at the flywheel and 120BHP (approx) at the wheels. I've recently modded the ECU setup, re-jetted the carb and bored out the inlet/outlet manifolds. It's now rolling-roaded at approx 146BHP at the wheels with 180BHP at the flywheel. I'm going to re-test my 0-60 and 1/4 mile this weekend to see how much of an improvement there is.
OK, people may think this is bull or a waste of hard earned £££ but this car has cost me less than the price of a used cossie or VTS. My little nova kills most hot hatches with the exception of the Williams Clio. It obliterates XR2's, XR3's, VTR's, VTS's, Punto's, 5GTT's, 205GTI's and also most nova's I come across.
VERDICT: The car miles ahead.....IS MINE!!!
353495_Guest2398's Response to Novaspec's Review
Written on: 22/03/2008
you can use an ecu with a carb actually, if you are using stand-alone spark management. I had an nova sr with twin 40 carbs and a cavalier 1.6 ecu and wiring harness to manage the spark/advance.
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197938_Alan330504's Response to Novaspec's Review
Written on: 16/06/2005
What a bunch of polony!!!!!
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<br>A 1.4 could only manage about 15ish seconds.
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Gsifan's Response to Novaspec's Review
Written on: 15/06/2005
well i just fitted some new spark plugs and now i can keep up with my dad in his Vectra GSI
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Whitevanman's Response to Novaspec's Review
Written on: 15/06/2005
Have you heard of a Website called 'Novaload'? It is a forum where most of the UK's Nova enthusiasts chat, and i can tell you that not one of them finds your little 'story' even slightly believable.
Very sorry.
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“Ok i can tell your having some Arguments here. i own a...”
★★★★★
written by TiPsEyBoY on 27/02/2004
Ok i can tell your having some Arguments here. i own a vauxhall nova 1.4sr mark 2 on a J plate it has standard 5 speed gearbox a straight through stainless pipe Twin 40 webers and a GTE Break conversion. Ive had an indicated 132mph @6500 rpm at santapod and the certs to prove it. and for all you ford lovers it beats xr2i's xr31's without even thinking. Im pushing 135bhp out of the standard block only mods are the weber carbs and exhaust I also have an HNC in Automotive engineering......
Turbojoe's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 02/03/2004
okay then HNC boy, tell me in engineering terms exactly how a 1.4 engine on carbs can be as powerful as a 1.6 turbocharged engine (RS turbo, 130bhp) with multi point injection? ive been workin on cars since I was 14 and know from experience that twin 40s are\'nt the equal of an injection system, and without a hell of a lot of trickery your average nova sr cant keep up with an xr3i, xr2, or any xr for that matter. oh, and how fast did you get to up the pod? that\'s superbike territory, that speed.
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Morts's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 03/01/2006
Nope. I know nothing about headflow, The 5 elements of an engine cycle, the differences between multivalve and 2 valve heads and their effects, torque and power curves, gear ratios, final drive, power to weight ratio, wheel sizes and tyres sizes, suspension, the direness of standard equipment speedos, the effciency of carbs, port matching, blueprinting, The average standard of head and engine work, cam timing and the effects of duration and lift, etc, etc i could go on all day. A nova is virtually the same weight as the various MK2 fiesta models and other small cars of that period.
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219461_Novalovingned's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 03/12/2005
well just to get it straight 1.4sr's are quick. my mate had his of the clock at 130. I didn't believe him until he showed me. I think people (ticky fordy boyz) forget that novas are flimzy and consist of like nothing, so the right little tweeks will do a lot of differance, so i dont want to read any more how that boy is speaking nonsense because he is not!!!!!!
<br>mon the nova boys
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Purplehayz868's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 19/10/2005
I have a nova 1.4sr MK2, it has done 62k it has a piper cam, carb, 4 branch and stainless system and i can tell you that your 1.4sr has not done 130mph and runnin 135bhp with jus carbs, as for 1. the gearbox will only go to about 116mph as i have the same gearbox on mine and i have a digi dash and 2. the carbs will only take it up to about 90 - 95bhp, so come on when you say all this rubbish bout doin 130mph on a 1.4 sr standard with carbs your just making novas and their drivers look like idiots
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Gsifan's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 15/06/2005
115-120 bhp mate, look everyone, as morts said the nova does what it can do well, but nothing more. i know what they're like; i have one.
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<br>my 1400 sr might only have a bolt on K&N and full performance exhaust including manifold, but its quick. im not quoting figures coz i dont know any, but i know its quick enough to scare the average driver in quite a few cars. also i know that when my speedo says 120 im probably doing around 110, which is about what the book says for an sr anyway
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193208_Gazzareth's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 13/05/2005
Nice one mate i like your attitude on the nova iv got a k-reg 1.4 sr cavalier 1.6 bottom end and a 1.3SR head powerflow stainless straight through exhaust rally cross cam webber 40s front and rear astra gsi brake conversion and told to be running between 145 - 150bhp i thought it was a bit to much. what do you reckon i wanna get it rolling roaded to find out if it's 100%.
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Jamiegoscote's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 28/11/2004
Are these top speeds being quoted done with pro timing gear or are you going by the dials? Because I cant see how a 1.4 sr is going to do those kinds of speeds. I had a 1600 escort and the speedo said I was doin 120 mph but I bet I wasnt even at 115.
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Morts's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 16/09/2004
You are also forgetting about the driver just because someone has got an RX7 doesn't mean they know how to drive it!
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<br>The SR is light with a 1.4 engine you can get a decent output and the gearing is pretty low so yes they are quick but if you yourself drove an RX7 and recorded the time and then i'm pretty sure it would be quicker than the nova.
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<br>Just accept the fact that the nova does what it does well and your input as a driver is just as much responsible for your wins as the car itself.
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<br>As for tappy XR2s and 3s. mine is 20 years old and doesn't tap. Only people who don't look after their CVH or accept the fact that the camshaft is best changed every couple of years have to put up with tap. I've heard plenty of tappy vauxhalls ;) and they have no excuse they don't have to endure the large valve spring loading in the CVH.
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Johnygee2's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 16/09/2004
I can see there are loads of arguments here, apart from all of the above mentioned points on the limitations of a 1.482 hp engine upgraded with twin 40's only as a suspect claim of 135hp
<br>look at the claimed Santapod speed 132mph! I went santa pod last augsut and a guy called stuart ran 123 in a 330 hp green mini!
<br>nuff said eh!
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Cocain387's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 05/07/2004
Nah nah nah well done geezer, me an my mates run a sort of vauxhall appreciation club and we jus wanna say 'done well'. All 6 of us have owned at least 4 nova's, ranging from 1.2 stars to 1.6 GTEs and GSIs and I don't care what anyone says about thier tappy xr2s and thier 'mechanically sound' xr3is. I had a 1.4 luxe, J reg, only engine mod was a 1.6 carb and a 1.6 fuel system stolen from a GTE. It went like crazy, I swear down I beat 2 mazda rx7s at the same time. You don't have to believe me, I'm sure you don't, but both drivers thought I had a 2 litre 16 valve conversion in a 5 door! Done well geezer from the nova boys.
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Morts's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 23/06/2004
135bhp from a 1.4 is only possible with head work cams and twin dcoes and then you'd be lucky to get that!!
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<br>I like the way you compare your tuned to car to standard ford cars!!
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<br>I'll go and stick a set of forties on my XR2 and we'll see what happens!
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<br>There are a lot of people claiming a lot of stuff which just isn't possible!
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<br>Was that a rolling road figure? What was the wheel output? rolling road comapanies have a habit of adding huge amounts for transmission loses.
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<br>A standard injection will not out do a twin DCOE setup. Injection systems are limted unless upgraded and early ones can't even handle an air filter change.
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<br>A 1600cvh with a ported head, cvh33 cam and twin dcoes will make 135bhp so how the hell did you do it with a 1400 standard engine and twin carbs!!!
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157690_Maxpower's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 04/06/2004
I've had 3 xr3i's and two nova 1.4sr's and I hate to say this as I have an sr now but the xr3's I had would have the edge on all sr's I owened. The sr I have now has webster twin 40's with a k&n filter and full s.s janspeed, so no excuse....the hairdresser car wins unfortunatly...respect. Saying that, I also had a nova 1.5turbo diesel that seriously kicked both cars arses until the timing belt went, guess I should have checked the service record ,eh....wot a great car that was. If you get the chance of buying one, buy it.
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Dave Hitchen's Response to TiPsEyBoY's Review
Written on: 06/04/2004
Did you get 132mph going down a hill? lmao
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“I have a Vauxhall Nova 1.4 SR and the speed and take...”
★★★★★
written by rick0910 on 02/02/2004
I have a Vauxhall Nova 1.4 SR and the speed and take off were tremendous as standard, I customised mine a bit with boykit under body lights and customized eghaust and bits 4 the engine it goes a lot faster now but it doesen`t take off to quick but once it got going it left a 1.4 corsa,and a xr3 miles behind. I rate the Nova as the best for young drivers for insurance and everything else. Truly a car that will stay around for a lot longer
Morts's Response to rick0910's Review
Written on: 02/07/2004
You seem to forget the part that involves the driver! Trust me if you race a standard XR3i or XR3 against a nova SR around a track with the same driver the nova would not be quicker!
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<br>I saw an article involving a GTti, Nova GTE and an XR2. The XR2 had the lowest top speed and was the slowest to 60 but pulled the best time round the track!!
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<br>The SR is a good car because it is light with a decent suspension setup and has a decent amount of power but racing it against fords that are probably on their last legs with a rubbish driver is not a way to prove your car is faster!
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<br>Christ I can have 2.5 GSI vectras and such with my XR2 with an average driver in them. I know damn well if the driver knew what they were doing I would definitely not beat them on a straight! The determination on their faces they have to be doing something wrong! I've only got 96 bhp tops with my 34DMTR at the flywheel!
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<br>For the record to work out your flywheel figure on a front wheel drive car you take the wheel figure add 10 and divide by 0.9!
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<br>You'll probably find your rolling road dude has been lying to you and your car needs some serious sorting!
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<br>As for speedos ignore them mine is at least 8mph out at 100mph. Use your gear ratios and rev counter to work out your speed. Even thats not that accurate but more so than the speedos that tell people there doing 130!
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<br>I had 121 from my lean burn XR2 on the flat according the clock! yeah right! probably closer to 110 maybe 115 if a gale force wind was behind me!
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“The Nova SR is a beast in standard form but you can...”
★★★★★
written by Fat Lad on 26/01/2004
The Nova SR is a beast in standard form but you can easily make this into a dream car to rival anything on the road. As standard my car could keep up with XR2I's and 205 GTi's but after a peco big bore exhaust I could easily beat R5 GT Turbo's, I quickly made my killer mod which is a sun strip that covers half of my window coupled with a baseball cap when I drive! now my beast is a match for any Cosworth, Subaru or Evo!!! Next I am going to black out the windows so that I can take on jet fighters. All this and look cool as well, Can't be bad.
Fat Lad's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 28/01/2004
Just an update, due to the recent snow I am having a 4 wheel drive transformation and turning my SR beast into a rallying monster!!!
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Fat Lad's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 03/03/2004
turboJOE - Good Idea, combined with the other mods the animal will be unstopable!!!
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Turbojoe's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 02/03/2004
To wallpaper, the guy\'s only joking! try a single wiper conversion for michael scumacher aerodynamics.
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Fat Lad's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 01/03/2004
Got to admit that I did have a problem beating Cosworths, but this was fixed by the simple introduction of flashing red LED washer jets and funky red light up dust caps, looks like a ball of fire as I shoot past. God I look good!!!
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Wallpaper's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 01/03/2004
that is the funniest review i hav eva read!!! standard could not keep up with a 205gti!! no way! Renault 5 gt turbo, cosworth??? maybe u were dreamin u did that cos every 1 knows a 1.4 nova couldn\'t eva keep up with that. Bet u couldnt even beat a Escort 1.6lx.
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Fat Lad's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 25/02/2004
Not a problem kid, I will even leave my cap at home to give you a chance!!!
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Richy's Response to Fat Lad's Review
Written on: 28/01/2004
Can I race you in my 106GTI please
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192038_Matthelb's Response to Novaspec's Review
Written on: 05/05/2005
rejetted a carb and tweaked the ecu? if you have a carb you dont need an ecu.