its not that i cant afford something better ive got a 1986 e30 325i sport for going really fast in so the escorts being used for a daily driver and practical family car and stuff like that the reason ive went for the 1.4 is so im not paying 2 lots of high rate tax and 2 lots of high insurance
You are contradicting your self a bit here. You say you can afford somethign better then saying you bought the 1.4 to save money?
Will the extra tax and inssurance of a 1.8 Escort Si be more than an induction kit, exhaust etc for the 1.4? I doubt it but if you shop around you can find 130 bhp spec Si yet your 1.4 with a induction kit, exhaust etc wll still only have 75ish bhp. The Si will probaly be better on fuel saving you more money that can afford but cant. The TDI Escort while not brilliant will be quicker than the 1.4 and better on fuel saving you more money that you can afford but can't.