>>> Here she is at last....styling finished, opinions please! <<<
21 May 2003, 02:33 PM
#32
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Do you want to post up a list of mods so far?
Car looks great! Are those 17's your running? Are you just running springs or coilovers? Ride height looks quite low to me.
I'm looking at going down a similar power route to you ,don't really want the top end, it's low end grunt I'm after. I thinking of foregoing the safety of the warranty and go the down the full decat/TEK3 route. Got the PPP at the moment and it's just a little lacking,better than std granted but even so you can never have to much power can you?
Nick: I have the Prodrive brakes fitted to my MY02 and I think there brilliant, a mate of mine has a classic and said that they were very good when he drove it.
Car looks great! Are those 17's your running? Are you just running springs or coilovers? Ride height looks quite low to me.
I'm looking at going down a similar power route to you ,don't really want the top end, it's low end grunt I'm after. I thinking of foregoing the safety of the warranty and go the down the full decat/TEK3 route. Got the PPP at the moment and it's just a little lacking,better than std granted but even so you can never have to much power can you?
Nick: I have the Prodrive brakes fitted to my MY02 and I think there brilliant, a mate of mine has a classic and said that they were very good when he drove it.
21 May 2003, 03:11 PM
#33
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Here goes:
Eibach springs
Whiteline rear antiroll
Powerflex droplinks
STi front strut brace
Prodrive Alcon 330mm brakes
Team Dynamics Pro Race One 17" lightweight (7kg) wheels
Debadged
Rallytec spoiler
APS Intercooler
APS air splitter
APS scoop
UK300 lip
Prodrive grille
Morette electric lights
Xenon Bulbs
Fog covers
STi mudflaps
TSL Group N exhaust
B&M quickshift
SECS 1004 with shift light
Defi boost and oil temp
Knocklink
Sti mats
White repeaters
Tints are coming this weekend, as is a smaller front plate and smoked repeaters.
Eibach springs
Whiteline rear antiroll
Powerflex droplinks
STi front strut brace
Prodrive Alcon 330mm brakes
Team Dynamics Pro Race One 17" lightweight (7kg) wheels
Debadged
Rallytec spoiler
APS Intercooler
APS air splitter
APS scoop
UK300 lip
Prodrive grille
Morette electric lights
Xenon Bulbs
Fog covers
STi mudflaps
TSL Group N exhaust
B&M quickshift
SECS 1004 with shift light
Defi boost and oil temp
Knocklink
Sti mats
White repeaters
Tints are coming this weekend, as is a smaller front plate and smoked repeaters.
21 May 2003, 07:17 PM
#35
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Sorry Ed, no pics of you on track (although it took me a while to work out the 'drive' facility).
Run these droplinks and antiroll bar past me. Any improvement? And what are droplinks?
LoFi
Run these droplinks and antiroll bar past me. Any improvement? And what are droplinks?
LoFi
21 May 2003, 08:36 PM
#36
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Ed, see this site - go to the japfest pics and I'm sure photo number 26 and 29 are great shots of you in action.
http://mysite.freeserve.com/Wright_Photography
non clicky cos I'm rubbish
LoFi
[Edited by LoFi - 5/21/2003 8:38:20 PM]
http://mysite.freeserve.com/Wright_Photography
non clicky cos I'm rubbish
LoFi
[Edited by LoFi - 5/21/2003 8:38:20 PM]
22 May 2003, 09:06 AM
#37
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I wasn't too sure about them myself and never intended to get them done, but after a lengthy chat with a Scooby-owning vehicle dynamicist I took the plunge and yes, I definietly think they are worth it.
Antiroll bar at the rear has been beefed up to 22mm and makes the rear suspension work harder and has eliminated almost all my mid-to-fast understeer and makes turn in a lot more instant. Basically the front and rear of the car feel more connected now.
The drop links (Look under the back of the car near the inside of the wheel and you will see a weedy u shaped piece of black plastic)are worth replacing for two reasons...if you do a lot of b-road driving there is a risk of it snapping under high and fast loads, and also the plastic ones give you a kind of secondary load at the rear cos they bend.
After Japfest I have now also been convinced to try out the sti front strut brace which I'll be fitting this weekend. Will let you know any difference then, as I'm not convinced. Although I have been proven wrong every time so far
Antiroll bar at the rear has been beefed up to 22mm and makes the rear suspension work harder and has eliminated almost all my mid-to-fast understeer and makes turn in a lot more instant. Basically the front and rear of the car feel more connected now.
The drop links (Look under the back of the car near the inside of the wheel and you will see a weedy u shaped piece of black plastic)are worth replacing for two reasons...if you do a lot of b-road driving there is a risk of it snapping under high and fast loads, and also the plastic ones give you a kind of secondary load at the rear cos they bend.
After Japfest I have now also been convinced to try out the sti front strut brace which I'll be fitting this weekend. Will let you know any difference then, as I'm not convinced. Although I have been proven wrong every time so far
22 May 2003, 12:17 PM
#39
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Heres hoping!
It *should* do - I don't think the APS goes *back* any further its just wider and deeper?
It *should* do - I don't think the APS goes *back* any further its just wider and deeper?
22 May 2003, 12:23 PM
#40
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Hi Ed.
I realise we have diiferent cars but would also be very interested in hearing your opinions on the strut brace.
It's something I have had at the back of my mind for a while but have never been quite convinced.
Keep us posted
.
I realise we have diiferent cars but would also be very interested in hearing your opinions on the strut brace.
It's something I have had at the back of my mind for a while but have never been quite convinced.
Keep us posted
.
22 May 2003, 12:27 PM
#41
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I was the same on the strut brace.
Was about to get one from TSL when my insurers said it was an unacceptable modification
Would still liek to hear comments so I can get one when I renew my insurance with someone else!
Peter
Was about to get one from TSL when my insurers said it was an unacceptable modification
Would still liek to hear comments so I can get one when I renew my insurance with someone else!
Peter
22 May 2003, 12:28 PM
#42
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Max - apparently on the classic shape it is well worth it (although I believe less so the newer the model) but the bugeye is supposedly 200% stiffer and so it is apparently unneccesary. However, I drove Graham from TSL's car a while back and he had the same setup as me, bar the strut brace, and I have to say even on the bumpy back roads he seemed to understeer a lot less than mine.
The reason i decided to get it was from coming out of the chicane after quarry at Japfest, I could really feel the car 'twisting' on the hard left when trying to get over to find the line for the fast right. Some people have said it will compromise my b-road handling, but I will let you know.
The reason i decided to get it was from coming out of the chicane after quarry at Japfest, I could really feel the car 'twisting' on the hard left when trying to get over to find the line for the fast right. Some people have said it will compromise my b-road handling, but I will let you know.
22 May 2003, 01:02 PM
#44
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Aha! The man responsible for it all!! LOL.
I'll still never forget greying out slightly as you blasted up that hill.
Yeah I'm doing well, still at Bitmap Brothers. Were you at Japfest? Ever go to the Surrey meets?
I'll still never forget greying out slightly as you blasted up that hill.
Yeah I'm doing well, still at Bitmap Brothers. Were you at Japfest? Ever go to the Surrey meets?
25 May 2003, 08:25 AM
#48
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Ed, Looks gr8.
I agree with you abou tthe reflectors/indicators. I would have gone for Sti carbon or 'crystals' - the whites contrast too much with the green. I had the same problem on my blue/black 02.
[Edited by Ru$$Rip - 5/25/2003 8:27:01 AM]
I agree with you abou tthe reflectors/indicators. I would have gone for Sti carbon or 'crystals' - the whites contrast too much with the green. I had the same problem on my blue/black 02.
[Edited by Ru$$Rip - 5/25/2003 8:27:01 AM]
26 May 2003, 10:26 PM
#50
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Here are the new side repeaters and reflectors and front plate.
Tints being done this week.
Better?
Tints being done this week.
Better?
26 May 2003, 10:27 PM
#51
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Here are the new side repeaters and reflectors and front plate.
Tints being done this week.
Better?
Tints being done this week.
Better?
27 May 2003, 01:53 AM
#52
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Much better mate those white sides stood out way too much looks sweet now so does the plate. what were your thoughts on strut brace, about to get one, just need to know whether ppl think it's worth it.
Cheers Darren.
Cheers Darren.
27 May 2003, 10:22 AM
#54
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Andy - looks very much like a 35 which is the darkest you are supposedly legally allowed to go. Thats what I am going for.
Regarding the strut brace, even at 30mph it is instantly noticeable that you have it fitted. As soon as I pulled out of the driveway I could feel the difference. The front wheels of the car feels so much more connected to the steering wheel, and with the rear antiroll upgraded you can really feel (and control) every movement through the steering, brake and throttle inputs.
There is a junction near me that is basically a 360 degree loop onto a different road, and I nailed the 2nd half of it in 3rd for the first time ever, and rather than understeer, the whole car drifted only a handful of inches. My brakes now feel utterly awesome, even with 4 adults in the car.
On the downside, while we are talking about brakes, I have noticed that the ABS is now kicking in a lot more, mainly over bumps, and / or when turning. I was pretty much expecting this. However after Japfest I was experimenting with tyre pressures and so mine are currently running about 4psi over, so I am going to try putting them down to 29 or 30 and see if the extra secondary cushioning from the tyre dampens the ABS sensitivity.
The only other small downside is that you need slightly more effort to hold any great amount of lock on the steering now, as obviously you are fighting against an utterly rigid front end. Nothing major, but worth a mention.
Overall, I think with the extra 4psi out of the tyres I will be very happy with the brace, and it does show that regardless of how stiff the new shape cars are, it is nowhere near rigid as the brace makes an instant difference. If you go anywhere near a track, get one, as I can already forsee huge benefits. If you do mostly sweeping b roads, its also worth it, but bear in mind the added ABS sensitivity over bumpy cambered road. I will update thoughts on that once I've taken out some tyre pressure.
Here is a pic:
Thanks to TSL as always for the parts.
Regarding the strut brace, even at 30mph it is instantly noticeable that you have it fitted. As soon as I pulled out of the driveway I could feel the difference. The front wheels of the car feels so much more connected to the steering wheel, and with the rear antiroll upgraded you can really feel (and control) every movement through the steering, brake and throttle inputs.
There is a junction near me that is basically a 360 degree loop onto a different road, and I nailed the 2nd half of it in 3rd for the first time ever, and rather than understeer, the whole car drifted only a handful of inches. My brakes now feel utterly awesome, even with 4 adults in the car.
On the downside, while we are talking about brakes, I have noticed that the ABS is now kicking in a lot more, mainly over bumps, and / or when turning. I was pretty much expecting this. However after Japfest I was experimenting with tyre pressures and so mine are currently running about 4psi over, so I am going to try putting them down to 29 or 30 and see if the extra secondary cushioning from the tyre dampens the ABS sensitivity.
The only other small downside is that you need slightly more effort to hold any great amount of lock on the steering now, as obviously you are fighting against an utterly rigid front end. Nothing major, but worth a mention.
Overall, I think with the extra 4psi out of the tyres I will be very happy with the brace, and it does show that regardless of how stiff the new shape cars are, it is nowhere near rigid as the brace makes an instant difference. If you go anywhere near a track, get one, as I can already forsee huge benefits. If you do mostly sweeping b roads, its also worth it, but bear in mind the added ABS sensitivity over bumpy cambered road. I will update thoughts on that once I've taken out some tyre pressure.
Here is a pic:
Thanks to TSL as always for the parts.
27 May 2003, 03:44 PM
#56
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Its cool, I'm going to mount my secs in the single din when I get a new sterio and fit defi's in the centre.
I don't know what it is but I find semi tints much more pleasing than jet black. I don't dislike full black, just prefer a small amount of opacity.
I don't know what it is but I find semi tints much more pleasing than jet black. I don't dislike full black, just prefer a small amount of opacity.
27 May 2003, 05:36 PM
#57
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I also got an Sti strut brace fitted to my MY02 last Friday!
I have to say I agree with Ed - the whole front end feels much more planted and solid now (even though it was pretty good before). A funny side effect is that the steering is also much heavier (not necessarily a bad thing I guess), even though more direct.
Also had rear droplinks fitted and they certainly helped cut out the understeer. --> Rear strut brace is next so I will post my findings.....
DaveR
I have to say I agree with Ed - the whole front end feels much more planted and solid now (even though it was pretty good before). A funny side effect is that the steering is also much heavier (not necessarily a bad thing I guess), even though more direct.
Also had rear droplinks fitted and they certainly helped cut out the understeer. --> Rear strut brace is next so I will post my findings.....
DaveR
27 May 2003, 05:39 PM
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Yeah the steering effort is definitely noticeable especially in constant radius bends. I guess its cos the chassis is no longer skewing as the geometry changes while you steer.
Have you had any issues with the ABS over bumps? Going to let some pressure out tonight.
A couple of people I know who tried rear strut brace thought it was too much so will be interested to hear your thoughts!
Have you had any issues with the ABS over bumps? Going to let some pressure out tonight.
A couple of people I know who tried rear strut brace thought it was too much so will be interested to hear your thoughts!
27 May 2003, 05:43 PM
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haven't had any issues with ABS yet - but I run my tyres much softer than yours anyway, about 30psi.
...it was very bad before getting the my Eibachs fitted - then it disappeared overnight!
as regards the rear strut brace I have been a little hesitant because several people have told me it tends to provoke sudden oversteer at times due to the extra stiffness which I am not happy about!
btw how on earth did you get your engine bay so clean - professional steam cleaning, or what?
...it was very bad before getting the my Eibachs fitted - then it disappeared overnight!
as regards the rear strut brace I have been a little hesitant because several people have told me it tends to provoke sudden oversteer at times due to the extra stiffness which I am not happy about!
btw how on earth did you get your engine bay so clean - professional steam cleaning, or what?
27 May 2003, 05:56 PM
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I usually use 30psi its only since japfest i left them slightly harder and have been gradually letting out 2psi a time to feel the difference.
I noticed lift off oversteer is more progressive, achievable and consistent since the front brace too.
Engine bay took 20 mins, but don't tell anybody that.
Speak to Mark (waxwizard - mark@swissol.com) about the MC2 multiclean stuff. You literally spray it on, jetwash it off and then spray on protectant and its done. Utterly astonishing, I nearly fainted when I opnened the bonnet!
I noticed lift off oversteer is more progressive, achievable and consistent since the front brace too.
Engine bay took 20 mins, but don't tell anybody that.
Speak to Mark (waxwizard - mark@swissol.com) about the MC2 multiclean stuff. You literally spray it on, jetwash it off and then spray on protectant and its done. Utterly astonishing, I nearly fainted when I opnened the bonnet!