23 replies to this topic

[Ricky2772]

so today I installed my OZ superleggera 16 front 17 rear shod with Yokos A039..... what to say....metamorphosis!!! will post more pics in my folder.... brakes: TRANSFORMED!!!! not a hint of annoying ABS anymore, super-strong braking in any condition, in order to lock it you really have to exxagerate now....fantastic. not sure if its due to the wider 195 or the stickier yokos, must be both.... driving: ZERO understeer! car is neutral, the roadholding went sky-high, now the rear brakes loose before the front!!!! just too cool....duuno what kinda G's I was generating, but that was high, I could feel the strain to keep myself in the seat, new harnesses needed!! cnnot really tell where the limit is now, since it feels so glued that I did not dare trying too hard, since my runaways were non-existent... felt a big diff. between cold and warmed-up yokos....they truly rock only after 10 mins... steering: it got even better! more enjoyable, you really feel more meat down there, the flimsyness is gone for good....maybe a tad lighter, still razor sharp, even more direct, and much less bumpiness get transferred the the wheel. I need to un-learn the understeer compensation, today I was feeding too much wheel expecting the nose to run wide....nope, not a hint!!! no need to adjust the Spax height, gotta loosen up the damping though, a bit too "racy" closed at 16 clicks... what to say, between the Spax, the yokos, the soundtrack......it really feels a race-car now....and strangely, made me instantly more considerate when driving in town, I now feather the gas and enjoy the deep burble....

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Edited by Ricky2772, 25 April 2003 - 08:17 PM.

[Ricky2772]

anothe one...

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[R1 nur]

Fantastic. They look the "biz". I have ordered a car in red. Which red is that? Please tell me it is ..................... Looks like you are getting well prepared for the 'Ring. I have responded to your other post regarding hotels.

[Thorney]

THAT LOOKS SWEET. I predict a rush on Oz's for VX owners. Can you post up the exact details on sizes, tyres etc to help out others ordering?

[R1 nur]

I was sure my first upgrade was going to be a Zorst. You might just have changed my mind. And what colour is that?! Soreee!

[Ricky2772]

I was sure my first upgrade was going to be a Zorst. You might just have changed my mind.

And what colour is that?! Soreee!

well, "in theory" its calypso.....

[speedyK]

Sounds like you've made a good move, Ricky.

I was a bit worried that going wider would lose some subtlety and sweetness from the steering's delicacy... superb if it's sharper and lighter and meatier.

Do you reckon the rims and Yokos have made more improvement than the Spax? Which would you recommend as a first move? Asking 'cos my tyres will need replacing before dampers, but if you say Spax is a must, then I'll just have to sort both.

Oh, and the rims look pretty cool too.

[R1 nur]

  well, "in theory" its calypso.....

Why in theory?

I want my car to look like that! Don't tease me!

So is it Calypso or is it the phot or is it re sprayed or something!?

[Chuck]

V Nice. Are those the mag alloy or standard ally? how much do they weigh compaired to orignal?

[CALYPSO_VXT]

  well, "in theory" its calypso.....

Why in theory?

I want my car to look like that! Don't tease me!

So is it Calypso or is it the phot or is it re sprayed or something!?

I think Ricky has had it resprayed.

Mine is Calypso and just a week old now. Click on my picture link in the signature below. If you would like any better photos let me know and I will try and take some. However, it is a difficult colour to take pictures of as it rarely comes out the right although thse are pretty good..

[speedyK]

Are those the mag alloy or standard ally? how much do they weigh compaired to orignal?

They're not magnesium - cost would be astronomical according to Ricky.
He posted about the weight if you want to do a search. Significantly lighter than N/A or Turbo rims.

Ah! I see the man himself is back on to enlighten you.

Edited by speedyK, 25 April 2003 - 09:25 PM.

[Ricky2772]

So is it Calypso or is it the phot or is it re sprayed or something!?

calypso it is...
I like my one resprayed much more now.....its like I went from a fake diamond to a real one...
go for it, get it calypso...then load it up with wax....heck, it might trick it up like mine!
....once sanded & resprayed, with top-quality laquer, its a matter of added smoothness and depth....just like the fanatic paint-guy said... (slow as sh*t but good)..
... when you get it delivered,and you've paid big €€€ for it, you plain convince yourself it's gooooood.... up until you see otherwise...

anyway....
for the "average-to-advanced" drivers, I strongly suggest you to save on mech mods, and go for susp.+OZ+yokos+ Regal (or similar) hos-eing......it will turn you from "sunday driver" into "Ayrton"...
THEN, if you reallly feel spicy and kylie, ... you will go for more stuff....but if you are not riddled by ego-driven stuff, you'll be WAY happy with what you got.....EVO guys felt like that with the VX Sprint, (purty much same setting as mine), and I can't but agree...but hey, if it's not enough, hell, go for it, I'm here to learn!!! cheers
.... I will let my tuner go for the ECU modding/opt....it might be worth it after all....
(and, got that cams offer lurking.... ...gotta wait big time... )

Edited by Ricky2772, 26 April 2003 - 12:34 AM.

[Ricky2772]

if interested, posted several more pics in my gallery....

[Sicey]

Looks nice Ricky You will obviously have to take me for a lap round the ring when I see you next John.

[Jim_Cross]

I must admit, I almost never see a car on aftermarket wheels that i prefer to the standard wheels. However Ricky, you've just converted me, they look tres

[Purebob]

I'm with Jim, I usually hate aftermarket wheels AND I really like the VX standard wheels, but those look lovely Ricky. Odd how the car looks more 'grown up' with your wheels on - less toy like.

[Ricky2772]

V Nice.

Are those the mag alloy or standard ally? how much do they weigh compaired to orignal?

rim+ tyre are 3 kg lighter. that means -12kg off moving parts...

so far I did not notice any interference with full-lock steering...
I was a bit worried for the rear rim, great-looking flush with the fender, but I have not seen any scrubbing marks... phew...

stock rears are 41 offset, that means OZ's ( et 35) stick 6 mm further out....perfect.

stock front offset is 38, that is +3mm, add the wider 195/50-16, that is 10mm per side, it makes the front 13 mm wider.

data:
OZ superleggera rims, offset 35
front 7x16, rear 8x17

tyres yoko advan A039 lts (lotus exige spec.)
195/50-16 front
225/45-17 rear

Edited by Ricky2772, 26 April 2003 - 01:58 PM.

[Ricky2772]

Do you reckon the rims and Yokos have made more improvement than the Spax? Which would you recommend as a first move? Asking 'cos my tyres will need replacing before dampers, but if you say Spax is a  must, then I'll just have to sort both. 

Oh, and the rims look pretty cool too.

well, you can always do the susp. later....I felt a huge change with spax alone in overall control, and with the new tyres the "quantum-leap" tripled...

I am sure with tyres alone the difference will be big already....almost perfect for road use. spax are a must if you plan to track it a lot like I do, but for blasting around B-roads the stock setup might prove just fine, being immensely helped by the tyre-rim combo.

I now can fully appreciate the GM-corporate decision to "limit" the car with those pathetic 175's.....they obvioulsly felt that allowing full potential, too many customers would crash the car, with such absence of "warning" understeer and super-sticky rubbers that make you feel glued to the road....up to a point though.....controlling the car at much higher speeds will not be so instinctive, placing the avg. driver in big trouble...
that's why the free training-day is such a good idea!
how progresssive or abrupt the limit is, I will soon know on track...

all this, of course, IMO!

Edited by Ricky2772, 26 April 2003 - 02:39 PM.

[speedyK]

how progresssive or abrupt the limit is, I will soon know on track...

I would take it gently at first, Ricky. Don't want to break it again!

Our instructor at the Speedster meet at Boxberg was a professional racing driver with much 'Ring experience. He emphasised that the limits in such a light, mid-engined car are very high, but when it goes you have to be very fast to catch it and particularly at the 'Ring you can easily get "wrongfooted" if you don't know the track well.

He reckoned with race suspension/tyres the limits would be far higher but with much less warning of when you reach them. Less roll and more planted means the car is almost past the limit before you've realised, so you need to know what you're doing and be really quick on car control when it starts to go.

Must admit I've seen lots about the 'Ring but am wary because it's so long you can't learn it easily and, as you know all too well, if you loose it there's a lot of hard bits to hit. It's also a looong way for me to go, but even longer for you, so you obviously think it's worth it... or is it a case of taming the beast that bit you?

Don't let it bite you again!

Edited by speedyK, 26 April 2003 - 04:40 PM.

[Jim_Cross]

With the wheels being that much lighter, would they require changes to the suspension set up on a standard VX? I know Lotus changed the suspension settings on the S2 111S to take into account the lighter wheels on that...