65 replies to this topic

[james4563]

I've had my VXT for a 1 or 2 months now, had not until last night really driven it in the wet. I have to say it feels completely undriveable at any speed other than real slow.

 

Some background info, I had tracking done recently, the guy said to me that it would have been pretty terrible to drive in the wet prior to the adjustments he made, however based on that I dread to think what it would have been like as it still seems quite bad.

 

I have AD08R all round, pumped to 24/26 ( maybe these are poor in the wet, reviews seemed to suggest they were actually quite good? )

16s on the front and 17s on the rear, not sure of actual tyre sizes without going outside to check.

 

With it being the first time I've driven the car in the wet I wasn't even nearly pushing it. Well so I though, however the back stepped at a low speed maybe 30mph after exiting a roundabout onto a dual carriageway and trying to accelerate a bit. It seems like it's impossible to accelerate in the wet without spinning the wheels. I was at the time straight too, I didn't try to accelerate at all until I was straight. I actually think I was in 3rd gear when this happened. 

I'm not sure if maybe I am expecting too much, my previous car was a 4WD turbo celica ( ST205 ) which of course inspires confidence in the wet and doesn't really wheel spin ( that you can feel ) without seriously pushing it.

 

The VXT to me felt terrible in the wet, I can't imagine you could drive it on even a damp track fast, which seems like it must be wrong.

 

The throttle seems really weird as well, I understand its electronic, is that correct? Obviously I understand how a turbo works and the way the power kicks in, however in the celica it was very controllable via the throttle ( cabled ), however the throttle on my VXT seems to randomly lurch the power on and off. I think I'm applying the same throttle and all of a sudden the turbo starts randomly spooling up when I don't expect it. It doesn't feel progressive at all.

 

It has a stage4 courtney map, and is running approx 280BHP/340lbs/ft.

 

I don't claim to be an expert driver by any means, but I was really shocked by my drive home in the wet last night. I'm basically wondering if this is the case for most people, or if I have bad tyres/geo setup or even the map in regards to the weird throttle response.

 

 

 

[Wolfstone]

Sounds fairly typical of a stage 4 to be honest.

[james4563]

Sounds fairly typical of a stage 4 to be honest.

Even the on/off random throttle. It feels like you couldn't even take a corner at a steady constant speed due to the power randomly jerking and kicking in.

[jackturbostage4]

Normal for a stage 4 , sounds,I've mine lol .

[jackturbostage4]

Normal for a stage 4 , sounds, like mine lol .

[Jason]

Be careful..

 

[Duncan VXR]

Why I developed standalone conversion some years back. Past stage 2 oem crap Imo DG

[mbes2]

That video wasn't even stage 4 it was stage 2 at the time. Cs map has always been too boosty I had mbr sort my map which made it smoother. Throttle position is very different to a non turbo car with just millimetres of moment to be applied. You will get used to it

[Pidgeon]

Firstly, your description of the car is completely alien to me, as someone who's covered hundreds of thousands of miles in a VXT, in all weathers.  Yes, wet grip levels are reduced, but still far better than most other vehicles on the road and traction is not an issue.

 

I've also driven numerous other tuned VXTs and some had shockingly bad power delivery.

 

If I were you, I'd firstly have the geo set by a known Elise/VX specialist (you don't say who did the geo) and then consider alternative mapping, speak to Liam at MMG or Sizeten here.

[jonnyboy]

The best turbos are stock or a Courtenay stage 1. Elastic band throttle is very apparent on anything taken further

[LeeS]

Definitely stage1 over stock

[Nev]

Send a message to SizTenBoots on here, he might well be able to remap it to smooth out the power delivery.

[james_ly]

Even my NA with 150lb/ft can break traction in 3rd (when cornering in the wet), so I'm not surprised that a car with double the torque can spin the wheels at will!

[7thheav]

Ouch... i felt the pain...where you ok ? and how much damage was there to the VX

Be careful..

 

 

[fiveoclock]

How old are your tyres?

[P11 COV]

Ouch... i felt the pain...where you ok ? and how much damage was there to the VX

Be careful..

 

 

 

That was Mbes2. He's moved to the dark side and got a V6 Exige now.

 

I have a stage 4 Courtenay Turbo and the throttle is a bit on and off and difficult to control on part throttle. I don't find it an issue as I just drive it with foot to he floor at all times anyway!

 

Which brings me to your grip issue. I am on AD08's and previously have run it on more extreme track tyres such as 888's and Federals so it really should not be that bad. Of course that sort of power and a light car needs care but even so it can still be driven spiritedly in all kinds of conditions.

 

Get it to a VX/Elise/Exige specialist. I am not sure where you are based but Matt Bentley http://matthewbentleyracing.co.uk/ is in Bedford or Steve Guglielmi   in Daventry. http://www.guglielmimotorsport.co.uk/

 

Others on here may make good recommendations in other parts of the country.

 

It sounds like your handling problem needs sorting before trying to improve the power delivery.

Edited by P11 COV, 04 September 2016 - 03:30 PM.

[Nev]

If you want to drive fast in the wet you could try getting another set of wheels and put skinny wet weather tyres on, that will help a good deal.

 

In short, light weight & RWD & wide tyres is a recipe for bad wet weather charactersitics

Edited by Nev, 04 September 2016 - 03:44 PM.

[james4563]

I am located in Southampton, the nearest place I am aware of is back on track in Guildford. Any other recommendations for down south? Thanks for all the replies so far, I am totally aware that its a lot of power for a light rwd car to put down in the wet, in not expecting to be able to put my foot to the floor and get all that power down, it just seemed extremely bad last night.

[fiveoclock]

I am located in Southampton, the nearest place I am aware of is back on track in Guildford. Any other recommendations for down south? Thanks for all the replies so far, I am totally aware that its a lot of power for a light rwd car to put down in the wet, in not expecting to be able to put my foot to the floor and get all that power down, it just seemed extremely bad last night.

How old are the tyres? They will have a date stamp on them which will have the week number and year so something like 2815. Whats the tread depth?

Edited by fiveoclock, 04 September 2016 - 04:24 PM.

[rob999]

Analogue Automotive too are good....aka Steff.

 

No real surprises with third gear acceleration in wet conditions. Oh and as per 5'oc's Q....tyre age?