122 replies to this topic

[jonnyboy]

You do notice it. 7% is quite a lot especially in a car where you can detect if you've lost 2 PSI from your tyre.

The weight shows itself at that moment of turn in. The NA is a lot crisper on turn in. Not a big deal for many but the NA has always had the slight handling edge. with the charger it can also match the speed now.

Thanks.
Saw your write up on PH too BTW.

The wheel widths are also quite narrow? My car wheels are 8.5J as standard...
Can the VX accomodate larger/wider wheels?

You can run rears on the front but I wouldn't say you'd need to. That car has an inherent balance to it. People complain of understeer but in my experience it depends how your driving the car. If you drive it bearing in mind where the weight is distributed it will never under steer. Slow in fast out. Of course with the charger any understeer can just be dialled out with a jab of the throttle

Another benefit to the SC over high powered turbos is that the linear power delivery is safer and more useable. The turbo will feel a lot faster for sure but for me personally the VX is all about maximising how quickly you can drive down a typical B road. In real terms there wont be a lot in it between a Turbo and NA but the NA driver will be having more fun

[spuk87]

I would most definately say that the £11,400 I spent on modding my N/A, would not have been better spent on buying a turbo for that same amount of money and without any mods at all.

However, if you're going to mention £££ then depreciation might become a big factor. I've spent ~£500 to get my turbo to the same torque as yours (but slightly less power due to less high end torque I expect?). Granted it will always be heavier, but on pure financial terms I could probably sell my car for exactly what I bought it for last year, whereas I doubt you would get £11400 for yours(?).

Talking pure money though. Driving experience I can't really say, need to have a pax in a SC...and on that note, when will you be making an appearance at the Waterman eh?

[spuk87]

The weight shows itself at that moment of turn in. The NA is a lot crisper on turn in. Not a big deal for many but the NA has always had the slight handling edge. with the charger it can also match the speed now.

You sure? A majority of the extra tubby weight is in the engine block, at the back of the car; hence the weight over the front is barely any different AFAIK. I have only driven an NA once and for a short period but it felt actually very sloppy and 'wallowy' compared to my tubby. In it's defence, it was ~4 years older with probably 5-10 times the mileage so the shocks could have been on their way out; I don't know; but I was quite happy when I got back in my own car.

[Seb.F]

Talking pure money though. Driving experience I can't really say, need to have a pax in a SC...and on that note, when will you be making an appearance at the Waterman eh?

You're quite right I do need to... I've been to a couple Bedford meets, now it's about time I should make a Mids one. When are they normally? Might have to wait til after my exams but will see how we go

[spuk87]

You're quite right I do need to... I've been to a couple Bedford meets, now it's about time I should make a Mids one. When are they normally? Might have to wait til after my exams but will see how we go

Coolio . 1st Sunday of every month, but none for last 2 due to Easter and Mayday. Have you been in Duncan's car? If not hopefully he'll be there and can show you a properly fast (turbo powered) car tee hee

ETA sorry for going off topic!

Edited by spuk87, 08 May 2010 - 11:01 PM.

[techieboy]

As one of the SC'd cars that's engine went pop, I can safely say it was nothing to do with the supercharger conversion itself. Rather it was to do with the uprated engine rebuild we did to ensure reliability. Still not entirely sure what the cause of the problem was, whether it was a slightly oval rebore, rich running causing bore wash and glazed cylinders but, it was burning oil at a prodigious rate post-rebuild. That combined with the Bridge to Brooklands complex at Silverstone caused some oil starvation that spun a bearing. On the bright side, the uprated pistons and rods despite being damaged still managed to get me 35 miles home without breaking up. For me, the main attraction of the SC conversion (other than the obvious power increase) was the way that power is delivered. It's 100% predictable. My car is (unfortunately) really only used on track and getting there and back (with the occasional North Wales blat thrown in) and that predictable power delivery makes balancing the car through corners an absolute joy. Also means you can get on the power again that much quicker as there's no danger of a sudden spike of torque from the turbo coming on boost mid-corner. How much truth there is in this rumour I don't know. But it's been said by those with contacts at Lotus and GM, that the supercharged Ecotec engine was always meant to go in the car but delays in development and testing in the US meant it was going to be too late, so they abandoned the plans and fitted the turbo engine instead. Would make perfect sense, if that is the case, when you look at what Lotus have done with the Exige and latterly the Elise.

[techieboy]

Have you been in Duncan's car? If not hopefully he'll be there and can show you a properly fast (turbo powered) car tee hee

Though, of course, there's always the danger that NickB777 might turn up and show everybody what a properly fast Harrop'd car can do.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Though, of course, there's always the danger that NickB777 might turn up and show everybody what a properly fast Harrop'd car can do.

and this is vhy i did chooose itb's
i only want the best and wouldn't have a baby soupa charged dignity man

[MrSimba]

Have you been in Duncan's car? If not hopefully he'll be there and can show you a properly fast (turbo powered) car tee hee

LOL!

Only if DG's finished showing West Midlands Police just how 'properly fast' his car is!!!

[jonnyboy]

The weight shows itself at that moment of turn in. The NA is a lot crisper on turn in. Not a big deal for many but the NA has always had the slight handling edge. with the charger it can also match the speed now.

You sure? A majority of the extra tubby weight is in the engine block, at the back of the car; hence the weight over the front is barely any different AFAIK. I have only driven an NA once and for a short period but it felt actually very sloppy and 'wallowy' compared to my tubby. In it's defence, it was ~4 years older with probably 5-10 times the mileage so the shocks could have been on their way out; I don't know; but I was quite happy when I got back in my own car.

What youve said there is actually the exact opposite of the truth lol. The additional weight is behind you but it's relatively high up hence you get this sensation of the car tipping as you go into corners. I can only assume that the NA you drove had some issues with the suspension as they should be totally pin sharp.

[rcvaughan]

At the end of the day it's all about how the power is delivered as Techie said.
(I've not been out in a tubby on track so won't comment on the weight differences)

I use my SC VX every day, rain or shine and I love the 100% predictability that I have with the delivery of my ponies.

I took a guy from work out in it who is used to BIG power single turbo supras (which incidentally got written off as the boost kicked in at an unfortunate moment on the motorway in the wet) and he said he knew the VX was quicker than his supra but it didn't feel it. He liked the bucket load of torque that his turbo gave him in one big wallop!

The financial thing was also an issue for me. I already had an NA and bhp/£ the SC conversion well out weighed buying a tubby, even at stage 2 or 3.

At Silverstone on Friday joe_589's SC VX was destroying EVERYTHING on track! Civic Type R engined S1s, a brand new Exige 260 cup, Caterham R500s, everything. The only thing that overtook, only once might I add, was a race prepped Lotus 2-11 driven by a competition racer and even he struggled on the straights!

[Seb.F]

Coolio . 1st Sunday of every month, but none for last 2 due to Easter and Mayday. Have you been in Duncan's car? If not hopefully he'll be there and can show you a properly fast (turbo powered) car tee hee

I have been in it yes! It is quick, evidently quicker than mine but that's only what I'd expect after the money he's spent on it!!

[Sutol]

Who exactly was the driving god that pronounced that the turbo doesn't handle as well?

[stumpyRS4]

At Silverstone on Friday joe_589's SC VX was destroying EVERYTHING on track! Civic Type R engined S1s, a brand new Exige 260 cup, Caterham R500s, everything. The only thing that overtook, only once might I add, was a race prepped Lotus 2-11 driven by a competition racer and even he struggled on the straights!

This is the sort of write up I wanting to hear, and if possible see in vids or at a track.

I'm interested iin the VX NA SC route, but not ever having seen one thrashed around track it's hard for me to understand how well they perform against things like Minis/R26Rs and the like.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Fab says ITB'S

[The Batman]

At Silverstone on Friday joe_589's SC VX was destroying EVERYTHING on track! Civic Type R engined S1s, a brand new Exige 260 cup, Caterham R500s, everything. The only thing that overtook, only once might I add, was a race prepped Lotus 2-11 driven by a competition racer and even he struggled on the straights!

This is the sort of write up I wanting to hear, and if possible see in vids or at a track.

I'm interested iin the VX NA SC route, but not ever having seen one thrashed around track it's hard for me to understand how well they perform against things like Minis/R26Rs and the like.

they wouldnt stand a chance!

[stumpyRS4]

At Silverstone on Friday joe_589's SC VX was destroying EVERYTHING on track! Civic Type R engined S1s, a brand new Exige 260 cup, Caterham R500s, everything. The only thing that overtook, only once might I add, was a race prepped Lotus 2-11 driven by a competition racer and even he struggled on the straights!

This is the sort of write up I wanting to hear, and if possible see in vids or at a track.

I'm interested iin the VX NA SC route, but not ever having seen one thrashed around track it's hard for me to understand how well they perform against things like Minis/R26Rs and the like.

they wouldnt stand a chance!

That's my decision made then!
The Mini/R26 were contenders as they offered some degree of practicaility for use at weekends etc, but that's what Ze Fuhrer's car's for!

[The Batman]

a guy at silverstone who bought a top of the range exige 260 cup who spent like 70 odd grand on it! was gutted when i went flying past him with a pax and a full boot

[Seb.F]

Oh god the mini and R26R would be gone in the wind. Even possibly on only a slightly modded N/A... let alone an S/C. (I don't really know how well they perform exactly, only that they aren't the same calibre of car.

[The Batman]

i would love an r26 though......... my mums bf is thinking about that car or a vxr astra