New Countach Owner - First Impressions
Discussion
You may remember my initial post where I had trouble starting my new toy. Well since the weather warmed up and new battery fitted it started ok. I've now been starting and driving it at least once a week and it's starting better each time. I guess I'm getting in tune with the number of pedal pumps to prime the carbs and the approximate throttle position for it to catch nicely. Once warm it always fires up instantly.
First impressions of the car is good. I'd read lots of stuff about far too heavy steering, clutches and gear change, poor ventilation / hot cabin, no rear visibility, etc, etc. I can honestly say I don't find the steering or clutch too heavy, but this is obviously a relative thing based on other things you drive. I'm used to driving 964 RS's, and several race cars, so actually like the heavier feel. I'd go as far as to say the steering feel on the move is excellent and very precise. The gear change does require a very deliberate strong change whilst the car is warming up, but once the gearbox is right up to temperature the change gets much better and actually quite satisfying to drive hard. What a fantastic engine. The noise is lovely and the power keeps building right up to 7500rpm.
Ventilation in my car seems more than adequate; it has a/c that works and 4 speed fan that is very powerful on full setting. Rear visibility is fine on the move, and I actually have clear visibility of the traffic behind; but have to say the wing mirrors gradually flop down during a drive requiring me to readjust the wing mirrors to see. I assume this is because they are the original ones and gone weak. Any views on that. With the current technology that's available reversing visibility is not an issue as I'm fitting a discrete reversing camera.
The not so good bits (from my first impressions);
1. Once above 150 my car feels very nervous, especially after backing off - to the point that if you back off at very high speed and required to brake hard you might indeed leave the road. I'm sure this is probably a combination of requiring a full geo / corner weight and new tyres, and potentially new dampers. I'd be interested in other owners views on this.
2. Brakes were probably state of the art in their day, but definitely struggles to slow down. Is there a pad that people recommend to help improve this.
3. And finally it starts to understeer very early for my tastes, but this is potentially connected to point 1 above, i.e. needs a geo and new tyres. Do people stick to standard setup spec, and how do others find the understeer in their cars? If anyone else has gone through the process of minimizing understeer I'd be interested in what setup to be aiming for.
In summary I love it, and it puts a huge grin on your face. If I can improve the 3 areas listed above then it would finish the car off nicely. The down side would be I'd want to drive it loads more and rack the miles up. :-)
First impressions of the car is good. I'd read lots of stuff about far too heavy steering, clutches and gear change, poor ventilation / hot cabin, no rear visibility, etc, etc. I can honestly say I don't find the steering or clutch too heavy, but this is obviously a relative thing based on other things you drive. I'm used to driving 964 RS's, and several race cars, so actually like the heavier feel. I'd go as far as to say the steering feel on the move is excellent and very precise. The gear change does require a very deliberate strong change whilst the car is warming up, but once the gearbox is right up to temperature the change gets much better and actually quite satisfying to drive hard. What a fantastic engine. The noise is lovely and the power keeps building right up to 7500rpm.
Ventilation in my car seems more than adequate; it has a/c that works and 4 speed fan that is very powerful on full setting. Rear visibility is fine on the move, and I actually have clear visibility of the traffic behind; but have to say the wing mirrors gradually flop down during a drive requiring me to readjust the wing mirrors to see. I assume this is because they are the original ones and gone weak. Any views on that. With the current technology that's available reversing visibility is not an issue as I'm fitting a discrete reversing camera.
The not so good bits (from my first impressions);
1. Once above 150 my car feels very nervous, especially after backing off - to the point that if you back off at very high speed and required to brake hard you might indeed leave the road. I'm sure this is probably a combination of requiring a full geo / corner weight and new tyres, and potentially new dampers. I'd be interested in other owners views on this.
2. Brakes were probably state of the art in their day, but definitely struggles to slow down. Is there a pad that people recommend to help improve this.
3. And finally it starts to understeer very early for my tastes, but this is potentially connected to point 1 above, i.e. needs a geo and new tyres. Do people stick to standard setup spec, and how do others find the understeer in their cars? If anyone else has gone through the process of minimizing understeer I'd be interested in what setup to be aiming for.
In summary I love it, and it puts a huge grin on your face. If I can improve the 3 areas listed above then it would finish the car off nicely. The down side would be I'd want to drive it loads more and rack the miles up. :-)
Hi there
I think the car may need new tyres or a setup. I find mine actually 'hunkers' down above 130 and is always very stable at high speed. I have yet to take mine above 160 but have fairly regularly taken it above 120 and it is always fine.
The suspension is rose jointed so in theory it is very adjustable. I wouldn't think of any reason to deviate from factory settings for road use.
I switched to Padgid Blue stuff pads. I think you will find most QV and later cars used the same callipers front and back so it is the same pads. I found that they made a massive difference to braking and made the initial bite better and also overall stopping. The brakes need used though and if the car sits for long periods then they will be very soft and not effective. Either a calliper strip and lube or jumping on the brakes a lot to get them working may work!
The car does understeer and will wash out the front but usually only in hard cornering, it shouldn't in normal driving and should be quite planted and adjustable owing to the thick tyres and the flex they give.
Pirelli say the P7 or Zero tyres are only meant to last 5 years. However if the tyres are ancient , as in 20 years old or more I would bin them as they do deteriorate and this is still a very fast car even by todays standards
I hope this helps? If any other questions give me a call or email
Happy motoring
Regards
Paul
I think the car may need new tyres or a setup. I find mine actually 'hunkers' down above 130 and is always very stable at high speed. I have yet to take mine above 160 but have fairly regularly taken it above 120 and it is always fine.
The suspension is rose jointed so in theory it is very adjustable. I wouldn't think of any reason to deviate from factory settings for road use.
I switched to Padgid Blue stuff pads. I think you will find most QV and later cars used the same callipers front and back so it is the same pads. I found that they made a massive difference to braking and made the initial bite better and also overall stopping. The brakes need used though and if the car sits for long periods then they will be very soft and not effective. Either a calliper strip and lube or jumping on the brakes a lot to get them working may work!
The car does understeer and will wash out the front but usually only in hard cornering, it shouldn't in normal driving and should be quite planted and adjustable owing to the thick tyres and the flex they give.
Pirelli say the P7 or Zero tyres are only meant to last 5 years. However if the tyres are ancient , as in 20 years old or more I would bin them as they do deteriorate and this is still a very fast car even by todays standards
I hope this helps? If any other questions give me a call or email
Happy motoring
Regards
Paul
I remember some years ago there was an article in a classic car mag where Derek Bell drove a bunch of "legendary" cars to see what they were really like on road and track.
A man who knows his onions.
The one that really surprised him positively was a Countach 5000s.
Gear change - I don't use 2nd until it's warmed up, i.e just 1st to 3rd
As regards the door mirrors, if you lift off the rubbery surround there is a nut and blot that you can tighten up. Hold the mirror firmly when you do it so as not to rip it off the door. The rubbery cover is then a nightmare to get back on fully but just persist and you'll get there in the end.
If you keep the aircon regularly charged up it can actually make the car quite cold inside.
The only embarrassing niggle that I've had, is if the car is really hot in summer and you switch off for any reason, it won't start again, until it's cooled down a bit. It's not an engine thing, it's a hot electrics thing apparently (sorry but I don't understand this stuff). It means that if you pull up into a petrol station or it happened to me at Silverstone, you look, a bit of a numpty when you try and leave and it won't start. Best way to avoid this is to leave the engine running with a passenger in there.
As regards the brakes, remember that these cars are 30 years old. Compare it to Hillman Avenger, not a modern car........
A man who knows his onions.
The one that really surprised him positively was a Countach 5000s.
Gear change - I don't use 2nd until it's warmed up, i.e just 1st to 3rd
As regards the door mirrors, if you lift off the rubbery surround there is a nut and blot that you can tighten up. Hold the mirror firmly when you do it so as not to rip it off the door. The rubbery cover is then a nightmare to get back on fully but just persist and you'll get there in the end.
If you keep the aircon regularly charged up it can actually make the car quite cold inside.
The only embarrassing niggle that I've had, is if the car is really hot in summer and you switch off for any reason, it won't start again, until it's cooled down a bit. It's not an engine thing, it's a hot electrics thing apparently (sorry but I don't understand this stuff). It means that if you pull up into a petrol station or it happened to me at Silverstone, you look, a bit of a numpty when you try and leave and it won't start. Best way to avoid this is to leave the engine running with a passenger in there.
As regards the brakes, remember that these cars are 30 years old. Compare it to Hillman Avenger, not a modern car........
The hot start issue is the ignition relays and wiring. It is the most stupid arrangement ever. Everything goes through the ignition switch. It cooks the relays and causes hot start issues especially if high loads eg fans.
The solution is to retire the fans to bypass and change the relays.crap 1980's Italian electrics
The solution is to retire the fans to bypass and change the relays.crap 1980's Italian electrics
paulqv said:
The hot start issue is the ignition relays and wiring. It is the most stupid arrangement ever. Everything goes through the ignition switch. It cooks the relays and causes hot start issues especially if high loads eg fans.
The solution is to retire the fans to bypass and change the relays.crap 1980's Italian electrics
LOL, I feel honored that my TVR shares a hot start issue with a Countach. Pain in the bum it is. The solution is to retire the fans to bypass and change the relays.crap 1980's Italian electrics
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