Are the WIM settings the ultimate?
Discussion
Jesus, yet another geo/tyres/inane question from me 
I was speaking with my local 'WIM approved' specialist today about GEO settings and he hinted that he may be able to better them, especially after I described my driving style to him.
So for someone such as myself who has come from a history of sorted FWD hatches (205, 182, Puma) and has what I consider to be a smooth, considered driving style are the WIM settings right for me? I certainly don't throw my car around the road but I do make good progress when appropriate
My current issue with the (Mk3 sport, standard springs) is that is feels horrendously vague on turn in and is nigh on impossible to select a constant, steady turn into a corner.
Would be very interested to hear from people who DON'T like the WIM settings.
Steve
I was speaking with my local 'WIM approved' specialist today about GEO settings and he hinted that he may be able to better them, especially after I described my driving style to him.
So for someone such as myself who has come from a history of sorted FWD hatches (205, 182, Puma) and has what I consider to be a smooth, considered driving style are the WIM settings right for me? I certainly don't throw my car around the road but I do make good progress when appropriate
My current issue with the (Mk3 sport, standard springs) is that is feels horrendously vague on turn in and is nigh on impossible to select a constant, steady turn into a corner.
Would be very interested to hear from people who DON'T like the WIM settings.
Steve
If you take the trouble to go to WiM he will discuss your needs with you and adapt the settings to suit you. Most don't really know what they want initially so he will of course put on a standard setup which he has evolved over time and will mostly suit most people. If you have any particular wants or needs then of course the "standard" setup can be improved upon whether that's at WiM or elsewhere.
Aye, only problem is that WIM is a 400 mile round trip for me, not a hoonable 400 either!
I've an idea of how I want the car to behave, very pointy and direct front end with a stable rear. Not sure if that combo is possible!
Certainly get a good vibe off the local fella, just got to decide where to start with the settings.
I've an idea of how I want the car to behave, very pointy and direct front end with a stable rear. Not sure if that combo is possible!
Certainly get a good vibe off the local fella, just got to decide where to start with the settings.
I've previously had a little forum to and fro-ing with Wim about something and didnt initially have much good to say from that. However, they have time and time again proven to have truly exceptional customer service, seem to really care about their work and have made many peoples cars handle much better.
I have as a result come to the conclusion that they're well worth approaching for alignment - I'd use them certainly if I needed it and from what members have posted on here/ other forums, they're more than accomedating when it comes to tweaks to suit the driver.
Alignment is a personal thing, my suggestion is to give them a call, talk to them - tell them whats wrong in your opinion with the handling and if you like what they say - book yourself in. I have no doubt that they can set the car up to account for any issues you have with it currently.
I have as a result come to the conclusion that they're well worth approaching for alignment - I'd use them certainly if I needed it and from what members have posted on here/ other forums, they're more than accomedating when it comes to tweaks to suit the driver.
Alignment is a personal thing, my suggestion is to give them a call, talk to them - tell them whats wrong in your opinion with the handling and if you like what they say - book yourself in. I have no doubt that they can set the car up to account for any issues you have with it currently.
raf_gti said:
Aye, only problem is that WIM is a 400 mile round trip for me, not a hoonable 400 either!
I wasn't suggesting that you should go to WiM, just that their standard settings are a good starting point and can probably be tweaked to suit your individual style/preference. If you have a local place that you know & trust then I'm sure they will do just as good a job.'WIM' settings are just a suggestion that tony has come up with based on quite a few customers cars and feedback - they aren't going to suit everyone so if you have particular requirements then you will be able to find a better set-up for you.
the first settings i got put onto my car were a really planted rear end ) but a pretty good front end, it was really nice, slight tendency to understeer but completely stable and predictable which meant you could really push, and you could always get the back out if you really wanted. (higher camber and a little toe in at the rear, medium camber and slight toe in front, high caster)
the first settings i got put onto my car were a really planted rear end ) but a pretty good front end, it was really nice, slight tendency to understeer but completely stable and predictable which meant you could really push, and you could always get the back out if you really wanted. (higher camber and a little toe in at the rear, medium camber and slight toe in front, high caster)
Raf - go see Rodders (Roddisons recovery) in Sheffield - so much closer to you!
I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
snotrag said:
Raf - go see Rodders (Roddisons recovery) in Sheffield - so much closer to you!
I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in (set by WIM) on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in (set by WIM) on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
raf_gti said:
Aye, only problem is that WIM is a 400 mile round trip for me, not a hoonable 400 either!
I've an idea of how I want the car to behave, very pointy and direct front end with a stable rear. Not sure if that combo is possible!
In which case I would tend toward no toe-in on the front to make it more direct. I've an idea of how I want the car to behave, very pointy and direct front end with a stable rear. Not sure if that combo is possible!
When I first took delivery of my car the turn in was incredibly quick, and the settings were slightly toe out. Fast road settings set toe to ever-so-slightly in both front and rear to provide stability. If you go to a neutral (straight ahead) geo on the front then the car will turn in quicker.
Edited by hornetrider on Thursday 3rd February 17:00
snotrag said:
Raf - go see Rodders (Roddisons recovery) in Sheffield - so much closer to you!
I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
5speed in Nottingham will apply the WIM settings too, but I don't have any personal experience of them.I had my car done initially by WIM - Tony is undeniably an expert.
However I've since been to see Rodders a couple of times for checks/tweaks and he's improved it further still - also you have to remember that 'best handling' is entirely subjective.
He races and builds Mk3's and probably knows them better than anyone, I am 100% sure he'll be able to help you out. He's also very reasonable but take cash as there card machine doesnt really work.
(FWIW - I had all the toe in on the rear taken out of mine which cured my complaint of the back end 'climbing' the crest and camber of the road, such as during an overtake or when moving lanes on a motorway).
The point is also that there needs to be a baseline. Unless you have had the geo done before you won't know for sure what you need adjusting. The settings WiM have come up with are a good baseline for a fast-road setup that will suit or be close to what most people will need. Whether you will want it tweaked from there is hard to say for sure until you've tried it.
MX-5 Lazza said:
The point is also that there needs to be a baseline. Unless you have had the geo done before you won't know for sure what you need adjusting. The settings WiM have come up with are a good baseline for a fast-road setup that will suit or be close to what most people will need. Whether you will want it tweaked from there is hard to say for sure until you've tried it.
The WIM settings are certainly going to be my baseline, last thing I want for both my wallet and sanity is to be chasing an ever decreasing improvement!From what i have experienced the Fast Road WiM setup leans slightly toward the safer side with some understeer. Most people will almost certainly stick with that for a bit and then go from there. I personally dialled a bit of it out to a more neutral setup. That was about 1 year ago and i think i now want some more oversteer added 
J-Tuner said:
From what i have experienced the Fast Road WiM setup leans slightly toward the safer side with some understeer. Most people will almost certainly stick with that for a bit and then go from there. I personally dialled a bit of it out to a more neutral setup. That was about 1 year ago and i think i now want some more oversteer added
Interesting..When you say understeer how understeery would you say that was in comparison to say a decent hot hatch?
raf_gti said:
Interesting..
When you say understeer how understeery would you say that was in comparison to say a decent hot hatch?
Barely any understeer at all. If you push much too fast into a corner it will understeer slightly to scrub off a bit of speed. It's very easy to turn that into oversteer if you want to. It's not even remotely like a fwd hatch.When you say understeer how understeery would you say that was in comparison to say a decent hot hatch?
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