409 to 436 and "Oh F***"
Discussion
gizard said:
I though std M400 power was 428 - if it's 409 then there has to be something wrong... the again it could be two rolling roads...
>> Edited by gizard on Thursday 25th May 08:06
I've heard that standard M400's don't quite make the quoted power. 409 would still seem "enough" in a car that weighs so little!
washy said:
Joust! C'mon, spill the beans!
This better be good after the excitement you're creating Joust
maybe he's had rear seats fitted and put them down 
Some interesting things to note. The "dotted" line is the before. The "solid" line is after (after what I hear you say.... read on).
Firstly some interesting observations about the before graph.
409bhp "at crank" maximum.
Given the 425bhp from Noble was done in a test cell, I think this should finally put to bed the discussion about Noble giving accurate bhp figures. Couple this with the fact that the car is now 18 months old, being "down" just 3.7% of the available power means Noble are within EU regulations. If only every other manufacturer was as accurate (do I hear TVR being shouted.....
) 380lbft "at crank" maximum
10 lbft off the quoted maximum is just 2.5% off the test cell quoted figure - an amazingly close result IMHO!
So, it would appear the comments about my M400 being "one of the best" holds true
Now, what on earth happened to get the graph up to the solid figure? Well, after mucho encouragement from Ash, I rang Lordus Yellowshedus to inquire about his replacement exhaust system.
Having been down this route with the Ur-Quattro, and spent considerable time discussing the merits of replacement systems with QST (one of the most respected Audi aftermarket places in the UK), I know that just changing the exhaust is NOT what is required on a turbo car. I'm not sure of the details, but the knowledge of Trevor in why it wasn't just a replacement exhaust, but a complete upgrade of the exhaust, fuel and ECU mapping system gave me the confidence.
His insistence, despite the cost, that a before and after rolling road was a critical component of the change (the before to ensure there were no inherent problems with the car, the after to ensure all mapping was correct, fueling was sufficient), and then a considerable amount of test driving by experienced engineers gave me the feeling that this was an upgrade that has had a significant amount of thought put into it.
Continuing the discussion with Trevor we moved onto noise. Again, Trevor (backed up by Ash) describing the significant testing they have done on static and driveby noise gave me the confidence that whilst a reasonably large amount of money, this was a significantly thought through "upgrade".
So, what was it like to have the upgrade done? Well, the whole process was painless (apart from the wallet, but heck, it's well worth double that price IMHO). Not even Trevor being available on the day I turned up (hope every thing's getting better Trevor) didn't even managed to upset the applecart.
Having left home at 7:00am from South Croydon, I was trundling into Roush's place at 8:15am. After dropping off the keys with the appropriate instructions (including to try and fix my wheel wobble that I posted about recently), I was elegantly whisked off to the Shenfield station in a lovely Ford Mustang (yes, the back seats are small!). In the car was a nice American chap that had just dropped off his Ford GT for service (apparently no problems with his).
One hint is that if, like me, you work in/near the City then Roush is an excellent drop off place - just 17 minutes and you are into Liverpool Street with a direct service from the station!
Now, during the day, regular updates were provided by Neil about how the car was going. We agreed, as Trevor wasn't around to do the evening Dyno run, and they were still a bit foxed about my front wheel wobble, that they would keep the car and I'd pick it up from them the next day (yesterday). The people at Roush honestly are some of the nicest people around. Neil gave me mobile numbers to keep in contact with himself and the engineer doing the work, and, it seemed like, we spoke at almost every stage of the process. To be honest, it reminds me of the factory people, nice people, great service, and just willing to ensure you feel your baby is in the best possible hands.
So, whilst in Dorset yesterday, again numerous conversations were had throughout the day. I was told the new bhp figure and whilst I appreciated that the gain was large, nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to prepare me for what happened when I picked up the car.
So, back from Dorset I duly jumped on the train, got to Liverpool Street and 17 minutes later I was being picked up by Nigel at the Station. A quick bit of chatting later and Nigel took me in through the workshop to see my car. Firstly, what a place! It's huge, and it has enough interesting things in it to keep a petrol head happy for a long time. Nobles all over the place, three Ford GTs, the odd TVR and some other things that I didn't even recognise (god only knows what one Yellow thing was, but it looks great fun!).
Having been given the dyno maps, sorted out the bill, we talked for 10-15 minutes about the exhaust system and my wobble. The wobble turned out to just be badly balanced wheels (how on earth that meant the wobble came and went I have no idea), but the steering wheel is now absolutely perfect and absolutely no more wobbles - well done peeps!
Also in the passenger seat footwell were two cat bypass pipes. I've never really been at ease with taking the cats out - despite the fact that in the grand scheme of things, a cat makes bugger all difference to the world's emission problems, I can't really see the need to take them out (yes, I appreciate the 'if you cared you wouldn't drive a Noble at 20mpg and all that
Unfortunately it started pissing it down with rain just as I was about to leave, so also having some trepidation (the increase in the torque curve is just insane...) I set off slowly.
Start the car, and the engine settles straight down in to, what can only be described as a 'woffle'. Much deeper and more purposeful than the old system.
So, off down the road, short shifting (cold engine and lots of water around), but immediately I can tell something is seriously different. The car now feels like it is scooping you up in a big hand and just pushing your whole body along. There is no sense of being "pulled along", it's all shove, shove and more shove.
So, onto the A12 and just more and more wet roads, but once at 70, in 5th, on a trailing throttle, it's surprisingly refined. No more noisy than the old exhaust.
Now the fun started. The roads dried up, and as I joined the M25 I decided to have a little "squirt".
60mph. 5th gear. Floor it.
Oooooohhhhhhhhhhfffffffffffffffff****!!!???????
Sh*t. Car, in front, was 400+ yards away, err, BRAKE!
Oh. Err. *giggle*. No, LAUGH, CHORTLE.
Hang on. That was 5th.
The brain can't work it out. The car has just leapt forward like it was in 4th, and yet, it was in 5th at 60mph.
Hmm. Wonder what 4th is like..... (evil grin)
4th, 60mph. Floor it.
Oh F**K! Now way. Absolutely no way. 100 just appeared. No idea how quickly, but that is insane. In fact, that probably is quicker than 3rd gear would have been... The noise! The noise! Oh bejeepers, what the hell does that sound like outside???!!!???
Now, coming up to the toll booth, pay my quid, 1st gear, up to 10mph, press down hard, but not full throttle.
a nano second later.... REV limiter, change up, noise, REv limited, change up, noise, 100+ yikes, crazy, insane, f**k me. No, words have left me. Nothing, nothing.
Where was the tail off of torque, how on earth can this thing rev so easily. What have they done, this can't be that same old engine. The ability to rev.
Oh, slow down. Trundle around, more rain (boo) tempers my reaction.
Come off at J4, head down to Orpington. Raining hard, but the dual carriageway clears out, squeeze in 4th, just stunning - being pushed along, but soooo smooth, no danger of breaking traction.
Get into the 30's, head for central Croydon. Leave it in 1st gear. It no longer feel laboured, it sounds wonderful at about 5500rpm at 25mph, and you could drive the car easily in 1st around town without any issues.
The noise clearly is different. People now hear the car and turn around to find it. A kid falls off his scooter trying to look at what made that noise. I can only hear the "inside" version, but I'm giggling.
Unfortunately I then had to put the car away as I had to sort out things for the new house, but bejesus, this is stunning.
I'm in awe. I knew the M400 was fast. I've driven a lot of fast cars costing 2 or even 3 times as much as my M400. Nothing, absolutely nothing is as fast perceptively as this thing. Words have lost me, I have no idea what to say, apart from if you want a totally new car, then you just have to get one.
T, N & A - Roush has a special bunch of people in you three, and bugger me sideways with a fish fork, I have never ever experienced a car like my M400.
F**K
F**K
F**K
That's all I can say. £2.5k Worth every single penny, in fact, for the result, you'd have to be mad not to buy one!
J
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