Discussion
Aren't they amazing? I had a bit of a drag race with a Golf GTI Edition 30 this afternoon (the 226bhp model) and while I had passengers and the other driver was on his own, I was surprised how evenly matched our cars were in spite of a 300bhp power difference. From 30-80mph there really wasn't much in it but after that power took over and he quickly became a spec in the mirror.
I know it has a lot to do with gear selection etc but I have noticed on several occasions weight is the 'Ros biggest penalty. Once it gets going it just keeps going while other cars run out of puff but by then you are in ban-inducing territory.
I think the point about weight is perfectly illustrated by bikes and the way they can do super-fast 0-100 times without even trying.
I remember a few months back Autocar came to a similar conclusion with the R26 Megane which was able to keep even an Audi RS4 honest. Funny thing physics.
I'm off out to remove my passenger seats!
I know it has a lot to do with gear selection etc but I have noticed on several occasions weight is the 'Ros biggest penalty. Once it gets going it just keeps going while other cars run out of puff but by then you are in ban-inducing territory.
I think the point about weight is perfectly illustrated by bikes and the way they can do super-fast 0-100 times without even trying.
I remember a few months back Autocar came to a similar conclusion with the R26 Megane which was able to keep even an Audi RS4 honest. Funny thing physics.
I'm off out to remove my passenger seats!
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th January 14:28
LOL - You can always use the "take every other bolt out approach"
The carpet is probably a little heavy as it has thick soundproofing on it. The door cards, speakers/stereo, air con etc the list goes on and gets very silly.
Passenger seat is a very heavy item were as the rear seats are heavy but not as bad.
Cheers
Steven
The carpet is probably a little heavy as it has thick soundproofing on it. The door cards, speakers/stereo, air con etc the list goes on and gets very silly.
Passenger seat is a very heavy item were as the rear seats are heavy but not as bad.
Cheers
Steven
Don't you find most people don't even try though? I get the impression that most petrol-headed folk recognise the Monaro, know it's a fast bit of kit, and step aside. Same with my old Quattro. The only people who've had a go have been the Subaru/Evo boys.
But as you say the Monaro is too big and heavy for that sort of caper. S3 or something like that for me next time, I'm fed up with slithering all over the road.
But as you say the Monaro is too big and heavy for that sort of caper. S3 or something like that for me next time, I'm fed up with slithering all over the road.
I agree, I've been in an S3 and a DSG GTI and while they were quite fast it was as exciting as sitting in a tumble dryer (an automatic tumble dryer in the GTI's case). The Ro feels exciting, especially on slippery roads.
I'm sure more power isn't the answer as I have plenty of that so I might look at gearing/diff ratios next.
Here's an interesting statistic:
30-70mph in the Golf R32 (couldn't find any stats for the Edition 30) is 5.9 secs, in an 6.0 VXR it's 4.2 secs. That's sod all in the real world!
I'm sure more power isn't the answer as I have plenty of that so I might look at gearing/diff ratios next.
Here's an interesting statistic:
30-70mph in the Golf R32 (couldn't find any stats for the Edition 30) is 5.9 secs, in an 6.0 VXR it's 4.2 secs. That's sod all in the real world!
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th January 16:58
Wormus said
"I think a Smart car with a Hayabusa engine is the perfect solution"
Nearly right, how about a Bond Bug (yes, the orange 3 wheeler) with a Hayabusa engine and nitros? I saw one at Santa Pod, won't go around corners, but certainly brown trouser material - no door cards to take out either! L.o.l.
"I think a Smart car with a Hayabusa engine is the perfect solution"
Nearly right, how about a Bond Bug (yes, the orange 3 wheeler) with a Hayabusa engine and nitros? I saw one at Santa Pod, won't go around corners, but certainly brown trouser material - no door cards to take out either! L.o.l.
I've not had a race as such but I did have a cross country burn with my mate in his Skyline. Nothing in it, Skyline has 260 BHP vs my 354. I did once follow a Yarris VVTi or something out of a bend up a hill and he started pulling away from me at 30MPH in second. I was furious, not at him but at Vauxhall for screwing up the Monaro's gearing. That is why I changed it.
I think that's part of the problem - it's easy to catch the engine knapping even with FI. Through habbit I tend to drive mine everywhere at around 2000rpm because the gearing is so high. I still have no idea what 6th is for as it only pulls cleanly above 85mph.
With a 2 litre turbo petrol there is always a tendency to keep it on the boil above 3000rpm so there is always instant 'go'.
Is it worth changing the diff ratio and is it difficult to recallibrate the speedo afterwards?
With a 2 litre turbo petrol there is always a tendency to keep it on the boil above 3000rpm so there is always instant 'go'.
Is it worth changing the diff ratio and is it difficult to recallibrate the speedo afterwards?
wormus said:
I know it has a lot to do with gear selection etc but I have noticed on several occasions weight is the 'Ros biggest penalty. Once it gets going it just keeps going while other cars run out of puff but by then you are in ban-inducing territory.
Don't think weight is the problem. Net power/weight is 170 vs 310 (approx), which should be conclusive.I'd say it's the gearing and gear selection. If he had DSG he could bang down a couple of cogs in under a second and drop right into the power band.
Power/weight is overrated in some respects. Extreme example was Caterham Fireblade I owned - under 500kg including full tank and driver, 135bhp, gives 270bhp/tonne gross and 0-60 in about 4, but reality was that at anything over 50mph it felt slow due to aero drag, and it topped out not much over 100mph. Brilliant round a track, pants on a motorway.
John
wormus said:
RoastBeef said:
wormus said:
Including passengers I must have had a 450kg weight penalty
Fat B*stards................Get some lightweight friends!!!
S600VXR said:
Was the race with a SC Ro? Find it hard to see a hot hatch matching mines get up and go.
Yes, mine has 520bhp and on a mile long straight it would have been conclusive. Over 80mph he disappeared backwards as mine was just starting to get going. My point (if I have one) is up to that speed these little cars are blooming quick!
I took my bike (ZX-12) to work this morning and it was the same story - a whiff of throttle and you are flying without hardly any effort.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 21st January 08:55
wormus said:
S600VXR said:
Was the race with a SC Ro? Find it hard to see a hot hatch matching mines get up and go.
Yes, mine has 520bhp and on a mile long straight it would have been conclusive. Over 80mph he disappeared backwards as mine was just starting to get going. My point (if I have one) is up to that speed these little cars are blooming quick!I took my bike (ZX-12) to work this morning and it was the same story - a whiff of throttle and you are flying without hardly any effort.
Edited by wormus on Monday 21st January 08:55
then you have the turbo diesel hot hatches to contend with....
one of our other cars (the mrs's) alfa 147 jtdm is as quick as a petrol golf gti standard (sounds as dull as well)
with a q2 diff and chipped to 200bhp 300lb/ft torque these little things are blindingly quick - plus 45mpg
i enjoy the 1476 - good fun - but the hsv is sooo much quicker if its in the right gear at the right time ;-)
one of our other cars (the mrs's) alfa 147 jtdm is as quick as a petrol golf gti standard (sounds as dull as well)
with a q2 diff and chipped to 200bhp 300lb/ft torque these little things are blindingly quick - plus 45mpg
i enjoy the 1476 - good fun - but the hsv is sooo much quicker if its in the right gear at the right time ;-)
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