Citroen Xantia Activa????

[300bhp/ton]

Chris_w666 said:

300bhp/ton said:

ad551 said:

Doesn't the handbrake operate on the front wheels on a Xantia? Not good for autotesting surely!

Why does everyone on PH think autosolo is exacty the same as autotest??

I knew the difference but my experience of Autosolos is limited to 2 events both of which suited short cars due to being tight circuits.

I agree, although different classes sort of make it less important unless you are gunning for an outright win, but that takes money as well as skill.

[Chris_w666]

300bhp/ton said:

Chris_w666 said:

300bhp/ton said:

ad551 said:

Doesn't the handbrake operate on the front wheels on a Xantia? Not good for autotesting surely!

Why does everyone on PH think autosolo is exacty the same as autotest??

I knew the difference but my experience of Autosolos is limited to 2 events both of which suited short cars due to being tight circuits.

I agree, although different classes sort of make it less important unless you are gunning for an outright win, but that takes money as well as skill.

Ending the day without breaking anything is an achievement I almost entered an Autosolo on Sunday in the Berlingo just for a giggle.

[saaby93]

Why not fit the Activa suspension mods to the Aantia 4x4 or the other way round?

[anonymous-user]

How about activa suspension on an early hydrogas MGF?? Both cheap cars to buy and a "frankensein" might just work??????? Gets the active benfits with rwd and nimble sized package??

[briSk]

how could they let you enter a xantia activa. "yes i know i can't have a vtec because it's cheated the specific output you expected for that capactity...but can i have a car with suspension like awilliams FW14...?"!

[CampDavid]

I've thought about this.

1x Xantia Activa

1x Supercharge 306GTI-6 Lump (280BHP with a nice usable power band please)

Plate Diff

Taxi insignia.

Should probably run a baffled sump too with all the "G"

[300bhp/ton]

doogz said:

Max_Torque said:

How about activa suspension on an early hydrogas MGF?? Both cheap cars to buy and a "frankensein" might just work??????? Gets the active benfits with rwd and nimble sized package??

I thought the Activa suspension was rubbish though?

Not disagreeing, but why do you say so?

[300bhp/ton]

doogz said:

300bhp/ton said:

doogz said:

Max_Torque said:

How about activa suspension on an early hydrogas MGF?? Both cheap cars to buy and a "frankensein" might just work??????? Gets the active benfits with rwd and nimble sized package??

I thought the Activa suspension was rubbish though?

Not disagreeing, but why do you say so?

Because Max Torque spent hours yesterday bleating on about how he was right and we we're all wrong.

I've never driven the Activa, but i've spent a few hours behind the wheel of a 3.0 V6 version, and it was one of the smoothest comfiest cars i've honestly ever driven.

Sorry, was forgetting Max_Talks additions to that thread

[Citman]

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

[Smike]

Citman said:

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

You would have thought it would beat a Primera with 25bhp less round Thruxton by more than a tenth of a second though? Perhaps it works better on slower bends?

[davepoth]

Smike said:

Citman said:

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

You would have thought it would beat a Primera with 25bhp less round Thruxton by more than a tenth of a second though? Perhaps it works better on slower bends?

I'm a bit lost, where does the Primera bit come from?

[Smike]

davepoth said:

Smike said:

Citman said:

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

You would have thought it would beat a Primera with 25bhp less round Thruxton by more than a tenth of a second though? Perhaps it works better on slower bends?

I'm a bit lost, where does the Primera bit come from?

From an earlier post towards the bottom of page 1 - I was just intrigued as to why it wasn't quite a bit faster than the other similar or lower powered cars at a fast track - perhaps it 'shines' on the road

Page1 said:

"Car" magazine used one at their annual handling day at Thruxton in 1996. Its lap time was 1/10 of a second faster than the P11 Primera Sri with 25ish bhp less.
I think their summary was along the lines of "very able on a B-road, could do with some roll to find the limit on a track".
E36 Compact 318ti was quite a bit quicker and might do better in an autotest perhaps?
Anyway, December '96 issue if you even care....

[300bhp/ton]

Smike said:

davepoth said:

Smike said:

Citman said:

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

You would have thought it would beat a Primera with 25bhp less round Thruxton by more than a tenth of a second though? Perhaps it works better on slower bends?

I'm a bit lost, where does the Primera bit come from?

From an earlier post towards the bottom of page 1 - I was just intrigued as to why it wasn't quite a bit faster than the other similar or lower powered cars at a fast track - perhaps it 'shines' on the road

Page1 said:

"Car" magazine used one at their annual handling day at Thruxton in 1996. Its lap time was 1/10 of a second faster than the P11 Primera Sri with 25ish bhp less.
I think their summary was along the lines of "very able on a B-road, could do with some roll to find the limit on a track".
E36 Compact 318ti was quite a bit quicker and might do better in an autotest perhaps?
Anyway, December '96 issue if you even care....

I guess we'd need a bit more info on exactly which models and how.

I've just done some Googling and Parkers has a 2.0 SRI Preimera listed at 88hp and 14 sec 0-60mph which can't be right. Carfolio doesn't have the SRI but it does have 150 and 180 something 2.0 litre models listed.

But I suppose what you'd really need to make any true sense of comparison is a lap time of non Activa Xantia with the same power/engine and one with. That would tell you how much of an advantage it gives or not.

Coming with other cars makes for false assumptions as you don't really know what the contributing factors are that make it a better or worse lap time, i.e. traction, grip (tyre width/type), gearing, hp and torque curve, brakes.

Reading through the F1 history of active suspension it does appear that it works a lot better on rougher terrain, in F1 this was street circuits I think. And logically this makes sense to me, as rough terrain is what will upset a passive system far more as you can't tune for compliance over the bumps and the stiffness you want for a high speed race car.

I think Mansell wasn't a huge fan of active suspension due to the nature of how it feels, which sort of echo's the Car article....

Active suspension was banned in F1 though, so I suppose by proxy it would suggest that it does indeed make for a competitive advantage.

[NoelWatson]

300bhp/ton said:

Smike said:

davepoth said:

Smike said:

Citman said:

Not sure I approve of this driving at all, given it very much appears to be public roads, but it does give some idea of what it's capable of cornering at speed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1CF_fY4nE

You would have thought it would beat a Primera with 25bhp less round Thruxton by more than a tenth of a second though? Perhaps it works better on slower bends?

I'm a bit lost, where does the Primera bit come from?

From an earlier post towards the bottom of page 1 - I was just intrigued as to why it wasn't quite a bit faster than the other similar or lower powered cars at a fast track - perhaps it 'shines' on the road

Page1 said:

"Car" magazine used one at their annual handling day at Thruxton in 1996. Its lap time was 1/10 of a second faster than the P11 Primera Sri with 25ish bhp less.
I think their summary was along the lines of "very able on a B-road, could do with some roll to find the limit on a track".
E36 Compact 318ti was quite a bit quicker and might do better in an autotest perhaps?
Anyway, December '96 issue if you even care....

I guess we'd need a bit more info on exactly which models and how.

I've just done some Googling and Parkers has a 2.0 SRI Preimera listed at 88hp and 14 sec 0-60mph which can't be right. Carfolio doesn't have the SRI but it does have 150 and 180 something 2.0 litre models listed.

But I suppose what you'd really need to make any true sense of comparison is a lap time of non Activa Xantia with the same power/engine and one with. That would tell you how much of an advantage it gives or not.

Coming with other cars makes for false assumptions as you don't really know what the contributing factors are that make it a better or worse lap time, i.e. traction, grip (tyre width/type), gearing, hp and torque curve, brakes.

Reading through the F1 history of active suspension it does appear that it works a lot better on rougher terrain, in F1 this was street circuits I think. And logically this makes sense to me, as rough terrain is what will upset a passive system far more as you can't tune for compliance over the bumps and the stiffness you want for a high speed race car.

I think Mansell wasn't a huge fan of active suspension due to the nature of how it feels, which sort of echo's the Car article....

Active suspension was banned in F1 though, so I suppose by proxy it would suggest that it does indeed make for a competitive advantage.

http://groups.google.com/group/es.charla.motor/browse_thread/thread/e1e6394b7d36959c/3ba7df0de23eaff4?q=car+thruxton+handling+test+1996

The NSX managed to overcome its cornering limitations to just beat the Xantia


Honda NSX 1:32.12 - 4º
Toyota Supra 1:32.84 - 9º
Porsche 911 1:33.16 - 13º
Lamborghini Diablo SV 1:33.18 - 8º
Nissan Skyline GTR 1:33.36 - 14º
TVR Cerbera 1:33.42 - 20º
BMW M3 1:33.78 - 15º
Caterham Superlight 1:33.80 - 6º
Suburu Impreza Turbo 1:34.01 - 2º
Lotus Elise 1:34.24 - 1º (120 CV !!!)
Mercedes E36 AMG 1:35.44 - 10º
Jaguar XK8 1:37.10 - 11º
Peugeot 106 GTI 1:38.32 - 5º (120 CV !!!)
BMW 528i 1:38:24 - 16º
Alfa Romeo GTV 1:38:52 - 18º
BMW 318ti 1:39.92 - 19º
Citroen Xantia Activa 1:41.86 - 17º
Nissan Primera SRi 1:41.96 - 12º
MGF 1:43.24 - 3º
Peugeot 306 GTI-6 1:43.26 - 7º

[300bhp/ton]

NoelWatson said:

The NSX managed to overcome its cornering limitations to just beat the Xantia

wow thanks

[NoelWatson]

300bhp/ton said:

NoelWatson said:

The NSX managed to overcome its cornering limitations to just beat the Xantia

wow thanks

Welcome

[GHW]

IME, the primary factors for making a fun autotest/solo car are low weight and short wheelbase, not to mention mechanical simplicity (so you can fix it in the paddock when you inevitably break it). The Xantia doesn't excel in any of those categories.

If you're considering RWD, it's difficult to get a nice, small RWD car. Also, a limited slip differential is essential if you're looking to have silly sideways fun on these events. Without an LSD, you'll just be spinning up your inside wheel in slow/tight turns and generally looking like a dick An MX-5 would be a good choice, especially a Mk1 1.8 with a Torsen diff.

However, if it were my £800-£1200 budget for a car that was purely for these events, I'd look at getting a dirt cheap small hatch (probably a S1 106 XSi or Rallye), making sure the rear brakes are in tip-top condition and fitting a fly-off handbrake. It'll be just as much fun as an MX-5, it'll be cheaper and easier to look after and you won't care about giving it a complete raping in an industrial estate car park every weekend

[NoelWatson]

GHW said:

especially a Mk1 1.8 with a Torsen diff.

Will the Torsen be any use on tight uphill bends if the inside rear comes off the ground?

[GHW]

NoelWatson said:

GHW said:

especially a Mk1 1.8 with a Torsen diff.

Will the Torsen be any use on tight uphill bends if the inside rear comes off the ground?

No. But then nothing short of a plate diff will be (you'd find it hard to get a car with one in budget). The Torsen will be lots of use when navigating autotests and autosolos, and other low-speed sideways tomfoolery.

[Smike]

GHW said:

NoelWatson said:

GHW said:

especially a Mk1 1.8 with a Torsen diff.

Will the Torsen be any use on tight uphill bends if the inside rear comes off the ground?

No. But then nothing short of a plate diff will be (you'd find it hard to get a car with one in budget). The Torsen will be lots of use when navigating autotests and autosolos, and other low-speed sideways tomfoolery.

Or a car with a VC type, especially if you have it refreshed and re-rated - a lot of OE ones are tired and working like an open diff now. I think quite a few UK cars had a VC type.

Alternatively a Torsen type can work if you can get one like the T2-R or Wavetrac types