Discussion
DanG355 said:
Still a ball ache and better if you have both the belts and harness available. Harness for track use and normal belt for the drive home. I imagine filling up with fuel, get back in the car, fiddle with harnesses and get it all plugged in and tightened up and then realise you’ve left the fuel flap open and then have to do it all again...
Seriously though, it’s a great thing to look at, listen to, own and hoon around a track in. 10/10 Pistonhead-Meter rating.
What can I say, it is what it is! It's annoying that Mercedes didn't think of this, especially for the GT R Pro. My GT3RS manages to combine both belts just fine but Porsche's engineering (motorsport) brain is always thinking of such things. I'll take being strapped in on-track and not moving in the seat over the faff of the harnesses on the road (just). Time will tell....If it becomes too much of a pain I might investigate retro-fitting an extra attachment to the seats so both belts can be used. Roll on the first track day of the year in late April. Seriously though, it’s a great thing to look at, listen to, own and hoon around a track in. 10/10 Pistonhead-Meter rating.
TuxMan said:
It’s will be interesting too see how it compares to the GT3 !!!
I’m selling my Noble to change to a AMG GTR and the only concern I have is the weight difference, especially on track !
Wow you're going from c. 1,100 kg to c 1,700 kg! I've heard great things about Noble. How have you found it? I had a Lotus 3-Eleven for a while (c 975kg) and every time I got in the GT3RS (c 1,450 kg) it felt like a tank! However, the engineering integrity just wasn't in the lightweight. I’m selling my Noble to change to a AMG GTR and the only concern I have is the weight difference, especially on track !
TuxMan said:
I have loved it !! Had it for 12 years and done over 100 track days as well as racing in UK Time Attack , I have totally rebuilt it over the last 18 months ready for this year but I have a very bad left knee and I’m struggling to drive it !!!
Thinking it’s time for a change but not sure !,
Wow, your Noble looks epic. And I love how you're using it. Double thumbs up. Thinking it’s time for a change but not sure !,
The Merc is now at home sweet home. Initial impressions? Monster engine (though I'm not a huge fan of the piped in soundtrack); superb ceramic brakes (I like an immediate brake pedal); sharp steering, which starts off light and gets progressively heavier (not as much feeling/texture as I'd like, mind); lightweight feel (honesty, it doesn't feel heavy at all); epic view down the never-ending bonnet (which also makes it tricky to place - thank goodness for the parking camera). Next step? Get to grips with the seemingly unlimited number of in-cockpit settings and options.
LeroyLoser said:
Love the blue, couldnt find that colour when getting ours, awesome cars, this is one of the best cars ive ever owned (and thats many), on track or tour its a beast at both.
Didnt want the full blown gtr as needed it to be a bit more user friendly but i did want the same engine & power so i plumped for the gtc which is identical to the gtr (unlike the std or s variants) under the hood bar mapping, turbo & injectors are different on the std & s (so i was told)
Anyway, lots of track days under its belt now, sticky cup2s fitted as per the gtr & today i got her mapped to push things on a bit more..
Great results by DMS, never knew the torque limiter was so severe!
Wow, fantastic gains. Any concerns about reliability? I guess DMS have done many such conversions to the 4.0L V8 twin turbo that they should know. Didnt want the full blown gtr as needed it to be a bit more user friendly but i did want the same engine & power so i plumped for the gtc which is identical to the gtr (unlike the std or s variants) under the hood bar mapping, turbo & injectors are different on the std & s (so i was told)
Anyway, lots of track days under its belt now, sticky cup2s fitted as per the gtr & today i got her mapped to push things on a bit more..
Great results by DMS, never knew the torque limiter was so severe!
LeroyLoser said:
My concern and question to dms was why the torque limiter was so severe, i was thinking gearbox woes with that kind of torque.. they said it was just mercedes controlling the mapping to allow space in the market for the gtr, i sort of see that but when i asked how severe the limiter was on the gtr they said it was very similar, so i duno..
They have done a fair few gtrs apparently with the same results, i’m assuming with no issues thereafter..
If you look at where mercedes has gone with the development of this engine though, it produces 640hp in the gt 4 door and that has the same gearbox as the gt coupe, not seen a torque curve for this car to know if its torque limited in the same way, be interesting to see.
Would you wholeheartedly recommend the DMS Stage 1? They have done a fair few gtrs apparently with the same results, i’m assuming with no issues thereafter..
If you look at where mercedes has gone with the development of this engine though, it produces 640hp in the gt 4 door and that has the same gearbox as the gt coupe, not seen a torque curve for this car to know if its torque limited in the same way, be interesting to see.
LeroyLoser said:
The establishment is top notch, very confidence inspiring and they map many high end cars, the facility is fantastic and theyve been mapping for as many years as i can remember and i’m 50, never heard a bad word about them.
As for the map, early days, only had ot done today and havent even opened it up yet as it was nose to tail traffic on the way home so i couldn't recommend yet i’m afraid, the jury is out..
Let us know what you think of the re-map once you’ve had a chance to try it out properly.As for the map, early days, only had ot done today and havent even opened it up yet as it was nose to tail traffic on the way home so i couldn't recommend yet i’m afraid, the jury is out..
LeroyLoser said:
Still perfectly tractable to bumble around in, still easy to drive smoothly with no shunting (had read renntechs map caused shunting)
On the cup2s it handles full deploy 2nd gear >
The torque difference is huge but it carry’s on building harder and harder and then the hp takes over toward the red line.
Big difference to std but certainly doesn’t overwhelm the chassis or tires, std road tires would be different I’m sure. Very happy so far, track tomorrow so that’ll be interesting.
Let us know how you get on. On the cup2s it handles full deploy 2nd gear >
The torque difference is huge but it carry’s on building harder and harder and then the hp takes over toward the red line.
Big difference to std but certainly doesn’t overwhelm the chassis or tires, std road tires would be different I’m sure. Very happy so far, track tomorrow so that’ll be interesting.
LeroyLoser said:
Looking very 
The rear end I love particularly, so much so its lead me to liking the latest 911, they’re very similar..
That last pic with the heat haze beneath the car would look great blown up on the wall..
Not been able to drive mine for 2mths now as its stuck in storage in uk, getting withdrawals
I have however just bought the facelift S63 Cabrio to sit alongside it and i have to say I think it sounds better than the the GT, same engine but sounds deeper for some reason, longer pipes maybe..
Anyway, as a substitute its doing very well, in its ‘race mode’ (i know, 2.2t 4 seat convertible) and ‘track pace’ setting its surprisingly good fun, took it round the ring last week spontaneously (collected car from germany) and tested ‘track pace’ which means you can select the Nurburgring and it automatically records your time and telemetry, wtf? On a 4 seat cabrio?! does the pro have this? (my GTC doesnt), then you select luxury setting and it is second to none (replaced or S63 saloon), dogs in the back, bikes on the tow hitch & off on euro trip, going next week so we’ll see how it does.
Reason i say this, is because I think i’ll go more hardcore for the track as the GTC doesnt need to have a soft side to it anymore with roof down possibilities, so maybe px the GTC for the GTR and get some serious modifications done..
Alternatively i’m having a strange hankering for the GT3RS, which is definitely that ‘strange’ as i never really have, something to do with early test drives (circa late 90s) left me very unimpressed (bouncy front end and off set steering(rhd), so maybe not that strange.
Anyway, how does your pro compare to the GT3 RS? I know my GTC in its current state will play with the new GT3s all day long on track and it certainly surprises a few owners and more than holds its own but i cant quite stay with RSs, so I am intrigued, I do love V8s but the scream of that flat 6 is quite something, though i also have a V12 itch to scratch before its too late (have a 50th birthday, Aventador to test for 2 days in july so maybe this will surfice)
Be interested in your thoughts if you track both? sorry for early morning ramble, i do that apparently
The Mercedes and Porsche are like chalk and cheese, which is why I particularly like this combination. The GT3RS feels like a race car (although a perfectly habitable one) designed for the road, whereas the GT R feels like a road car which is capable of performing at a track day. In reality, the Porsche is the sharper tool, especially when you up at 9/10ths. It’s engine is like a scalpel. It’s also lighter and the visibility is superior. The Mercedes counters with better road manners and an engine with vast reserves of torque so you don’t need to drive as if you’re on a qualifying lap to turn in a respectable lap time. It’s also the nicer and more comfortable place to sit in when driving to and from track days. The Mercedes does, however, eat tyres and feels less happy when you’re pounding round the circuit lap after lap. The natural habitat for the Mercedes is Silverstone, Spa, the Ring etc. It just feels a bit big for the small tracks. I love them both. The rear end I love particularly, so much so its lead me to liking the latest 911, they’re very similar..
That last pic with the heat haze beneath the car would look great blown up on the wall..
Not been able to drive mine for 2mths now as its stuck in storage in uk, getting withdrawals
I have however just bought the facelift S63 Cabrio to sit alongside it and i have to say I think it sounds better than the the GT, same engine but sounds deeper for some reason, longer pipes maybe..
Anyway, as a substitute its doing very well, in its ‘race mode’ (i know, 2.2t 4 seat convertible) and ‘track pace’ setting its surprisingly good fun, took it round the ring last week spontaneously (collected car from germany) and tested ‘track pace’ which means you can select the Nurburgring and it automatically records your time and telemetry, wtf? On a 4 seat cabrio?! does the pro have this? (my GTC doesnt), then you select luxury setting and it is second to none (replaced or S63 saloon), dogs in the back, bikes on the tow hitch & off on euro trip, going next week so we’ll see how it does.
Reason i say this, is because I think i’ll go more hardcore for the track as the GTC doesnt need to have a soft side to it anymore with roof down possibilities, so maybe px the GTC for the GTR and get some serious modifications done..
Alternatively i’m having a strange hankering for the GT3RS, which is definitely that ‘strange’ as i never really have, something to do with early test drives (circa late 90s) left me very unimpressed (bouncy front end and off set steering(rhd), so maybe not that strange.
Anyway, how does your pro compare to the GT3 RS? I know my GTC in its current state will play with the new GT3s all day long on track and it certainly surprises a few owners and more than holds its own but i cant quite stay with RSs, so I am intrigued, I do love V8s but the scream of that flat 6 is quite something, though i also have a V12 itch to scratch before its too late (have a 50th birthday, Aventador to test for 2 days in july so maybe this will surfice)
Be interested in your thoughts if you track both? sorry for early morning ramble, i do that apparently
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