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spikyone

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Posts posted by spikyone

  1. Posted · Report reply

    36 minutes ago, Paul said:

    Last time I was on track cost me a new rear end and ~£7k. Does that help? :D

    Fair enough, £50 to get the tyre re-inflated doesn't seem so bad in that context!

    @Lauren, tried that - got it deflated but can't get it re-inflated and it's still sitting off the rim. Looks like there's some debris in there that I can't easily remove. I was surprised by the volume, seems very high with the stock 2nd cat still there.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    On 12/02/2018 at 1:57 PM, VAD17 said:

    Totally agree, just had my first wet track day at Bedford, very similar experience (although I have auto and still on stock exhaust except for TD manifold).

    What noise reading you get with TD catback?

    Just thinking about next mods...emoji3.png

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
     

    So, the noise test at Brands was at 5200rpm, which seems pretty high. They registered 95dB, so noise is on the high side! I will have to double check what rpm Thruxton use to find out whether I'd be OK there.

    And unfortunately I ended my day with a pretty big spin along the grass at Graham Hill Bend that's left me waiting for a mobile tyre fitter to remove all the crap from my wheel and re-inflate the tyre. It had all been going so well til then too...

  3. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, nerdstrike said:

    Depreciation is great... until you own the car.

    In fairness, the GT86 depreciation is one of the best around.  The cheapest on Auto Trader (excluding insurance jobs) is still over £10k and it has over 90k miles on the clock.  So it's still worth 40% of its new price.  The AA reckon on that sort of depreciation being standard for 3 years/30k miles...

  5. Posted · Report reply

    20 minutes ago, VAD17 said:

    Totally agree, just had my first wet track day at Bedford, very similar experience (although I have auto and still on stock exhaust except for TD manifold).

    What noise reading you get with TD catback?

    Just thinking about next mods...emoji3.png

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
     

     

    There's no static noise at Donington, only drive-by, so I don't know yet.  I'm at Brands Hatch next Friday so will post the noise figures after I've been measured.  Hopefully it's still quiet enough to be able to do Thruxton later in the year!

  6. Posted · Report reply

    I realise that for most of you this is going to be preaching to the choir, but after running the Tuning Developments NA package for 6 weeks or so and getting a few road miles and a track day under my belt, I thought I'd share my experiences for anyone that's considering having their car upgraded.

     

    I had the install completed just before Christmas; I stayed in Runcorn at a very cheap hotel, and made my way over to Warrington at 9am.  The work took until about 2pm to complete, including TD's own catback and the MTEC shift springs/Powerflex gearbox insert combination.  I spent some time talking to @Mike@TD.co.uk whilst the work was being done and it's clear that he knows his stuff with GT86s.  He kept me updated with how the work was going, and also kindly took me for a passenger ride in the turbo GT86 :D

    After a couple of post-install dyno runs and a road test, I took the keys back and prepared for the long journey down the M6/M5.  Just pulling out of the estate where TD are based it was obvious that the engine revved more freely.  Spending a bit more time with the package since then has only reinforced that initial impression.  Even keeping the revs below the old torque dip the engine response feels more immediate.  The real benefits become obvious once you get over 3500rpm though.  Plant your right foot at 30mph in 3rd gear, as you might do on a sliproad, and the car pulls effortlessly all the way to the national limit.  Whilst you'll see a ~10% gain in peak power over a standard car, the real improvements come at 4000rpm where you have 25% more torque, and the torque level is almost constant from 3000 - 6750rpm, rather than 4750 - 6750.  It practically doubles the width of the power band, and as you'd imagine the result is like driving a different car.  You can keep the engine in its sweet spot without running it to the redline in every gear

    An added bonus of the flexibility is that it allows you even more potential to exploit the chassis balance and adjustability on the road.  The extra torque means that you have more options coming out of a corner.  I was always a fan of the way that you can neutralise understeer with the right amount of throttle input, and the flat torque curve and sharper throttle response really helps that characteristic shine.

    On track the gains are less obvious but still there.  At track speeds you would normally have been above the dip anyway, but at Donington a couple of weeks back we had quite a wet morning.  I didn't know the circuit, and combined with the rain (and the need to drive home afterwards!) I was fairly cautious early on.  As well as taking less corner speed, I was shifting at lower revs.  The ability to upshift early without dropping into the dip meant that I didn't feel I was losing too much by doing that.  I'm looking forward to getting back to Castle Combe at some point too.  Last time out I was short-shifting to 5th before Folly to avoid an upshift through the corner, and the improved torque curve should mean that it's not so costly to do that.

    As I mentioned after the installation, I also found that fitting the NA package didn't increase my insurance premium, which is through one of the brokers in the Insurance section.

     

    As for the other changes to the car, the catback has given the exhaust note a nice throaty bass in day-to-day driving.  It was initially a little harsher and had a slight drone at motorway speeds, but has mellowed nicely over time and is now quite tuneful.  I can happily listen to music at a sensible volume, without the exhaust drowning it out.  On track it really sings with a lovely race car note.

    The MTEC springs and Powerflex gearbox insert have made a surprisingly big difference for such an affordable modification.  Cold-start 2nd gear issues aside, I'd always thought the GT86 has a very good shift from the factory.  That the springs and insert have improved on it so noticeably is seriously impressive.  It has a really positive feel, and the weight and precision are nothing short of exceptional.

     

    I wouldn't hesitate to recommend both Tuning Developments and the NA package.  The install looks great quality, Mike and Nick know their stuff, and it really is excellent value.

    Lauren, Mya X Ferron, VAD17 and 6 others reacted to this

  8. Posted · Report reply

    6 hours ago, Cerastes said:

    I hate changing into 2nd, it's awful I can't believe Toyota subaru would let it out there factories like that. 

    Even old vauxhall combo vans have better gear changes than these. 

    All the reviews I read of our cars said the gears feel great etc, such liars. I don't remember it being like that when I took 1 for 2 test drives. 

    Chances are when you took it for a test drive, the dealer warmed it up before you got there!  Honestly, I think the stock gearbox is pretty damn good once it's warmed up.  It's precise, has a fairly short throw, and a decent weight.  Although my main benchmark at the moment is the other half's Nissan Juke, and you can practically move the gear stick in a circle when that's in neutral.  :lol:

     

    1 hour ago, Deanusrjm said:

    Sounds like well worth a try. I’ll add this to my list of planned upgrades.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

     

    I'd recommend the MTEC springs and the shift insert too.  Those couple of cheap modifications made a surprisingly big difference considering that I didn't think there was much wrong with the gearbox in the first place.  It slots through the gate with even more precision and an even nicer weight than before and makes the shift a lovely thing to use.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    5 minutes ago, GreenSpring said:

    Imo Cobras don't offer a really deep tone, they do have a nice sound but you mentioned you'd like a deep tone. I picked up an Invidia R400 catback from another forum member and it's just the perfect volume with a real nice deep rumble to it, someone even asked if I had a UEL Manifold. Volume is pretty loud on cold starts as expected but quickly quietens down. I've been using it with a catless front-pipe since I've had it but I imagine it'd have an even deeper done without. If you're local to wiltshire I don't mind meeting up with you so you can have a look/listen :) 

    If you take @GreenSpring up on that offer you'd be welcome to come and listen to my TD resonated catback too, it's the one that @Samsss mentioned :)

  11. Posted · Report reply

    53 minutes ago, Lowe said:

    Not planning on spacers since they’ll be a bit wider than stock even with a guessed 48 ET. And yes, will be refurbed before fitting - I think grey on grey might be a bit too err... dull. But that said the stock wheels are grey on the inside and it’s not too bad I suppose. Tricky one imho. I’m going for a black/carbon look. 

    That's what the spoke stickers are for - giving it a bit of colour :lol:  Sounds like we have similar tastes though; I don't really like bronze wheels with grey either.  Hopefully as long as the wheels are shiny enough, it'll still look good.  I tried some gunmetal TE37SLs on a grey 86 in Gran Turismo and those looked alright, but they're only 8.5J and wider in 18" and the offset is different, which is why I'm leaning towards the CE28SL.  Since ET48 is the same as stock it should keep a similar steering feel with no spacers.  If/when I get some CE28s, I'll go without spacers unless the wheels look so horribly lost that it completely offends me.

    Looking forward to seeing some more pictures when you get everything fitted!

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Lovely wheels!  I was planning exactly the same thing for my grey 86; either TE37 or CE28.  Both styles look perfect on our cars but I was erring towards the CE28SL; I've already asked Lucas how much they would cost and am hoping to buy a set in a few months, all being well...

    Are you going to use spacers, and are you going to have them refurbed in black before fitting?  I'm curious as to how grey-on-grey works as a look.

    Lucas and Lowe reacted to this

  13. Posted · Report reply

    13 hours ago, Mike KTM said:

    Getting closer to take the plunge myself. Hanging back because it’s a long drive from Bristol. 

    Did you go EL or UEL? 

    I did the Black Friday deal so EL, which I wanted anyway. I'm in Swindon and can promise the drive was worth it. I booked into a cheap hotel the night before.

     

    Like @LeviDane I also got a ride in the turbo car and it's an absolute blast. Like the NA kit but even more so. It was so well sorted that from the passenger seat it felt like it pulled as smoothly as a supercharged car. Really impressed with what they've done.

    Mike@TD.co.uk and KevinA reacted to this

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Yes, great to meet you and spend a few hours talking cars - hope it wasn't too much of a distraction from your other work! :)

    I just had "the chat" with my insurer too, Adrian Flux (Marker Study). After reading a horror story about how the package had affected someone else's premium, imagine my delight to find there was no premium increase, just an admin fee :D

    Hope everyone else gets a Christmas present as good as that!

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Had mine done today (thanks @Mike@TD.co.uk!) and I’ve just been out for a late night blast to see how it felt on some empty roads nearby. From a motorway drive back from Warrington I had the impression that it felt better throughout the rev range - not just where the dip used to be, but even below the dip where the graphs show no difference in torque. The quick blast confirmed that feeling, but also highlighted that the engine feels a lot more flexible and just picks up the revs from anywhere on the tacho.

    It’s a bit chilly and I’m still on Primacies, but the added urgency shows off the chassis balance even more. Coming off roundabouts the extra torque made it feel like I was in a lower gear. It was probably helped by the catback, which went from “a bit noisy” doing a steady motorway cruise to “bloody hilarious” when driven enthusiastically (I’ll temper the “bit noisy” part by saying that I’d recently installed the Mishimoto induction hose, which had taken away the previous motorway-speed noise. If I’d fitted the induction hose at the same time as the catback it would be more like a change in the noise rather than being noticeably louder)

     

     

    Mike tempted me with the MTEC shift springs too, which turned the stock car’s very good gearshift into an exceptional gearshift. I’m amazed by how much quicker and more precise it feels, and I didn’t think that was possible. On first impressions it’s also taken away the slight feeling that something was scratching when going across the box (1-2, 3-4, and 5-6). I would certainly recommend that to anyone, even someone who wasn’t planning any performance modifications.

    Lauren, Mya X Ferron and Mike@TD.co.uk reacted to this

  17. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Stutopia said:

    My insurer (advantage) simply refused these mods, so we fell out. After ringing around to find someone who doesn't consider a circa 2.5% bump in BHP enough reason to consider me an existential threat to humanity (Marker Study), I ended up with a £400ish bump. This is obviously my fault, I was so used to previous mods being "bolt on, pay an extra £50" that I didn't do enough research. I won't make the mistake again.

    Makes you wonder why people don't bother telling their insurers about mods.

    Holy crap that's a big jump. Hopefully you'll be able to find something cheaper next year. I know my insurer will cover mods so it's just a question of how hard they'll hit me...

  18. Posted · Report reply

    How much is a "preposterous leap", if you don't mind me asking?  And who are you insured with?  I'm off to see Mike in a couple of weeks and wondering how much mine will go up, though it's currently not too expensive for a stock car (~£320 IIRC).

  21. Posted · Report reply

    6 hours ago, Steeps said:

    For some reason the US/elsewhere are always a year ahead with their model numbers, so the 2018 car is the car you can buy now etc. If your car was registered in 2012 it was probably a 2013 model.

    The model years in the UK are the same for the GT86. Mine is a MY16 and I picked it up in September 2015 - the first ones had arrived here in June/July IIRC. The first cars in the UK were also MY13, I believe - you can tell from the VIN.

    For Blameshift's benefit, whilst there were changes between model years between 2012-2016 (as well as variations between FRS and GT86) I'm not aware of any differences between model years that would affect compatibility with aftermarket parts either.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, VAD17 said:

    And finally, am I correct to assume I should be fine with fully stock car for first couple of track days before primacies wear out and brake pads and fluid need an upgrade (not planning to go for fast laps, building confidence and consistency more important to start with)?

     

    There isn't a man alive that's seen a set of Primacies wear out.  After two track days and a day at Millbrook with @CATDT (CAT Driver Training) mine still look like new...  I'm still on stock pads and fluid too, but will soon be replacing both with something a bit more tolerant of higher temperatures.

    Speaking of CAT, if you haven't done any track time before then it's well worth booking yourself on one of their courses.  By the time you pay for a track day and some insurance, you're easily halfway to the cost of a day with CAT, and the skills that you'll learn with them will let you get the most out of any track days in future.

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