johndglynn Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 So I drove my car for the first time today. Fun working out what it can do and what I need to change to help it do stuff better for me. Here's a pic to get us started: The car has been parked outside in some good old English rain for two days (too busy staring at it to send it to my in-laws garage just yet) and had a bit of water in the rear seat wells this morning, so I will probably change the rear side window seals sometime soon as that is definitely where it is coming from. I had to close the passenger door properly from inside as I pulled out of Tuthills drive (someone had left it ajar) and the interior handle broke off in my hand! Made me laugh out loud, will get something stronger on there as guaranteed even if I am gentler with them, my passengers won't always be and I'm not carrying spares around everywhere. So I will try to find somethnig in ally, or even titanium LOL. On the road the car is so different to the SC. The torque below 4000 rpm feels less, even without the weight of the Cab, but once you get to 4k that car is a rocket. The rate of acceleration from 60 to 100 is excellent, and there were plenty of places I found I was doing an indicated 90 but with no idea of how I got there. I will verify the speedo against GPS this week and see how fast it is really travelling. Brakes: I think the pads could bite harder, so I have ordered the Ferodo DS 3000s like on the SC from Tuthills, should be here soon enough. The pedal feel of the non-assisted brakes is pin-sharp, so you can see why enthusiasts moaned when the servos were brought in with the SCs. Noise, well it's noisy but I knew that and I like it. The exhaust note is much louder inside than it is outside. I had constant heat when I first ran it, I seemed to have gained some cool air later on though, so maybe a flapper was stuck; I was working lever on and off while driving. The windscreen was determinedly 'mildly misty' the whole time, so am sure I will fit a heated screen, no doubt about it. I sit so low in there that the top tint is wasted on me, so I will go for a heated one and wire it into the heated rear window switch, which on the orange is two position. What else - it tracks beautifully, follows a line really fabulous. Still has that IB 'springy' front end over certain series of bumps, so if TC lets me try his again and I find that Andy's car does that any less with the new Smart racing ARB, then that will go on the list. Stiffness, I think the current t-bars are perfect. I love the noise the LSD makes, does not add to the understeer as far as I could discern, but have not started flying into and out of low-speed corners just yet. The Wevo is very nice to use - read VERY nice. You can still feel that the 'box itself does not want to move so quickly sometimes but I like that about the 915 and I won't change the way I drive it just because the shifter feels faster. The directness of the shift with the Wevo shifter, shift coupler and the trans mounts is absolutely top-notch. The Prototipo is really lovely to use, same rim as my Jacky wheel, but there is a spacer in the Proto which pulls it further back from the stalks. Not sure how I like that and might try it without sometime soon. There is also a little bit of play in the top bush and u-joint, so I might change them, even though once on the move it's not that noticeable. Almost not at all, but this stuff is easy to do so why not - I have time to do it and the little darling is not miles from my house like it was for George. Seats are EXCELLENT and can't be faulted, apart from the centre trims don't exactly match but who cares about that. Mirrors, I will keep thinking about the mirror situation So all is very very good indeed, and exactly what I wanted: a good base to work from. Kudos to George for building such a hot little drivers car, and let's see what we can add to the mix in our ownership.
art 1 Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 I think that George has done a phenomanal job judging from your vid, the attention to detail is superb - no wonder you bit the bullet - I hope you have many happy miles ( K`s?) in "the Orange" - love the site & the Craic By the way I`m going to Dublin at the weekend - any advice on venues for music would be appreciated - enjoy the "Orange experience"!!!
heckschleuderer Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 Sounds like the car has come up trumps then. Brilliant...I'm chuffed for you and can't wait to see it in action sometime.
topcarrera Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 (edited) Nice piccies John - Northants countryside always looks so English, love the "Orange" too .............. Edited February 28, 2007 by topcarrera
AirCooledExcellence Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 Nice report JG, glad she's living up to your expectations!
nessie Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 looking great John. You must be one happy bunny. Gorgeous mate! Dave
johndglynn Posted February 28, 2007 Author Posted February 28, 2007 I have put another bit of vid up here, which is the first time I saw it, sat in it and heard it running. Nice sound on this clip, filmed by Sarah and featuring myself and George. Bear in mind it was done in a pitch dark barn so not much we could do about the lighting, apart from I ordered a light for my video camera today. Switzerland was such a good trip, great way to kick off car ownership
MrPerkles Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 I have to reiterate that ride height is spot on
AirCooledExcellence Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 Sounded great in that barn mate!
johndglynn Posted February 28, 2007 Author Posted February 28, 2007 I have to reiterate that ride height is spot on Yes the geometry is terrific, suspension never bottomed out on my fave roads. Approaching lift off is funny though, you can feel the front track narrowing as the suspension travel opens up, very interesting. George said his mechanic, a former Swiss hillclimb champ in his 935, was very impressed with the way it drove and I can see why, it is a lovely ride. One of the cleverest things George has done is that the ride height is not too low, but he has dropped the seating position to more closely mirror the early cars and that gives the impression of a lower centre of gravity. When you come out in it you will see what I mean. Sounded great in that barn mate! Sounds nice at 4000rpm too, can see why Phil Bell used to love his old C3 so much. The car is the total business, wait until you have a spin, you will freak out! I have loads of vid to do, will get into it piece by piece.
hot66 Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 looks loverly John Do you have the geo settings for the car?
johndglynn Posted February 28, 2007 Author Posted February 28, 2007 Do you have the geo settings for the car? I don't mate but I will note them down somewhere when we weigh it, they are the ones to baseline from for sure.
JezHill Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 The Orange sounds as good as it looks. Congratulations, you must be a very happy chappie
Dr_Danger Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 Looking good and nice report John. Can't wait to see it in flesh. Plenty of tinkering ahead , as I always say "It's never right until you do it yourself "
Jean Berk Posted February 28, 2007 Posted February 28, 2007 "It's never right until you do it yourself " Amen to that.
Jacob Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 Ohhh Lordy. Do you still have a quick look before you go to bed to see if it's all nice and safe
johndglynn Posted March 1, 2007 Author Posted March 1, 2007 Do you still have a quick look before you go to bed to see if it's all nice and safe Of course! I am just off out there now as I know I left it open after I picked Orla up from nursery in it
Jacob Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 Good man. Only start to worry when you find yourself falling asleep in it before bed time :mad jg: I still have a look now......
johndglynn Posted March 1, 2007 Author Posted March 1, 2007 Good man. Only start to worry when you find yourself falling asleep in it before bed time :mad jg: Mate I have lost count of the number of times I have fallen asleep in front of the PC, looking at pics of it before going to bed
Dr_Danger Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 I wonder if George has done anything to the center vents so they actually produce some air?
jevvy Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 I have just pulled the footwell blowers and all redundant AC air pipework including the feeds to the center and side vents so my center vents are never gona work again. My rationale was both footwell blowers were stuck solid and I have always had just about enough heat - so by removing the blowers and cleaning up the airflow + tweaking all the cables & tightening all the hose clamps I will actually have more hot air than I used to have and that was almost enough! John car looks great on the UK roads - almost at home. Kinda reminded me of tony the tiger - Orange and GRRRReat:
johndglynn Posted March 1, 2007 Author Posted March 1, 2007 John car looks great on the UK roads - almost at home. Kinda reminded me of tony the tiger - Orange and GRRRReat: Yes mate I agree it looks well in those pics, goes a treat down the lanes too.
Richard Bernau Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 Mucho congrats. This is turning into a bit of of an orange love-in, but it certainly does look like a top little car. Will be interesting to see it in the flesh as it looks like the ride height is within mm of mine but without as much negative. You say its a sensible ride height (it is) but you couldn't go much lower. Looking forward to seeing some of the details. Two constructive comments. ARBs won't make a difference to the springy front feel, though shock valving will. Persevere with the spaced steering wheel. Its invaluable on track having the wheel a little closer and not knocking the stalks on track is also a benefit. The dished Momo 07 type wheels are closer again but you get used to that very quickly. RB
johndglynn Posted March 1, 2007 Author Posted March 1, 2007 Cheers Rich, I like the position of the wheel but guess I am just used to it slightly further away. The Konis are adjustable so will do a bit of reading; George gave me the manual. I am talking about three or four places on our bumpy back roads where a series of bumps will push the front at a fair turn of speed, on normal roads it's a honey, no sweat. I agree any lower would be a mistake but are you talking about physically lower - I think it's quite a bit higher than say Lewis' car for example. You have me itching to drive it again now and I am stuck into some work! The Heigo is a beaut btw, superb.
Andre Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 Ohhh Lordy. Do you still have a quick look before you go to bed to see if it's all nice and safe I know I would... Mate I have lost count of the number of times I have fallen asleep in front of the PC, looking at pics of it before going to bed We probably all have...!
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