ghce
Well-Known Member
Well, yesterday we had a dry day and a chance to do a bit more driving. The conversion is superb in context of what the P6 is – a 50 year old car. There clearly is huge reserves of grip, it’s just a question of how comfortable things feel getting towards that point. The handling is still utterly predictable, which is the main thing - the bar doesn't change this. What becomes obvious now is that the next limitation is at the front tyres. You can certainly feel the sidewalls moving, I’m guessing going for the Vitesse alloys with the bigger tyres pretty much addresses this. Also as has been stated you need to re-educate yourself quite a lot as to what to expect entering a bend. You don’t need to ask your passengers to brace themselves either.
How to describe it? Well, comparisons between anything modern is just completely pointless, everything is now engineered towards wide low profile tyres and a much firmer ride. The nearest in my (limited) experience would be something like an mid-80s Mercedes E-class with a fair bit more balance towards understeer. Perhaps more like a 250D or 300D with the heavy motor out front… Maybe the HD springs can push the balance a little rearwards?
I took it along a local road that follows the Rhein (Irchelsrasse between Teufen and Berg am Irchel) which is about as close to a handling circuit as you can find around here. Every year we get motorcyclists killed because the corners are blind and tighten as they progress. Well the car felt great, until I had a reality check and I could barely keep up with a young woman in her mid-90s Ford Fiesta…. The car handles and has power but with only 3 automatic gears, you simply can’t accelerate out of the slow corners.
One thing I do miss compared to my old P6 is the PAS, not because of the assistance on the move but because the 4.5 turns lock to lock and massive wheel really does make the car more ponderous than it could be. The PAS box is 3.25 turns and this makes a massive difference. (the SD1 only 2.7!).
I think the bar, HD rear springs, gas dampers (which ones?) and PAS (with smaller wheel) is about as far as I’ll go. I don't think any surgery or radical springs are on the cards. I do still want it to ride like a P6. I will certainly put back my 14” alloys as the wider rim gives noticeably better control for the standard tyres. Keep the Rostyles for shows.
No PAS? that would make roundabouts a real chore I would expect, you should sort that if you want a more pleasurable experience.
Your assessment seems to be pretty close to mine though I think even with the SD1 mags and wider profiled tires you can still feel sidewall movement but in a pleasant way, I know before conversion I couldn't sort dip and roll from body and isolate tires from the mix.
As I noted before it does take time to relearn the new driving parameters that the thicker bar makes.
Interesting to note your comments on the 3 spd box, I think that even a 4 spd box conversion would still not fully address this, either a 5 spd manual box or 6 spd auto or better would definitely make the performance more competitive.
Perhaps the difference between the Fiesta and the V8 is not only the gears available but the more flexible rev range on the 4 cylinder car as the power to weight is probably pretty even between them.
I always remember back in my earlier motoring days my vast disappointment of having the much looked down on Austin 1300 (land crab style) thoroughly owning my 6 cylinder MkII Zodiac (110+ HP export model) on any road that had hills or bends. The 1300's extra gear and manual box plus the revy engine made a huge difference on the engine capacity though I am sure its lighter body was a big factor also.
Graeme