And Steve thanks for the PM on dent removal, very kind mate, Will let you know how it works out.

So it looks like I will be a Guinea Pig for the KW/Weitec ST Dampers

 

Watch this space for a review.

 

Thanks to Al at Awesome GTI for helping me out

Looking forward to reading your results. Being a mountain biker I know a little about suspension. The fundamentals between bike suspension and cars are similar; with my limited knowledge I have concluded that the standard dampers are pants! :-p

They have no or very little high speed compression which gives the crashy ride we all have.

I'm sure this will be a very worthy upgrade for both ride comfort and handling.

how much to fit them sparkly? or are you going to try yourself?

how much to fit them sparkly? or are you going to try yourself?

For the dampers and LCR top mounts and bearings.

With my tame mechanic helping me out/doing the hard stuff I expect £60-80, it will be more if I throw in a full chassis of polybushes and a FARB. I am tempted to just get that lot done.

Then £50 to go and get a full hunter alignment.

with bushes and FARB as well as dampers, it should be the best handling mark II we have so far! (we may have to swop cars for a lap at How fast! lol) then you could say if mine is down on power to yours )

with bushes and FARB as well as dampers, it should be the best handling mark II we have so far! (we may have to swop cars for a lap at How fast! lol) then you could say if mine is down on power to yours )

 

I'd be a little miffed if yours isn't down on power to a Stage 2 car

The one disadvantage of doing everything at once is that you don't know what the improvement or lack of is from each part.

 

btw...Just curious. What was the difference in lap times at the last track day between the hatches and the mighty estate?

The one disadvantage of doing everything at once is that you don't know what the improvement or lack of is from each part.

 

btw...Just curious. What was the difference in lap times at the last track day between the hatches and the mighty estate?

 

very true, but the cost saving on fitting might outweigh my curiosity plus if the car ends up handling nicely, I won't much care.

 

there was no lap timing at Combe as that would class the track day as competitive.

 

As for who was quicker: Dave in his stock engine CTHE with lowering springs and RARB comprehensively did me in my Stage 1 CAVE when we were out on track in the session I drove. 

 

For me though the jury is out as to what if any conclusions can be drawn other than Dave has more experience of the track and on track in general, and by all accounts is probably a more competent driver.  I, in theory had a power advantage of at least 15-20hp and better brakes, albeit the pads weren't bedded in.  Dave had his lovely Federal RSR tyres and a better sense of direction

 

For the sake of banter, I would say that by the end of the open sessions I was clearly much much faster than him though

 

................awaits come back

Impossible to compare IMO, due to different driver ability, experience and knowledge of Combe.

Not to mention Dave runs track day rubber.

 

I think you should both lend your cars to me for a comparison.

I think you should both lend your cars to me for a comparison.

 

This :yes:

Impossible to compare IMO, due to different driver ability, experience and knowledge of Combe.

Not to mention Dave runs track day rubber.

 

I think you should both lend your cars to me for a comparison.

 

Done!  That would be genuinely entertaining

 

But if it comes back broken I want a K04 Yeti vRS in exchange

very true, but the cost saving on fitting might outweigh my curiosity plus if the car ends up handling nicely, I won't much care.

 

there was no lap timing at Combe as that would class the track day as competitive.

 

As for who was quicker: Dave in his stock engine CTHE with lowering springs and RARB comprehensively did me in my Stage 1 CAVE when we were out on track in the session I drove. 

 

For me though the jury is out as to what if any conclusions can be drawn other than Dave has more experience of the track and on track in general, and by all accounts is probably a more competent driver.  I, in theory had a power advantage of at least 15-20hp and better brakes, albeit the pads weren't bedded in.  Dave had his lovely Federal RSR tyres and a better sense of direction

 

For the sake of banter, I would say that by the end of the open sessions I was clearly much much faster than him though

 

................awaits come back

 

well if you are stage two as well at how fast you will muller me! lol.... although bedford is not a power circuit

 

Impossible to compare IMO, due to different driver ability, experience and knowledge of Combe.

Not to mention Dave runs track day rubber.

 

I think you should both lend your cars to me for a comparison.

PMSL...... dont think I dare let you in my car! lol....

looking forward to seeing the yeti vRS and the citigo!  

 

and the sparkly machine should be bloody quick when its done!

very true, but the cost saving on fitting might outweigh my curiosity plus if the car ends up handling nicely, I won't much care.

 

there was no lap timing at Combe as that would class the track day as competitive.

 

As for who was quicker: Dave in his stock engine CTHE with lowering springs and RARB comprehensively did me in my Stage 1 CAVE when we were out on track in the session I drove. 

 

For me though the jury is out as to what if any conclusions can be drawn other than Dave has more experience of the track and on track in general, and by all accounts is probably a more competent driver.  I, in theory had a power advantage of at least 15-20hp and better brakes, albeit the pads weren't bedded in.  Dave had his lovely Federal RSR tyres and a better sense of direction

 

For the sake of banter, I would say that by the end of the open sessions I was clearly much much faster than him though

 

................awaits come back

 

Don't worry about your pace so much on your first visit to a track as you will feel a lot more comfortable there on your next visit.

 

Also having driven on the Federal RSR's myself I would say for the money they are a get buy. After 2 events on them I am about to rotate them and should be able to do 7 or 8 track days on them this year easy.

I hope you are coming to Bedford for Brisky How Fast? in August Mr Sparkly.

I'll be there Richard, might be a bit too close to the National Meet though for me to do both, we will see.  Would be a big hit on track passes that month.

 

Another small order placed todays with AKS

 

I think you'll need to change the car name after all of this is done from the "Mean Green" to...........

 

maybe..............

 

hmmmmmm..................

 

not tooo sure....................

 

"Green Mean Machine that handles and runs like a Dream"

Hopefully the dampers and new dogbone mount will arrive whilst I am out of the country, then fitting next week.

Currently sampling the minestrone in the BA Lounge at Manchester contemplating the 15 hours of flying ahead of me. :(

Back in the country and nestled under my desk are a very nice looking set of new dampers, hopefully these can be installed in the next few weeks and sort out my ride (which I hope is due to ailing dampers and topmounts)

 

Little confusion over delivery of my Vibratechnics dogbone mount so that is being dropped off next week.

 

Will get some snaps of the dampers up when I get chance.

WOW Mark,  the money you're spending on your Fabia is unreal but if you can go for it.

WOW Mark,  the money you're spending on your Fabia is unreal but if you can go for it.

 

....and here i was thinking that I was being quite frugal

Crummy iPhone pic but........

Do ya think they will lower your car any more mark.??

Do ya think they will lower your car any more mark.??

Nope!

Springs should determine height not dampers, if anything the new replacement bump stops might raise the front a scooch

I don't want the car any lower or it will pass into showcar and no longer serve as it's intended purpose as dadmobile and occasional track day warrior.