Factory visit 181203:
Discussion
Went to see R77 - work in progress last week (see photos here:
http://gallery33388.fotopic.net/
Whilst I was there Simon offered me a drive of the Red factory car (surprisingly, I had not driven anything bar an early 2.5 before placing my order (I must have placed significant trust in the marque which now appears sound!).
IMHO the 3R appears to be a significant improvement on previous models (sorry 2.5 peeps but you still have great machines!) - the 6-speed gearchange was sweet - can't say anything else, the exhaust note a lovely gurgle (even if it isn't a V8!) but the handling, well, even though the conditions were damp it seemed to make no difference when this beastie was booteed into bends like they were layed with evo-stik - amazing! And as a testament to the massive torque Simon revelled in his stock demo of pulling sweetly and smoothly from c.800 revs in 6th up to what the road allowed absolutely without any sign of hesitiation! And all this without a rattle or squeak from a test car with over 11,000 hammered miles on the clock!
I discovered one thing that requires further investigation though - even though I'm 5'10"-ish I could not seem to see anything except sky out of the rear window - Simon said he could see fine and, no disrespect intended, but he's shorter than me - any thoughts?
Interestingly we weren't offered Tea but Coffee - is this a new trend towards the continental market I wonder?!
http://gallery33388.fotopic.net/
Whilst I was there Simon offered me a drive of the Red factory car (surprisingly, I had not driven anything bar an early 2.5 before placing my order (I must have placed significant trust in the marque which now appears sound!).
IMHO the 3R appears to be a significant improvement on previous models (sorry 2.5 peeps but you still have great machines!) - the 6-speed gearchange was sweet - can't say anything else, the exhaust note a lovely gurgle (even if it isn't a V8!) but the handling, well, even though the conditions were damp it seemed to make no difference when this beastie was booteed into bends like they were layed with evo-stik - amazing! And as a testament to the massive torque Simon revelled in his stock demo of pulling sweetly and smoothly from c.800 revs in 6th up to what the road allowed absolutely without any sign of hesitiation! And all this without a rattle or squeak from a test car with over 11,000 hammered miles on the clock!
I discovered one thing that requires further investigation though - even though I'm 5'10"-ish I could not seem to see anything except sky out of the rear window - Simon said he could see fine and, no disrespect intended, but he's shorter than me - any thoughts?
Interestingly we weren't offered Tea but Coffee - is this a new trend towards the continental market I wonder?!
Ah - the "I've driven a 3R but not seen what they did to the 2.5's" thread 
"Bootability" = LSD. Yep - got one of those (and personally I find the 2.5l's better than the 3's under "extreem" circumstances
)
"Mid range" - yep - new 2.5l map sorts that out (although they now need to remap the low bits again) - ask AG about my 2.5's mid range
800-3000rpm - see above, lost a little bit on the new 2.5l map, but I am sure it will be back.
352 - hmm - I'll defer until I've dynoed my "finished" 2.5l - but happy to play "head to head" at Brunters VMAS IV. I've heard from "them that know" that the 6 speed maybe too close? Is it true....?????
6 speed - nice 2nd & 3rd, but is it overall better to the latest "sorted" 5 speed? Happy to play 'jousting' at Brunters
Don't write off us 2.5l's yet - some of us have been having serious fun with the "old Mondeo lump", and remember, it may actually give a better price vs bangs-for-buck than your new fangled whizzy things
Finally - exhaust.... At least I managed to pass the Goodwood noise limit and still get the old "ohhh - nice" comment
J
>> Edited by joust on Monday 22 December 22:23
"Bootability" = LSD. Yep - got one of those (and personally I find the 2.5l's better than the 3's under "extreem" circumstances
) "Mid range" - yep - new 2.5l map sorts that out (although they now need to remap the low bits again) - ask AG about my 2.5's mid range
800-3000rpm - see above, lost a little bit on the new 2.5l map, but I am sure it will be back.
352 - hmm - I'll defer until I've dynoed my "finished" 2.5l - but happy to play "head to head" at Brunters VMAS IV
. I've heard from "them that know" that the 6 speed maybe too close? Is it true....????? 6 speed - nice 2nd & 3rd, but is it overall better to the latest "sorted" 5 speed? Happy to play 'jousting' at Brunters
Don't write off us 2.5l's yet - some of us have been having serious fun with the "old Mondeo lump", and remember, it may actually give a better price vs bangs-for-buck than your new fangled whizzy things
Finally - exhaust.... At least I managed to pass the Goodwood noise limit and still get the old "ohhh - nice" comment
J
>> Edited by joust on Monday 22 December 22:23
Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff