Rally cars.. everyone needs one really...

[Tumble]

Blimey.. down at Zak's this weekend, and he took me out for a spin in the Hexus Rally Machine... does it ever get to not that fast at all quickly.. the thing LIVES at 5k+ and whines like an absolute mofo.. everyone also needs a Quaiffe gearbox... the feel is just sublime.. oh yeah - I got to drive it too Couldn't stop grinning all day! The thing is a monster... and Zak reckons it's not as beastly as some of the cars he races against - trust me - this is a frightening thought. There are cars that will go much much faster than the old L reg 1.6 Astra, but there are VERY few that can accelerate, absolutely full-tilt through 1st 2nd AND 3rd, whilst going round quite a tight corner and not come unglued.. and nothing in the entire world stops like it... I had to close my eyes so the contact lenses wouldn't fall out, and then he tells me the brakes aren't going their best yet cos they weren't warmed up enough..... utterly nuts.... The car is just so damned rigid... you feel EVERYTHING in the road, and yet it's not really uncomfortable, due most probably to the fine shock absorbers it sits on.

Suffice to say - it's the most fun thing I've ever driven, althoguh it took a bit of effort to get my head round the instruction to "Give it death in each gear and don't stop till it hits the rev limiter..." It just isn't in my nature to rag the death out of a car like that.. but the grin factor is HUGE, and well well worth it. If I had the time, and the money, I would build one. Sadly, I have neither but.. wow, just wow

[jon bda]

Hehe...have fun did we...

[Zak33]

he did.....just gotta teach him that all cars have a red line and its not a bad place to be

Tumble's face as he stomped the brakes (cos I told him to) and he shot forward in the harness

The gearkit is second to none.....and the cage makes the car the rock that it is. Glad he got a chance to experience it...its a dam hard thing to try to tell someone....the pure happyness of going round a tight 270 left from 1st to 2nd to 3rd without ever lifting, as the torsen diff does its job, and exiting it 6000 to an upchanges...the gear kit screaming in your ears and the stunning thought that 4th and then 5th are there and now they are gone, used, done and dusted....we'd be at 91 mph again

and TODAY is Unichip day

Gonna leave it there....all week, for them to tweak

[jon bda]

Should feel like a different car when you get it back...hopefully!.

[Zak33]

you can only hope....a few more revs.... and more important a re map to get rid of the Cat fueling..its too damn economic for a rally car

[gobbo]

Sounds like a lot of fun! Might do one myself when i'm older and have a bit more cash!

[BUFF]

Had a rally Talbot Sunbeam back in the day...
Used to get wheelspin in 3rd , blinding acceleration but aerodynamics like a brick so not fast top speed. Rwd definitely more fun than fwd.

Ran it on the road too without decals as a bit of a Q-car - without getting too close the only giveaways were a whacking great exhaust, the Lotus alloys & if you were outside the noise from aforementioned exhaust & the Twin 40's. Of course if you looked inside there were only 2 seats & a roll cage

Surprised more than 1 or 2 supposedly fast cars

[Lowe]

I'm sooo tempted to do a proper job on the Clio..

I soooo want a straight cut box. :'(

[TiG]

The only thing with having a Rally car is the impending loss of licence due to the Car taking over your whole personality and MAKING you break every speed limit in sight.

A rally car is made for driving fast - i'd need my own country mansion with huge amount of land to appreciate it

TiG

[Stoo]

*wants a go*

[Tumble]

*wants a go*

You really really do..... I want another go dammit!!

[dkmech]

Should we start a queue? As everyone wants a go. With longer serving hexus members going first and the rest in the order they joined + fast tracking for any great contributions for hexus.

I will see you in 2012 then zak. Make sure the car is fueled up and ready to go

[Zak33]

IT'LL BE WAITING Mechman