anyone raced an E46?

[FDDreamer]

Really?? Never would have thought they were quite that quick! Then again, i met a guy who actually races a lightly modded CSL against GT3s and the like, he said that with uprated brakes (AP over Brembo, apparently) and a bit of further weight reduction it could keep pace. Suppose they\'re similarly-specced cars though, very similar power-to-weight etc.

Would love to get that car on a track, any suggestions as to how my friend could get involved? Wants to race it competitively but i\'m not sure if starting in something else might be a better introduction??

[Initial-D]

Ha haa... Don\'t worry Darren won\'t have to wait long for the FD vs CSL battle!

Once the singles on we\'ll have some fun!! We\'ll have to get the Exige out for a play too.

Your web back up and running now Adrian?

The CSL is mighty quick as I\'ve seen in the Best Motoring vids and keeps up with Modena\'s aswell as GT3\'s! The traction control on the car is very good and keeps the car glued to the road, the carbon fiber roof helps with the weight distribution in the corners. Sound great too with the Gruppe M exhaust aswell:eek:

[cruiser]

E46 M3 and especially the CSL versions are nothing to be looked down at. They are very capable cars and they are usually the fastest around the local racetrack. Which I will try to improve this coming weekend:p

[FDDreamer]

Still no internet at home dude but have got a package that works fine from the shop now!! At last!

Hmmm i don\'t think yours is far off anyway, what do you think? Certainly feels just as quick through the first few gears, it\'s plain bonkers on-boost!! Then again, the actual feeling of speed can be misleading - that exige s1 felt really lethargic, but i know it\'s far from it!!

Still got that big single in mind then Ben? Suppose the car will kinda need it when the latest bits have gone on the car! A real race-car for the road!

[Initial-D]

Well I couldn\'t be all show with no go could I! lol!;)

Currently it\'s having the engine mods completed b4 the bodyshop work, as space at the bodyshop is pretty hard to come by unfortunatly! I\'m so impatient tho as I really wanted the car ready for Brooklands but thats just not gonna happen now. Japfest /Rotorstock are the next main events I\'m aiming for. Even if it\'s only half finished I\'ll be driving up there in the FD!!:D

I know what you mean about the boost being misleading as obviously theres some lag involved too. Tires, gear changes, weight etc.. all play a big role in acceleration, I just love that \'push you back into your seat boost\' hopefully I\'ll be able to get alot of the power from the new turbo down to the ground with minimal wheelspin for big trouser wetting G-force! It should sound even louder with an external wastegate too!! Can\'t wait for Dartford tunnel...

BTW do you know what the 0-60 on the CSL is?

[FDDreamer]

More engine bits and pieces?? Thought the internals were all done and ready for a big old blower? Or did you decide to get a few extra goodies??

It\'ll all be worth it in the end dude, you\'ll prob be just in time for some nice weather too! You know that in time your car is gonna be FAMOUS, all over the mags and known nation-wide from shows and stuff. Just need to wait a little bit longer!!

Hmmm 0-60 in the CSL...tough one! On a dry road with launch control it\'s been timed at 4.6 to 60 and 10.5 to 100, by Autocar i believe. I\'ll double check that when i get home. I would prob say that\'s a bit optimistic, reckon about 4.8 to 60 is about right. That said, with RWD cars that push out a bit of power 0-60 times are kinda misleading, CSL gets going properly in 3rd i\'d say, 80-120 takes about 7 seconds which is pretty rapid i think... :confused:

Reckon a fairly tuned FD (like yours for example) would take it through the first couple of gears, provided you could get the traction you need as the car is lighter, but think the CSL would be quicker once you\'re into 100mph+ speeds. What sort of power would an FD need to reach around 175mph do you think??

[J4P RX]

330 maybe, seeing as I recon Ive been close to that and thats what I have?

But theres getting there, and getting there quickly.  And top end on most things is not good.  Theres not going to be many tracks where you would have to go near using 5th gear.  I would think a CSL was better through the corners, and probably better at putting the power down.  Probably stopping too.  FD brakes may have been good in 92 but things come a long way.

[FDDreamer]

Really? That\'s pretty good, was wondering what was more aerodynamic...the CSL LOOKS like it would have the higher cd rating...but it\'s 100% flat underneath and seems to really fly.

What are the FD\'s stoppers like after a bit of constant abuse? The CSL stops v v quickly, but like the M3 suffers from bad brake fade...apparently. Nice thing about the FD being so light is it benefits everything from acceleration to handling to braking. Think an FD with a similar power figure to the CSL would give it a brilliant race!

If anyone\'s interested i\'ve got some good clips of the CSL, but no-where to host them! :confused:

[J4P RX]

Originally posted by FDDreamer
What are the FD\'s stoppers like after a bit of constant abuse?  

Crap imho, but there isnt many road cars that could really stand up to track work.

[FDDreamer]

Ha ha i see! I suppose a road car is built to be just that at the end of the day. Out of interest, what car (if any!) would you say is most suited to track work out of the box? Apart from cars such as a Caterham/Radical/Ariel Atom etc??

[J4P RX]

Would a GT3 RS count?

I imagine that would be close really, but without the Carbon brakes.

Im struggling to think of a lot of things really.  Almost everything is compromised but some more so than others.

Obviously Caterhams would fit the bill well.  Maybe an Elise or Exige.  They are light, cheaper on brakes and tyres.  Maybe a bit on the soft side but pretty good.

[Initial-D]

I still love the good old NSX type-R, even the ferrari\'s get brake fade with their F50 brembo\'s! So I wouldn\'t right off the brakes straight away. Also depends on your driving style... You don\'t always have to floor it to get a good time on track. You can always fork out for some 6 pot AP Racing jobbies if you can afford it! Or perhaps fit some Porsche brembos with carbon ceramic compound pads and discs... Damn if only money wasn\'t such a contributing factor in all this!

Thanks for the comments Adrian! I hope I can get some coverage with the car when it\'s finished.:cool

[FDDreamer]

GT3 RS does count, and it\'s a pretty epic machine too!! Suppose the Stradale must be up there too. Are the PCCB brakes on the big Porkers worth the extra do you think? Heard conflicting opinions on them!

Ha ha you\'re welcome Ben! Suppose the thing is you\'re waiting until you are 100% happy until she unveiled in the press...but i wonder if you\'ll ever get there?? Never forget the first time i saw it, thought i was gonna have some breathing problems for a minute! Reckon the new kit might just finish me off lol!!! :rollin

Right, home time...gonna have to have Darren drive somewhere this evening i think...