And I need to know what to expect, so I can hopefully have and idea if this Zed is healthy or not...

 

1)

What's the power delivery like?

In my previous cars I went from an 8v to a 16v and I thought the 16v was broken at first till I hit 5000rpm then it goes mad.

 

What's the power curve like on a Zed TT, when do the turbos start to boost and what at what speeds does it go best?

 

Do you get a kick and get pinned back into the seat, or is it a smooth building power delivery?

 

2)

I know to check the boost gauge actually goes into the right hand side when giving it some, what should the other gauges be showing ie. Water temp, oil temp? pressure? etc..

 

3)

Handling

I've heard the back end of these cars can kick out due to HICAS, how noticable is it and does it scare you the first time it happens? ;)

 

Also do they tend to understeer or do they like to oversteer?

I know about the power on oversteer (any one with a brain knows a RWD with lots of power may try to swap ends in the wet.) But do you get a warning before it goes, or is it facing one way then the next second facing the other way?

 

Do you have to be "really" silly in the wet to do it, or is it very easy to do?

 

 

4)

Auto box

Yes it's the auto questions again ;)

The autobox on my granny was pretty jerky on gear changes and would lurch from one gear to the next, whereas a Merc I went in was so smooth you couldn't even feel the gearchanges.

What's the Zed's autobox supposed to be like?

 

If the UK car doesn't have a power button does it have kickdown?

 

Sorry for all the questions but I need to know what to expect when I look at this car in a couple of hours :)

Eric -

 

I've got a stock UK TT. Here's what I think:

 

1) Power delivery

The car's a real pussycat at anything below about 3000rpm. This is when the turbos begin to have an effect (there're probably other considferations like the engine dynamics too). My power band is between about 3100 and, well, over 5000rpm. I don't tend to get much beyond 6000.

Basically the car feels strong and fairly tourquey, but not manic, until you get it into the power band. Then it's really quite frightening (not to mention brilliant). You can amble along quite happily.

Regarding boost, you have a boost guage at the bottom of your speed counter. When the boost goes positive is when the turbos are actively affecting your car (in my view). So, you should be able to correlate the feeling in your pants with this gauge.

You *can* get a kick, but this is when you've been accelerating up to about 3200rpm, then you floor it. Make sure you're pointing in a straight line! Typically though, if you're progressive with the accelerator, the turbos are smooth with little lag and will gradually bring you to warp speed.

 

 

2) Water gauge (temp) is notoriously unreliable as a gauge, but mine (which seems pretty normal) will find it's way to the halfway point after about 5-10 minutes of driving (depending on ambient temp), and will stay there. Note that if it's already high when you get in, you're not able to check the car from cold - caveat emptor!

The fuel gauge should be visibly going down at all times ;)

Oil pressure - I think should be arounf 15psi when warm and idle. Obviously the psi is a lot higher while the engine's cold. Can't tell you much more about this - sorry.

 

 

3) Handling: Well, I'm no road tester or race driver, but I have owned a few RWD cars (including a late 70's 911) so I know a thing or two about oversteer!

I've only had the back-end out once, and that was on a damp road, and I was frankly a little gung-ho with the loud pedal. I've not heard that HICAS causes these problems. Bearing in mind I only have one experience of this, the oversteer is signalled quickly and is relatively slow and progressive, even in the wet. I caught it very easily though if I were going round a roundabout at the time it may have been a different story. I've not experienced any power-off oversteer so far. I've found that understeer is absolutely nonexistent. The HICAS makes the steering feel very positive and though in my case the power steering is very light at slow speeds, it weights up nicely at speed to give a very reassuring and grippy feel. Turn in is instant although with the tail down under hard acceleration you can get a little bit of wandering at the front (though if you're turning and accelerating hard you need to work on your driving!)

You don't have to be too silly in the wet to get the back end out, but it seems fairly benign. Don't EVER take your zed out in ice or snow though - there were recently stories of autos spinning without any pedal pressure! The other thing to watch out for is knowing where the power-band is, and being gentle with it if your wheels aren't pointing straight!

I've been quite, er, rough with the car in the dry and not even had a chirrup from the tyres. Maybe my definition of rough is different from others here, and don't forget mine's a "weedy" 280BHP Euro TT. :)

 

 

4) I can't tell you anything about the Auto box (I did have a 200SX Auto which was OK but not silky). I've got a manual - like a normal person. :p

 

 

I'm sure many others have lots of thoughts...

 

Good luck!

Russ.

Thanks mate,

That was what I was hoping to hear about the handling :)

 

I used to have a RWD 2.0 Sierra ( :eek: ) and a RWD 2.9 V6 Scorpio.

The Sierra would swap ends in the wet if you even showed it a roundabout! It was one scary car.

It wasn't even fast or nice, just scary in a crap way :p

The Scorpio was much more roadsure, you could really abuse that car and even in the wet it was controllable and well mannered.

 

In the snow the Granny was superb fun :p

The Sierra stayed in the driveway because I was too scared to drive it in the snow :(

i have a j spec auto pretty much stock cept for stainless zorst, and it all depends how u drive, its a very well behaved car under normal conditions and u can give it plenty of stick in the dry, just dont ever floor it in the wet or u will be facing the wrong way. auto change is very smooth in deed in my opinion, with over drive off theres plenty of engine breaking available, it can feel strange with it on, feels like your free weeling with the clutch in, with the power button on and overdrive off from a standing start it is very quick indeed, and just keeps going and going, mid range say from 60 and a quick stab of the loud pedal the kick down is imediate and the boost kicks in and its just one big adrenalin rush.

Hello all,

Just finished my test drive and all I can say is....

Um...

Dunno :confused:

 

The car is nice to drive but I was totally underwhelmed by the performance.

The boost gauge went well into the positive part of the gauge when booting it, but to be honest unless anyone told me it was a twin turbo I wouldn't believe it!! :eek:

It didn't feel much if any faster than my VTS.

 

Now I'm sure from everything I have read and heard the ZX TT is not known for being sluggish so either this car is fooked or I'm doing something wrong :confused:

 

I waited till the engine was warm then put my foot down at around 40mph, I didn't bury the pedal to the floor in a big stomp but I did bury it in a fairly quick progressive way.

The car did accellerate, but at a fairly measured pace.

It wasn't rapid enough to even raise a smile from me, (although when I looked at the speedo we were doing a 100mph)

It was sort of...Hmmm...Oh look were doing a 100, who'd have though it", rather than "Fook me, that's 100 already!"

 

Does this sound right, cos to me it felt more like a 3.0 normally aspirated car than a 300BHP Twin turbo!

 

I did boot it at 50-60 or so and got kick down but even that wasn't going to excite me much

 

The only thing in the defense of the performance was I didn't turn off overdrive at any point.

Would overdrive make that much of a difference to performance or is this ZX knackered?

 

Everything else seemed fine, the electrics all seemed to work and it certainly ran quietly with no strange noises...

In fact is was pretty tidy and smooth, just fast! :(

 

 

Performance (of this car) aside, it is a very nice drive, it's smooth and refined, and when I pulled up behind a van and saw the reflection in the rear doors...Oh boy, what a looker!

I love the front end of this car, it's so low and stunning :D:D:D

 

Help me please because I want to know it was something I was or wasn't doing to make it seem slow :(:(:(

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (yup, I am a stuck record :D).. ECU Test..

 

Bet you anything it was in safety boost.. Seriously, it's like driving two different cars..

 

Plus the auto does (for me, at least) take away a little of the sensation of speed - as you don't have to fish for the next gear every 3 seconds.. But it's still quick enough to (when it's behaving, in my cars case!) make me go "Crap, we're going fast already!"

Maybe I was just being a wuss! :p

 

Do you think I should ask for another test drive tonight then take it out in a straight line, turn overdrive off and boot it hard?

 

Dunno how the bloke selling will like me doing that to his car when he's sat next to me. ;)

 

Oh well, If I break it then it wouldn't have been any good for me anyway :p

Originally posted by aaronjb

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (yup, I am a stuck record :D).. ECU Test..

 

Bet you anything it was in safety boost.. Seriously, it's like driving two different cars..

 

Plus the auto does (for me, at least) take away a little of the sensation of speed - as you don't have to fish for the next gear every 3 seconds.. But it's still quick enough to (when it's behaving, in my cars case!) make me go "Crap, we're going fast already!"

 

I saw the needle in the boost gauge go up to the top (nearly) of the gauge.

I know they aren't that accurate, just like speedos aren't accurate, but it should show if the turbo's boosting or not shouldn't it.

 

I don't want to pull his floor out of his car and mess with his ECU when I'm not sure of what I'm doing...

Auto's are so smooth with the power delivery that they don't feel that quick, but they are. The only way you'll realise it is to look at the speedo or look at cars as you're overtaking!

 

I got a drive in an E55 AMG recently & that is 490BHP through an auto box & even that didn't feel megga fast.

 

Another factor is that the suspension is very stiff on the Zed & therefore the back of the car doesn't dip much when you boot it.

If you're in a car with a moderately powerful engine with crap suspension, it'll feel really quick cos the back of the car will drop a lot (RWD) or the Front will raise up (FWD) giving you the impression that you're being accelerated more that you actually are.

all I can say is that I'm still grinning from the drive home yesterday, even though I was taking it easy since I had no plates. :D :D

 

that was the first I've driven one of these cars and I'd say if you aren't grinning like a fool there's probably a problem..

 

cheers,

James

Originally posted by shaunmac

Another factor is that the suspension is very stiff on the Zed & therefore the back of the car doesn't dip much when you boot it.

If you're in a car with a moderately powerful engine with crap suspension, it'll feel really quick cos the back of the car will drop a lot (RWD) or the Front will raise up (FWD) giving you the impression that you're being accelerated more that you actually are.

 

That is true, but my Saxo has rock hard suspension, (harder than the Zed) and only 107lbs/ft or torque, but when you hit 5000rpm the car goes mental and really flies!

(No really it does!! Well for a 7 second 0-60 car anyway.) :p

The bonnet pulls up and the revs scream round to 7300rpm in a blur.

Between 5000-7300rpm you get a big wallop of torque and power and on coming traffic approuches really quickly.

 

Now this is with a "slow" hatchback that is only capable of 0-100 in about 19-20 seconds and SQM in High 15s-low 17s.

 

My VTS feels faster than the 280BHP ZX :(

 

But the VTS is manual, with very low gearing and a lot of people find it too hyperactive.

Maybe the ZX is just less responsive than the VTS, due to the auto box, bigger engine and turbos spooling up.

 

 

Or maybe this ZX was ****ed and a "proper" ZX TT is a change underpants car like everyone I know said it is :confused:

Eric , you may know this already but heres a link that shows you how to do an ecu test in 30 secs without touching the ecu...strange but true:D

hope link works

Cheers

Phil

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/ECUdiagnostics.html

Originally posted by Eric Manktelow

I saw the needle in the boost gauge go up to the top (nearly) of the gauge.

I know they aren't that accurate, just like speedos aren't accurate, but it should show if the turbo's boosting or not shouldn't it.

 

I don't want to pull his floor out of his car and mess with his ECU when I'm not sure of what I'm doing...

 

The needle will always go +ve, safety boost or not.. The difference in needle movement is about 3mm on the scale between the two! What makes the big difference in power is that the ignition is retarded about 15deg if I recall, throughout the rev range.. Thats a whole hill of retardation!

 

If the boost guage was accurate - that'd be close to 14psi.. So like most 300's, it's boost guage is about as much use as a chocolate teapot :)

 

FYI - SB on a 'working' standard guage is almost on the middle positive line, if I recall, and normal boost is about 3mm over said line..

 

Very hard to tell from the boost guage, but a piece of cake to tell from driving it if you've driven a good one..

 

I'd offer to take you out in mine but.. It's not exactly a prime example :)

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/ECUdiagnostics.html

A Zed isn't a light little buzzbox like a VTS, they are deceptively fast, rather than scary fast. Try the aceleration from say 80mph upwards, thats when you really appreciate the power.

 

And if it's an auto and it's done a few miles (like more than 30K !) check to see whether it has an external gearbox oil cooler - you know it makes sense.

Originally posted by Dilbrain

Eric , you may know this already but heres a link that shows you how to do an ecu test in 30 secs without touching the ecu...strange but true:D

hope link works

Cheers

Phil

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/ECUdiagnostics.html

 

Cheers mate,

He may not like me using a bit of wire to short two connectors on the car though.... :p

 

I think I'll give it the benifit of the doubt and give it another try, this time make it my bitch and see if it responds, if it doesn't I'll try another car.

Originally posted by Dilbrain

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/ECUdiagnostics.html

 

Nope, but this will;

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/ttnetfaq/FAQpages/ECUdiagnostics.html

 

:D:D

Originally posted by AndyP

A Zed isn't a light little buzzbox like a VTS, they are deceptively fast, rather than scary fast. Try the aceleration from say 80mph upwards, thats when you really appreciate the power.

.

 

True the Zed is twice the weight of a Saxo, but 283lbs of torque should still be noticable :p

Oh, and I forgot - if you're ever down this end of the M4, Eric, you're welcome to come out in mine to see what it's like.. It has it's off days, but mostly it's ok.. Running slightly lower boost than it ought to (grumble!), but no slouch..

If I'm there I'll let you know, thanks :D

 

Thinking about it, is there anyone from Bristol here that could take me out for a spin in theirs so I have a comparrison?

Originally posted by Eric Manktelow

True the Zed is twice the weight of a Saxo, but 283lbs of torque should still be noticable :p

 

You'll find it most noticeable if you give it about 30% steering input, and then plant the throttle... ;)

 

(Disclaimer: If you do that and bend it.. I never said a word! :D)

drive a jap import and turn the power button on and over drive off, im sure you will have a rather large grin and a rather tight ring :D

LOL :D

 

That's what I want! :p

 

The guy selling is so cool.

I'm going round to give it another go and this time without overdrive or mercy :p

Hi Eric,

You should probably get the car checked out by some expert or other before you buy!

But what you should think is that the ZX isn't an out and out sports car or boy racer hatchback - it's a sporty grand tourer par excellence. It has a cossetted limousine ride so that you don't really realise the speed your doing. But as they say - read it in a book on ZX - the TT is a drivers car - to get the most out of it you have to drive it hard. If you take it camly it 's benign like a Jag. But I drive an auto ZXTT and it still gives me a thrill - specially accel down a clear slip road on to a motorway.

But get the car checked out before buying - ask for help from mates on the forum.

May be you should go for a manual for more involvement.

The Auto by tte way is very smooth.

Enjoy.

Geoff.

Thanks bud,

But as my heart always overrules my head I said I'd buy it ;)

 

I do actually think it's a lovely car in good nick, but I was worried about the performance till I went back and drove it properly.

I already knew it had the looks and comfort, the last test drive then proved to me it has the performance too :D

 

You're right you do have to drive it hard to get the performance, somehow I expected it to be more lairy.

In hindsight after getting the backend to snake in the dry, in a straight line I'm glad it is pretty well mannered :p

:( Going through reading all these posts I was starting to get somewhat frustrated as to you not finding 300TT quick. It may well be a heavy car and standard doesnt feel like a ferrari but you can still appreciate the power. And the difference over a saxo should be massive, put them side by side and you'll see the diference. The saxo will be a dot in the horizon after 15 seconds.

 

Add a filter, stainless, chip and boost jets and then see the difference:D :D :D :D

 

I am still smiling after taking the missus for a spin last night, f**k me my car is quick, VERY quick......:cool: I have even gone past the point of giving a 5hit about the fuel........:D