Test Drive

[Tango Man]

Went to Wales the weekend for a spin, well to SSC to be exact , what a blast .
Got there around 10, had a chat, coffee and a laugh with Tim about the time he passed me. Then went up to his workshop. He has a nice little set up for a small unit, there even two chassis hanging off the ceiling. He showed me a half scale model of the Stylus IRS chassis he is working on. That was well cool. As well as all the neet little mods he has dont to the chassis (to much to take in).

Then we went BLAST in the orange RT . The first thing I found out was the grip, the thing is on rails. then I missed a gear Tim said never mind then there was the sound of the engine, I never went passed 5000rpm wow!

Tim drove back the first thing he asked was what type of passenger was I, fine I said. S**T ! The one thing I can remember is the sound of the engine at 7100rpm. And the fantastic hill top road's, that's two things.
When we got back he said that's not fast, that was smooth. It was fast smooth from my side! Still smileing about it now.

Do all Stylus's handle like that one or dose it have some trick bits on it.
A small massage to any body who has forgot how a sports car should be. Take a trip to Wales to see Tim.
All Stylus's could handle like that , it's all down to the set up which is a very personal thing. Mine's a classic but I've spent time honing the set up and with less bhp , Tim's driven mine and says it's bloody quick ---- ask Matt re - his Goodwood ride !
Rob(knew you'd be impressed , Stylus's are DARK horses !)

Thanks Tim for a great day!

Any body fancy a bike, I think there may be one for sale soon.

Dave.

[Cerberus]

Then we went BLAST in the orange RT . The first thing I found out was the grip, the thing is on rails.

Good on you,I take it you were impressed then? guess its my turn next, i just need to sort out what engine V8 or 2.3 duratec

Tim drove back the first thing he asked was what type of passenger was I, fine I said. S**T ! The one thing I can remember is the sound of the engine at 7100rpm. And the fantastic hill top road's, that's two things.
When we got back he said that's not fast, that was smooth. It was fast smooth from my side! Still smileing about it now.

Are you going to go for it? if so which engine?


Do all Stylus's handle like that one or dose it have some trick bits on it.


Perhaps someone can shed some light on this, is the RT a lot beter than the classic?


A small massage to any body who has forgot how a sports car should be. Take a trip to Wales to see Tim.

Thanks Tim for a great day!

Any body fancy a bike, I think there may be one for sale soon.

Dave.

[Tango Man]

Very impressed
Tim said they no longer do a chassis for the V8. He said it unbalances the car. He also said that these type of light weight cars are about a well set up car. He reconed about 80% of the cars out there are not set up as they should be.

Before going there I wanted something with 250bhp after driving it I dont! (well not to start) I quite fancey the Zetec 1.6se with a bit of work done to it. Tim said Dunnell' std engine starts at 155bhp

As far as I could work out there was not a lot of differance between the RT and Classic just looks, and a little wider.

Go for it!

Dave.

[Cerberus]

Very impressed
Tim said they no longer do a chassis for the V8. He said it unbalances the car. He also said that these type of light weight cars are about a well set up car. He reconed about 80% of the cars out there are not set up as they should be.

Before going there I wanted something with 250bhp after driving it I dont! (well not to start) I quite fancey the Zetec 1.6se with a bit of work done to it. Tim said Dunnell' std engine starts at 155bhp

As far as I could work out there was not a lot of differance between the RT and Classic just looks, and a little wider.

Go for it!

Dave.

Hi dave,shame about the chassis i was hoping to put TVR's own ajp V8 as it only weighs 120 kgs, just a cheaper option than a duratec,i have been looking around different tuners 270bhp/210lbs torque = 10k ouch!, i would like 210-230ish at the wheels. Perhaps i'll have to compromise we'll see.

Phil.

[hearbear]

Handling

When I picked up my chassis just before Tim took over the company Peter took me out in his red Stylus, it had been raining all morning but let up so out we went. sitting in the passenger seat with out a steering wheel I felt wary but after about the second corner settled back and enjoyed the ride because it cornered like it was on rails. His car was the live axled zetec that had been well abused but you would never know especially the way it drove. Went all the way back to Scotland with a hugh smile on my face and a chassis on the roof rack

[stylussprinter]

Very impressed
Tim said they no longer do a chassis for the V8. He said it unbalances the car. He also said that these type of light weight cars are about a well set up car. He reconed about 80% of the cars out there are not set up as they should be.

Before going there I wanted something with 250bhp after driving it I dont! (well not to start) I quite fancey the Zetec 1.6se with a bit of work done to it. Tim said Dunnell' std engine starts at 155bhp

As far as I could work out there was not a lot of differance between the RT and Classic just looks, and a little wider.

Go for it!

Dave.

Hi dave,shame about the chassis i was hoping to put TVR's own ajp V8 as it only weighs 120 kgs, just a cheaper option than a duratec,i have been looking around different tuners 270bhp/210lbs torque = 10k ouch!, i would like 210-230ish at the wheels. Perhaps i'll have to compromise we'll see.

Phil.

Hi Phil'
You can still put a V8 into a Stylus chassis but you'd have to get the cut/shutting done else where (Nev' Powell perhaps ? he's done some). Tim just doesn't offer the option , it keeps production simple . Then there's the weight of the V8 gearbox plus 120kgs engine/ancilleries and Atlas axle to take the torque. The Stylus is a lightweight 550kgs with a 4 cl Duratec and if that was chucking out 200 to 220 ft.lbs , it would be very , very quick ! I can beat TVR lap times at Goodwood with just the 2lt zetec , chassis well sorted and 170bhp @ the wheels ----- food for thought ? With a Duratec 2lt or 2.3lt and 250bhp @ the flywheel god knows what times are possible --- I'm in the low 92 sec's now.
Rob.

[Cerberus]

Hi rob,Your dead right i will go with either 2.0/2.3 duratec, i think it will save a lot of messing about and be less stressfull lil old me, after all the whole point is a light weight car why make it heavy!

[stylussprinter]

Hi rob,Your dead right i will go with either 2.0/2.3 duratec, i think it will save a lot of messing about and be less stressfull lil old me, after all the whole point is a light weight car why make it heavy!

Yes , that's what I've been trying to get across ---- in a straight line like at Brighton Speed Trials , the big engines GT40' s TVR' s etc will pee all over me because it's simply getaway grip off the line and power to the 1/4 mile but around the countyside or better still on the track with corners and anti camber etc --- it'll be the other way around. Perhaps we could all get some kart tuition from you someday if a venue could be sorted ? NOW THAT WOULD BE A LAUGH !
Rob.

[jefferybond]

Very impressed
Tim said they no longer do a chassis for the V8. He said it unbalances the car. He also said that these type of light weight cars are about a well set up car. He reconed about 80% of the cars out there are not set up as they should be.

Dave.

Dunno about a V8 unbalancing the car. My V8 has almost 50/50 weight distribution, with slightly more on the *back* (about 370kg rear, 340kg front, according to the SVA scales). Of course it depends on how you mount the engine. You need to get it well back in the chassis.

Having loads of torque and noise in a light car has a different sort of attraction to a high revving screamer, but it's still mighty quick and excellent fun!

Jeff

[Tango Man]

710kg Tim's is 525kg, 200kg of difference perhaps thats what he meens the engine is to big for the car
whos good at mathes. How many bhp is required to give a car that weighs in at 710kg a power to weight of 400bhp per tone.
Also what power is requied for a car that weighs 570kg to have a power to weight of 350-380.
570-585kg is what Tim thinks a road can be built to, with a Zetec SE unit in it.

Dave.

[stylussprinter]

710kg Tim's is 525kg, 200kg of difference perhaps thats what he meens the engine is to big for the car
whos good at mathes. How many bhp is required to give a car that weighs in at 710kg a power to weight of 400bhp per tone.

You would need 285bhp



Also what power is requied for a car that weighs 570kg to have a power to weight of 350-380.

You will need 200bhp for 351 bhp but don't forget the influence of gearing and diff' ratio plus set up. Tim and I were doing similar lap times both with passengers but with totally different set ups. RT has 225bhp but is 100 kgs lighter than my 200bhp zetec. We had different wheel circumferences , different diff's . RT 3.89 mine 4.4 and different gear ratios .

Pick your engine and it's purpose then set up accordingly. Just imagine for instance the acceleration you'd get from having a 5.3 diff' ---- it might be all out at 110 mph but by god you'd be there quick just the job for hillclimbs and short sprints.
Rob ---just to confuse you



570-585kg is what Tim thinks a road can be built to, with a Zetec SE unit in it.

Dave.

[Tango Man]

[Cerberus]

710kg Tim's is 525kg, 200kg of difference perhaps thats what he meens the engine is to big for the car
whos good at mathes. How many bhp is required to give a car that weighs in at 710kg a power to weight of 400bhp per tone.
Also what power is requied for a car that weighs 570kg to have a power to weight of 350-380.
570-585kg is what Tim thinks a road can be built to, with a Zetec SE unit in it.

Dave.

Dave.

Try this link i found it quote's for 250@ flywheel in 585kg car= 434.21 bhp/tonne,you can put your own figures in, not totally convinced by 0-60 times though.



http://www.letstorquebhp.com/calculator.asp


Hope this helps.

Phil.

[Tango Man]

Got my thinking head on.
285bhp is required if a car is 710kg for a power to weight 400 bhp per ton

170bhp, car weight 570 = power to weight of 298 bhp per ton.

230bhp, car weight 570 = power to weight of 403 bhp per ton.

So the next big question is. Is it cheeper to pay for horse's, or to pay for trick bits to get the same result.

Dave,

[Tango Man]

Did mine the hard way