Gxp Z0k? - Page 6

AlanBDahl · 03-15-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastmike

Gearing change is good news!
Well...Bad news if you already have a GXP.
At least GM is listening which is a good thing in my book.
It does sound like they are shooting for an 07 car.
FM

Well the sooner the better, I think there's still a chance to change mine but maybe only for a week or two more...

Astocker · 03-15-2007, 02:47 PM

Thanks Kevin. I know we'll have to wait, but I hope you guys won!!!!!!!

I really don't want to swap cars out at this point, but..... If GM would offer us some sort of *deal* on the springs/shocks and a tranny exchange (pipe dream), I'd go that route all else being equal and the price is less than difference I'd pay buying a new one (sales tax, dealer crap, etc). I really like this car in many ways despite the problems we're talking about. I haven't been in a stable car since I started this sport. I thought the GXP would be that. Crap.

I'd like to talk more in SD this weekend about all this if you have a minute between signing autographs and women's upper body parts. I'll make an appointment with your publicist to talk with your agent to make a time to get together.

If GM is serious, they can pull this out of the fire. GM, are you listening??????????

t

Krazed Kanary · 03-15-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobL

With our luck it will be a 2008 and we will all be completely screwed over.

I don't see how it can be anything but a 2008. Are they going to offer a new model with only a month or so of production left on the 07 and dealers are still waiting on allocation for ordered 07s?

MemphisReighns · 03-16-2007, 07:24 AM

I'm tending to agree that if anything this model will appear as an 08; also they've more than likely produced all of the GXPs they want to produce and the changes discussed here are significant enough that they'd have to get the car recertified; and would this then run into the minimum build requirements for the SCCA?

My latest plan is to develop my current GXP, then if the Club Sport appears, I may trade my car in on that, and swap all of the parts over. At least by then I'll have a fairly good idea of what works and what doesn't.

brentil · 03-17-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanBDahl

2) Did the GXP have a good aftermarket muffler? Magnaflow is claiming 25-30 hp for their 3" muffler which could be enough extra to make that 3rd gear shift worth it.

Not sure if the car had the exhaust or not but my 3" SP-Race exhaust is about as open as you're going to get. 16 HP to the wheel gain at peak, but if you look at the area post the peak you'll see a good 25 HP/ft-lbs gain to the wheels is about the 30HP to the flywheel. It about 22 lbs compared to the stock which is just over 50 lbs I think. Not a lot of down low gains since I don't think the system was too restrictive at that point, but it seems to be a bit more responsive to spool. Main gain seems to be more oomph near the end where before it seemed to feel to fall in on itself some.

SolsticeMan · 03-19-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentil

Not sure if the car had the exhaust or not but my 3" SP-Race exhaust is about as open as you're going to get. 16 HP to the wheel gain at peak, but if you look at the area post the peak you'll see a good 25 HP/ft-lbs gain to the wheels is about the 30HP to the flywheel. It about 22 lbs compared to the stock which is just over 50 lbs I think. Not a lot of down low gains since I don't think the system was too restrictive at that point, but it seems to be a bit more responsive to spool. Main gain seems to be more oomph near the end where before it seemed to feel to fall in on itself some.

Astocker · 03-20-2007, 12:14 AM

Hmmmm, San Diego NT has come and gone and all I hear is crickets chirping.

Seriously, I had fun. It was great to talk with Kevin, FastMike, Alan, and all the rest. I think the racing action was as good as it gets. This truly is a sport of thousandths of a second. It is an awesome experience to see some of best drivers in the country compete.

I look forward to seeing and watching you all this coming weekend in Irvine at the Pro.

t

RobL · 03-20-2007, 07:07 AM

I didn't know that was you. What did you and Rob think of the car? How prepped is it?

Krazed Kanary · 03-20-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astocker

Hmmmm, San Diego NT has come and gone and all I hear is crickets chirping.

Seriously, I had fun. It was great to talk with Kevin, FastMike, Alan, and all the rest. I think the racing action was as good as it gets. This truly is a sport of thousandths of a second. It is an awesome experience to see some of best drivers in the country compete.

I look forward to seeing and watching you all this coming weekend in Irvine at the Pro.

t

Well, tell us about it! What were the courses like? What was the weather and grip level? What size and brand tires did you run? Did you get into 3rd gear? What traction control settings did you use? What was your alignment? Do you think you got everything possible out of the car? What options (if any) are on your car? Which rear gear ratio does yours have? Inquiring minds want to know...

Astocker · 03-20-2007, 02:30 PM

Just quickly for now..... you can go to the SCCA Solo tour site and see the results. They pretty much speak for themselves. I had a rotten first day, I was starting to get my act together on Sunday but corded the front tires on the first run (the Hoosiers). Robert stayed in 10th both days. Robert's last run on Sunday - with the corded fronts - was an all-or-nothing run for it. He couldn't catch the C4s and the S2Ks. He rung every last bit out of the car. We banged on the rev limiter all weekend but never enough to shift. We knew going in that the car was course dependent and this was a "kart" course - about 27 transitions in 57 seconds. The gearing killed the car. Springs shocks and tires aren't the only issues - the gearing is just all wrong.

More later...

t

Astocker · 03-20-2007, 10:23 PM

The course was a good one, albeit a busy one, the flow was pretty good.

I would never judge this car by my driving because I'm too inconsistent, but Robert has the experience and the titles to make his impressions count. He says the gearing is the main thing holding this car back. And at this point, I think most of you know that. On a slow course you can do well but on a national style course, you will not.

Personally I don't like the Hoosiers. And not because they corded after 13 runs. I bought them used for half price to see if they helped the gearing. (they did slightly) The tires looked in good shape but I have no idea how they were treated before me. I also have no experience with Hoosiers so I had to guess at tire pressures. I ran them at 36. Maybe that was too low? Don't know. Maybe they don't like being squeezed onto an 8 inch rim. Once you get used to the slight delay on turn-in that the Kumhos have, I love the way they feel in transitions and sweepers. I didn't get that from the Hoosiers. Again, maybe the 8 inch rim has something to do with it.

I'm very conflicted at this point. I love this car. It handles - for a stock car - wonderfully. It's a pure joy to drive. I love the looks of the car. This whole gearing/Z0K thing is killing me. Do I stick with the car for emotional reasons or ditch it to get something that has the chops to go all the way (not that I can, but I'd at least like to know the car could)?

The ideal solution is GM offers an upgrade package for the 07 GXPs that gives it the Z0K suspension dynamics and a gear change. I'd be all over that. I'd pay cash money. After that, the options drop off rapidly. Do I sell it and order an 08 with the Z0K package (if offered)? Do I sell it and move over to Mazda which has a well established racer community with a lot of factory backing? Or do I keep it and just fade into the woodwork looking for a slow local course?

I love having a co-driver that's far better than me. That's my path to learning this sport. To attract that kind of driver I have to have a car that can make it. 54 mph at the top of second gear is not going to cut it. That's a truck transmission, not a sports car one.

If someone has a better idea, I'm open. Alan? Kevin? FastMike?

t

AlanBDahl · 03-21-2007, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astocker

If someone has a better idea, I'm open. Alan? Kevin? FastMike?

I wouldn't give up on it yet but I was hoping that you guys would have run closer to the front (Robert was only 0.5 ahead of me in the S2000 and I spotted him a cone with no clean runs on Saturday). Right now I'd suggest revalving the shocks to Fast Mike's settings, going to 295/30-18 Hoosiers, running 3" exhaust starting from the cat and perhaps downsizing to the regular Solstice's front sway bar to combat understeer.

I think you guys will do a lot better at the Pro, I'm looking forward to running against you guys again this weekend!

SolsticeMan · 03-21-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanBDahl

I wouldn't give up on it yet but I was hoping that you guys would have run closer to the front (Robert was only 0.5 ahead of me in the S2000 and I spotted him a cone with no clean runs on Saturday). Right now I'd suggest revalving the shocks to Fast Mike's settings, going to 295/30-18 Hoosiers, running 3" exhaust starting from the cat and perhaps downsizing to the regular Solstice's front sway bar to combat understeer.

I think you guys will do a lot better at the Pro, I'm looking forward to running against you guys again this weekend!

I think that all of these changes are worth trying...

brentil · 03-21-2007, 02:26 PM

I ran my first auto-x after putting on the SP-Race 3" kit this last Sunday. I have to say it made a world of difference from the previous events with my GXP. It made a huge difference on launching and coming out of corners pick up power much faster. However it also made me have to start shifting into 3rd on long straights now since I'm accelerating so much faster.

Krazed Kanary · 03-21-2007, 02:59 PM

No offense meant, but IMHO AS's car was decidedly underprepped to use as a benchmark.
Unknown alignment, used tires of unknown age or condition, too low of pressures, corded fronts (why not rotate them to the rear at that point especially if the rear was understeering???) no catback.
Ours is still not anywhere near fully prepped either as we haven't had much opportunity to test yet, the weather has not cooperated much, or get shocks built but we have done enough to know we are not throwing in the towel on a car that has not had any development time yet. Stay tuned.