Auto X Review
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Auto X Review
Well I have had a chance to participate in 2 auto x events now in my X, and I'm still getting the feel of it. I chose to enter STU because we have some good local competition and running with them will definately help make me a better driver. One guy in particular should make some noise at nationals this year...he flat hauls *** in his STI and is usually FTD.
I'll try to keep it short and sweet because I could honestly go on and on about this car. The first event was a very tight course, and I did really well. The course today was huge with some full throttle garages and very high speed sections. I was at the limiter in 2nd in four different areas of the course. I didn't do bad, but I had trouble with the tail slapping some cones at high speed.
Challenges
1. Width. I am still trying to get used to how wide this car is compared to my VIII. Especially with the aero kit, I am having to make a conscious effort to give a little room in the tighter areas. I had some runs today that felt so good, and were fast, but I would clip the foot of a cone with the rear tire. The front seems easy to manage with the extra turn in capability, but the rear is tough to contain. Is the width an advantage or disadvantage? I'd say both, but it is certainly different going around cones.
2. It is tail happy. I ran obviously with the ASC off and in Tarmac mode. On the first course it worked perfectly for me and I placed 1st in STU, but my tire pressure was low (32 all the way around). Today I could NOT keep the rear of the car under control (41 up front 39 in rear). I'm not going to blame it on the car's manners...it was poor driving on my part I believe. The car just has so much more power down low than the old car...I don't care what people are seeing on the dyno, it has more *****. I was on a very horsepower friendly course and was hazing all 4 tires in 1st and 2nd gear. All that power felt like it was going to the inside rear tire (thank you AYC) and really kicked the tail of the car out. It felt sort of like an STI with the torque split to full rear. By my last run I put the car in "SNOW" and it was very well behaved. I was actually suprised at the difference. I didn't think it made that much difference on my 05. My initial thoughts are that I might find it beneficial to run less tire pressure in the rear on this car than I did in my 8. Also, the turn in is so good, the tail comes right around on you. Not for beginners!!!
3. Weight. As I was sitting in the staging area I couldn't help but think about the 300lbs in extra weight I carry while trying to keep pace with the pack of STIs and the other EVO 8 (I carry 400 extra because I'm a lard ***). A definate disadvantage no matter how you slice it.
4. One pass I forgot to turn the ASC off....don't do that. It ruined the run. It took away ALL of my power. I wish I could have the car start with ASC off every time and I had to push a button to turn it on. I was running 52.1s without it...55.xxx with it if that tells you anything. That crap is for my wife in the snow.
Good Thingys
1. It is bad ***.
2. Turn in is amazing. You point, it goes. Be careful...the tail can follow!
3. Rotation under power...wow. The oversteer is going to make this car harder for a novice to drive, but give some advantages to experienced drivers. I am having to adjust.
4. It seems that you can work with the electronics a bit to suit your driving style. I dunno...it helped me.
5. Power. Yeah I know people are worried about it being slow. I admit it feels a little sluggish compared to my 05 when I am on the street, but the smoothness of the power delivery is misleading us. It has more usable power down low, period. I'm the type of guy that always wants more power and figures I can use it somewhere. There wasn't anywhere today where I could use more. I also confirmed this at the drag strip. I ran quicker and faster on my 1st pass in this car than I ever got out of my stock 05...and at 300lbs more with a bogged and ruined launch. The extra power is definately realized while coming out of a slalom or garage when the back end tries to pass the front
The verdict is still out on the new tires.
I will add pictures and post more as I learn more about driving this car. Not too bad for a sled coming in at 3800+. The car is proving itself on the road course, but we all know that is very different than the tight confines of the coned courses. I think drivers with more experience will be very fast in this car once they get their feet wet. I have plenty to get used to.
I'll try to keep it short and sweet because I could honestly go on and on about this car. The first event was a very tight course, and I did really well. The course today was huge with some full throttle garages and very high speed sections. I was at the limiter in 2nd in four different areas of the course. I didn't do bad, but I had trouble with the tail slapping some cones at high speed.
Challenges
1. Width. I am still trying to get used to how wide this car is compared to my VIII. Especially with the aero kit, I am having to make a conscious effort to give a little room in the tighter areas. I had some runs today that felt so good, and were fast, but I would clip the foot of a cone with the rear tire. The front seems easy to manage with the extra turn in capability, but the rear is tough to contain. Is the width an advantage or disadvantage? I'd say both, but it is certainly different going around cones.
2. It is tail happy. I ran obviously with the ASC off and in Tarmac mode. On the first course it worked perfectly for me and I placed 1st in STU, but my tire pressure was low (32 all the way around). Today I could NOT keep the rear of the car under control (41 up front 39 in rear). I'm not going to blame it on the car's manners...it was poor driving on my part I believe. The car just has so much more power down low than the old car...I don't care what people are seeing on the dyno, it has more *****. I was on a very horsepower friendly course and was hazing all 4 tires in 1st and 2nd gear. All that power felt like it was going to the inside rear tire (thank you AYC) and really kicked the tail of the car out. It felt sort of like an STI with the torque split to full rear. By my last run I put the car in "SNOW" and it was very well behaved. I was actually suprised at the difference. I didn't think it made that much difference on my 05. My initial thoughts are that I might find it beneficial to run less tire pressure in the rear on this car than I did in my 8. Also, the turn in is so good, the tail comes right around on you. Not for beginners!!!
3. Weight. As I was sitting in the staging area I couldn't help but think about the 300lbs in extra weight I carry while trying to keep pace with the pack of STIs and the other EVO 8 (I carry 400 extra because I'm a lard ***). A definate disadvantage no matter how you slice it.
4. One pass I forgot to turn the ASC off....don't do that. It ruined the run. It took away ALL of my power. I wish I could have the car start with ASC off every time and I had to push a button to turn it on. I was running 52.1s without it...55.xxx with it if that tells you anything. That crap is for my wife in the snow.
Good Thingys
1. It is bad ***.
2. Turn in is amazing. You point, it goes. Be careful...the tail can follow!
3. Rotation under power...wow. The oversteer is going to make this car harder for a novice to drive, but give some advantages to experienced drivers. I am having to adjust.
4. It seems that you can work with the electronics a bit to suit your driving style. I dunno...it helped me.
5. Power. Yeah I know people are worried about it being slow. I admit it feels a little sluggish compared to my 05 when I am on the street, but the smoothness of the power delivery is misleading us. It has more usable power down low, period. I'm the type of guy that always wants more power and figures I can use it somewhere. There wasn't anywhere today where I could use more. I also confirmed this at the drag strip. I ran quicker and faster on my 1st pass in this car than I ever got out of my stock 05...and at 300lbs more with a bogged and ruined launch. The extra power is definately realized while coming out of a slalom or garage when the back end tries to pass the front
The verdict is still out on the new tires.
I will add pictures and post more as I learn more about driving this car. Not too bad for a sled coming in at 3800+. The car is proving itself on the road course, but we all know that is very different than the tight confines of the coned courses. I think drivers with more experience will be very fast in this car once they get their feet wet. I have plenty to get used to.
Last edited by DRAG; Apr 21, 2008 at 07:25 AM.
Nice ... thanks for taking the time to write that up!
Great looking car btw.
Before I knew that PB was going to be available for GSR I was torn between grey, white, and silver.
Great looking car btw.
Before I knew that PB was going to be available for GSR I was torn between grey, white, and silver.
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A majority of my solo events in that car were at about 260whp and stock suspension. I did run 245 Falken Azenis.
I got my *** kicked yesterday by my neighbor in his 03 VIII, but he is a very competent driver and he was .100 off of the fast time of the day set by national competitors. The previous event, I put a similar spanking on him in the X.
In the end I was making 320 dynojet whp with Comp 272s, ported head by www.team4piston.com, open exhaust and otherwise stock airbox, filter, intercooler and pipes and stock boost. That was definately more power...and the 515/505 I made on pump gas with 175 shot of nitrous felt like a tad more. After all that...I am completely satisfied with the power in this car.
I am going to run a couple more events, then install my Eibachs and some bolt-ons and I will give another review. We need camber plates. I'm thinking about having some made. If I get a few sets made to keep the cost down would anyone be interested in them?
I got my *** kicked yesterday by my neighbor in his 03 VIII, but he is a very competent driver and he was .100 off of the fast time of the day set by national competitors. The previous event, I put a similar spanking on him in the X.
In the end I was making 320 dynojet whp with Comp 272s, ported head by www.team4piston.com, open exhaust and otherwise stock airbox, filter, intercooler and pipes and stock boost. That was definately more power...and the 515/505 I made on pump gas with 175 shot of nitrous felt like a tad more. After all that...I am completely satisfied with the power in this car.
I am going to run a couple more events, then install my Eibachs and some bolt-ons and I will give another review. We need camber plates. I'm thinking about having some made. If I get a few sets made to keep the cost down would anyone be interested in them?
Sweet. Looks like the X may be a good STU car. How do these tires compare to the RE-01R or the Neova's? I have a feeling both tires are better than the stock ones. More reasons to wear the stock ones out faster. 
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As for being a good STU car....power wise I think it will be great! And it handles really well. The width and weight are still a challenge and the STIs and older EVOs you run against have an advantage there.
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One other thing...
Since I keep seeing this car compared to the 335 and 135, and I am actually pretty partial to BMWs myself...when you get your Bimmer instead of your X, take it out to the local auto x and see how you do against the STIs and EVOs. Best of luck and don't let it get you down too much
Since I keep seeing this car compared to the 335 and 135, and I am actually pretty partial to BMWs myself...when you get your Bimmer instead of your X, take it out to the local auto x and see how you do against the STIs and EVOs. Best of luck and don't let it get you down too much
I think weight's my biggest worry with the X. Also will the 245's tire wide be enough to overcome the weight? I hope so. I'm betting the AYC will allow for more consistent fast runs. Regardless, I think the X is going to be a blast to autox. I'll bring it out a couple of events after I break the car in.
I would have own an X by now if it wasn't the weight. I really would like to see how competitive the X is compared to the IX in autox on a national level. Hopefully, we will see some this year.
