Re: M&W 550 Overhaul...
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:34 am
Hi Guys
So, its time for the promised initial driving impressions.
Please bear in mind my ‘daily’ for the last few years has been a 06/07 997.1 C2S (manual) it’s still in standard spec which means it comes with power everything and while I’ll try not to let this colour things, its still lurking in the back of my mind.
Firstly, the overriding thing that hits you is (both metaphorically and in very real terms) the wind. Now, I spent twelve years with Caterhams as my only cars, but the low Perspex screen, relatively shallow waist line and my height make even a trip to the paper shop into an adventure (and that’s a good thing)!
Protective headwear for the ‘Carrera De Cumbria’ or a trip to the shops.
With under 300 miles on the clock the engine is really just starting to free up, with its lightened flywheel it picks up quickly and drops off in the same way, while its not a massively ‘touquey’ unit it already feels ‘sporty’ and in character with the car.
Paul’s (Foreman) instructions where to “use the revs” but not to “labour” the engine, so I trying my best to do this.
Until the engine is fully run in its unfair to judge how well it mates with the (901/914) gear box but the signs are good, they’d be even better if I could get me head round the fact that none of the gears are in the same place as the 997.
I’m glad to say that the ‘dog leg’ shift has nice solid, precise mechanical feel and thanks to the (sometimes irritating) ‘push down to engage’ 1st/reverse gear plane, I haven’t (yet) managed to leave a set of traffic lights in reverse!
It’s safe to say engine wise it’s “good now” and it’ll be “great” once its run-in.
I’m planning a rolling road session after its first service/oil change.
As for the gearbox, it’s all good, but the driver needs work.
Lil Cesar in his PJs.
Now for the real driving stuff, the car has a fabulous inherent balance, the chassis and suspension really feels ‘of a whole’, I’ve already driven into a few corners faster than intended, expecting to get all ‘arses & elbows’ only to simply drive smoothly and effortlessly through them, all this on skinny, relatively cheap Brockley 4.5 inch tyres. Its handling really is a revelation after the mess I handed to Paul!
Happy to say (on a separate occasion) those same corners, when the car in front of me ‘panic braked’ mid corner proved the all new braking system (CSP discs front, big drums rear) is excellent (also nice and progressive to when you don’t have to stand on them)!
Steering wise, the large ‘banjo’ wheel feels positive and stays true to that period constant input thing, pretty sure a smaller (wooden) wheel would make for smaller more subtle inputs but that’s not really in keeping with what I wanted for this car.
It’s also worth mentioning that a ‘little nose wonder’ at slightly over the posted limit on poorly surfaced South Lakeland ‘A’ roads has been all but cured buy lowering the front tyre pressure by 2 PSI (now running 20 front/22 rear).
Interestingly what I’ve taken away from the short time I’ve had (so far) with the car is how lazy modern cars have made me, doubling back on a medium sized roundabout takes mussels that I haven’t used in ages, hopefully as I learn to drive properly again and my confidence behind the wheel grows, drifting round roundabouts will become my standard technique (well maybe not…LOL).
To sum-up, I’m absolutely delighted with the car and am really enjoying getting to know it.
It’s all I’d hoped and a good deal more besides (although as I've said "the driver still needs work')…
Thanks again to Paul Foreman.
All the best
Ian F.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So, its time for the promised initial driving impressions.
Please bear in mind my ‘daily’ for the last few years has been a 06/07 997.1 C2S (manual) it’s still in standard spec which means it comes with power everything and while I’ll try not to let this colour things, its still lurking in the back of my mind.
Firstly, the overriding thing that hits you is (both metaphorically and in very real terms) the wind. Now, I spent twelve years with Caterhams as my only cars, but the low Perspex screen, relatively shallow waist line and my height make even a trip to the paper shop into an adventure (and that’s a good thing)!
Protective headwear for the ‘Carrera De Cumbria’ or a trip to the shops.
With under 300 miles on the clock the engine is really just starting to free up, with its lightened flywheel it picks up quickly and drops off in the same way, while its not a massively ‘touquey’ unit it already feels ‘sporty’ and in character with the car.
Paul’s (Foreman) instructions where to “use the revs” but not to “labour” the engine, so I trying my best to do this.
Until the engine is fully run in its unfair to judge how well it mates with the (901/914) gear box but the signs are good, they’d be even better if I could get me head round the fact that none of the gears are in the same place as the 997.
I’m glad to say that the ‘dog leg’ shift has nice solid, precise mechanical feel and thanks to the (sometimes irritating) ‘push down to engage’ 1st/reverse gear plane, I haven’t (yet) managed to leave a set of traffic lights in reverse!
It’s safe to say engine wise it’s “good now” and it’ll be “great” once its run-in.
I’m planning a rolling road session after its first service/oil change.
As for the gearbox, it’s all good, but the driver needs work.
Lil Cesar in his PJs.
Now for the real driving stuff, the car has a fabulous inherent balance, the chassis and suspension really feels ‘of a whole’, I’ve already driven into a few corners faster than intended, expecting to get all ‘arses & elbows’ only to simply drive smoothly and effortlessly through them, all this on skinny, relatively cheap Brockley 4.5 inch tyres. Its handling really is a revelation after the mess I handed to Paul!
Happy to say (on a separate occasion) those same corners, when the car in front of me ‘panic braked’ mid corner proved the all new braking system (CSP discs front, big drums rear) is excellent (also nice and progressive to when you don’t have to stand on them)!
Steering wise, the large ‘banjo’ wheel feels positive and stays true to that period constant input thing, pretty sure a smaller (wooden) wheel would make for smaller more subtle inputs but that’s not really in keeping with what I wanted for this car.
It’s also worth mentioning that a ‘little nose wonder’ at slightly over the posted limit on poorly surfaced South Lakeland ‘A’ roads has been all but cured buy lowering the front tyre pressure by 2 PSI (now running 20 front/22 rear).
Interestingly what I’ve taken away from the short time I’ve had (so far) with the car is how lazy modern cars have made me, doubling back on a medium sized roundabout takes mussels that I haven’t used in ages, hopefully as I learn to drive properly again and my confidence behind the wheel grows, drifting round roundabouts will become my standard technique (well maybe not…LOL).
To sum-up, I’m absolutely delighted with the car and am really enjoying getting to know it.
It’s all I’d hoped and a good deal more besides (although as I've said "the driver still needs work')…
Thanks again to Paul Foreman.
All the best
Ian F.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
