Another Car thread

**fov** · 23rd February 2009

Originally Posted by edb49

I backed to backed a 205 with open diff and Quaife - I think the characteristics of the Quaife are much more suited to FWD. There has got to be reason Ford chose them.

Out of interest, what didn't work well with the Quaife when you drove it?

But have you tried a plate diff? Plate diffs are so much nicer delivery. Its just a nice strong, straight and equal, predictable delivery.
The ATB tend to throw the torque around a lot more erratically I found and you ended up fighting a diff rather than going where you want to.
The reason being ATB need both shafts to be loaded. The second you lift a wheel or have it on something slippy (ie pot hole or standing water etc) you lose the loading, it then comes back as the wheel finds traction and the diff then sends the torque across the other way.

I would say ford chose them as a plate diff requires a lot more maintenance than an ATB and will work the same until they break where as a plate diff degrades as it wears. They will have decided it provided the best bang for buck.

**ChrisOlver** · 23rd February 2009

Urg well I go with what I can afford. Fabia VRS.. I adore it

Its bloody nippy and does supurb MPG. Its great to be able to pull past ****heads in their done up supermarket trollies. It might have a Skoda badge but the same engine is used in the top end Golf TDI and Audi's

**edb49** · 23rd February 2009

Originally Posted by fov

But have you tried a plate diff? Plate diffs are so much nicer delivery. Its just a nice strong, straight and equal, predictable delivery.
The ATB tend to throw the torque around a lot more erratically I found and you ended up fighting a diff rather than going where you want to.

Admittedly I only drove the ATB on a flat surface (frozen lake). I've driven plate diffs in RWD cars, but their characteristics are much more "now I'm open, now I'm locked" which is the kind of thing that I would hate in an FWD car. Done some good drifting in them, they are ideal for that kind of thing.

I hate FWD cars anyway, though.

**fov** · 23rd February 2009

I would imagine that would probably be a fairly perfect situation for the ATB diff and be great fun at the same time!

**edb49** · 23rd February 2009

It was great fun... the metal studded tyres make a big difference. I've got some videos somewhere that I should put on Youtube.... will try and do so tonight.

**JamesSykes** · 23rd February 2009

Originally Posted by edb49

It was great fun... the metal studded tyres make a big difference. I've got some videos somewhere that I should put on Youtube.... will try and do so tonight.

It's amazing what good winter tyres can do. I was in Russia last week and it was incredible how fast you could go on what was just compacted snow/ice!

**edb49** · 23rd February 2009

Yeah. I had a big shock in Jan when I couldn't keep up with an Audi going up the Alps. It's a shame I didn't video that, because it was a really exilherating (sp.?) drive... we were both getting up to 100mph before braking for the hairpins, and there were quite a few heart-in-your-mouth moments where the surface went from tarmac to snow, and the car went sideways.

He had snow tyres on (and 4wd) but was ultimately more committed.... it's one of the very few times I've been pushing on and had someone quicker on the public road. Before anyone moans about danger etc, the Alps are fantastic for visibility, and this was in France, where's it's kind of OK to go up and down the hills as quick as you can as long as you don't crash into anyone. Same as skiing really.

**SynergyWorks** · 23rd February 2009

Originally Posted by UKDSL

I currently have a lovely '94 French Racing Green Espace on Pistonheads.

Dammit, I forgot you had that. You should have brought it to Santa Pod at the weekend

**JamesSykes** · 23rd February 2009

Originally Posted by edb49

Yeah. I had a big shock in Jan when I couldn't keep up with an Audi going up the Alps. It's a shame I didn't video that, because it was a really exilherating (sp.?) drive... we were both getting up to 100mph before braking for the hairpins, and there were quite a few heart-in-your-mouth moments where the surface went from tarmac to snow, and the car went sideways.

He had snow tyres on (and 4wd) but was ultimately more committed.... it's one of the very few times I've been pushing on and had someone quicker on the public road. Before anyone moans about danger etc, the Alps are fantastic for visibility, and this was in France, where's it's kind of OK to go up and down the hills as quick as you can as long as you don't crash into anyone. Same as skiing really.

Oh you bar steward

I'm jealous just thinking about it! I've yet to have a car up in the mountains but I'm looking forward to the day I can hammer in an out of some fantastic alps hairpins

**edb49** · 23rd February 2009

YouTube - Skiing 2009 - 08 - Ed Driving Mountain

Not a very good video - it was change over day so lots of traffic. Also, downhill is never as fast.

**edb49** · 23rd February 2009

Ice driving..

YouTube - Ed 360
YouTube - Scooby on ice
YouTube - Sliding

**JamieBeeston** · 23rd February 2009

You'd enjoy our LeMans trip with all of that check..clear..vrooooom stuff

Me and some of the lads (I'm in the NSX)

Me and some of the lads (I'm in the Aston)

Me and some of the lads (I'm in the TVR)

Wil try and dig out some from the runs themselves

**edb49** · 24th February 2009

Some vids of the runs would be good, car parks are a bit boring

**Karl** · 24th February 2009

Originally Posted by JamesSykes

It's amazing what good winter tyres can do. I was in Russia last week and it was incredible how fast you could go on what was just compacted snow/ice!

Yup, most people couldn't get their Elise/Exige of their drive, one guy with Snow Sports on, was happily going past 4x4s, lol.

Originally Posted by edb49

Yeah. I had a big shock in Jan when I couldn't keep up with an Audi going up the Alps. It's a shame I didn't video that, because it was a really exilherating (sp.?) drive... we were both getting up to 100mph before braking for the hairpins, and there were quite a few heart-in-your-mouth moments where the surface went from tarmac to snow, and the car went sideways.

Brave man posting that in a public forum, even though it wasn't in this country. If you do ever have a serious accident (hopefully you won't), expect it to be potentially used against you as evidence of your drving style and attitude. Remember, speed kills, absolutely.

**edb49** · 24th February 2009

Strangely enough and despite my love of motoring, I am one of those people who literally sit at 30mph and a queue of traffic builds up behind me in the 30 zones. I get my kicks from non public road stuff like track days, airfields, frozen lakes, etc. I think this is reinforced by my choice of car as a family diesel estate.

When you get the other side of the channel however... my attitude is make progress where it is safe to do so.

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