Tuning & Modifications => Abarth Grande Punto => Topic started by: magicmole on December 28, 2008, 03:20:23 pm
Title: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on December 28, 2008, 03:20:23 pm
I finally got the OZ Ultraleggera Serie Rossa wheels fitted yesterday. Many thanks to Revolution Performance Motorstore of Newcastle, and in particular Glenn, for the help and advice. Highly recommended and worth the 300 mile round trip.
The wheels are standard size as are the Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric tyres. I also had a set of Eibach springs fitted at the same time.
The look is exactly what I was aiming for with the car sitting just a bit lower. The wheels are particularly light and I'll weigh the originals when they're sent back to me. I'm hoping for a reasonable reduction in unsprung weight.
It's too early to tell what, if any, difference the mods have made to the handling. I took it easy on the way home (41.5mpg!) and stopped to check the wheel nuts 2 or 3 times.
These tyres have come out top on every test I've seen and apparently are brilliant in the wet. Tyre noise has decreased dramatically over the P Zero Neros and the ride doesn't seem that much harsher than standard.
I also had a full suspension alignment (£100) and had the tyres nitrogen filled (£10). I don't know if the latter will make any difference but against the bill, the cost is sfa.
The Revolution guys tells me there are 24mm and 26mm anti-roll bars available. I've seen that H&R do springs for the AGP. So, there are more tweaks available yet.
Next on the list though, are 60mm flexible and centre pipes for the Ragazzon exhaust to go with the back box already fitted.
More dull pictures. After cleaning the car in brilliant sunshine this morning, it was gloomy by the time I'd got to the park.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: DevilAndGod on December 28, 2008, 05:14:40 pm
Im not a big fan of the red wheels as i said before. But great to see something different like that. What are you doing with your old wheels?
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on December 28, 2008, 05:34:23 pm
Ebay probably.
My wife saw some wheels at Revolution yesterday ::)
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: DevilAndGod on December 28, 2008, 07:11:25 pm
How much are you wanting for them? Me and alex are looking for some in the 'wanted' section. I would take two off your hands, maybe alex will take the other two..
How much were your OZ's?
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on December 28, 2008, 07:51:18 pm
£500 for 4 plus carriage , will not split. Alex and you could sort it out between you.
The OZs were £1100 approx including tyres.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Missing in Action on December 28, 2008, 07:53:57 pm
hey mate it looks good :) - i think it would look better with the stripes though? .... by the way i can vouch for the eibach's - i had some on my old mjet and they where fantastic so if there anything like that then its a big :thumb: up :)
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on December 28, 2008, 08:16:38 pm
hey mate it looks good :) - i think it would look better with the stripes though? .... by the way i can vouch for the eibach's - i had some on my old mjet and they where fantastic so if there anything like that then its a big :thumb: up :)
Cheers
Those black stripes MAY be going on at the weekend.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Missing in Action on December 28, 2008, 08:34:53 pm
kool :) looking forward to seeing these! dont think iv seen them before :)
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 01, 2009, 03:51:49 pm
I've now had a chance to really try the car and thankfully everything has worked exceptionally well.
The car now sits 10mm lower than the EsseEsse (according to the EsseEsse specifications) and corners with virtually no roll. Turn in is much improved over standard and, from what I remember of my drive, the ride is better than the EsseEsse. This is probably due in no small part to the fitment of the Goodyear tyres on 17" rims thereby keeping the compliance lost with the kit 18" rims. Tyre roar is dramatically decreased and grip out of greasy roundabouts is far better than the Pirellis. I haven't seen any heavy rain since these were fitted but reports indicate that wet grip is excellent.
I finally saw the red wheels in sunshine yesterday and, imo, the car looks amazing. At least it did. I've just got home from a 500 mile round trip to Essex and the car is absolutely ditched.
The result of these mods is an individual-looking car which performs, sounds and looks better than standard at a cost significantly lower then the cheapest factory kit. Oh, and one happy owner. Just what I wanted :thumb:
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Max292 on January 01, 2009, 04:55:51 pm
How's the road noise? I've got eagle f1's on my leon fr at the mo, until I get my abarth, I found the road noise increases with them. Had bridgestone potenzas which were great although they wore out pretty quickly due to a soft compound. Eagle f1's great for handling and they don't wear out so fast.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 01, 2009, 06:23:06 pm
The tyres are Eagle F1 Assymetrics and are quieter than the Pirellis. I've heard that they wear pretty quickly though. We shall see.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: domc on January 01, 2009, 06:25:54 pm
Well i have goodyear eagle f1's on my outgoing fiesta, i was advised to get these as the tread pattern allows for better wear at the tyre edges. So they might last a while.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 02, 2009, 08:34:10 am
The mods added another £40 to my insurance. Not too bad.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: 1mmortal on January 05, 2009, 07:50:35 pm
Thats not bad at all - are you with a specialist company (such as Adrian Flux, Green Light, etc) ? While its been mentioned, the SS kit added another £180 on my insurance.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 05, 2009, 09:11:33 pm
Hi
Elephant.co.uk.
My basic insurance (protected) is about £178 pa. To that I added a hire car for another £30.
I was quoted an extra £30 for the alloys and exhaust. Another £10 for suspension dropped by less than 50mm. I think that's pretty good.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: 1mmortal on January 06, 2009, 02:21:15 pm
man i wish mine was so cheap - being 22 i get pillaged by the insurance - i pay the best deal i found, through directline, which was £1,067. And thats with 4yrs no claims. :thumbd:
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Missing in Action on January 06, 2009, 05:18:26 pm
i dont understand that 1mmortal .... i had a look at an insurence quote on direct line (i was asked you about it in a different post i think) im 22 and it was about 800 - 900 quid with them for the ss kit .... weird...
did you put someone else on your insurence policy? i know it sounds mad but i put my dad on mine as a named driver and it lowers it by tons on every site... you might want to try it if you havnt! :thumb:
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: 1mmortal on January 07, 2009, 07:33:51 pm
It takes into account a variety of factors - for starters I live in an area of the country that is usually on fire. Plus a speeding offence (whoops!) and it all adds up! :thumb:
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Missing in Action on January 07, 2009, 07:40:11 pm
ahhh lol that is very true lol
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 13, 2009, 07:32:29 pm
I've ordered the rest of the Ragazzon exhaust system today - 60mm flexi pipe and 60mm straight-through centre pipe without the intermediate silencer. I'll wait until the warranty has expired before I ditch the standard cat and fit their sports cat.
That should improve things a little bit hopefully. :thumb:
I'm told that nothing I've done so far will affect the warranty. Probably knocked a few bob off the secondhand value though. Oh well, never mind.
Got a big thumbs up from the owner of an immaculate Type R this morning. It's good that the car is appreciated.
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: 1mmortal on January 14, 2009, 11:18:28 pm
Got a big thumbs up from the owner of an immaculate Type R this morning. It's good that the car is appreciated.
Nice one - there is a certain level of appreciation among other hot hatch drivers - I get quite a few remarks about the 'mobile from Golf GTIs (they're everywhere). Exhaust should sound very "raspy" (lack of a better word) without the silencer - should sound awesome :thumb: - if that wales meet goes ahead i'd love to hear the noise!
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: Missing in Action on January 15, 2009, 11:50:25 am
nice one magicmole! whens the ETA of the parts? - figure it wont be on for saturday... :(
Title: Re: Some More Mods
Post by: magicmole on January 15, 2009, 12:44:40 pm
No, I had to wait 3-4 weeks last time.
They'll be on for Wales which IS happening. :thumb: