MitsuStyle - View Single Post

**asshanson** · 05-20-2014

I took it for a spin after washing, did a few clover leafs and onramps to get a feel for the handling and throttle. Still haven't found the cornering limits with the NT01's. The throttle is still really weird feeling to me, on most cars I've driven the throttle goes back at a downward angle. The lotus went more straight back, but the travel wasn't far so you didn't notice as much (also had drive by wire vs this car is cable). This car probably has a good 5-6" of throttle travel, and the pedal goes straight back, so your heel is actually moving a long way, just like the clutch, which is totally foreign to me. I'm used to being able to leave my heel in one spot to go WOT, impossible in this car.

The steering wheel mounted shift light is pretty handy since there is no redline area on the gauge. The first yellow light turns on around 6200rpm, the second and third in the 6500-6700 area, and the light flashes red just before 7000rpm.

Still haven't done a 1st gear pull, afraid it will just spin. 2nd gear is over immediately, which is about 60mph (now I really believe this car will do 0-60 in just over 3 seconds). Third goes by just about as quick and you're at 90mph. I am really surprised at how short the gearing is on this car, similar to the Lotus and DSM top MPH per gear. You also don't feel the speed in this car like you do in the Lotus. Before I felt like I was flying at 90mph and the supercharger is so loud plus the 8000+ rpm redline you just feel a lot faster. This car with shifting before 7000rpm and just feeling bigger and more solid, going 90 feels like a normal highway speed, much like the vette did. And it's really quiet inside at 70mph, I'll have to get a decibal reading later, but it's nearly as quiet as the Escort is, so I think I'll probably end up using the bluetooth handsfree feature that my radio has.

First impressions are that it's a cross between the lightweight/handling characteristics of the Lotus, and the GT car feeling of the vette. Steering feel is great for being power steering, but not quite as good as the manual rack on the Lotus. A track day will tell me a lot more about that I'm sure. I think I may get another suede D shaped wheel instead of the stock Momo leather/carbon wheel (already a 6 bolt hub so zero work involved for any aftermarket wheel). Loving the car so far, just need to get used to that throttle. The clutch is really nice, engages pretty smooth from a stop but grabs well between gears.

OH, and I miss targa top already.

05-20-2014	#4
asshanson immune from paybans Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Des Moines Drives: poorly Posts: 4,358	Re: 2006 Noble M400 #141 I took it for a spin after washing, did a few clover leafs and onramps to get a feel for the handling and throttle. Still haven't found the cornering limits with the NT01's. The throttle is still really weird feeling to me, on most cars I've driven the throttle goes back at a downward angle. The lotus went more straight back, but the travel wasn't far so you didn't notice as much (also had drive by wire vs this car is cable). This car probably has a good 5-6" of throttle travel, and the pedal goes straight back, so your heel is actually moving a long way, just like the clutch, which is totally foreign to me. I'm used to being able to leave my heel in one spot to go WOT, impossible in this car. The steering wheel mounted shift light is pretty handy since there is no redline area on the gauge. The first yellow light turns on around 6200rpm, the second and third in the 6500-6700 area, and the light flashes red just before 7000rpm. Still haven't done a 1st gear pull, afraid it will just spin. 2nd gear is over immediately, which is about 60mph (now I really believe this car will do 0-60 in just over 3 seconds). Third goes by just about as quick and you're at 90mph. I am really surprised at how short the gearing is on this car, similar to the Lotus and DSM top MPH per gear. You also don't feel the speed in this car like you do in the Lotus. Before I felt like I was flying at 90mph and the supercharger is so loud plus the 8000+ rpm redline you just feel a lot faster. This car with shifting before 7000rpm and just feeling bigger and more solid, going 90 feels like a normal highway speed, much like the vette did. And it's really quiet inside at 70mph, I'll have to get a decibal reading later, but it's nearly as quiet as the Escort is, so I think I'll probably end up using the bluetooth handsfree feature that my radio has. First impressions are that it's a cross between the lightweight/handling characteristics of the Lotus, and the GT car feeling of the vette. Steering feel is great for being power steering, but not quite as good as the manual rack on the Lotus. A track day will tell me a lot more about that I'm sure. I think I may get another suede D shaped wheel instead of the stock Momo leather/carbon wheel (already a 6 bolt hub so zero work involved for any aftermarket wheel). Loving the car so far, just need to get used to that throttle. The clutch is really nice, engages pretty smooth from a stop but grabs well between gears. OH, and I miss targa top already.