P1 at Lucas Mansfield

[lockwood77]

Reg no. X654 W**

Does anyone know anything about this car? How long it's been there etc.?

Full post of thoughts following a test drive of this car on Scoobynet.

[SHAGGYDOG]

i think its the same one i saw there 1 August when i picked my p1 up from mansfield (not Lucas though) - Scott in parts is a nice bloke and helpful

as for your comments on scoobynet i understand where you are coming from. i think it is down to perception - i was expecting a huge kick in the back given the extra power etc ! compared to my last scooby which had a lot of low down torque/kick in the back it soon ran out of puff whereas the p1 i9s has a lot smoother powerband and pulls like a train, screaming to the red which i now find is a lot more enjoyable and useful than an initial kick imo, especially when overtaking :)

you definately do get a kick :D but i find its higher up the rev range and you will learn to adapt your driving to get the best from it.

just watch the speedo climb rapidly and you'll realise how quickly you're gaining speed putting to bed any perceived thoughts that it's slow! :)

also the car ecu may have adjusted to lower limits if its just been poodling around town, i think mine had been as having driven on open roads how it should be it certainly now feels a lot quicker than when i first got it, also a big difference when i got rid of the standard exhaust

also was it very hot when you drove it? i find that the sti engine generates a lot more heat than my last scooby which does impact on performance a bit

have another drive and exploit it, i'm sure your views will change :)

hope this helps

Cheers
Phil

[lockwood77]

Thanks Phil, I'm going to have another look probably on Monday. There's one in Sutton-in-Ashfield too, higher mileage but hopefully it will give me the chance to compare what should be two identical cars.

When I was buying my Integra, there was a particularly low-mileage example at the dealers. I'd already been out in an average-miler, which coming from a 1.3 Escort was damn fast! Oddly, the low-mileage car was terrible, completely lacked the VTEC kick compared to the other car.

So, I realise that (very) low miles isn't necessarily a good thing and need to compare two cars just so I know one isn't a dog!

I have to say the short-shift box was very nice on the P1, possibly even better than the Honda box. Brakes were terrible though (standard), bearing in mind the power of the car. Integra's are far better. I guess that's what most people say about P1s though!

[SHAGGYDOG]

standard brakes are 'supposedly' bad and fade if used consistently hard but to be honest i've never had a problem with the 4 pots

i've found that changing your driving style helps - use the engine more to help with slowing down, you'll be surprised how often you don't really need the brakes at all - also anticipate more whats going on ahead so you're not hitting the brakes all the time

so normal day to day i'm quite happy with the brakes and i don't hang around either :)

if you're going to take it on the track (i'm not) then yes the brakes will be a big weak point and 6 pots would be a great benefit

cheers
phil

ps if you think the p1 is slow off the mark, just thought i'd try it out for scientific research of course with the help of a co-pilot - result 0-67 in 4.4 -(by the time he pressed the stop watch he'd missed the 60 LOL, so maybe 4.2 ish? so it isn't 'that' slow m8, and i couldn't even smell the clutch, all very easy for the beast :)

[lockwood77]

Fair point about the brakes, and I am a big one for engine braking (works a treat in VTEC cars!), but the difference between my Teg and the P1 brakes is quite marked. Presumably though I wouldn't be able to change them without invalidating the warranty?

The slow thing is just perception - it's a quieter car with a higher driving position than the Teg, and with less of a kick when entering the power band it's all just a lot smoother, even though it is a good couple of secs quicker to 60!

Someone on Scoobynet said they'd seen the car and it looked well used for 8000 miles on the clock. Any thoughts what might constitute "well used"!? Allegedly it even has the original tyres (three years on!)

[jag]

i say aslk the dealer for the previous owners details or ask them to contact you. im sure he/she would explain what kind of usage the car has had..?

[SHAGGYDOG]

check the pads and disks, maybe they're shot :shock: , mine were replaced before i picked the car up got the car, but its got 35k on the clock ... just a thought

[essexscooby]

the difference between my Teg and the P1 brakes is quite marked. Presumably though I wouldn't be able to change them without invalidating the warranty?

Many guys on here have uprated their brakes with no worries about the warranty (including me :wink: ) Obviously you cant claim for them if they fail but the rest of the warranty will be intact!

If your still worried they do a PRODRIVE upgrade which is totally warranty friendly :D Ask ya dealer for details

Hope this helps