Polo with new boots

[FL00DY]

Hi all. As I type this my GTI is sitting at home with brand spanking new Preceda 2 tyres. I've been in Melb for the last two weeks for work (still here). The last I drove my GTI the Conti's were rather slick, so after the new tyres, the Corolla hire car I've had, and the 2.5 weeks without a drive, my first drive back will feel like the day I picked her up

And to top it off, I have Friday off. Some mates and I (MINI owners) are driving down to Canberra, will give Brindabella Road a good going over. Stay over night in Canberra, then on to Thredbo for a Saturday full of twists and turns. Stay Thredders on Sat night, will make my second walk to the top of Australia on Sunday and then home to Sydney. Can't wait, will let you all know how the P2's go.

[Glide_GTI]

sweet dude, let us know how the tires are

are you chipped yet?

[FL00DY]

In terms of roads, forget OPH, forget Macq Pass, forget Putty. These are the best roads I've ever driven in NSW or ACT. The amount of corners, the tightness, and then straights that give you a short break before corners that make you think 'these SOOO much are better then the last'. And they just keep getting better.

The big thing about those roads is they aren't something that people from Sydney or South Coast (like OPH or Macq Pass) use to get from place to place; these roads are empty. I think the longest we got held up was 15km, and that was last 15km before arriving in Thredbo village. Clockwise was the way to go for this drive.


The Stages I guess you could call them, were:
Cooma to Kiandra (Purple) 82.5km
Kiandra to Khancoban (Orange) 77.3km
Khancoban to Thredbo (Green) 81.7km
The drive from Canberra to Thredbo is 211km and for the most part boring highway stretches, but LONG overtaking chances So about 450km, the friend and I that I went down on Friday morning did about 1200km in 2 days. We went down via the coast and went across to the Federal highway through Braidwood.

Remember that before Friday morning, the last I drove my car was 11th Feb. The Conti's had stuff all tread and grip. I don't know if it's because I now know how to drive my car FAST or if it's cause the Preceda 2's are that good but I had lots more grip, LOTS more, and it allowed me lots more corner speed. I don't want to give too much away in a public forum There were corners that with the old Conti's I wouldn't have dared put my foot on the gas, but with the P2's I could power out of the corner much earlier. Not once did I get messed up and lose control, whether it was braking, turning, accelerating. I know some people have had concerns with the braking performance of the Polo, well I had no problem. The car did everything I wanted it to, and I stuck with the lead MINI through all the corners.

Whoever is due for a new set of tyres, P2's all the way. I paid bout $900 for tyres and the usual alignment and balance.

The downside for drives like this and taking this car is the petrol. I'm forever having to worry about how many till empty. Not sure if any other drivers have this problem, but it's rather annoying.

A thanks to minigolf for that map.

[FL00DY]

Oh yeh Damo, no I'm not chipped yet But if I could drive those roads everyday I wouldn't need a chip, some coilovers and a swaybar maybe

Hope everything is coming together OK with your prang, barstards.

[Eddy]

[QUOTE=FL00DY]Oh yeh Damo, no I'm not chipped yet But if I could drive those roads everyday I wouldn't need a chip, some coilovers and a swaybar maybe

Hoyhoy.
Watch out for the sway bar, ask Guy from Harding Performance.
P.S. If you had the chip you wouldn't switch it off, that I guarantee.

[FL00DY]

Oh yeh Damo, no I'm not chipped yet But if I could drive those roads everyday I wouldn't need a chip, some coilovers and a swaybar maybe

Hoyhoy.
Watch out for the sway bar, ask Guy from Harding Performance.
P.S. If you had the chip you wouldn't switch it off, that I guarantee.

hhmmm Guy's in QLD, I'm in NSW + I got Seb to talk to

I prob would never turn the chip off, but I also wouldn't need the extra power for those roads. I was already going as fast you can without falling down the mountain.

[Timbo]

I don't know what Guy is on about. I've fitted a rear sway bar, and its improved the cars handling significantly, without any ill effects. Maybe there were other effects, or it was set on the firmest setting. A RSB that's been properly tuned to the car's suspension should not lead to any 'surprises'.

Floody, that's a great drive. There are some other risks: wildlife, and logging trucks on some sections during the week

[Eddy]

I prob would never turn the chip off, but I also wouldn't need the extra power for those roads. I was already going as fast you can without falling down the mountain.[/QUOTE]


Hoyhoy.
Bull poop.

[FL00DY]

I prob would never turn the chip off, but I also wouldn't need the extra power for those roads. I was already going as fast you can without falling down the mountain.


Hoyhoy.
Bull poop.

OK first, fix your quotes, cause they dont work.

And second. Have you driven that road? Have you driven the roads that I have? Have you done the km's in your Polo that I've done in mine? Have you spent Sunday after Sunday driving VERY twisty roads with great friends? Because I thought I wanted a chip when I first got it, but now I'd rather improve the handling. So you do what you want with your car, and I'll do what I want with mine.

Timbo, I was surprised there wasn't more wildlife on the roads. It's something we are all wary of. The lead MINI hit a Kangaroo a few years ago around Canberra roads the first couple of weeks after picking it up

[Timbo]

One thing chipping does do is to provide much more torque lower down, which - in twisty roads - gives you the ability to use 3rd more. Likewise 4th on certain tight but sweeping turns.

But I agree. Improve handling and braking first, then more power