Test Drove a FQ400 Today.

[bbigman2000]

Number 23 only 6000 miles on the clock 54 plate in Gun metal.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/ca ... 4293682389

Lets keep this brief, Clutch LOL Loving the paddle for standing starts but it was a joke round town.

The car braked very well apart from tons of Judder until the pedal went hard down, brand new alcon discs on it aswell, no idea what was going on there.

The car didnt have near as much lag as clarkson made out, and once on boost was quick, but not near as quick as I had hoped.

It handled very very well indeed, pin sharp with the nice little steering wheel

Sounded like a fckin tractor at ideal, so much so I had to get down on the tarmac and check the zorst wasnt blowing, alas NO it was just the induction kit.

Im sorry guys evo's just dont do it for me any more, and the fq 400 is nothing special, Id reckon 5 grand would put it right, new clutch, new AP's,. remap, no way I was gonna spend 27k just to have it on the ramp for two weeks.

And to top it off, the WR1 isnt that far behind in the performance stakes.

[Chris B]

Well said,my friend has an Evo MR,nice car but not the punch that I thought it would have.

[marky mark]

Chris B - I presume you are on about the MR that young Chris has bought?

Thats a 300 IIRC, the FQ400 is a bit different to say the least.

Poesy on here has a FQ400 Bigman, and those that have been in it at Bruntingthorpe were very impressed.

I think they are great cars but like all other limited editions with a few add ons (WR1 and P1 included) vastly overpriced for what you are actually getting.

[POESY]

And the MLR moves to the wr1oc

[bbigman2000]

pmsl, I got banned from the MLR for defending the FQ400 and im serious !!

It handled very very well, but I swear my evo 4 rs years ago running autronics was a better package.

For what near 60 grand I was expecting the world from the fq400.

Have to say clarkson was talking out of his ass with the boost issue, I found it very easy to stay on boost, and no where near the lag I expected.

[POESY]

Mate, what you just typed is exactly why I love my car.

All I get is this is better, that is better and it just makes me Why the fcuk would I care? Quite happy with what ive got thanks

If it was near 60k then id be a little disappointed too. Having paid nearly 20k less than than for a brand new one im not so fussed. The wr1 wasnt a lot less than that brand spanking and really in standard form there is a noticable difference in the 2 cars performance.

Clarkson moaned about the lagg and its got loads of that, drive like the and youll stay on boost for sure, put your foot down at 70 in 6th and nothing, and i mean nothing, will happen.

[bbigman2000]

yeh mate, I liked it and I didnt find it laggy I just merely dropped it a gear and I was back in the boost.

Ive driven laggier cars such as a tuned escort cosworth.

The handling was sublime.

You have obviously compared the wr1 and the FQ400 on track and il take your word the 400 is faster, but on driving the same road in both cars minutes apart I couldnt make out much difference and theres what 80 bhp in it.

If it were not for the following points I would have bought it :-

1) for a car with 6000 miles on it, It rattled everywhere, engine bay, interior, etc etc

2) the brakes, it had brand new alcon discs and pads, as soon as I touched the pedal and felt the judder and vibration, I knew money was needed to correct it, whether somone had warped the discs straight away or what I dont know.

3) the clutch, yes fine I knew it was a paddle clutch, I had a paddle clutch in my own modded escort cossie and I liked it, but I couldnt live with the origional fq400 clutch so that would have had to go.

I felt really bad as I dont think ud find a better fq400 and ive bought a lot of cars from that guy and sold them to him aswell, I felt certain id buy it before I left the house.

Id probably have taken the car for 25k off him aswell, but the thought of it having to go straight in for work didnt appeal to me.

[bbigman2000]

And mark, I dont think over priced mate, not for a forged engine.

[POESY]

You have obviously compared the wr1 and the FQ400 on track and il take your word the 400 is faster, but on driving the same road in both cars minutes apart I couldnt make out much difference and theres what 80 bhp in it.

Dont take my word for it fella, just watch top gear!!

Mine's standard and consistantly makes over 430bhp, so theres more like 100bhp between them and the evo is lighter. If the one you drove felt about the same as your wr1 it was a piece of crap mate.

Dont ask me how I managed it, but when my brakes warped - they replaced the lot under warranty

My experience is that the 400 does take a lot of maintenance, and visits to owen developments, to keep it on top form. Skimp, and the car doesnt like it. If it needs work as you say, I recon the owner has skimped ??

I agree with the clutch though, ive an Exidy HD twin pate in mine now with lightened and balance flywheel. Piece of piss to drive now compaired with that alcon crap it came with.

[bbigman2000]

cool bud, my wr1 must just be a fast one

Ive had 3 4G63 engined evo's mate, I know it was running perfectly, and It had been serviced 8 times in 6000 miles so no skimping it was a good example.

Nice one on the warranty job tho very bling those alcon brakes.

It was clearly faster, but through the same section of road there was gonna be nothing in it in my view.

Id like to try one with a decent clutch in it aswell, must be a vast improvement m8.

Im just looking now at a brand new 360mr its a bit of a toss up between that and a new M5 im just not sure.

[The Swede]

It's interesting.

I've driven a few scoobs and a few Evo's and for some reason the difference between the Evo's can be huge whereas the scoobs seem to always run about the same.

Think the Evo's are much more delicate and if they're not spot on, they're a disaster.

Still, if they are spot on, they are much more efficient than the scoobs.

Always loved the scoob for its ease of driving, burble, the reliability and low maintenance and the way it stood out. The Evo I like because it's about as close to a proper rallycar you can get when well set up.

Also, on ice and snow the Evo is miles more efficient than the scoob.

My 2 cent.