So , bored at work on this Sunny Monday so I thought I would so a small report for those interested.

4000 miles in , the car is as you would expect , fantastic. Currently on its 3rd set of front Toyo R888's which is , well , a little less than fantastic. Currently getting 16-18mpg which I am very pleased with too.

I have so far done 1 trackday in her & 25 laps of the Nurburgring (as documented on here previously)

I have also had the stage 2 done & FMIC. I did rate these mods however , 2nd time around I really do not think I would bother again. I do question what difference they have made on track. The 331 lb/ft figure of toruqe is all well & good but when caning it on track this is useless really as you are in the higer RPM's all the time.

Still though , 275hp is always handy I guess & maybe I am just used to it?

Finally , the brakes. They are quite literally , FCUKING USELESS. In standard form the pedal is on the floor after a short spririted drive. I upgraded from new to RS29 pads , hoses & race fluid , on the road they were great but around the ring they were poor to be fair , very poor & as seen on here before , I also had the front discs crack on me.

Anyway , I may sell her after my last ring trip this year due to back problems which those buckets do not help.

In summary though , the best FWD car I have ever owned & probably the most fun car I have ever owned full stop.

P

Awesome write up mate, sounds like you're really making use of the car and what the .R is all about.

Shame about the wallet bashing from the tyres but sounds like you're loving every minute of it.

Good review. I'm surprised you didn’t go for some quality front alloy bells and additional cooling to manage the temps. You obviously like long track sessions on the pace.

The power/torque debate has been thrashed out here before and it’s the reason I won't go stage 1 to stage 2.

Not the ideal choice in motors for a ****y back……

Good review. I'm surprised you didn’t go for some quality front alloy bells and additional cooling to manage the temps. You obviously like long track sessions on the pace.

The power/torque debate has been thrashed out here before and it’s the reason I won't go stage 1 to stage 2.

Not the ideal choice in motors for a ****y back……

Cheers , rotors with bells is next :)

shame to hear your back hasn't cleared up Paul, but your right, i'd chop her in, in an effort to save back problems too.

18mpg....is that including track work or driving on the road?

i think you have got used to all the extra poke:D

good luck with the brakes!

Assuming you have just fitted the 3rd set of tyres - that is an average of 2000 miles. Not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination. And c.18mpg is what I am averaging currently if the computer can be relied on. Not brilliant either but I guess that is the price of turbocharging.

Looks like the running costs may be higher than I expected.

Do you have a link to your ring write up.

Ta - and good luck with the back.

Paul is using as it was intended. A track car. Good on ya Paul. Get down a doc for your back and keep the car ;)

The tyres were always going to add a lot expense to running costs, after all it is basically a track day car.
The only option there is a extra set of road wheels/tyres if used daily.
I think with the stage 2,maybe your just used to the extra power now.
Even at high revs the car is much faster than standard,well mine is and it's used mostly at high speed.
Another driving style is also an option,changing gear earlier and using the torque.
When I've timed mine,the car was just as quick accelerating from 50-120mph in 4th as it was going through the gears.
On a lot of tracks the car can virtually stay in 4th most of the time.
Maybe you should time your car standard and then with stage 2, so you can see the differences ?.
Have you done lap times standard compared to stage 2 ?,that would also be interesting.

Nice write up - your having a similar experience to me tbh.

Mine's just about to hit 3k (2 trackdays included) and ive finally ordered my first new set of tyres - after 6 months and at £95 a corner I can pritty much live with that.

My mpg is about 10 higher than yours though, so maybe I aint trying hard enough, although my car doesnt have stage 2.

I hear what your saying about the brakes, ive done the fluid and lines but still sticking with the stock pads and discs, on my 2nd set of pads and the discs (front) have already been skimmed once!! They just about cope right now and it puts me off upping the bhp at the moment.

It is however the craziest car ive ever owned and the levels of grip it can generate and cornering speeds it can manage are just bonkers - I love it!!

What the hell are you fitting at 95 quid a corner? Certainly not Toyos or PS2's?

Also if you tracking it get rid of the road pads fitted. They just cant cope.

Mine is stock and the MPG is around 15-20 (11 on track)

What the hell are you fitting at 95 quid a corner? Certainly not Toyos or PS2's?

Also if you tracking it get rid of the road pads fitted. They just cant cope.

Mine is stock and the MPG is around 15-20 (11 on track)

Man after my own heart!

I reset mine at the start of a ring lap in it averaged 8.something mpg a lap , yea!!!

Got to use these how intended imo otherwise its a pretty useless car!!!!???

I would love to compare lap times etc but its gettign the consistency on a track day that will be hard

Nice write-up there.

What the hell are you fitting at 95 quid a corner? Certainly not Toyos or PS2's?

Also if you tracking it get rid of the road pads fitted. They just cant cope.

Mine is stock and the MPG is around 15-20 (11 on track)


Yup, Toyos ordered - certainly :yes[1]: - 12 in total, managed to team up the order with a couple of other owners so its worked out quite nicely.

Maybe i'm just not as harsh on the brakes or the throttle as you guys, who knows, but to be averaging 15-20mpg in a stock meg means you must be thrashing it everywhere - and that aint really my style tbh.

I would be very interested to know where you got Toyos for 95 quid for. Id be willing to buy 12 too. PM if you prefer. Or drop me an email at admin at thepitwall.com

Maybe i'm just not as harsh on the brakes or the throttle as you guys, who knows, but to be averaging 15-20mpg in a stock meg means you must be thrashing it everywhere - and that aint really my style tbh.
Are you tracking it?


to be averaging 15-20mpg in a stock meg means you must be thrashing it everywhere - and that aint really my style tbh.

Im not trashing it, not by a long shot. But when you live in a city with a roundabout every 300 yards its hard to make smooth progress. Thrashing denotes abuse. I never abuse my cars. Use em? Yup. Abuse em? Never.

i want toyos for 95 as well :) if any group buy, i'm into 8 at least..

No response yet. Like I say Im willing to buy 12 up front.

WOW. R888's for £95 each? If there's any chance of a group buy or any more info that would be awesome. Mine don't need replacing yet, as I've only done 2,000 miles, but I was expecting to pay £140+ when the time arrived.

Awesome write up though mate. Seems like you're definitely using the car for what it was built for. :)

£150 plus vat more like, and Toyo are reducing their reseller list too so expect increases this month. I know one or two guys in the industry Ill speak to them and see how feaseable this is.

an average of 15 - 20 mpg...non track work! you must be driving like you stole it!:D ......it takes some very constant fast road use to get my mpg that low...well done fellas! :shiny[1]:

an average of 15 - 20 mpg...non track work! you must be driving like you stole it!:D ......it takes some very constant fast road use to get my mpg that low...well done fellas! :shiny[1]:

Not really actually. Just done 2800 miles. So oil change in the next week or so. I even reckon on track could go lower. ;)

To be honest if youve ever been to MK you'll understand how.

So , bored at work on this Sunny Monday so I thought I would so a small report for those interested.

4000 miles in , the car is as you would expect , fantastic. Currently on its 3rd set of front Toyo R888's which is , well , a little less than fantastic. Currently getting 16-18mpg which I am very pleased with too.

I have so far done 1 trackday in her & 25 laps of the Nurburgring (as documented on here previously)

I have also had the stage 2 done & FMIC. I did rate these mods however , 2nd time around I really do not think I would bother again. I do question what difference they have made on track. The 331 lb/ft figure of toruqe is all well & good but when caning it on track this is useless really as you are in the higer RPM's all the time.

Still though , 275hp is always handy I guess & maybe I am just used to it?

Finally , the brakes. They are quite literally , FCUKING USELESS. In standard form the pedal is on the floor after a short spririted drive. I upgraded from new to RS29 pads , hoses & race fluid , on the road they were great but around the ring they were poor to be fair , very poor & as seen on here before , I also had the front discs crack on me.

Anyway , I may sell her after my last ring trip this year due to back problems which those buckets do not help.

In summary though , the best FWD car I have ever owned & probably the most fun car I have ever owned full stop.

P

Hi mate,
glad you've been enjoying it!

Been loving mine too, two days at Spa and a full day at BrandsGP (where I was hardly ever off track...was giving rides to a mate's corporate customers) and loving it too.
The people I took out in the R26.R at BGP were totally blown away by the car, they were nearly all people who had never been on a track before and had also on the same day been out in an exige (turbo Audi engined) and a GT3RS, driven by my mate a proper race driver, ex-Carrera Cup champ and they all said that the R26.R was fantastic, I couldn't agree more :go:

So far only had the RS29 fronts, hoses and fluid myself, however, car is going into Backraft MS at the end of the month for larger FMIC, hybrid turbo, dumpvalve, rear RS29's, AP floating fronts, decat, silicon hoses and a custom Stage 2 map to accomodate all that lot :yes:

I'll let you know how it goes...they expect to have the car about two weeks.

Get yer back sorted and keep the car mate...I want to come to the 'ring with you next year so you can show me the way around!

Hi mate,
glad you've been enjoying it!

Been loving mine too, two days at Spa and a full day at BrandsGP (where I was hardly ever off track...was giving rides to a mate's corporate customers) and loving it too.
The people I took out in the R26.R at BGP were totally blown away by the car, they were nearly all people who had never been on a track before and had also on the same day been out in an exige (turbo Audi engined) and a GT3RS, driven by my mate a proper race driver, ex-Carrera Cup champ and they all said that the R26.R was fantastic, I couldn't agree more :go:

So far only had the RS29 fronts, hoses and fluid myself, however, car is going into Backraft MS at the end of the month for larger FMIC, hybrid turbo, dumpvalve, rear RS29's, AP floating fronts, decat, silicon hoses and a custom Stage 2 map to accomodate all that lot :yes:

I'll let you know how it goes...they expect to have the car about two weeks.

Get yer back sorted and keep the car mate...I want to come to the 'ring with you next year so you can show me the way around!

Good to hear this Alan!

Dont worry it is staying , please let me know how you get on with the de-cat , I have had the intercooler & stage 2 done & love it , de-cat next.

The ring would be a pleasure matey!

P

loving the sound of these brake upgrades. I had my first drive of an R26R at the ring, that was running pagids and I nearly set fire to them at arenburg following a good blast just before schwedenkruz. You can never ever have good enough brakes. Sod all the engine lark, pointless.

just started reading these forums, had mine since june & currently on 5000 miles,cars done over 50 laps of the ring easily & i'm still on my orig set of toyo's????had to change the front pads last month at spa & swapped the front tyres with the rears at about 3000 miles.suppose a lot of those miles were motorway miles but i reckon i'll be getting 6000 out of a set. brakes have been fine with no cracking & no fade at either the ring or spa (though spa was wet both days.
before i get flamed for not trying hard enough by the way best bridge to gantry time is 8:08

just started reading these forums, had mine since june & currently on 5000 miles,cars done over 50 laps of the ring easily & i'm still on my orig set of toyo's????had to change the front pads last month at spa & swapped the front tyres with the rears at about 3000 miles.suppose a lot of those miles were motorway miles but i reckon i'll be getting 6000 out of a set. brakes have been fine with no cracking & no fade at either the ring or spa (though spa was wet both days.
before i get flamed for not trying hard enough by the way best bridge to gantry time is 8:08

My fronts lasted one trip to the ring , 700 mile trip on mway + exactly 25 laps , rear were just on the limit when sold at 6k miles.

If you find your brakes more then suitable then I can onlyuassume you're using your tyres to slow you into the corners but the above would not suggest that. Have no idea how you are doing low 8's without eating consumables to be honest but hey ho.

just started reading these forums, had mine since june & currently on 5000 miles,cars done over 50 laps of the ring easily & i'm still on my orig set of toyo's????had to change the front pads last month at spa & swapped the front tyres with the rears at about 3000 miles.suppose a lot of those miles were motorway miles but i reckon i'll be getting 6000 out of a set. brakes have been fine with no cracking & no fade at either the ring or spa (though spa was wet both days.
before i get flamed for not trying hard enough by the way best bridge to gantry time is 8:08


5000 miles and 50 Ring laps on one set of R888s?

Can't resist it: Not trying hard enough.

Amazed/confused your original Toyos have lasted that long. Keep up the good work, whatever the type of wizardry you're applying.

Reckon it must be a ****y lap timer. Maybe it was 18.08 BTG.

tyres must be right through the canvas,let alone the 1.6mm limit, lol

new pads changed on 17/10 (first set - original lasted 11.000 km and 2 full trackdays and 3 rounds on Nurbugring) and they lasted for full 2 trackdays only and i'll be changing again. now i have 12.000 km, have changed to braided brake lines, changed the brake fluid to Motul RBF600 and changing oil (original elf 5w40)

reg Toyos - these are mine after 5000km on roads and 2 trackdays at Hungaroring - not street legal anymore..
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/5036/afterc.jpg

Like your running report R26.r_PD I have had similar problems with BAD BACK but now sorted thanks to Sparco Adjustable lumbar support.

My car has covered 9000 miles now including 2 Uk trackdays + Ring trip averaging 28 mpg road use and 11mpg on track, I bought a set of wheels from new and fitted road tyres but the toyo's have done 1 day at Oulton and probably wont make it past the Renaultsport day on the 17th.

Car is running stage 1 but not convinced about going stage 2 just yet, need to learn how to use what i've got first, my brakes are ok but it looks like I'm not trying hard enough after reading this thread,