Authority on Five

Sunday Drive 10 Jun

What a drive today! We had the astute company of a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. What a car! Along the highway, it did 310 km/h...and that's just a walk in the park probably. Virtually every part of the car is carbonised...even the exhaust pipes.

The car is showing the effects of all the de-modification. The Mini Cooper S JCW was faster than me. Times like this, I wish I had kept the supercharger. I remember when I had it on the car, I could chase down the Porsche 911s and 3.0L Z4 without even batting an eyelid. Now, things are a bit different. The car still handles well on the B roads but lacks the zeal to punch out of corners unlike before. Well, you cannot have everything. At least, I don't get failsafe messages on the instrument cluster unlike before when it would lit up like a Christmas tree. She is still fun to drive but obviously, it cannot go on much longer. Which brings me to consider a second car for the weekend. Went to test drive the Renault Megane R26 F1 Team last week. What a car! The experience was mind-boggling for a car that looks like crap (to me) but the drive was amazing. It shot out of the blocks like a devil out of hell and corners like nothing I have ever seen. The LSD really makes thing very interesting. However, the car cost a bomb to buy and worse, aftermarket sales is going to be a real big problem. It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of car.

The cheaper alternative, not necessarily the best, is the Suzuki Swift Sports. It's half the price of the R26 with as much fun factor albeit a tad slower. During the test drive, the salesperson actually told me I was being too gentle! Duh! How often does a salesperson say that? With such consent, it was pedal to medal. It's really not bad for a car that's half the price of the R26. Looking at the Suzukisports.com website, I realised that this car has plenty of potential to be done up. Well, it won't be that fast but at least it's cheaper to run. Not to mention, easier to wash and wax. I am quite set on the car....so watch out for it. it should look like the picture after completion.

Today's damage was a cracked right fog light and countless dings and dangs on the front bumper and windscreen. One or two more Sunday drives and I will be sending in the car for a re-spray job.

There's a strong temptation to trade-in the car for perhaps the R26 or the new Mercedes Benz C-class. This would be the last BMW I will ever own. I think the E39 is probably the last of the best BMWs.

posted by gabey @ Sunday, June 10, 2007

Exhaust System

Been asked often what is my exhaust set-up. So, here it is. Starting from the top, the stock headers have been replaced with HIOP headers. Since the catalytic converters are attached to the stock headers, I had to find replacements. Those high-flow catalytic converters you see are from Magnaflow. Each cat converter can take up to a 4L engine. They are welded together to prevent them from rattling. These cat converters replaces the original front silencer. There is not much space under the car to work with, so some things have to go. Besides, the front silencer was starting to sound like some plates inside are loose. A Magnaflow Y-pipe connects both cat converters into a single pipe for its journey towards the exhaust muffler. Word of advice: get a proper Y-pipe connector. Don't compromise on the exhaust shop welding some makeshift one for you. To add some silencing, a round resonator is installed just before the exhaust muffler. Thereafter, the pipe enters the stock exhaust muffler. The whole system is simple, direct and produces a nice sound without sounding loud and bassy. At high revs, it gives out a M3-type of sound!

posted by gabey @ Wednesday, June 06, 2007