After your suspension upgrades

[Stuntman]

The stock GTPP out performs an E92 M3 on track, albeit with a floater suspension. Upgraded dampers or coilovers really tie the car down to be an M3 killer.

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[jofivepointoh]

Well let me count the ways (you can see what I have in the signature)

- Body doesn't roll like a boat
- No constant bounce while driving, even on flat roads
- Vastly improved turn in response
- Improved IRS "connected feel"
- Improved overall grip from the rear end, especially post-apex and overall much more predictable grip/handling
- Reduced understeer which better camber balancing will tune out (in my case)
- Reduced tendency for steering to follow road imperfections
- Rides damn near exactly like the last M3 I drove on the road
- Negligible brake drive felt by the driver and I shift forward less in the seat somehow
- Lift of the front when gunning it is vastly less obvious
- Vastly more situations where I can save myself from myself negotiating turns improperly
- Legitimate driver confidence I simply could not get with stock PP suspension (sorry, it may make numbers, but it isn't for me)

The only issue I have is my drag strip times have suffered, but that makes sense considering I set up the car to turn and my very low rear end with a bunch of -camber... and there's no helping me at a drag strip without an auto, anyway.

If I'm ever in FL or if you're ever in Atlanta, you can come for a ride. I'm sure Todd will be in here with his compliments as well (we have a very similar suspension setup).

Biggest must have for me? Dampers.
Biggest not need to have, IMHO? Differential bushing inserts.
Biggest want? Actual bushing replacements all over the IRS (screw the added NVH at that point)
Biggest downside overall? Because the car doesn't feel like it's dipping in the back as much, the car "feels" slower. Same thing happened when I put Ohlin's on my Harley... I was faster in all respects but it felt slower. Annoying to a degree but... makes sense.
What I'm considering right now? Aluminum driveshaft

Going to an HDPE event this weekend. We'll see how that goes.

Great post and yes man, I'd love to see how that setup is cause I've been looking at the Steeda Linear springs but want to see what Steeda has to offer beside just the springs.

 

[stoli]

1.11g on the track w/Ford track struts, Steeda linear springs, Vorshlag camber plates, BMR cradle lockout. The rest of my suspension is stock PP. Very little body roll and I have zero issue keeping up and getting waved by any of the Ms I've encountered at the track. Same for C6's. C7's are a different story. ;)

 

[Todd15Fastback]

WildCatGoat,

We have Pony Wars coming up right around the corner ... you attending?

http://www.steeda.com/ponywars

Hope to see you & any of the other members there!

Best Regards,

TJ

I will be there. Have had my room reserved for months. I will be arriving Friday morning, too.

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Great post and yes man, I'd love to see how that setup is cause I've been looking at the Steeda Linear springs but want to see what Steeda has to offer beside just the springs.

Steeda has all you need to get your car to pulling serious G's in the corners and being compliant on the street.

Not sure where you are in FL but if you are withing 3-4hrs of Pompano beach or their Valdosta, GA location, take a day off and go there and visit them. As Tim (TJ) stated, they will take you for a ride in their cars and you can feel for yourself

 

[jofivepointoh]

Steeda has all you need to get your car to pulling serious G's in the corners and being compliant on the street.

Not sure where you are in FL but if you are withing 3-4hrs of Pompano beach or their Valdosta, GA location, take a day off and go there and visit them. As Tim (TJ) stated, they will take you for a ride in their cars and you can feel for yourself

Lucky for me, I live 35 mins from Steeda, definitely going to stop by asap!

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Lucky for me, I live 35 mins from Steeda, definitely going to stop by asap!

Yes, you are lucky. Enjoy the rides

 

[stoli]

Lucky for me, I live 35 mins from Steeda, definitely going to stop by asap!

Bring cash and leave the credit card at home.

 

[tj@steeda]

Bring cash and leave the credit card at home.

We can finance too addle:addle:

TJ

 

[Todd15Fastback]

We can finance too addle:addle:

TJ

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Lost Cosmonaut]

I don't know what all ya'll are smoking. The S550 GT is the same weight or lighter than the last 3 generations of M3 (E46 M3 = ~3400lbs, E9x M3 = ~3600lbs, F8x M4 = ~3500lbs) and has the same horsepower (except for the E46 M3). And they required tons of Aluminum and Carbon Fiber parts in order to make up for all the electronics and luxury leather seats they cram in the BMW. The Mustang is already stiff and precise, and can beat the E9x M3s at the track. All it needs is to get rid of the wheel hop and get some real wheels and tires and you have a car that will shred M3s and M4s at the track every day of the week. The first thing driving my GT reminded me of was driving my E46 M3. Let's not forget that the S550 GT costs at worst HALF what it would take to get an M4.

As for the Corvette, they are pigs. They can turn, sure, but they still drive like pigs. My dad had a C6 Z06 with all kinds of goodies on it and it still felt like you were guiding it in a general direction, assuming you could hook the rear tires at all. I have track seat time in the stock C6 Z06 and stock C6 GS and can completely agree with his assessment. They can turn but don't have nearly the precise connected feel of the BMWs or the S550 Mustang, which was the first thing he commented on when he drove mine for the first time.

 

[GOTZS550]

Haven't had a chance to run an M3 or C6/7 through the twisties but I have gone through it with a 2015 Z28, which I was quicker through the corners both the technical stuff and the sweepers. Through the technical stuff significantly quicker, driver mod? Doubt it, I make no claims of awesomeness! It's a completely different car with zero wheel hop zero body roll and dead hooks and stays planted in 2nd and 3rd. Also able to put the power down sooner exiting corners too...mid corner bumps are just soaked up and the car is super predictable. Car is a little firm in the rear for the street but I will take that exchange for putting the power down sooner. Granted I went from nothing to the entire catalog - the change is quite drastic. Keep you posted if I run anything higher up the food chain, really would like to run into a Porsche and eventually get in a track day. Quite impressive for a pony car, weight withstanding and price point of the M3 or Vette, not even a question, but only driven a C6 (corner pushing turd) and rode shotgun in a fully sorted road race Z06 that was very impressive. That's my experience thus far with about 1.5 months and 2 road trips of seat time very impressed with Steeda's catalog of parts

 

[pstoppani]

I don't know what all ya'll are smoking. The S550 GT is the same weight or lighter than the last 3 generations of M3 (E46 M3 = ~3400lbs, E9x M3 = ~3600lbs, F8x M4 = ~3500lbs) and has the same horsepower (except for the E46 M3). And they required tons of Aluminum and Carbon Fiber parts in order to make up for all the electronics and luxury leather seats they cram in the BMW. The Mustang is already stiff and precise, and can beat the E9x M3s at the track. All it needs is to get rid of the wheel hop and get some real wheels and tires and you have a car that will shred M3s and M4s at the track every day of the week. The first thing driving my GT reminded me of was driving my E46 M3. Let's not forget that the S550 GT costs at worst HALF what it would take to get an M4.

GTPP is ~3700 lbs. heavier than all generations of M3. Also, weight distribution is much better in the M3.

I've owned and tracked (road course) E36, E46 and E90. The GTPP is softer, pushes and has much less feedback in the steering wheel. On the flip side, the softer suspension gets the power down better. My lap times are are equivalent E90 vs GTPP (E90 had DTC tranny so with a manual it might be a tick slower)

On the street GTPP isn't as buttoned down; feels underdamped.

Overall, the E9x and GTPP are quite close, amazingly close! I'm not compelled to change my GTPP suspension

 

[Azzurro]

GTPP is ~3700 lbs. heavier than all generations of M3. Also, weight distribution is much better in the M3.

I've owned and tracked (road course) E36, E46 and E90. The GTPP is softer, pushes and has much less feedback in the steering wheel. On the flip side, the softer suspension gets the power down better. My lap times are are equivalent E90 vs GTPP (E90 had DTC tranny so with a manual it might be a tick slower)

On the street GTPP isn't as buttoned down; feels underdamped.

Overall, the E9x and GTPP are quite close, amazingly close! I'm not compelled to change my GTPP suspension

I agree with you, weight distribution with the BMW is far superior. The first thing I noticed coming from my 2013 335i was the GT felt heavier, not as tossable in the turns and not as planted. The GT is longer, wider and heavier and you can tell right away.

That being said, my mods are making a major improvement and so the difference is narrowing now even after new springs and dampers.

I will add a few more things to dial it in even more. Would I go back to BMW? Hell no. I get so much more pleasure driving and hearing my GT. I'll probably just drive Mustangs for the rest of my life now and just upgrade every 2 or 3 years.

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