So, I took my MP4 to the track this weekend. Here are my notes and observations.
Where: Thermal Springs, Palm Springs, CA
Conditions: 90 degrees F, Wet and semi-dry conditions (rained off and on all day)
Strengths:
- The car pulls like a locomotive and it never lets up! Also, when driving on the cam, there is no issue with turbo lag to speak of.
- The chassis is incredible, very stiff diagonally.
- Grip is very good overall.
- Car balance is very good.
- Brake feel is very good.
- Steering feel and response is awesome!
- Overall a great balance of chassis feel, responsiveness and forgiving nature to the car.
- The seating position and steering wheel are the best of any street car I have drivin. And I have owned and actively tracked a 458, 996 GT3 and a 997 GT3 RS v2.
Weaknesses:
- The electronics are horribly intrusive. In track/track mode it feels like a anchor gets dropped out the back of the car. As any relatively advanced driver will attest, you need some slip angle in the car for rotation mid corner that then gets balanced out by application of throttle. The MP4 will allow this! Electronic aids felt like gen 1 Porsche stuff from 10 years ago. (Now, to be fair, I did not know how to turn the electronics entirely off which I understand can be done - this would make a HUGE positive difference in the car!)
- The car needs a differential. Despite the obvious hydraulic balancing that is happening with the car's platform, the car just struggles to lay down the power coming off turns. The lack of diff also contributes to the car moving around so much during braking. This one is the car's biggest shortcoming imo.
- The front damping is too understeer prone. Mid corner the car washes out too much in general - this could easily be remedied if MC would allow users to tweak the suspension rebound settings.
- The airbrake is kinda funny. It definitely works. But, when the car slows more and more the rear comes up as the wing has less downforce.
- Setup changes -the car would benefit so much from camber, toe and ride height changes but they are a major pain to make. With other cars, if you have strings, scales and a camber gauge you can make all manner of setup changes pretty easily. With the MP4 this just isn;t the case. And, I don't care what the car, there is NO one size setup that fits all track scenarios and conditions.
Comparable: I strongly suspect that with same tires the care would clock a Porsche or a 458. But, to be fair, most of that would be on account of the acceleration off corners and overall pull of the car on straights.
Overall: I love the car despite it's foibles. I just wish it had a diff!
Where: Thermal Springs, Palm Springs, CA
Conditions: 90 degrees F, Wet and semi-dry conditions (rained off and on all day)
Strengths:
- The car pulls like a locomotive and it never lets up! Also, when driving on the cam, there is no issue with turbo lag to speak of.
- The chassis is incredible, very stiff diagonally.
- Grip is very good overall.
- Car balance is very good.
- Brake feel is very good.
- Steering feel and response is awesome!
- Overall a great balance of chassis feel, responsiveness and forgiving nature to the car.
- The seating position and steering wheel are the best of any street car I have drivin. And I have owned and actively tracked a 458, 996 GT3 and a 997 GT3 RS v2.
Weaknesses:
- The electronics are horribly intrusive. In track/track mode it feels like a anchor gets dropped out the back of the car. As any relatively advanced driver will attest, you need some slip angle in the car for rotation mid corner that then gets balanced out by application of throttle. The MP4 will allow this! Electronic aids felt like gen 1 Porsche stuff from 10 years ago. (Now, to be fair, I did not know how to turn the electronics entirely off which I understand can be done - this would make a HUGE positive difference in the car!)
- The car needs a differential. Despite the obvious hydraulic balancing that is happening with the car's platform, the car just struggles to lay down the power coming off turns. The lack of diff also contributes to the car moving around so much during braking. This one is the car's biggest shortcoming imo.
- The front damping is too understeer prone. Mid corner the car washes out too much in general - this could easily be remedied if MC would allow users to tweak the suspension rebound settings.
- The airbrake is kinda funny. It definitely works. But, when the car slows more and more the rear comes up as the wing has less downforce.
- Setup changes -the car would benefit so much from camber, toe and ride height changes but they are a major pain to make. With other cars, if you have strings, scales and a camber gauge you can make all manner of setup changes pretty easily. With the MP4 this just isn;t the case. And, I don't care what the car, there is NO one size setup that fits all track scenarios and conditions.
Comparable: I strongly suspect that with same tires the care would clock a Porsche or a 458. But, to be fair, most of that would be on account of the acceleration off corners and overall pull of the car on straights.
Overall: I love the car despite it's foibles. I just wish it had a diff!
