by Italianpaul » Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:22 am
Just thought I would help any of you guys trying to decide what to buy yourselves for that special Xmas present that you so deserve after all the hard work you have done this year.
So, a quick recap.
I collected My 4 in March of this year, a manual with 350 upgrade with lots of other goodies. Ran it in like a good boy and then had it serviced at 600 miles. Then let the fun begin!! Booked a few track days( 11 in total) First track day was at Bedford, which turned out to be more of a BMW day with probably most BMW's on PCP's if the way they way they were being driven is anything to go by. I really struggled with the way the turbo came in and the gearbox. The throw was too long on the gearbox and it just didn't seem to suit the engine or car.
Footnote( the factory had fitted the FK8 Acuity Shifter Linkage bushes at the build stage and I fitted the racing detent springs once it had its first service)
The next few tack days(Anglesey, Cadwell, Donnington Croft) were no great improvement on the way the car performed and this was mainly down to me just not liking the gearbox. I though the car was fast, but not super fast.
In May a friend of mine collected his 4, same spec as mine, except Chris had a sequential fitted. I went over to see him the day he got it back home and we went out for a drive. ( Bearing in mind Chris's car had not been run in yet or had its first service)
On the first straight road, Chris took off and I couldn't keep up with him. After the first trip out Chris commented that he had never been in a car as fast acceleration wise. ( This comes from a man having just sold his F12, Hope you don't mind that comment Chris)
So after a few more track days of more disappointments with the car, I decided to bite the bullet and have a sequential fitted, Not a cheap exercise but it was either that or sell the car. I don't like giving up and do like a challenge. So after discussion with Steve at the factory, I took the car down to Crewkerne on the 19th August to have the sequential fitted.
I went down to collect the car on the 7th October and was run though all of the differences between the manual and the sequential.
The first track day was a week later at Cadwell, The weather was great and WOW, what a car. The contrast was phenomenal, the acceleration, smoothness of the gear changes both up and down and the way the power is delivered is so different to the manual. Apparently there is a different engine map for the manual and the sequential, no more power just a different way its delivered.
There have been comments before about how clunky the sequential is at low speeds around town and that reverse is difficult to find.
I can assure you that as long as the clutch is use at low speeds around town its as smooth as a manual, but once its up to speed its fantastic and goes into reverse very easily.
I can hand on heart say that the Sequential has completely transformed the car.( I promise I am not on commission from the factory)
And so if any of you are sitting on the fence, jump off and get a sequential fitted. If still in doubt and you fancy a ride in a car with a sequential both Chris and I will happily take you out for a spin in the new year.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to All of you and you Families.
Hopefully see some of you on track next year.
Paul
Just thought I would help any of you guys trying to decide what to buy yourselves for that special Xmas present that you so deserve after all the hard work you have done this year.
So, a quick recap.
I collected My 4 in March of this year, a manual with 350 upgrade with lots of other goodies. Ran it in like a good boy and then had it serviced at 600 miles. Then let the fun begin!! Booked a few track days( 11 in total) First track day was at Bedford, which turned out to be more of a BMW day with probably most BMW's on PCP's if the way they way they were being driven is anything to go by. I really struggled with the way the turbo came in and the gearbox. The throw was too long on the gearbox and it just didn't seem to suit the engine or car.
Footnote( the factory had fitted the FK8 Acuity Shifter Linkage bushes at the build stage and I fitted the racing detent springs once it had its first service)
The next few tack days(Anglesey, Cadwell, Donnington Croft) were no great improvement on the way the car performed and this was mainly down to me just not liking the gearbox. I though the car was fast, but not super fast.
In May a friend of mine collected his 4, same spec as mine, except Chris had a sequential fitted. I went over to see him the day he got it back home and we went out for a drive. ( Bearing in mind Chris's car had not been run in yet or had its first service)
On the first straight road, Chris took off and I couldn't keep up with him. After the first trip out Chris commented that he had never been in a car as fast acceleration wise. ( This comes from a man having just sold his F12, Hope you don't mind that comment Chris)
So after a few more track days of more disappointments with the car, I decided to bite the bullet and have a sequential fitted, Not a cheap exercise but it was either that or sell the car. I don't like giving up and do like a challenge. So after discussion with Steve at the factory, I took the car down to Crewkerne on the 19th August to have the sequential fitted.
I went down to collect the car on the 7th October and was run though all of the differences between the manual and the sequential.
The first track day was a week later at Cadwell, The weather was great and WOW, what a car. The contrast was phenomenal, the acceleration, smoothness of the gear changes both up and down and the way the power is delivered is so different to the manual. Apparently there is a different engine map for the manual and the sequential, no more power just a different way its delivered.
There have been comments before about how clunky the sequential is at low speeds around town and that reverse is difficult to find.
I can assure you that as long as the clutch is use at low speeds around town its as smooth as a manual, but once its up to speed its fantastic and goes into reverse very easily.
I can hand on heart say that the Sequential has completely transformed the car.( I promise I am not on commission from the factory)
And so if any of you are sitting on the fence, jump off and get a sequential fitted. If still in doubt and you fancy a ride in a car with a sequential both Chris and I will happily take you out for a spin in the new year.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to All of you and you Families.
Hopefully see some of you on track next year.
Paul