simonrhart wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:14 pm
hamtt wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2020 8:55 pm
If you drive an upgraded 3 on its own you won't be able to tell any difference.
Drive a 3.5 and an upgraded 3 on the road and you won't be able to tell any difference.
On the track its a different story. An experienced track driver will be able to tell the difference.
An 'untouched' 3 drives completely differently to a 3.5.
The 3.5r handles and drives closer to the 3.5 then a 3.5 does to 3.
This all ofcourse all things being equal in terms of suspension/setup/tyres and all cars drive 'as new'.
A dog of a 3.5r or incorrectly setup 3.5r will drive worse than a well maintained 3.
How does this compare to a 4? given I only have had a 4.
The 3.5/3.5r are completely different to drive than the 4. They're more 'raw' and IMO what the atom was originally about.
The 4, especially with the sequential, is almost too easy to drive. Half the fun with the older cars was you were living on the edge of your wits on the track and you just knew you were gonna get punished for getting something wrong so made you more alert. Also the weight transfer etc could be felt more in the older cars. I missed having the 3.5 at the track last time I went but at the same time enjoyed the 4.
I've had three 4's now. The first one was fairly basic and didn't take it on the track, the second one was high spec but I just couldn't get any grip on the track and really didn't enjoy it much on the track, was just more frustrating than anything else. I really really missed the 3.5 on that track day. The third one is much better even though it has practically the same setup, only difference being carbon wheels on the new one, and wings. But I've had the wings off and it still had a lot more grip than the first. Really don't know why. Oh, and sequential, but that wouldn't affect the grip.