Just sold my 3200, just test drove a QP....

[Fat Arnie]

A QP Duo Select to be precise.

As a waftmobile with a bit of sporting pretention it is a great car, looks $1m and everyone stares at it.

But I'm regretting selling the 3200 already. Its still a bit big and heavy, but these flaws can be driven around. It is a GT after all.The endless power surge of the 3200 in higher gears is very addictive. Completely missing from the QP.

The QP feels lighter and is much easier to drive, but start to press on a bit on twisty B roads and I didn't feel it was very connected to what was going on where the tyres meet the road.

I think the transmission is the issue. Going up the box, the QP has a latency to its gear change which is about 750ms between paddle pull and engagement/drive in the next gear. Coming down the delay is even longer. The Achilles heal is that each upward change causes you to lunge forward - acceleration is far from smooth powerful and progressive - and this same momentum totally unbalances the handling of the car if you are trying to change up mid exit of a corner.

Is there an adjustment to the aggressiveness of the change (it was in Sport and Manual modes) which tightens everything up a bit?

Its not the experience I expected which is a real dissapointment :-(

Are the later cars with the conventional gearbox (ZF usnt it?) any better? This is what is in the regular Gran Turismo right...? Dare I suggest that with its roots in the QP the the Gran T could also not offer the enjoyment of a well sorted 3200?

 

[dickygrace]

A Formula Dynamics DBW goes a long way to perfecting the car. It would be difficult to find a car that had one fitted for a test drive though.

 

[BennyD]

Drive by wire is the solution of choice around here. Ring Geoff at Formula Dynamics (Las Vegas) and ask him about what is available. All 4200 owners are in the same boat and we all want faster changes,

 

[TridentTested]

As a Caterham owner I can see why you think the QP is a waftmobile but coming from Alfa 164s and 166s I find it hard and sports focused That 35 profile rubber is not very forgiving on London's pot-holed carriageways.

I've read great claims for the DBW mod so it might be worth pursuing but I can't imagine you would want to consider a ZF 'box. They are conventional 'slush-boxes' and although you do get some control over the changes with steering wheel mounted paddles the car does feel more of a relaxed cruiser than the Duo Select. You also lose some of the Duo Select's poise and grip because the ZF 'box is up the front rather than rear transaxle.

 

[Parisien]

Drive by wire is the solution of choice around here. Ring Geoff at Formula Dynamics (Las Vegas) and ask him about what is available. All 4200 owners are in the same boat and we all want faster changes,

Sounds like a good option Ian.......let us know what happens


P

 

[Gixerboy]

My QP Sport GT with the F1 dual plate clutch & improved gear change sequencing does not display these symptoms...
Also has launch control if ur feeling brave & auto blip on down change..
I love it for one, ur welcome a test drive if ur ever in Northants
Cheers
Dave

 

[Dhanj]

I don't think comparing a 4 door 5 seater car with a lighter 2+2 is being fair to the QP. I don't think the QP was ever designed to be a replacement for the 3200 - it's a different car aimed at a slightly different market.

Gear changes on the Duo Select can be made smooth if applied correctly but it takes a little time to get used to and (as you noticed) can be unforgiving when you get it wrong. You definitely wouldn't have mastered it in the first test drive but once you do you should find it very rewarding.

Having driven both the ZF auto and the Duoselect/F1 box I can say that the poise and balance you will experience when throwing the car around will be very noticeable. If you like chucking the car around, the Duoselect/F1 will likely be for you Arnie. And if you can make do with a 2+2 why not look at the 4200 and GS? Surely they are the natural step up from a 3200?

 

[allandwf]

Get another 3200, you know you want to

 

[hodroyd]

Arnie,
The QP is a lot heavier and bigger than the 3200, so you will not have the same power and no turbo's. You might be able to get the gearbox adjusted better than it is at the moment, that's if you decide to buy. Failing that Pibbows car is for sale and that's an excellent AC which are great. Then there is the 4200 facelift and the GS of course which are very good. All depends on the budget and what you really want..???
Cheers
R

 

[philw696]

I'm going to fight for the original 4200 cc cracking car and good value.
I know someone who has a facelift and it looks lovely but dissapointed after the original car and hey who needs a cup holder.
Phil.

 

[Fat Arnie]

I had to turn away as the new owner drove away. The 3200 is a car I will undoubtedly miss.

Good luck with it Lee, I hope you have as much 3200 fun as I have.



Went to Maranello's new tent today. They agreed the QP F1 Dual Select is not the same driving experience in terms of gearbox as even a 355F1. I think this is what I crave, They said the last DuoSelects had better software for the gearbox.

When I asked about the ZF in the Gran T, they said they are just like a big BMW auto. So that's killed off that idea.

So MC Shift (and a divorce no doubt) or what else??

I think I'll just have to settle for nothing and get on and finish the P4. Maybe an MC Shift when their resale value and my budget get a bit closer.....

 

[Gixerboy]

Arnie,
I would suggest a test drive in a later QP F1 this is very different to the pre-2006 cars The clutch is true dual plate device & very manual like in it's action in sport mode. By the way the MC shift uses the same transaxle & clutch..actuation just a rebranding for the GT.
A quick check on Eurospares helps to show this..

Happy hunting
Dave

 

[hodroyd]

Arnie,
I know what it's like to sell a car you really like, I sold my Jag XJR recently and I felt the same way seeing someone else drive off in it. The worst thing is when the new owner keeps contacting me and saying "this car is fantastic", it just grates on me a bit.....grrrrrr.
Hope you find something soon. We still have our AC and I just got the 4200 as well, they are different cars in the way they do the job and I love them both in their own way.
Cheers
R

 

[bigbob]

Please go and drive a late DS QP and a ZF Auto QP and report back. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[LDM 3200]

Arnie,

Good luck with the P4 (it will be a fantastic car when finished) and the replacement for the 3200 when you find it!
Many thanks for you help.

Looking forward to lots of 3200 fun

All the best
Lee