Autoslalom plus impressions of new mods

[mcheddadi]

So I finally was able to test the coupe to its limits after all the recent major changes I did on a REAL BIG TRACK!

I went at the ICAR circut last weekend which is a pretty new track here in quebec.



Tust to recap I've just installed the BC RACING coilovers, the prototype RACINGLINE rear sway bar, PZERO 235/55/17 tires, short shift kit with heavier knob and HLSDifferential.

first I want to say that the coilovers are INCREDIBLE. they are just that good! I can't stop raving about them. the 7Kg/mm springs are the PERFECT stiffness. forget crap progressive springs with the bouncy then harsh ride paired with the stock dampers. This is the REAL DEAL. And just to prove I'm not just saying random crap, I've compared my coils with my bro's 2007 S2000's stock suspension. he took a 1hour ride with me and he couldn't stop telling me how great my coils would make the car handle the bumps and the road's imperfections while at the same time having a FLAT ride with MINIMUM squat and forward dip. his words:"WOW my s2000 is much harsher than that on those bumps. Darn, you've got the same handling than me now with a more comfortable ride!"btw I was only at 10 on the dampers (32 levels adjustable!!)

Nissan REALLy should have given us a hardcorer version from the start with suspention like this.

and btw if you guys have been reading the thread Ricko made about the racingline RSB. you know that that RSB is going to be CRAZY STIFF FTW!!!

"Testing by an independent testing facility shows our bar is approx 45% stiffer than our competition on it's SOFT setting & almost 100% stiffer on it's STIFF setting. Stay tuned for more updates. Anticipated launch date is Sept 4th

I had the bar at the hardest (of course lol) during the whole autoslalom event and guess what? LIFT OFF OVERSTEER !!!! (TRIPOD, rear inner wheel lifts off!!!!) HAhah!! LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! btw thank god for the extra rear camber that the coils give to the rear. made the tailfishing very controllable and enjoyable!

About the HLSD. it's like driving in color. like the diff between driving AWD vs FWD or FWD vs RWD (etc.). the levels of grip it gave me in the corners and on the wet track (did I mention I was riding in the wet lol) was ASTONISHING. you know when you are at the limit in a corner and you just know you can't accelerate anymore or the car will just end up in the ditch, well that never happens with the HLSD. you accelerate and accelerate and ACCELERATE AND WTF you are in the triple digit in A CORNER!!!

seriously what was NISSAN THINKING?? they do the SENTRA SPECV in full race spec with the great stiff suspension and the HLSD and they don't do the same for the altima?!! rubbish!! btw there was a blue SPEC V at the track and it was a GIRL and she WAS DOMINATING! the lotus elise and the dodge viper str-10 had a hardtime on the track and the girl was running circles around everyone lol (keep in mind that insane torque or extra super light weight arn't the best of advantages on a WET track).

The PZERO tires HAD godly amount of grip and for 400$ for all 4 I couldn't possibly complain, big fat rigid side wall FTW lol

so overall, altima coupe with those upgrades = ALTIMA SPECV !!!! track status acquired!

btw, just got my pro driver license! (TYPE B) I completed the necessary required amount of time on the track so now I can do officially sanctioned timed events

here are some pics since threads without pics just FAIL

[Hussain]

good stuff! man, over here its been like 100+ degrees for over a month, i wish we could have some of that rain and cool weather.... sooooo now that you got some REAL tires instead of those off road snow ones, when are you going to the 1/4 mile track? its a proven fact that CVT kills manual off the line because of traction issues and from a roll or after they get going, manual kills CVT. so since you have a manual with a LSD and some good tires, it should get interesting.

[crayzitalian3]

i think you just sold me on the rear sway bar, i will be selling mine when this comes out lol!!!!

[phobs]

That track looks super fun, especially wet too!

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

That track looks super fun, especially wet too!

yea im jealous

[Jose3.5]

I'm super jealous that you have a track that you can go and test out your car and I'm insanely jealous of your rain. It's been so hot here with all the s*** thats burning up. Congrats on your license and give us an update when you can try it again when its dry. I bet youll be even more impressed then.

[XXplosive990]

we need some of that rain over in Cali, half the state is on fire, including the hills where i live but wow lol ur making those coilovers REAAAAALLY tempting, you're gonna make me go broke haha

[Rob.Vegan]

OMG I want those coilovers ! ! !

You're one lucky guy there Mehdi. Ya temps hit 105 here in SoCal, that should just not happen. Fall is almost here, and then christmas. Hopefully by spring time I'll have some coilovers and some real wheels.

Congrats on the class B as well

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Excellent stuff Mehdi!

[dangeris]

Go Speed Mehdi Go!!!!

[LongBeachCoupe]

Nice man!

[rjdmmfl1]

glad you enjoy your new upgrades, all performance upgrades, and being that the suspension is the weakest part of the Altima package in stock form, I'm sure the difference is night and day... the only problem I have with your write up is this statement

seriously what was NISSAN THINKING?? they do the SENTRA SPECV in full race spec with the great stiff suspension and the HLSD and they don't do the same for the altima?!! rubbish!!

the answer is simple... the Altima is a family sedan that had two doors chopped off, and a shortened wheel base. platform is still a family sedan's platform... the sentra spec v is a racer's car, its meant for performance, modding, and racing.... we keep thinking that Nissan should have done more with the altima because we want to believe that its a car meant for racing, and its not.. its a 2 door, nice looking altima with a great engine... nothing more.. it just so happens that with $1000 - $2000, and a nice suspension overhaul, it can be transformed into a well handling FWD car...

again, congrats on the upgrades, sounds like fun, and I'm sure you'll continue to enjoy them... heck, I may go for a similar suspension setup as I do NOT enjoy the handling of my car.. its better than stock, but that not saying much

good job though and thanks for sharing your experience with us

[mcheddadi]

it can be transformed into a well handling FWD car...

trust me, its not just well handling now, its physics bending handling.for a FWD car to have this much traction is crazy!

if you could ride in it man, on the track back to back with my bro's s2000, you'd be AMAZED at how crazy the handling has become

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

trust me, its not just well handling now, its physics bending handling.for a FWD car to have this much traction is crazy!

if you could ride in it man, on the track back to back with my bro's s2000, you'd be AMAZED at how crazy the handling has become

ur living my dream im jealous lol

[2008AltiCoupeDan]

kicka$$ bro - keep up the good work

[zilla19]

Did you rectify the camber issue? Were you able to get correct alignment?

[mcheddadi]

front is cool, rear is 2 degrees off makes the car turn on itself easier lol

[rjdmmfl1]

front is cool, rear is 2 degrees off makes the car turn on itself easier lol

so when r these going 2 b available?

[toxik]

mehdi why are your lights yellow?

[mcheddadi]

mehdi why are your lights yellow?

my lights are yellow, because that the way stock lghts are?

so when r these going 2 b available?

racingline said they would make adjustable camber rear arms but I don't know when exactly. it's not that big of deal. the car handles brillianty and the rear slides out just enough to have zero understeer.

[zilla19]

front is cool, rear is 2 degrees off makes the car turn on itself easier lol

Is that after the adjustable universal 350z/g35 rear camber arm installation? If so, how much off was it without the adjustable camber arm?