ngkenny
10-03-2006, 12:51 AM
Just installed the Cusco Zero 2E with Econ and Greddy Oil Pan last week and here are my thoughts on how it is.
(before installing the suspension, the car already has sway bars, under carriage brace, front and rear strut bar installed so they all play a part in my review done)
Cusco Zero 2E - Brought the car out to a mini circuit to test it round sharp corners and long bends to see how the car behaved. Wheel alignment has been set to as close to factory setting as possible so that my brother and myself can see the difference before making alignment changes next time. Started driving round the mini circuit to make sure the suspension is ok. Setting now for the Econ is softest for now. Feels good..almost like stock. Car seems to be able to keep its balance nicely even though the suspension is set to softest. much much more controlled as compared to stock. Body roll is still there but very minimal. During cornerings, oversteer is apparent but its much easier to counter as the tail comes out very smoothly as compared to stock.
Then i tried medium setting. Wowee. I never dare to take on corners like that before but now its all possible because it just felt so sure and stable. And the good thing…the feedback is so good that it felt like I am handling a go kart. (have to add that the car is NOT lowered by a lot. About 2 finger space all round). Almost no body roll at all. Just drive nicely into the corner, gas it nicely back on midway, tail moves out a little bit, correct it and the car just slings itself out of the corner. Very well balanced indeed. The tyres by now were already screeching but still holding up very well. Traction from them are top notch (AD07).
I did not try the hardest setting as I don’t see the need to for now. Its already pretty stiff at medium setting. The hardest setting should be for much more demanding drivers and driving locations.
On other days that I tried the hardest setting on normal driving road conditions…my verdict. Ouchhhhh…..F$%^ing shiok during corners but very hard to drive on.
Maybe I need to add one important note – NO SOUND at all for soft and medium setting. No metal hit metal sound. At the hardest….quite slight oinking sound can be heard.. That should put all those people who want to buy but are afraid that their wife will find out. So far so good for me and my brother. Both ladies never say anything until we told them we changed. Both said its pretty much like stock.
Greddy Oil Pan – We changed the stock oil pan to the Greddy on last week as well. Technically, the stock pan does not provide adequate oil capacity that is needed for engine cooling during hard driving or track use. The greddy unit adds about 750+ - cc of engine oil as compared to the stock unit. By right, it should prevent engine performance from going down when oil pressure occurs. Also, it should prevent oil starvation to the cooling system during hard cornering. By the way, the pan is made of aluminum, thus it offers better heat dissipation. Under carriage clearance is also not a problem cos the pan is pretty flat. So no worries about scrapping.
We have been observing the oil temp gauge for about a week. Normal driving temp with the occasional high revs has actually decreased now. Used to be about 88-93 but I am getting regular 85 and below now. Driving during hard conditions, oil temp has also gone down. Used to be about 107+ -. Now is about 100-105.
In summary, the cusco zero 2e (in my opinion) is really very good. Cusco being cusco, quality is there for sure. HARD yet SOFT….SOFT yet FIRM…..FIRM yet COMFY. Like a taiji master, using softness to counter hardness. I find that I don’t have to drive as hard as I used to BUT I can drive faster and better at trying to take on corners now..much smoother now since the car is much more balanced and predictable.
To really enjoy the suspension, I really recommend the usage of the econ. The convenience of tuning it in the car itself scores more point that anything.
The Greddy oil pan is something nice to have for the car. Mainly for protection and prevention purpose. It’s akin to having a 3rd oil cooler and a bigger water bottle.
Siesta has also done a review on the Cusco Zero 2E with Econ some time back. 2 different reviews with the same outcome. ‘Good Stuff’.
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=91557&highlight=cusco
Did I mentioned that we also just fitted the racing cat from Knight Sports. Together with the KS headers and exhaust…pushing through the middle of the night in the mini circuit is totally heavenly. Wind down the window…listen to the engine note at high revs….ahhhhh……sweet
Where did i purchase these from? Monster Garage. Call them to check for stock availability and pricing.
Kindly PM coupe07 for details.
(before installing the suspension, the car already has sway bars, under carriage brace, front and rear strut bar installed so they all play a part in my review done)
Cusco Zero 2E - Brought the car out to a mini circuit to test it round sharp corners and long bends to see how the car behaved. Wheel alignment has been set to as close to factory setting as possible so that my brother and myself can see the difference before making alignment changes next time. Started driving round the mini circuit to make sure the suspension is ok. Setting now for the Econ is softest for now. Feels good..almost like stock. Car seems to be able to keep its balance nicely even though the suspension is set to softest. much much more controlled as compared to stock. Body roll is still there but very minimal. During cornerings, oversteer is apparent but its much easier to counter as the tail comes out very smoothly as compared to stock.
Then i tried medium setting. Wowee. I never dare to take on corners like that before but now its all possible because it just felt so sure and stable. And the good thing…the feedback is so good that it felt like I am handling a go kart. (have to add that the car is NOT lowered by a lot. About 2 finger space all round). Almost no body roll at all. Just drive nicely into the corner, gas it nicely back on midway, tail moves out a little bit, correct it and the car just slings itself out of the corner. Very well balanced indeed. The tyres by now were already screeching but still holding up very well. Traction from them are top notch (AD07).
I did not try the hardest setting as I don’t see the need to for now. Its already pretty stiff at medium setting. The hardest setting should be for much more demanding drivers and driving locations.
On other days that I tried the hardest setting on normal driving road conditions…my verdict. Ouchhhhh…..F$%^ing shiok during corners but very hard to drive on.
Maybe I need to add one important note – NO SOUND at all for soft and medium setting. No metal hit metal sound. At the hardest….quite slight oinking sound can be heard.. That should put all those people who want to buy but are afraid that their wife will find out. So far so good for me and my brother. Both ladies never say anything until we told them we changed. Both said its pretty much like stock.
Greddy Oil Pan – We changed the stock oil pan to the Greddy on last week as well. Technically, the stock pan does not provide adequate oil capacity that is needed for engine cooling during hard driving or track use. The greddy unit adds about 750+ - cc of engine oil as compared to the stock unit. By right, it should prevent engine performance from going down when oil pressure occurs. Also, it should prevent oil starvation to the cooling system during hard cornering. By the way, the pan is made of aluminum, thus it offers better heat dissipation. Under carriage clearance is also not a problem cos the pan is pretty flat. So no worries about scrapping.
We have been observing the oil temp gauge for about a week. Normal driving temp with the occasional high revs has actually decreased now. Used to be about 88-93 but I am getting regular 85 and below now. Driving during hard conditions, oil temp has also gone down. Used to be about 107+ -. Now is about 100-105.
In summary, the cusco zero 2e (in my opinion) is really very good. Cusco being cusco, quality is there for sure. HARD yet SOFT….SOFT yet FIRM…..FIRM yet COMFY. Like a taiji master, using softness to counter hardness. I find that I don’t have to drive as hard as I used to BUT I can drive faster and better at trying to take on corners now..much smoother now since the car is much more balanced and predictable.
To really enjoy the suspension, I really recommend the usage of the econ. The convenience of tuning it in the car itself scores more point that anything.
The Greddy oil pan is something nice to have for the car. Mainly for protection and prevention purpose. It’s akin to having a 3rd oil cooler and a bigger water bottle.
Siesta has also done a review on the Cusco Zero 2E with Econ some time back. 2 different reviews with the same outcome. ‘Good Stuff’.
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=91557&highlight=cusco
Did I mentioned that we also just fitted the racing cat from Knight Sports. Together with the KS headers and exhaust…pushing through the middle of the night in the mini circuit is totally heavenly. Wind down the window…listen to the engine note at high revs….ahhhhh……sweet
Where did i purchase these from? Monster Garage. Call them to check for stock availability and pricing.
Kindly PM coupe07 for details.