Hyundai or Excel

[Whitey]

Further to Johns post, i thought I'd set up a poll to see what everyone thinks.
Feel free comment on how you voted.

[ernysp76]

Even 2010 is only three years away and I think a 1.5 Accent will be fine to get out amoung the Excels by then if not earlier (hence my pint about the series name). I think by 2010 the Excels will be getting a bit harder to find in a condition that will be OK for rallying but more importantly the first batch of "L-Platers" will be coming in that where born at the same time as the car. From memory a trump card used against the Gemini's by some "P-platers" when shown a Gemini and I'm paraphrassing "mate this car was built before I was born!".

[luke_how]

I'm against bringing the accent's into the series, it will increase the cost and it will separate the people that are on tight budgets to the people who have got larger budgets. It will also confuse new members, what to buy an accent or an excel? Also if a new member decides to get a car this year or next it will take them at least 1 year to get the car ready and then testing and setting up ect, and by the time the car is at it's best it will be old because the accents are in?
Stick with the excels until we get some of our new states running with sufficient members then change to the accents. Remember the excel series is only 3 years old.

Regards Luke

[ernysp76]

Shouldn't take a year to setup I did it over summer holidays. See Tom Kaitlers feature in the last of the Rally Sport Magazines edition. Cage, Under body protection and basic suspension (Lovel springs and KYB Shocks) have done me well in 2006. Brakes and engine standard, Ausport Tyres work OK and are cheap. That's the beauty of these cars simple and they work of the shelf. I want to get down to Tassie and do a round of your State Series this year and I'll show you my set-up.

[matt mead]

Well this is coming from an absolute newbie to rallying and novice really to motorsport...

I believe if you change to the accent anytime soon you will defeat the main reason why a novice would want to join the series!!!!

The reason im interested in joining the series is that, it is very cost effective motor sport (compared to circuit racing), relatively cheap to setup, no real big modifications to do, but u bring in the accents it becomes more expensive (more expensive initial outlay, 14inch tyres are more expensive, and so on) and say for young ppl like me, in 3yrs i wont be able to go spend 10-15gs again to build another rally car to stay competitive in the series..

Another reason im interested in this series is that it about drive skill, not how much cash u have in ur back pocket…. You start throwing in accents and ppl with more money to spend start to become a lot more competitive...

Also that the series is so competitive, its basically an even playing field, as the above you start bring in 1.6L and so on and the little guys stop being competitive and become unhappy with the series...then go find another form of motor sport..

But on the other hand, the series needs to grow and needs to have a future.... accents are probably the next best option, but that should be explored later on when part start to become hard to get, and when excels are hard to find in good condition...

just my 2 cents

[Trendact]

I agree, I voted for the 2012 option but after thinking about it some more I feel 2015 would be better. Any earlier like the 2010 option and I may have to think about selling the Excel now and wait until the Accent can be used and build an Accent :eek:

[ernysp76]

I voted for 2010 as an option because 1009 wasn't an option and it was the next closest. Why would you need to sell your Excel now? My guess is a 2000 - 2003 Accent would not give you or anyone an advantage as they are heaveir and have the same motor remember we are talking 2010, some three years down the track and when you'll probably be enjoying a factory drive in a EVO XII and an Excel will be at its youngest 10 years old. It may have been better if the poll was about the name rather than the phase in period.

[Rally Angel]

I voted 2010. This being it has given us plenty of time to make sure the series is successful in SA. By phasing in the newer model vehicles (Accents etc), I think it will give us a market of Excels to sell to those who are beginning in the sport in 3 or 4 years time. Others may just be happy to have the option. I think in the spirit of the series, if the vehicles are on a par, I don't think any will mind the mixed fields.

I also strongly believe it is not just the car - it is the way it is driven. If I ever get my Excel, it will never be on a par with say, Glen Farrant, if I am driving. However, it would be a different kettle of fish if my partner drives it.

[Trendact]

Why would you need to sell your Excel now? My guess is a 2000 - 2003 Accent would not give you or anyone an advantage as they are heaveir and have the same motor remember we are talking 2010, some three years down the track and when you'll probably be enjoying a factory drive in a EVO XII and an Excel will be at its youngest 10 years old. It may have been better if the poll was about the name rather than the phase in period.

Was thinking that if in 2010 we can run a 2007 model or even a 2010 model then maybe that would be the go ;) A factory drive by 2010, I hope so :D
Yes a poll on the name may have been better but its good to see what we think in regards to the Excel and the Accent phase in. The only real issue I have is Accents with bigger engines, better brakes, bigger wheels etc.... coming in making it hard for the Excel owners to keep up in the series. As I have said before in another post as long as the Excel owners can run the Accent gear in the Excel then let them in but give the series some more time to grow before we have people spending money on Accent 1.6 engines and changing to disc rear ends etc....(not sure if the Accent has a disc rear yet as I have not checked for a while).

[Crazy Dave]

Sticking with the first accent set up with the same engine etc (change of manifold with an extra few kw is nothing) would not provide to much hindrance to the series, but it would have to be with some benefit like big sponsorship or something. They will be well recognised for quite a few years yet so we don't need to worry about them fading away and there where a lot more of them sold than the accents anyway so parts, spares and cars will probably out live the early accent.

[Whitey]

Crazy Dave is on the money, the issue is not with the early Accents. It is with the 1.6 models which came later and how we maintain an even playing field without forcing everyone in a 1.5 to upgrade.

[Trendact]

Exactly! means more money to run a front running car in the series that was to be an entry level low cost series and not the biggest budget wins.

[Crazy Dave]

Brett
I think the intention is that they want to allow the accents with the same engine gearbox/combination as what we have now and not allow the later 1.6 etc engines. This would bring a later body shape, basically the same floor pan though, with no advantages or extra costs. I don't see it as a issue in that I think the excel will still be quicker, depending on what the chassis set up, stiffness etc, is like in the accent. And costs should be very similar between the 2. But there where a lot less of those brought into Aus than the X3's, so worrying about the cars getting harder to find and parts etc is incorrect. This whole issue to me seems to be more based on identity. Do you want to have the series dedicated as the X3 excel series or do you allow a different body shape to run as well. In the geminis, you have both early and late shape ones running side by side with the same engines, gearbox etc options. So precluding the 1.6, you could have an equal series with the two shapes. For now I personally don't see the advantage being big as I like the push on that X3 body shape as it is better recognised by the young people as their type of car where as the accent seemed to have marketed itself towards older people and retirees. Forget the naming issue as they are essentially the same car in 2 different skins, but I like where we are with this and it seems to me to better suit the object of this series.

[ernysp76]

I thank all those that contributed ideas to this forum we also held a meeting the other night in Victoria with all current competitors and interested others and discussed the issue as part of pretty full agenda. While no-one had a problem with a succession plan for the Excel and saw it as essential to the growth of the introductory concept we have decided to set-up a working party which will have a look at the parity issues and any other issues that may need to be included before recommendations are put to the Victorian Series group.

At this stage all Victorian Cars will be allowed to be fitted with twin cam 1.8 Lantra motors :eek: as they are indistinguishable from the outside.....NOT! Only joking but it is a common swap.

[Trendact]

I have no problems with the 1.5 Accents coming in just the 1.6 at this stage. Yes I agree with you as well Dave that the x3 Excel shape is a better known car and more marketable. It was said before that at some of the auctions where later X3's have been selling for the same and at times for more $$$ then early Accents as the X3 is a better shape then the Accent box and the X3 has proven to be a tough little car with easy to find cheap parts.

[Whitey]

Hi John,
would you or someone from Victoria like to give us all a run down of discussions from the meeting.

We still need a moderator for the Victorian section of the fourm also. Other than yourself there seems to be little uptake of the forum from Mexico.

[ernysp76]

I'm sure Col will update everyone with the outcomes. We will have several new cars this years and some exciting new partnerships that will lift the profile of this introductory series. Some of our discussions where under chat in house rules as outcomes will only occur if several things fall into place. It was a positive meeting with some great enthusiasm shown for the up coming year, we just need to get through the brushfire season and we'll be off.

[ernysp76]

You can probably shut the poll down now as we will be phasing Accents in Victoria at some stage and I'd guess well before 2012. This will give the current Excels a home for years to come as they will always remain competitive in the right hands.

[John C]

I don't see a problem with allowing the later model cars in , yes they should all have the same engine and all use 13 inch tyres . I am sure we can setup all sorts of parity restrictors if the performance gets out of hand. I am all for allowing guys to be fully competitive in the X3 and yet at the same time allow people to update to the later shape if they have the money this will also maintain the keen interest and price of X3 cars.
The technical details such as rear discs can all be covered in the series rules

[Whitey]

What rear discs???
No 1500cc Excel or Accent in the years that have been discussed has rear discs.
The Accent didn't get its rear discs until the 2006 (current) model