Well it shares most of the engine and bodywork with the standard GT-Four and Alltrac, so yeah I do know what you mean mate. I just love it too much to not point out the differences when someone thinks it's a normal GT-Four or Alltrac lol. Perhaps that's just me being a snob, but I think it's because I'm such a car nut, that now I have a proper, rare and special piece of racing history, that I want to tell people about it haha.
Differences to a standard GT-Four:
-The obvious - Lightweight open front bar, different bonnet with hot air outlet instead of scoop, bonnet also has two rear facing outlets and a small scoop to feed cooling air to the cam belt housing. Front and rear bumpers have small lightweight aluminium bumpers underneath instead of the large heavy steel ones in the normal GT-Four.
-Water to air charge cooler instead of air to air intercooler, the charge cooler uses a secondary radiator, separate from the engine radiator, and an electric water pump. Charge cooler radiator also has a water misting system, though this isn't connected from the factory, it just had to be bolted in place to homologate it for use in the rally car (I plan on hooking mine up, because it's cool lol).
-Different turbo from the stock GT-Four, which has a steel turbine wheel instead of ceramic.
-Larger AFM
-More aggressive ECU tune, with fuel maps up to a 17psi fuel cut, instead of 12psi fuel cut in the GT-Four.
-Lightweight, lower restriction 2.5 inch exhaust From the factory (still far too restrictive, exhaust upgrades unlock so much power in ST185s)
-Different suspension settings
-Different gearbox (this box was offered on later GT-Fours) with triple cone syncros on second and third, dual syncro rings on fifth, teflon coated shift forks, short throw shifter, and a few other improvements.
+ a few things I've no doubt missed.
Power figures:
GT-Four/Alltrac - 155kw (207hp)
Group A - 173kw (232hp)
With upgrades, both have a lot of potential. If you have an unlimited budget for mods, the only upside to owning a group a is the rarity and collectibility, though you have to remember to keep all the standard parts when you upgrade.
No it's fine, I don't blame you, it's a really cool car and I'd probably be the same way if I had one. Also it's nice to see somebody who cares about theirs, most people just beat them to hell and back. Good luck finding a half decent one here in the states, I dunno what it's like for you guys.
