 | | | |  | | ROADTESTS | | Toyota TAZZ |  | Magazine - November 2003 | | | SAC Toyota Tazz 130 Sport | | This month, Topcar's thrust is on performance, so it is only fitting that our Tazz receives its power boost at this stage. | | In order to up the output from its 1,3 litre engine safely and reliably, we sent the Toyota to the experts at Steves Auto Clinic - and the results were more than satisfactory | |  | | | Since day one, we knew that our Toyota Tazz 130 Sport would need to have its power output upped significantly if it was to become the object of desire that we always intend it to be. | | | The car had most of its accessories fitted by the beginning of September, including a set of alloy wheels, lowered suspension and a body kit - it just needed to go to match the show. | | When the sparkling clean car was delivered back to us, several of the Topcar team were waiting in the parking lot to catch a glimpse of what had been done. | | Initially, the assembled crew was disappointed - the only clue to the work was a discreet set of chrome-tipped tailpipes and a slightly deeper, yet still relatively quiet, exhaust note. | |  | | | Our goal was to find a company to perform the modifications that could produce the goods, yet still retain the Toyota's almost legendary reliability and driveability. | | Luckily, we knew just the firm for the job. | | Since its inception as a small workshop in Vanderbijlpark 16 years ago, Steve's Auto Clinic has developed a sterling reputation for developing conversions of the highest quality. | | Now, operations have expanded to service clients in many locations, but core values have been retained. | | Thus, when we handed over the keys to our pride and joy at Steve's premises in Vanderbijl, we felt none of the pangs of trepidation that might be expected, just excitement at the prospect of more power on its return. | | When the sparkling clean car was delivered back to us, several of the Topcar team were waiting in the parking lot to catch a glimpse of what had been done. | | Initially, the assembled crew was disappointed - the only clue to the work was a discreet set of chrome-tipped tailpipes and a slightly deeper, yet still relatively quiet, exhaust note. | |  | | | We were handed an envelope, which included information on what had been done to the vehicle and recommendations for looking after it, as well as dynamometer power graphs and details of the warranty covering the SAC work. | | The dyna reports looked impressive indeed. Maximum power has been upped from just under 36 Kw to 46 Kw at the front wheels, with a commensurate increase n torque. | | This is an increase of over 25 percent, but even mote noteworthy is that the engine is making more power and torque at every point in its rev range. | | All too often, tuned cars produce more power at higher revs to the detriment driveability at lower speeds, but not so with our Tazz. | | In order to achieve this extra grunt, the technicians and engineers at Steve's gas flowed the 1,3-litre engine's cylinder head, fitted a reprofiled camshaft and a Wildcat freeflow exhaust, and tuned the car on a rolling road dynamometer. | | The cylinder head was optimised using a sophisticated flow bench, allowing for the guesswork to be taken out of this process, and ensuring that improvements were yielded as soon as it was bolted back on to the block. | | Although far from being transformed into a firebreather, the Tazz now feels much stronger and more willing than before. | | The engine spins freely - apparently it is able to rev over 7 000 r/min, although we are unsure when to shift as the Tazz has not yet had a rev counter fitted. | | Whether cruising on a highway or blasting around town, our little Toyota always has power in reserve. Initial impressions are that it feels at least as powerful as its 1,6-litre fuel injected big brother - quite impressive when one considers that it is just a mildly tuned carb-fed 1,3-litre. | | According to our calculations, our Tazz's engine will now produce approximately 71 Kw at its flywheel at the coast, another indication of just how successful this conversion this has been. | | The exhaust note from the Wildcat freeflow system is most entertaining. | | Gone is the typical Tazz 'zing' being replaced by an altogether more manly tone. | | This baritone bark is never intrusive, and does not resonate at any point, a fault often encountered with such systems. | | The exhaust set-up includes a set of branches as well as performance silencers to reduce backpressure and thereby up power. | | The only visible elements of the Steves Auto Clinic conversion are a pair of neat chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. | |  | | | At last our Tazz has the go to match the show. | | The cherry on top is that the car's engine is covered by Steve's Auto Clinic's six month/20 000 km warranty, as well as the company's reputation for excellence. | | "We pride ourselves on our level of customer service, and we would certainly never leave someone in the lurch in the unlikely event of them experiencing a problem", says SAC founder Steve Fischer. | | So, just a few more enhancements - primarily to the interior of the car - and our Tazz is ready for its new owner. | | Remember, if you have subscribed to Topcar magazine or extended your subscription in the latter half of this year you stand in line to win this one-of-a-kind vehicle. | | | | Click Here to get an SAC consultant to advise you! | | Click here for more about our conversions | | Performance / power conversions, modifications, engine upgrades available for Alfa, Audi, BMW, Chev, Chrysler, Colt, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Opel, Toyota, VW and more... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Performance / Power enhancement conversions | | Petrol & Diesel conversions, modifications, engine upgrades available for: | | Alfa, Audi, BMW, Chev, Chrysler, Colt, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Opel, Toyota, VW and more... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
