Launching high powered Golfs..

[kryten2001]

Hi Guys -

This is a request for those out there with heavily modified 2.0T golfs.... I'm trying to find out the best technique for launching.

I've got a Pirelli (K04) with heaps and heaps of mods (unconfirmed 240-260kw/400+NM).

The problem I'm having is either excessive (through third gear) wheel spins if I give it too much herbs, or lackluster acceleration if I give it too little.

The first few seconds of the launch is the most important, so I want to try and figure out what the best technique is. I've seen some guys slowly feeding in the throttle, but I can't get anywhere near close to even half throttle without spinning the wheels, so you back off - lose 'spool', and the car just bogs....

What are you guys doing to get decent launches? Launch control doesn't help, it just spins...

The other issue appears to be with a lengthy delay/wheel creep before the car really gets down to business. Maybe it's just a DSG thing, but it can really take a second or two before full power is applied to the wheels, and in the meantime - you just slowly accelerate off the line.

Acceleration once you hit 2nd/3rd is just fine, but those first few gears are very tricky. ESP can deal with the wheelspin issue, but then I feel it retarding power in big chunks, all the way through third gear.....

Maybe I need better tyres to deal with the grip.. Some R specs perhaps..

Cheers guys.

[Sage]

semi slicks will help if you can afford it..

tho really this is the age old issue with high powered front wheel drives..

launch.. weight transfers to the back of the car.. front of the car is light.. front wheels spin..

[99gti]

Does it have an LSD? That will help a bit.

[kaoticice]

yeh, having a 240kw+ power on a front wheel is going over too much imo. Semi slicks is ur best bet to put those numbers down to the wheel. U might need to ease the throttle abit on the 1st and 2nd gear.

[kryten2001]

yeh, having a 240kw+ power on a front wheel is going over too much imo. Semi slicks is ur best bet to put those numbers down to the wheel. U might need to ease the throttle abit on the 1st and 2nd gear.

It's almost as if less power would make it go quicker, and it's only going to get worse when the super lightweight wheels go on.

I might have to look into those slicks, or give up trying to floor it off the line.

Once you get going the acceleration is brutal, but off the line - it's really tough to get it moving without spinning uncontrollably. The surface/tyres were likely a leading culprit though, as it's been freezing cold over here lately.

[VW Central]

Thanks for posting this. I was going to post the same question. I hate it at the lights when I get wheelspin. The only way I have found to sort of fix it is to slowly accelerate and then slam it down when you start moving.

[ChrisR32]

As said, definitely one of the drawback of lots of power through the front wheels. Having said that, had a mate who had a heavily modded supercharged Ralliart Magna (about 240kw atw) and found that the difference between having a proper LSD was like night and day. At the drags, slicks were an absolute necessity also but would still spin like crazy. Could be a case of toning down the tune or amount of power going through the front wheels.

[franjae]

Sometimes I wonder if there's a point spending money making too much power in a FWD car. Money is better spent getting an AWD or RWD car that can make use of that power. Spinning the front wheels just doesn't feel as nice as breaking loose the rear ones!

[kaoticice]

yeh ur right. Thats why the mazda mps even have torque limiter..

i rkn fwd is good for low gain mods, as power is distributed more efficiently towards the front wheels, it should gain more whp on a mod in compared with Awd and rwd.

[kryten2001]

Thanks for posting this. I was going to post the same question. I hate it at the lights when I get wheelspin. The only way I have found to sort of fix it is to slowly accelerate and then slam it down when you start moving.

I'm just going to have to put some slicks on it I suppose.

The high pressure fuel pump and upgraded IC go in tomorrow, so that's only going to give it more power. I guess I went a bit stupid in the engine department. I can only imagine what it must be like driving around one of these 300kw FWD golfs.

Driving it home today, I had monster wheelspin even when I floored it going 40km/h (!!). Again, the engine management just killed the power. I dunno maybe it's the freezing cold weather/cold tyres. It didn't seem this bad when it was warmer.

Hopefully the slicks will do the job. Getting a bit compromised now though.

Ahh well.. Better to slip the wheels than have them dig in too much and blow a diff, I guess.

Front wheel spins are nasty compared to RWDs though.. Thing just bounces and bounces until I back it off... erg...

Oh well.. almost $30k spent, project pirelli almost done... Will post some pics and details, (including dyno) soon.... Kinda went against the Pirelli mantra of "Power is nothing without control"... Poor Pirelli tyres can't handle the power... haha... erg......

[G-rig]

I agree, try some grippier tyres & an LSD. Better yet, RWD or AWD

[kryten2001]

Better yet, RWD or AWD

That horse has bolted...!

Maybe I'll go an anti-polarbear666 and put some lead over the front wheels.

[G-rig]

Just don't floor it from stationary, wait till the tyres bite. What else did you expect with that much power + FWD.

[paolob]

kryten are you running a cai?

[kryten2001]

Just don't floor it from stationary, wait till the tyres bite. What else did you expect with that much power + FWD.

Mate it's really not that simple. Even if I'm rolling down the road doing 40km/h, it'll light up. The spool up/boost stops as soon as you back off, so getting maximum acceleration and keeping it smooth is nigh on impossible...

Maybe I just need to learn how to drive it better... It's not like putting a bootful into a V8, power comes on logarithmically.