Launching high powered Golfs..

[kryten2001]

kryten are you running a cai?

Nope. Standard air intake.

[paolob]

wouldnt you add one in for kicks to close off your project then?
also have you raced anyone or done the 1/4 mile yet? would be interesting

[G-rig]

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.

Sounds like it's a bit hard to tame that beast. How is it around town before the turbo spools up, too much lag or driveable? I assume you just have to get used to the point at which the power comes on.

Having an R32, the power is more like your v8's - linear and accurate/predictive throttle control and acceleration.

[kryten2001]

wouldnt you add one in for kicks to close off your project then?

Nah I like the standard looking engine bay, and from what I've been lead to beleive - the gains are minimal/arguable. I certainly don't need any more noise from it either. The thing sounds like an old-school rally car when I start it up in the morning...... burrrr burrr burrrr barrr barrr barrr

Changing gears under power leads to monster 'pops' out the back end.. Scares the jeebus out of the kids.

[G-rig]

wouldnt you add one in for kicks to close off your project then?

Worth adding one for the sound too.

[tinto]

The slicks will dull the wheelspin, but definitely it won't eliminate it. That's for you to do with your right foot, or chuck in an LSD (see how I made it sound so easy??).
I have to modulate throttle off the line even with the R specs on... and I'm in a 125kw GT, so not really qualified to participate in this thread.

Switching back to normal road tyres means a few days of flashing ESP as I assume I've got the same traction off the mark.

Perhaps (and I may be a moron for offering), you could see what my Toyo Proxes R888 feel like before you commit to slicks?
We'd only need to jack up and switch over the two fronts for you to get an idea.

...oh I just realised you've gone and fitted some serving-platter sized brakes that aren't likely to fit my 17" / 8kg wheels (TR MT1).

The R specs kill all sense of serenity/peace that you get in a new car.
Something to be aware of.
HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

30kph in mine feels like the car is going to buzz apart.
BUT THE LADIES LOVE IT etc.

[kryten2001]

The slicks will dull the wheelspin, but definitely it won't eliminate it. That's for you to do with your right foot, or chuck in an LSD (see how I made it sound so easy??).
I have to modulate throttle off the line even with the R specs on... and I'm in a 125kw GT, so not really qualified to participate in this thread.

Switching back to normal road tyres means a few days of flashing ESP as I assume I've got the same traction off the mark.

Perhaps (and I may be a moron for offering), you could see what my Toyo Proxes R888 feel like before you commit to slicks?
We'd only need to jack up and switch over the two fronts for you to get an idea.

...oh I just realised you've gone and fitted some serving-platter sized brakes that aren't likely to fit my 17" / 8kg wheels (TR MT1).

The R specs kill all sense of serenity/peace that you get in a new car.
Something to be aware of.
HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

30kph in mine feels like the car is going to buzz apart.
BUT THE LADIES LOVE IT etc.

*sigh* yeah mate. The damn thing makes more power than it can handle, at least off the line. I need to learn how to control it, obviously. It's OK if you're already travelling at some speed (say 60km/h).. It dispatches with 60-100km runs in 2 heartbeats - but off the line is really hard.

I might just bite the bullet and give the R specs a go. At least then I can keep the pirelli tyres on the stock wheels, and the new R specs can go on the Advan wheels that are on their way from Jap land. It's a real worry though, if I'm getting monster spin on the 15kg pirelli wheels, what's it going to be like on the 7kg advans...

Not too fussed about harshness of ride, the car's only doing very minor k's and doesn't ever do long commutes. Certainly the heat cycling issue on R specs has me concerned though. They'll probably lose all grip well before the tread gets even close to being worn.

I should probably just stop whinging about it and learn to live with it. It's good enough to eat a 6.2ltr HSV, and around the corners there's no contest.

[G-rig]

I wouldn't use R spec tyres for normal road use, those R888's are noisy as hell for a daily driver. You're right about the heat cycles - won't last you long just driving short trips and it's a bit of a waste of money.

There are other performance tyres with a similar tread style to semi's without the R compound you may want to look into, I've got the Azenis RT-615's, and there are some good bridgestones as well.

Maybe the Pirelli had enough power already.

[Blitzen]

if you are going to look at R spec tyres, and want good grip, and some tyre life too, I would look at the Federal 595 RS-R's. I had these on my Polo for over 20,000km and look at getting at least another 15 to 20,000km out of them. They are a great tyre, road noise isn't too bad, very good in the wet too, and it the last Motor Mag tyre test, the almost matched the Toyo R888 in tyre performance.

[G-rig]

I looked into the 595's but couldn't get the correct load rating for 18". Shame as they were pretty good value.

[kryten2001]

Thanks guys... I'm also looking into the peloquin LSD and stiffened engine mounts. That might offer some assistance. R specs really are a bit of a last option, as I really wanted to keep the car at least semi OEM road friendly.

[franjae]

So your project has cost you $30K already, on top of the price of your Pirelli, and you are still spending.......do you really like the Golf THAT much??

[GeorgeS3]

Kryten,

If I was you I would take it to the track and see what sort of 1/4 mile you are getting. Although you are getting alot of spin off the line it could still be doing a 12 sec pass in which case who cares about the spin. Also at the track you can try different methods of take off where it is timed as well. You will be able to see which works best based on your 60ft time split and what doesn't.

Are you always driving around in S mode as well as I find in my Pirelli the S mode is very aggressive in its delivery compared to D & M modes. As posted on other forums some guys are getting better 1/4 mile times using Manual mode instead of sport mode as the can control they launch & shifts better.

[kryten2001]

So your project has cost you $30K already, on top of the price of your Pirelli, and you are still spending.......do you really like the Golf THAT much??

Is the answer not self evident? haha.

[kryten2001]

Kryten,

If I was you I would take it to the track and see what sort of 1/4 mile you are getting. Although you are getting alot of spin off the line it could still be doing a 12 sec pass in which case who cares about the spin. Also at the track you can try different methods of take off where it is timed as well. You will be able to see which works best based on your 60ft time split and what doesn't.

Are you always driving around in S mode as well as I find in my Pirelli the S mode is very aggressive in its delivery compared to D & M modes. As posted on other forums some guys are getting better 1/4 mile times using Manual mode instead of sport mode as the can control they launch & shifts better.

I've tried both manual and S modes, and (admitedly, not on the track) I was getting 14.2's using a Dynolicious. 2.6 second 60' and 7.1 second (!!!) 0-100.. All because of monster wheelspin through all first 3 gears. Would have lost significant time. I tried it again with traction control on, but the car just cut power through the entire run (you could feel it backing off) - again, would have lost significant time.

I'm also not sure of the accuracy of Dynolicious, as it reported a 160km/h trap speed, but when I looked at the speedo it was well over 180.

This was on a private road of course.....

I'm sure a proper dragstrip with all it's additional grip/prepped surface will be a hell of a lot better. The first 2-3 seconds of that time were spent spinning the wheels. Need to learn control.....