What did you do to your Polo today?

[seangti]

Hey Gigitt how much were the New Bilstein shocks? Where did you get them? Cheers Al

I got mine through Gti Dave (forum member and supplier), if I recall correctly.

[kaanage]

Just to bring back an old favourite..

as for what i did today - not with the polo, but with its temporary replacement, the nissan micra hire car that i've been driving (auto).

for a car with no tuning, riding on 165 section econo tyres, the thing goes pretty bloody well up around yarra bend (did like 4 laps tonight).

it has no low down torque or power whatsoever, in fact the only shove you get is when you turn overdrive off on the auto gear stick, and wait for the revs to build - once that happens, the car pokes along a tiny bit more noticeably than normal.

HOWEVER, it's quite bizarre for me to drive it hardish - in the polo, i feel like i've got to have my line sorted before i take a corner, and yes you can somewhat trim your line by backing off/ braking, but otherwise ''understeer'' is really the name of the game. in the micra, even with the tyres screeching, if you're taking a decreasing-radius corner, simply turn the wheel more to suit - no need to back off like in the polo.

so, it really pains me to admit this, but i have no doubt that with decent suspension, a tune (to sort out what's under the curve, not necessarily to up peak power or torque), and some sticky 195 section tyres, on a downhill or flat run, i really believe that the micra would be able to keep up with a vw cruise - there wont be any power anywhere, but the car's so light, the steering so direct, it carves corners with ease, and driving it really, really, really makes me realise just how much friggin understeer is built into VAG cars (be it through safety, or engine weight, or whatever).

it's a wonder why i dont see any tuned / lower suspended with fat tyre micras on the road - they're A LOT of fun.

Well I got a Micra as a hire car in Sydney yesterday and can't see what Scotty was talking about. The steering was a bit lighter than my PoD but not by a lot and when I pushed it on some side roads, it understeered safely and scrubbed the fronts when really pushed. Maybe Scotty played around with the tyre pressures on his rental rather than just driving out of the rental car park like I did. Or else maybe my high offset, narrow tyre setup makes my Polo handle better than his did.

Back on full Polo turf, I visited mine at the panel beaters today

[sssstew]

what did i do on my polo today..... got a full clean done and then listed for sale. Time for it to move on, i just dont use it, only done 1500k in 9 months nearly because i have access to a free car. Its up in the for sale section on here, hoping to find a new forum member to enjoy it.

[seangti]

Did some power runs to identify ideal shift points and speed intervals. In short 6000rpm is the magic figure for shifting and falls off quickly after.

I hadn't done speed interval runs since October last year, since than I've added a Seat Sport FMIC.
Factory side mount in 3rd gear:
50-80: 3.35
80-120: 4.46
80-100: 1.92
100-120: 2.54
50-120: 7.81

Now with FMIC:
50-80: 2.88
80-120: 4.06
80-100: 2.13
100-120: 1.93
50-120: 6.94

4th gear pull with FMIC 80-120 is 4.53secs. With the FMIC, all intervals except 80-100km's are quicker but a good margin.

As a comparison, I did testing with a grandturismo this morning in his stage 3 APR mk 6 Golf GTI. 80-120 in 2.89sec in 3rd. 100-150 in 4.25secs in 4th. Astonishing car and power. 4th gear acceleration is phenomenal, was search for the grab handles.

[h100vw]

Did some power runs to identify ideal shift points and speed intervals. In short 6000rpm is the magic figure for shifting and falls off quickly after.

I hadn't done speed interval runs since October last year, since than I've added a Seat Sport FMIC.
Factory side mount in 3rd gear:
50-80: 3.35
80-120: 4.46
80-100: 1.92
100-120: 2.54
50-120: 7.81

Now with FMIC:
50-80: 2.88
80-120: 4.06
80-100: 2.13
100-120: 1.93
50-120: 6.94

4th gear pull with FMIC 80-120 is 4.53secs. With the FMIC, all intervals except 80-100km's are quicker but a good margin.

As a comparison, I did testing with a grandturismo this morning in his stage 3 APR mk 6 Golf GTI. 80-120 in 2.89sec in 3rd. 100-150 in 4.25secs in 4th. Astonishing car and power. 4th gear acceleration is phenomenal, was search for the grab handles.

Hey Sean, what weight have and drivetrain losses have you input to the box? Got Anthony's on loan and was going to do a couple of runs.

Gavin

[h100vw]

I also reconnected the N75 after 1400km of dribbling around on 6PSI. I wanted to hold off until I got a tune sorted but getting nailed by a granny in an Aurion at some lights was the final straw Is how I felt.

So then I went out to Supercheap, to see if I could blow my TCS light

Gavin

[seangti]

Hey Sean, what weight have and drivetrain losses have you input to the box? Got Anthony's on loan and was going to do a couple of runs.

Gavin

1364kg, drag coefficient of 0.34, drive train loss of 20%, frontal area of 2.1. This gives me about 110kwatw I think. The input figures would be roughly accurate, though its moreso about using the same figures to measure the differences as I make changes. You're best to do a few runs on the same stretch of road and direction to see the output. Though without being able to pull it onto the computer is limiting.
Sean

[VWindahouse]

1364kg, drag coefficient of 0.34, drive train loss of 20%, frontal area of 2.1. This gives me about 110kwatw I think. The input figures would be roughly accurate, though its moreso about using the same figures to measure the differences as I make changes. You're best to do a few runs on the same stretch of road and direction to see the output. Though without being able to pull it onto the computer is limiting.
Sean

Great comparative info there mate! Only I think you've gone way to heavy which has dropped your power figure. You should be around 130kw+ with your tune and FMIC. Maybe you used TARE weight not Kerb weight? Kerb weight of the GTI is only 1137kg iirc plus your body weight.

[seangti]

Great comparative info there mate! Only I think you've gone way to heavy which has dropped your power figure. You should be around 130kw+ with your tune and FMIC. Maybe you used TARE weight not Kerb weight? Kerb weight of the GTI is only 1137kg iirc plus your body weight.

You could be right there, I can't recall where I pulled that figure from so hadn't bothered to change as it's moreso the interval times I'd been using it for and to see what the power delivery looks like rather than the figure. The other figures should be pretty accurate, drag coefficient of .34 is common for small cars, the bluemotion polo is .32 if I recall correctly. Frontal area came from the brochure, though is apparently 2.06, so 2.1 is sufficient.

When I drive it next I'll drop the weight down to 1200kg and see what result I get.

Interestingly, if I wanted my car as quick as Alan's Golf, i'd need roughly 180-200kw.

[VWindahouse]

You could be right there, I can't recall where I pulled that figure from so hadn't bothered to change as it's moreso the interval times I'd been using it for and to see what the power delivery looks like rather than the figure. The other figures should be pretty accurate, drag coefficient of .34 is common for small cars, the bluemotion polo is .32 if I recall correctly. Frontal area came from the brochure, though is apparently 2.06, so 2.1 is sufficient.

When I drive it next I'll drop the weight down to 1200kg and see what result I get.

Interestingly, if I wanted my car as quick as Alan's Golf, i'd need roughly 180-200kw.

Holy crap that thing must move! Thanks for the other info, I'll use those figures from now on.

[vwthunder]

Got some new goodies

Its going to be fun installing the aerocatches

[VWindahouse]

Got some new goodies

Its going to be fun installing the aerocatches

^^ Jelly!!

[nightphotographer]

Replaced wipers and gunky PCV valve. Tried to fit shortend drop links but they aren't compatible with my KWs so spent ages trying to get the originals back in - very tight fit. Now I've got even more noise :/ think it could be an engine mount though now. Ahh well

[noone]

What did you do to your Polo today?

What sort of noise? Under what conditions do you hear it? Had a few myself, might be able to shed some light.

[nightphotographer]

What sort of noise? Under what conditions do you hear it? Had a few myself, might be able to shed some light.

Just lots of random banging which I can only assume is my anti roll bar hitting the driveshaft - I did raise my car a little yesterday (maybe 10mm) but it's still banging away and worse than I had heard it before. Got to get it all up on axle stands this weekend to take the FMIC off so will inspect it a little more then.