Back from the drags. (kinda long)
07-09-2005, 07:37 PM
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Back from the drags. (kinda long)
Well, took the A3 out to California Dragway today on the first Street Legal Drags of the season. Here's what happened.
Got in line to get in around 1:00pm. They started letting people in at 2:00pm and got in line to get the tech inspection. After all was said and done, I was ready and waiting for the call to the staging lanes. After another long wait, they started calling groups up at 4:00pm, so I got my first run at 4:23pm.
R/T - 0.572
60' - 2.642
1/8 - 10.326
MPH - 71.92
1/4 - 15.842
MPH - 89.06
What the heck? I was pretty disappointed, to say the least. I know I shouldn't have been, since the A3 isn't really a drag racing car, but expectations were set pretty high, with low 0-60 times, cars that dyno'ed with high hp to the wheels, etc.
Ok, so I must have done something wrong. It's been years since I've been down the strip, so I decided to do some things different for the second run, which happened at 5:24pm.
R/T - 1.250
60' - 2.760
1/8 - 10.382
MPH - 73.18
1/4 - 15.885
MPH - 89.39
Oh man, WTH again? This time, I used Sport mode instead of regular Drive mode. Also, I decided to try power braking (left foot on the brake, right foot on the gas to get the revs up) but that didn't work too well. Instead of jumping off the line, it actually seemed to bog down after releasing the brake.
Damn, so at least this thing is consistent. Hmm, what to do next? My last run happened at 6:59pm.
R/T - 0.837
60' - 2.424
1/8 - 10.003
MPH - 73.72
1/4 - 15.459
MPH - 90.33
Well, that's a little better. This time, I turned off ESP, didn't power brake, and used Sport mode. Hmm, but I paid closer attention to what the car was actually doing. I realized that if I let the car shift itself, it was shifting too late! The 1-2 and 2-3 shifts were happening in the red area, close to 7K RPM. I wanted to get another run to see if I can shift it myself manually to get better power down, but I ran out of time. I'm almost sure I've lost a tenth with those late shifts.
On the way home, I decided to try it on the freeway onramps. (I decided to do this a couple of times.) With the car shifting itself, I can tell that I'm losing power when it shifts in the red. When I shifted myself, if I shift around 6250 RPM, I can 'feel' the car is stronger.
Well, I guess it didn't go as I wanted it to. The thing that bothered me was that my 96 Impala SS bone stock did 14.9-15.1 just putting it in Drive and mashing the pedal. With some minor bolt-ons, it did 14.3@98. I know, different cars, but it had stock rating of 270hp and is almost 1000 lbs heavier. In theory, the A3 should have been much closer than it did.
On an interesting note, I saw a B6 A4 1.8T Frontrak. The guy was there racing his buddy's M3. When they lined up, the Audi driver put on a helmet. I thought, WTH, why does he need a helmet? Well, his car ran solid 13.7's and spanked his buddy's M3!! Wow! Eh, not bone stock, I'd say. That was the only other Audi at the track, though there was a Jetta GLI that was also modified and it ran 13.8's!
Anyway, I never would have known what the car could do if I didn't go, so there you have it. They have another street legal date next month. I may try to go again, just to test my theory about shifting by myself.
Sorry this is so long.
Got in line to get in around 1:00pm. They started letting people in at 2:00pm and got in line to get the tech inspection. After all was said and done, I was ready and waiting for the call to the staging lanes. After another long wait, they started calling groups up at 4:00pm, so I got my first run at 4:23pm.
R/T - 0.572
60' - 2.642
1/8 - 10.326
MPH - 71.92
1/4 - 15.842
MPH - 89.06
What the heck? I was pretty disappointed, to say the least. I know I shouldn't have been, since the A3 isn't really a drag racing car, but expectations were set pretty high, with low 0-60 times, cars that dyno'ed with high hp to the wheels, etc.
Ok, so I must have done something wrong. It's been years since I've been down the strip, so I decided to do some things different for the second run, which happened at 5:24pm.
R/T - 1.250
60' - 2.760
1/8 - 10.382
MPH - 73.18
1/4 - 15.885
MPH - 89.39
Oh man, WTH again? This time, I used Sport mode instead of regular Drive mode. Also, I decided to try power braking (left foot on the brake, right foot on the gas to get the revs up) but that didn't work too well. Instead of jumping off the line, it actually seemed to bog down after releasing the brake.
Damn, so at least this thing is consistent. Hmm, what to do next? My last run happened at 6:59pm.
R/T - 0.837
60' - 2.424
1/8 - 10.003
MPH - 73.72
1/4 - 15.459
MPH - 90.33
Well, that's a little better. This time, I turned off ESP, didn't power brake, and used Sport mode. Hmm, but I paid closer attention to what the car was actually doing. I realized that if I let the car shift itself, it was shifting too late! The 1-2 and 2-3 shifts were happening in the red area, close to 7K RPM. I wanted to get another run to see if I can shift it myself manually to get better power down, but I ran out of time. I'm almost sure I've lost a tenth with those late shifts.
On the way home, I decided to try it on the freeway onramps. (I decided to do this a couple of times.) With the car shifting itself, I can tell that I'm losing power when it shifts in the red. When I shifted myself, if I shift around 6250 RPM, I can 'feel' the car is stronger.
Well, I guess it didn't go as I wanted it to. The thing that bothered me was that my 96 Impala SS bone stock did 14.9-15.1 just putting it in Drive and mashing the pedal. With some minor bolt-ons, it did 14.3@98. I know, different cars, but it had stock rating of 270hp and is almost 1000 lbs heavier. In theory, the A3 should have been much closer than it did.
On an interesting note, I saw a B6 A4 1.8T Frontrak. The guy was there racing his buddy's M3. When they lined up, the Audi driver put on a helmet. I thought, WTH, why does he need a helmet? Well, his car ran solid 13.7's and spanked his buddy's M3!! Wow! Eh, not bone stock, I'd say. That was the only other Audi at the track, though there was a Jetta GLI that was also modified and it ran 13.8's!
Anyway, I never would have known what the car could do if I didn't go, so there you have it. They have another street legal date next month. I may try to go again, just to test my theory about shifting by myself.
Sorry this is so long.
07-09-2005, 09:30 PM
#2
Hey congrats on being the first one to drag A3.
At least you got a chance to try and will have something to look forward to the next time. Thanks for sharing all the details. I wonder what the difference will be if manually shifting or even using sport mode and then intervening with a manual shift or two.
I also can't help but wonder whether one with the sport suspension would have any affect whatsoever. Of course you've got the all-seasons right? If so, a better set of tires will make a huge difference.
I also can't help but wonder whether one with the sport suspension would have any affect whatsoever. Of course you've got the all-seasons right? If so, a better set of tires will make a huge difference.
07-09-2005, 09:35 PM
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Sounds like you where getting the hang of it..
I don't think you can do 3 runs with a new car and expect to get "the best" numbers.
I've seen mag numbers at 14.7 for the DSG, those are pros who do it every day! With a couple more runs you'll get 14.9. Can't help with the launch or ****s as I have a manual and always have.
If you really want to be deep in the 14's (read very low 14's) chip it! 250HP,and 260 torque. Also get some better tires.
Good luck next time.
I've seen mag numbers at 14.7 for the DSG, those are pros who do it every day! With a couple more runs you'll get 14.9. Can't help with the launch or ****s as I have a manual and always have.
If you really want to be deep in the 14's (read very low 14's) chip it! 250HP,and 260 torque. Also get some better tires.
Good luck next time.
07-09-2005, 10:13 PM
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Thanks.
I was playing around with it more on a deserted road on the way home. I really think that even putting it in Sport mode and then shifting it manually when the needle hits 6K would be ideal. I noticed that the power remains stronger doing it this way as opposed to letting it shift itself in the red. Just something else to try next time.
Yes, better tires would help. Gotta get those 60' times down if I want to get better ETs. I didn't bother lowering the pressure like I normally would have done in the past. I even had the kids' child seat and booster seats in the back, as well as some other junk in the hatch. Probably cost me a tenth.
Anyway, I know it's not for everyone, but I like to have real world numbers in hand if I'm going to talk about my cars.
Yes, better tires would help. Gotta get those 60' times down if I want to get better ETs. I didn't bother lowering the pressure like I normally would have done in the past. I even had the kids' child seat and booster seats in the back, as well as some other junk in the hatch. Probably cost me a tenth.
Anyway, I know it's not for everyone, but I like to have real world numbers in hand if I'm going to talk about my cars.
07-09-2005, 10:19 PM
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I do think that this car is good for low 15's-15 flat.
But after today, I think going under 15 seconds bone stock will be hard to do. Stickier tires will help some, but not sure it will knock off half a second. 
If it had 250hp, then it should push mid 14's easily, provided I can get hooked up.
Ahh, this just reminds me of the old days.
If it had 250hp, then it should push mid 14's easily, provided I can get hooked up.
Ahh, this just reminds me of the old days.
