DSG hits the Track! (Willow Springs Tracy Day report) sorry it was late
03-15-2004, 01:28 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DSG hits the Track! (Willow Springs Tracy Day report) sorry it was late
Well I was sick going into the track day and sick coming out of it which is why the report was delayed. However, here you go.....
Action Shot (I have it in hi-res too!)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/llowSpringsMar04TrackPicmedium-vi.jpg">
<b>3.2 @ the track</b>
Well of course I'd not been to Willow in 2yrs but still, armed with a nice
new shiny motor (in NA form) with no lag or heat issues to look forward to
and my trusty funky DSG I was very much looking forward to it.
<u>1st session</u>
Horrible! literally. Like I said, I'd not been at the track in over 2yrs
but I had still held my own last time I was there. It was a combination of
things (suspension being the most) and also the gearbox playing up as I
was trying to figure out which mode to have it in but I was getting passed
by everything! Was really not a good feeling so my confidence went, and I
needed to get back on track (pun intended) I pulled back into the pits and
reported my findings and concerns to my buddies and began to analyze what
I could do better.
<u>2nd session</u>
Better, began to get more confidence and speed up so the DSG played up
less, but still played up
<u>3rd, 4th sessions</u>
Better still, by now I'd lost the bloody 80s beamer (he was there but
could no longer get past me) so I felt a little better about that.
<u>5th session</u>
Good but brakes were shot so I pulled off before the end. So happy that
the OEM brakes held up to the 5th session before begining to fade but
proof that I'd not only save some weight by having after-market brakes,
I'd save some brakes dust and I wouldn't get fade so we'll see - going to
have to save for those mod tokens.
<u>The problem with the semi-automatic, sequential DGS</u>
Having the DSG is awesome in the canyon but on the big track @ Willow it
was causing me problems. You see even if you have it in (S) or (M) mode
and use the paddles the engine WILL take over once the revs get too high.
What this translated to was the car changing up or down when I really
didn't want it to (coming out of turn 1, going into turn 3 etc) so this
prooved to be a little bit of a pain. Later in the day I began to get my
speeds up so the changing of the gears at certain points was less of a
problem but it was still there for sure.
I'm not sure this issue can be fixed as it's just the way the gearbox
behaves. For instance, I would brake from 120mph into turn 1 and would
then be in 4th ready to be flat out (4th) into turn 2 as it's a fast turn.
Problem was the DSG would sense me at full throttle in 4th but because I
wasn't at the right revs in 4th it would drop me to 3rd!. Same for turn
3. Ideally I'd be in 3rd at the power point and go up and around and into
turn 4. However, for those who have been to Willow, turn 3 is steep and
up-hill. On approach I'd brake and get ready but I'd be too slow for 3rd
so the DSG would drop me down to 2nd (and I'd be very high up the RMPs
too) so by the time I had got 1/2 way through 3rd (uphill) DSG would
change up to 3rd and would thus, bog me down for turn 4 (bottom of 3rd
gear)
The rest of the track was ok so it was really only these 2 corners where I
had "issues". I guess I was expecting more as I've really seen the car and
tranismission handle so much better in the canyons. Compared to my old
tricked out Roadster I am 100% more happy with the DSG in the canyons.
However, from this 1st experience @ Willow I am negative 100% happy with the way
it performed compared to a reg stick 6spd box.
<u>The "raised" 4x4 3.2 Suspension (for the track)</u>
S**T. OK so it performs very well in the canyons but on the track at high
speeds I was getting so much body roll it was crazy. I honestly didn't
feel as safe in this car as I did in my old roadster which also led to my
bad 1st session as I just wasn't confident to push the car at all. It got
better as the day went on but for sure suspension is the 1st major mod
this puppies gonna have as I have to feel confident when driving at high
speeds. In the canyons we're at slower speeds but still throwing it
around some so if you're never going to track the car or drive above 100
then you've not need to change (apart from look) but for me, I'm going to
need to get back to the basics of some good handling
<u>Summary</u>
- it took some getting used to the way the DSG handled on the track
- the stock suspension is (IMHO) not very good for the track and if you
intend to track you 3.2 change the suspension
- the brakes held up well but still have crappy pads (brake dust)
- not having to worry about heat soak, power loss and turbo lag -
priceless!
The WCTT crew @ our usual parking spot
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04001-vi.jpg">
Other Yummy cars spotted on the day (click on my fotki for the larger
pics)
Mmmm GT2 in blue
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04GT2-th.jpg">
Carbon brakes !
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04012-th.jpg">
Nice seats!
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/illowSpringsMar04GT3seatsinGT2-th.jpg">
Trans-AM race mustang (complete with fancy trailer + pit crew)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v62/photos/1/11117/717818/pringsMar04RaceMustangwithcrew-th.jpg">
Kevin's new GT3 (this was an amazing story and such an amazing find/meet!)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v62/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04014-vi.jpg">
Action Shot (I have it in hi-res too!)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/llowSpringsMar04TrackPicmedium-vi.jpg">
<b>3.2 @ the track</b>
Well of course I'd not been to Willow in 2yrs but still, armed with a nice
new shiny motor (in NA form) with no lag or heat issues to look forward to
and my trusty funky DSG I was very much looking forward to it.
<u>1st session</u>
Horrible! literally. Like I said, I'd not been at the track in over 2yrs
but I had still held my own last time I was there. It was a combination of
things (suspension being the most) and also the gearbox playing up as I
was trying to figure out which mode to have it in but I was getting passed
by everything! Was really not a good feeling so my confidence went, and I
needed to get back on track (pun intended) I pulled back into the pits and
reported my findings and concerns to my buddies and began to analyze what
I could do better.
<u>2nd session</u>
Better, began to get more confidence and speed up so the DSG played up
less, but still played up
<u>3rd, 4th sessions</u>
Better still, by now I'd lost the bloody 80s beamer (he was there but
could no longer get past me) so I felt a little better about that.
<u>5th session</u>
Good but brakes were shot so I pulled off before the end. So happy that
the OEM brakes held up to the 5th session before begining to fade but
proof that I'd not only save some weight by having after-market brakes,
I'd save some brakes dust and I wouldn't get fade so we'll see - going to
have to save for those mod tokens.
<u>The problem with the semi-automatic, sequential DGS</u>
Having the DSG is awesome in the canyon but on the big track @ Willow it
was causing me problems. You see even if you have it in (S) or (M) mode
and use the paddles the engine WILL take over once the revs get too high.
What this translated to was the car changing up or down when I really
didn't want it to (coming out of turn 1, going into turn 3 etc) so this
prooved to be a little bit of a pain. Later in the day I began to get my
speeds up so the changing of the gears at certain points was less of a
problem but it was still there for sure.
I'm not sure this issue can be fixed as it's just the way the gearbox
behaves. For instance, I would brake from 120mph into turn 1 and would
then be in 4th ready to be flat out (4th) into turn 2 as it's a fast turn.
Problem was the DSG would sense me at full throttle in 4th but because I
wasn't at the right revs in 4th it would drop me to 3rd!. Same for turn
3. Ideally I'd be in 3rd at the power point and go up and around and into
turn 4. However, for those who have been to Willow, turn 3 is steep and
up-hill. On approach I'd brake and get ready but I'd be too slow for 3rd
so the DSG would drop me down to 2nd (and I'd be very high up the RMPs
too) so by the time I had got 1/2 way through 3rd (uphill) DSG would
change up to 3rd and would thus, bog me down for turn 4 (bottom of 3rd
gear)
The rest of the track was ok so it was really only these 2 corners where I
had "issues". I guess I was expecting more as I've really seen the car and
tranismission handle so much better in the canyons. Compared to my old
tricked out Roadster I am 100% more happy with the DSG in the canyons.
However, from this 1st experience @ Willow I am negative 100% happy with the way
it performed compared to a reg stick 6spd box.
<u>The "raised" 4x4 3.2 Suspension (for the track)</u>
S**T. OK so it performs very well in the canyons but on the track at high
speeds I was getting so much body roll it was crazy. I honestly didn't
feel as safe in this car as I did in my old roadster which also led to my
bad 1st session as I just wasn't confident to push the car at all. It got
better as the day went on but for sure suspension is the 1st major mod
this puppies gonna have as I have to feel confident when driving at high
speeds. In the canyons we're at slower speeds but still throwing it
around some so if you're never going to track the car or drive above 100
then you've not need to change (apart from look) but for me, I'm going to
need to get back to the basics of some good handling
<u>Summary</u>
- it took some getting used to the way the DSG handled on the track
- the stock suspension is (IMHO) not very good for the track and if you
intend to track you 3.2 change the suspension
- the brakes held up well but still have crappy pads (brake dust)
- not having to worry about heat soak, power loss and turbo lag -
priceless!
The WCTT crew @ our usual parking spot
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04001-vi.jpg">
Other Yummy cars spotted on the day (click on my fotki for the larger
pics)
Mmmm GT2 in blue
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04GT2-th.jpg">
Carbon brakes !
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04012-th.jpg">
Nice seats!
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v63/photos/1/11117/717818/illowSpringsMar04GT3seatsinGT2-th.jpg">
Trans-AM race mustang (complete with fancy trailer + pit crew)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v62/photos/1/11117/717818/pringsMar04RaceMustangwithcrew-th.jpg">
Kevin's new GT3 (this was an amazing story and such an amazing find/meet!)
<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v62/photos/1/11117/717818/WillowSpringsMar04014-vi.jpg">
03-15-2004, 02:13 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I should have worded it better but I meant negative 100% (-100%)
in it's current form my old roadster would have kicked it's butt all over Willow. However, even in it's current form my 3.2 would have kicked my roadsters butt on the canyons.
03-15-2004, 03:23 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well if you want to sum it up like that - yes
well with me at the wheel it did. Now of course with some decent suspension it might be a different story.
To be honest even with a reg 225 how many have gone to the track and not had body roll issues
To be honest even with a reg 225 how many have gone to the track and not had body roll issues
Trending Topics
03-15-2004, 08:09 PM
#8
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Me, Nate and you with your coil-overs.... : - )
On the other side how often is the car on the track? The majority of the time you seem to enjoy the DSG. It would be wrong to have your car set up for less then 1% of your cars life.
03-15-2004, 09:32 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
agreed but put it this way
- we drive harder in the canyons then on the track (but just not as fast)
- I did 43k miles in 2.5yrs in the roadster and my commute was less than 10miles!
So for me canyon / track driving is a big part of my TTs life. I also commute a lot more now but I'm still going to be doing lots of canyon and track days
- I did 43k miles in 2.5yrs in the roadster and my commute was less than 10miles!
So for me canyon / track driving is a big part of my TTs life. I also commute a lot more now but I'm still going to be doing lots of canyon and track days
03-16-2004, 07:38 AM
#10
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What price speed.......
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46648/northridge_rear.jpg"></center><p>Of course the fact that a majority of TT owners will be more concerned about overall comfort as opposed to the few (all of our friends). Everybody has to figure out what they want from thier car. Of the 8 TT owners I regularly speak to 4 are on Coil-Overs and most likely 5 (you) soon. So you can say there is a large contingent that will sacrifice comfort for performance whatever the price. Especially "dirtty".