Is this normal?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Prattville AL
Is this normal?
I have a basically stock C5 (a4 with 3.15s) and stock runflats. The only mods on it that I know of are cold air screen and maybe a 180* tstat. Tonight, I put it in competitive driving mode and took it on an empty stretch of road up to 30mph. I floored it at 30mph and the car got all squirley and the back end even moved over onto the other lane and I had to let off to keep control of the car. My g/f in the passenger seat was nearly paralyzed by it 
Is this normal for a stock C5? I had a 01 Z28 (a4 with 2.73)j with muffler, lid, predator, and a free mod and it wouldn't even come close to doing that. Heck, sometimes I would even hook up with little effort from a dig. Could it be possible the original owner tossed a set of gears in it and I dont know about it? The car came from Carmax and it was shipped from several hunderd miles out of state, so I know nothing about the previous owner other than the car was taken really good care of (near perfect shape minus a couple touched up rock chips and 14,100 miles on the clock for a 98 
).
Is this normal for a stock C5? I had a 01 Z28 (a4 with 2.73)j with muffler, lid, predator, and a free mod and it wouldn't even come close to doing that. Heck, sometimes I would even hook up with little effort from a dig. Could it be possible the original owner tossed a set of gears in it and I dont know about it? The car came from Carmax and it was shipped from several hunderd miles out of state, so I know nothing about the previous owner other than the car was taken really good care of (near perfect shape minus a couple touched up rock chips and 14,100 miles on the clock for a 98 ).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
It depends on traction conditions.
You have a lot of HP and Torque so just be prepared.
THAT IS WHY ... they have TC as the default setting. Just to keep you out of trouble.
Have Fun
You have a lot of HP and Torque so just be prepared.
THAT IS WHY ... they have TC as the default setting. Just to keep you out of trouble.
Have Fun
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Prattville AL
Originally Posted by allegro
It depends on traction conditions.
You have a lot of HP and Torque so just be prepared.
THAT IS WHY ... they have TC as the default setting. Just to keep you out of trouble.
Have Fun
You have a lot of HP and Torque so just be prepared.
THAT IS WHY ... they have TC as the default setting. Just to keep you out of trouble.
Have Fun
edit....my tire pressure is around 34-35psi due to losing pressure during winter....maybe that is part of it, but I have had a lot of traction issues, especially lately. It was around 60* outside and dry tonight when I did this.
Last edited by SphyNxXx; Apr 4, 2005 at 12:17 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Mine's squirrely through the first three gears...wouldn't have it any other way. God Bless the Six-Speed and 3.42 
I always leave the TC off as it gets in my way too much when I want to have fun. I like using the power to move the car the way I want it to...without the TC making it fall on it's face.
Leave your runflats at 30psi cold. They're slippery enough without compounding the issue with higher pressures.
I always leave the TC off as it gets in my way too much when I want to have fun. I like using the power to move the car the way I want it to...without the TC making it fall on it's face.
Leave your runflats at 30psi cold. They're slippery enough without compounding the issue with higher pressures.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Prattville AL
Originally Posted by Cajun99
Mine's squirrely through the first three gears...wouldn't have it any other way. God Bless the Six-Speed and 3.42
I always leave the TC off as it gets in my way too much when I want to have fun. I like using the power to move the car the way I want it to...without the TC making it fall on it's face.
Leave your runflats at 30psi cold. They're slippery enough without compounding the issue with higher pressures.
I always leave the TC off as it gets in my way too much when I want to have fun. I like using the power to move the car the way I want it to...without the TC making it fall on it's face.
Leave your runflats at 30psi cold. They're slippery enough without compounding the issue with higher pressures.
Live in Clanton, commute to school at AUM in Montgomery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Originally Posted by SphyNxXx
Grettings from central Alabama Live in Clanton, commute to school at AUM in Montgomery.
Live in Clanton, commute to school at AUM in Montgomery. Mobile here...I only get to commute to work
You couldn't pick a better car for the ride to school!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Prattville AL
Originally Posted by Stock Man
I'll bet it's the tire pressure. And if they are runflats that are more than 50% gone that will contribute to it. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,162
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles, CA.... I know a guy who has a Lambo with Corvette doors
Originally Posted by SphyNxXx
Wierd thing is, Ive been in a car with 300+ ft/lb or torque since Oct. of 2001. My Z dynoed 303rwhp, 324ft/lb before I got the C5, and it didn't come close to doing this.
?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,133
Likes: 1
From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~
Originally Posted by B R
And how much did your z weigh ?
?Weight/power ratio makes all the difference. The C5 is a awsome ride and demands respect. If you switch off any computer assists beware!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: Mars
Gears and weight are the difference. My Z28 has 2.73's and even on a full-boot will only squat and go but the auto only has the choice of two gears - 2nd or 3rd. My Z06 will skip sideways even with everything switched on, let alone competitive driving. Less weight and more rigidity means the power goes to the road not into twisting the chassis.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Check your tread depth on the tires. If it is getting low, that could be part of your problem.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 76
From: Bedford Va.
35-36 pressure and its down from the winter temps?
try 30lb cold and check tire accross the entire contact area.
do not just look at the outer edge. many people just look at the edge, if the alignment is out the tires can wear uneven.
try 30lb cold and check tire accross the entire contact area.
do not just look at the outer edge. many people just look at the edge, if the alignment is out the tires can wear uneven.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
My 97 Auto with Z51 and 3:15 gears does this as well, and my run flats are pretty new...try doing that around a corner from say a stop...I did- and that big *** hops out like crazy when 2nd gear comes out!
Yes- there is a LOT of power and torque being generated back there...be careful- and have fun with it! :-)
Yes- there is a LOT of power and torque being generated back there...be careful- and have fun with it! :-)
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Originally Posted by SphyNxXx
I have a basically stock C5 (a4 with 3.15s) and stock runflats. The only mods on it that I know of are cold air screen and maybe a 180* tstat. Tonight, I put it in competitive driving mode and took it on an empty stretch of road up to 30mph. I floored it at 30mph and the car got all squirley and the back end even moved over onto the other lane and I had to let off to keep control of the car. My g/f in the passenger seat was nearly paralyzed by it Is this normal for a stock C5? I had a 01 Z28 (a4 with 2.73)j with muffler, lid, predator, and a free mod and it wouldn't even come close to doing that. Heck, sometimes I would even hook up with little effort from a dig. Could it be possible the original owner tossed a set of gears in it and I dont know about it? The car came from Carmax and it was shipped from several hunderd miles out of state, so I know nothing about the previous owner other than the car was taken really good care of (near perfect shape minus a couple touched up rock chips and 14,100 miles on the clock for a 98 ).
Is this normal for a stock C5? I had a 01 Z28 (a4 with 2.73)j with muffler, lid, predator, and a free mod and it wouldn't even come close to doing that. Heck, sometimes I would even hook up with little effort from a dig. Could it be possible the original owner tossed a set of gears in it and I dont know about it? The car came from Carmax and it was shipped from several hunderd miles out of state, so I know nothing about the previous owner other than the car was taken really good care of (near perfect shape minus a couple touched up rock chips and 14,100 miles on the clock for a 98 ).
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by SphyNxXx
I floored it at 30mph and the car got all squirley and the back end even moved over onto the other lane and I had to let off to keep control of the car. My g/f in the passenger seat was nearly paralyzed by it Is this normal for a stock C5?
Is this normal for a stock C5?