Cant' do a Burnout?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Camp Hill PA
My Z28 with an A4 and 2.73 barely chirps the tires off the line. I agree at highway speeds the thing is amazing. Look at the bright side. At least you know the car ws never beat on too badly by previous owners. 
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 12
From: Phoenix AZ
I had 2.73s in my T/A and had no problem doing a burnout, doughnuts, would chirp them going into 3rd (A4). I have the 3.15's in the C5, can't tell if the majority of the difference is the gears or the overal HP and torque. Eithe way, the biggest thing I discovered when learning how to do burnouts is you have to lose the fear you might break something, or it ain't going to happen.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 549
Likes: 22
From: Castle Pines Colorado
I'm curious if all those doing burnouts have an automatic?? I too was disappointed when my 02 a4 couldn't light up the tires. Then I started to ask around. Apparantly you live in Colorado which has a huge impact. Your stock horsepower was most likely taken at ISO conditions. The big part of that is the engine was ran at see level which means a much lower density altitude. If your in CO then the density altitude is a minimum of 6000' on any given day. That means your not running 355 hp.
The other big factor I have read about is torque management. Torque management or the abuse limiter does just what it sounds like. The computer limits the amount of engine power initially in order to save the drive train from abuse. I have read forum posts about TM and everything I saw was turning it off with the a4 will produce nasty results and can get to the point where you might want it back on. I haven't turned it off myself but everyday I keep getting the itch.
I might be off on the TM issue but don't worry someone will correct me.
The other big factor I have read about is torque management. Torque management or the abuse limiter does just what it sounds like. The computer limits the amount of engine power initially in order to save the drive train from abuse. I have read forum posts about TM and everything I saw was turning it off with the a4 will produce nasty results and can get to the point where you might want it back on. I haven't turned it off myself but everyday I keep getting the itch.
I might be off on the TM issue but don't worry someone will correct me.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Levelland, TX USA
Some of you are noticing the altitude factor. I live at about 3500' in Texas. This summer wifey and i took a road trip to S. Calif. WOW, it was more than a little difference. Wifey's cousin wanted to drive the C5 so we went for a little cruise (Anaheim). I told him to nail it, expecting the normal burn through first gear, but when it hit second, it kept burning hard. LOL, he says "holy sh*t, i didn't know these things would do that!" I told him i didn't either. I've never felt it pull so hard in 2nd and 3rd. Gotta love that thick rich air at sea level. Oh and had the pleasure of PCH Highway 1 with the top off. It just doesn't get much better than that.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 12
From: Phoenix AZ
I've only driven my c5 a dozen times or so...with the TC on it seems like first gear is just to get the car going, something I'm not use to. Course I had a shift kit and other mods on my T/A, so maybe that made a difference.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville AL
I was also surprised how hard it was to break the tires free. Mine is a 98 A4 with 2.73- although I am at sea level. Of course, I've never owned a RWD car prior to getting the vette (8 months ago). Had plenty of trucks and was used to how easy the rear tires (or more likely TIRE, singular!) would chirp, if not all out spin. Obviously night and day difference to the vette with the weight distribution and IRS, but I'd never have guessed the car would be able to stick all that power to the ground so well. But the power is definitely there. First time I drove my wife around after I bought the car I turned onto an interstate on ramp and dropped the hammer on it. Her immediate reaction was Holy S**T 
When I've had desire to hear tires scream on asphalt I simply do what was mentioned in previous reply- turn off TC, turn wheels sharply and stomp on it!
When I've had desire to hear tires scream on asphalt I simply do what was mentioned in previous reply- turn off TC, turn wheels sharply and stomp on it!
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Tires are expensive.
But, burn outs before drag race can heat up "sticky" tires give much better traction and be much safer than street tires.
In all seriousness, my Arctic White 97 Coupe could not spin the tires when I first got it, but eventually it learned.
The 2:73's require gas on, brake-on torque; then off brake and smash the gas. It works for me; practice, practice, practice.
The video shows my 1997 basically stock coupe with the 2:73 doing a burn-out before a race. Keep trying and be safe.
Mark
But, burn outs before drag race can heat up "sticky" tires give much better traction and be much safer than street tires.
In all seriousness, my Arctic White 97 Coupe could not spin the tires when I first got it, but eventually it learned.
The 2:73's require gas on, brake-on torque; then off brake and smash the gas. It works for me; practice, practice, practice.
The video shows my 1997 basically stock coupe with the 2:73 doing a burn-out before a race. Keep trying and be safe.
Mark
Those longtubes, and particularly that Vigilante 2800, are great contributors to your being able to burn the tires with your 2.73s. In fact, the converter is like revving and popping the clutch on an M6 car.
Great times for a fairly lightly modded car. Very impressive.
Ed
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: Irvine CA
St. Jude Donor '09
If you have any doubts about what gear ratio you have, here is a little tip I picked up from this forum.
If you have the A4 automatic, drive your car to 75 MPH in 3rd gear and read the tach.
If you have a 2.73 gear your tach will read 2730 rpms, if you have a 3.42 gear it will read 3420 rpms and so on.
I checked this tip out on my 2004 A4 when I first got it with a 2.73, and then after I switched to a 3.42. My tach readings were right in the ball part.
If you really like acceleration, switch to a 3.42 and you won't be disappointed, it feels like you just added 50 WHP.
Bill
If you have the A4 automatic, drive your car to 75 MPH in 3rd gear and read the tach.
If you have a 2.73 gear your tach will read 2730 rpms, if you have a 3.42 gear it will read 3420 rpms and so on.
I checked this tip out on my 2004 A4 when I first got it with a 2.73, and then after I switched to a 3.42. My tach readings were right in the ball part.
If you really like acceleration, switch to a 3.42 and you won't be disappointed, it feels like you just added 50 WHP.
Bill
