Is this normal???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Is this normal???
While out for a little spirited drive the other day, I decided to romp on my '05 A4 from a rolling start. When the car shifted, the A$$ end wildly snapped to the right for a brief moment when the shift engaged - thought I was going to go into a spin. 
Traction control was on, road was dry, so has anyone else experienced this?
John
Traction control was on, road was dry, so has anyone else experienced this? John
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,271
Likes: 8,544
From: Rochester, NY
I have a 6 speed 2008 and at times when I jump on it from a roll the rear end will break loose briefly and will do so again when I shift into second. I would say it was not a jerking motion or snapping just a bit of a wiggle but the car always felt under control and I had no concerns. What you are describing sounds like a different reaction.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 656
Likes: 1
From: Orlando Fl
Nothing like a little oversteer to wake you up.
The traction control responds to loss of traction but if you romp on it with the wheels turned it can't prevent it. This is normal for any high performance rear drive vehicle.
The traction control responds to loss of traction but if you romp on it with the wheels turned it can't prevent it. This is normal for any high performance rear drive vehicle.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 484
From: Portland Oregon
Once it downshifts in a turn with a good amount of throttle, the rear will almost always slide since there is so much power going to the rear wheels at once while in a turn. You always want the front wheels going straight if you are going to let it kick down with a lot of throttle. One thing I usually do is manually put my A4 into 2nd when going into a turn that I know I will be accelerating out of at the end. This will prevent the kick down in the turn and then I put it back up into 3 once out of the turn and going straight again.
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
Strange that 400 hp & 400lbs. of torque would make a 3200 lb car fishtail. Who woulda thunk it? 
In all seriousness though...the stability & traction control is tuned biased to performance on this car, and not to instantly stop you from getting crazy. If you are not giving it sudden jerky steering input, stability control will think you know what you are doing & let you go.
In all seriousness though...the stability & traction control is tuned biased to performance on this car, and not to instantly stop you from getting crazy. If you are not giving it sudden jerky steering input, stability control will think you know what you are doing & let you go.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
I should have mentioned that I was going in a straight line, not rounding a curve - I would understand if that were the case.
I'll try it again with a dry towel on my seat and see what happens!
I'll try it again with a dry towel on my seat and see what happens!
