OK I'm sure I'm gonna get flamed on this one, but here we go…

I just bought a 2002 A4 1.8T Quattro Sport Automatic/S-tronic a few weeks ago. Been pleased as punch with this car. Faster than what I had before, and handles oh-so-much better. Anyone who read my post of joy-riding in the rain yesterday knows I'm having fun.

So tonight for the first time I thought I'd time my 0-60. From what I've dug up online, this model clocked in at 8.6 seconds in most of the tests. Not stellar, but you know, could be worse right.

Well apparently mine is.

First two tests I did in the "S" mode. 11 seconds. ELEVEN!! So this isn't scientific, it's just me and a stopwatch, but give or take half a second of slop, that's just **** poor. This is me stomping hard on the gas (hard enough to push the second level actuator, whatever THAT is called), and stopping the clock at 60. I tried it again, got 10.7. OK, this officially sucks.

Second test was with the transmission in standard "D" mode. 10 seconds. Now wait a minute… shouldn't the S mode be the same or faster? I mean… really?!

Third test was in semi-manual (S-tronic). I got it at 9.7. So, basically the same as D. (then I spotted a cop and decided to go home).


So the obvious question is, WTF is wrong here.


The next question is, hmm, turbo? Now as I sit and write this I realize I need to do some more driving and pay closer attention, but it seems to me that I can not tell when the turbo is kicking in. The shifting is so clean that any 'bump' I feel, I attribute to changing gears. And since I'm not so keen on staring at the tach while flooring the gas, I haven't noticed if on a bump the revs have gone up or down. So clearly I need to try again and pay closer attention.

But that said, what should I feel when the Turbo kicks in? On this car/year/mode, is it a noticeable bump in power? A sudden boost at 2k or 3k rpm up to xxk rpm before it drops a gear and the turbo what, turns off again? Stays on until I let up on the gas?

Long post, hopefully I can get some decent words of wisdom here. I admit I should do some more research on my own but it's late and I'm now officially cranky and am feeling a bit sad, to be honest. Sad.

The car still ROCKS once it's up and going, no question. But that lag off the line… the hesitation before it really pushes (which I've understood is because of the quattro), is a bit disappointing now that I know my 0-60 is well below par.

Thanks all,
-Joseph

 

ur not chipped rite, 36XX (with out driver)pounds and 170hp is not a forumla for speed
and ur turbo should kick in at 2500

 

that sounds right to me, off the line the car is slow, and you really don't feel the turbo "kick" when you are running the stock 7-8psi... forget #'s if you are satisfied with your acceleration, good. If you aren't, chip it and you may be able to get a tip chip and possibly an injector file (I don't know for sure, i'm sure I will be corrected, so thanks in advance)...just with a chip you will then feel the turbo "kick" (it's not gonna be some huge violent kick, but it will then be noticeable)...depending on the company you go with the psi you run will be increased anywhere from 14 to 18psi....

if you are happy, leave it stock, if you aren't, that's when the fun begins!...gl!

oh, and about the "kick", the turbo starts spooling at 2500 GRADUALY coming to a full spool at 3200 or so and then drops around 55-5800

 

Our turbo lag is bad.. but... 10 seconds sounds disgusting.

 

Our turbo lag is pretty bad. Acceleration off the line is never very exhilerating for me. Once I hit 3000rpm though it s a different story. My turbo is spoolin and she's pulling. Want to get impressed with your stock performance? Come to a 30mph roll let your car gear down and adjust real quick THEN PUNCH IT. I promise that this will feel a lot better GOD BLESS ROLLING START!!!

 

I got a great launch the other day I ran my down around the 6's or so. and I have a 98 1.8tqm with giac 93oct, n75 valve, forge 007, and k&n, and it was cold outside.

 

He's stock though. His launch is gonna be weak! jlinaschke do yourself a favor and get your car chipped. You'll be smiling for months.

 

+1 for the chip......you will love it!!!!no joke!

 

Good morning all,

Thanks for the 411 so far. Everyone suggests getting chipped; that's what I'd expect from this crew . But for now at least let's assume I don't want to do that… reading here the last few weeks it seems like SO many people have problems with the process, and besides… I just got the car, I'd like to find the pleasure in this where it already exists, at least for now. And there is plenty… as NuYorka103185 said, get it to a roll and punch it… hoooya, that definitely feels better. It's that dead stop that hurts. And I'll readily admit that it's the 40-80 speed that's far more important than the 0-60.

Thanks for the explanation on the trubo; so it's gradual. Fascinating. Thanks.

Amze's the only one to call out that the 10 (or 11!) second time though is "disgusting". Considering that the reviews clocked this car a 8.6, shouldn't I be getting closer to that? It's an auto for crissake, not like I'm "not shifting properly". Something still seems amiss to me.

And (perhaps I'll start a different thread on this), why would I be getting a slower 0-60 in the 'S' mode than in the 'D' mode?

cheers
-Joseph

 

because the ecu knows a more presice time to shift then the seat of your pants feeling


if your turbo wasnt working you'd know it...and there would probably be a cloud of burnt oil exiting the vehicle via tailpipe