I was racing my friend the other day (read the post in the street/strip called S4 vs. Camaro SS). I don't think I broke traction but the traction control light started flashing and my car lost power. It was strange. The road was dry and I don't think there was any dirt or gravel on the road.

I've heard of some cars overboosting and the computer tunes down the performance. Does this sound like what may have happened?

It hasn't done it since, and the car runs good. Just kind of strange this happened (and caused me to lose, I was close to pulling ahead when it happened).

 

I've experienced the same thing... any one have any insight??

 

It was 73 degrees out, but the wind chill made it feel like 50. The car pulled strong. I am on stock boost (or so I assume) so it shouldn't go into limp mode. I turned the traction control off and made some more full throttle runs and it ran fine.

 

Its traction controll stopping your wheels from spinning. turn of ESP when you race.

/thread

 

I didn't think it would break traction on dry pavement. I must be pushing 500 whp to do that. Maybe there was some dirt or something on the road. Oh well.

From now on i'll turn it off. Didn't think I needed to with a tip that won't launch like dropping a clutch.

 

Only time i have issues like this dude is with traction control on. In the snow we (unusually) had this last winter the traction control almost caused me to crash twice as just when you need power to pull you out of a side slide the power is gone. Very frustrating. I tend to leave it off most of the time now.

My V8 is running about 365/375 and i can do a bit of back end out on slightly damp or wet roads, that quattro though always sorts its self out and pulls straight. Unlike my M3!

 

FWIW these are the tires i used last year, and im Stage 2 with a host of other goodies. On flat dry pavement in a straight line I can launch and spin all 4 tires. without launching, just going WOT in 1st, i almost always get throttle cut if i dont turn ESP off, meaning my wheels are spinning to some degree.

If im making a turn from a stop, and i just go WOT as i turn, i go sideways.

In snow and gravel WOT in most gears will result with me spinning all 4. If i am playing in the snow so to speak, ESP is allways off for the reason above. Throttle will cure understeer 99% of the time in the snow, and if you get throttle cut, well then thats just bad.

You dont really need 500HP to break traction. On shitty allseasons or winter tires its much much easier, plus at stage 2 these cars make alot of torque, more than some 400+ hp cars (look at the new M3 with 280tq lol). I hear as a good stage 3 breaking traction and first and second are fairly common.

 

It's true. I have the same problem. Any time I know that I'm going to be in a situation where I'm going to be driving hard, I hit the 'ole ESP OFF. When I'm driving to and from work, I just leave it.

 

Well my tires are P-Zero Nero's but they've only got about 3.5/32 of tread left. So they are getting replaced in the next month or so. I suppose on a cold blacktop road I must have broke one or more of them loose.

And I would have taken that damn Camaro too. He was too scared to race again with the traction turned off because I hung close enough that he knew something was up when I was at his mirror and then dropped back when the car lost power.