Guess it happens to everyone sooner or later: waiting for the lights to turn green, a Z3/SLK/TT lines up alongside, gratuitiously blipping the engine, clearly looking for an impromptu drag race. s:roll: :roll: s:roll: Childish, we know, but potentially great fun... s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: So obviously, you want to win, just to see the look on their faces as they are beaten by a car that cost half as much as theirs s:lol: :lol: s:lol: What do you reckon is the best way to achieve this moment of greatness? How many revs before sidestepping the clutch? (with some level of mechanical sympathy, but no bogging down or excessive wheelspin) PS: stay clear of M or AMG versions of aforementioned opponents! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Near max torque revs, i think ( 3500/4000 revs/m).
Quote from: "fstsven"How many revs before sidestepping the clutch?
Really depends a lot from your tyres...what do you have? When I had the stock Yokos, G-Tech gave best time with sidestep at around 5000rpm...
It don't matter, just make sure you nail it.
I see if I can see the opposite lights turn to amber and mentally count the seconds to my set changing to amber, (in & around my area) so when a potenial drag race occurs I know exactly when to nail it.
If I fail to nail it I turn left at the junction which I feel will pisses the opponent off.
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "fstsven"How many revs before sidestepping the clutch?
Really depends a lot from your tyres...what do you have?
I have Eagle F1s. Btw they really transformed the car since the stock Yokos came off s:) :) s:)
I'd say between 4-5k seemed best when arsing about at North Weald last year...
Yeah i heard 5000rpm..... and it works for me s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Silly BMW driver, he should had known better s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:
I inch closer and closer to the line, your opponent does the same... then, as the lights turn green and he drops his clutch... I pull away gently and as normal. They'll usually tear-ass off in a squeal of tyre smoke.
It's usually better if you're turning left and you just casually take the corner as they rip off.
At the end of the day I can be happy that by the end of the year my clutch will still be working fine.
Quote from: "juansolo"At the end of the day I can be happy that by the end of the year my clutch will still be working fine.
My clutch lasted two years, but I sure had a lot of fun with it! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Isn't that why we all bought the car in the first place?
Quote from: "juansolo"I inch closer and closer to the line, your opponent does the same... then, as the lights turn green and he drops his clutch... I pull away gently and as normal. They'll usually tear-ass off in a squeal of tyre smoke.
It's usually better if you're turning left and you just casually take the corner as they rip off.
Straight into the arms of Mr Plod! s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:
Quote from: "Tem"Isn't that why we all bought the car in the first place?
Nope. If I wanted a car for the traffic light grand prix or to tear arse around public roads I'd have bought and ITR or a Scooby/Evo. As it is I bought a car that was fun to drive without having to travel everywhere at mach 10. I also wanted it to be a convertabubble for the summer.
FWIW, when I bought this car I had no idea what it's 0-60 was or it's top speed. In all honesty I still don't and I really don't care. I didn't even have a clue what storage the car had until I'd bought it and got it home. These things were simply not a criteria for me buying it. I bought it because of it's overall handling and performance, simple as that.
0-60 times are only relevant in the Traffic Light Grand-Prix which I grew out of a long time ago. Or as pub talk in a 'mines better/faster/has more power than yours' capacity.
Similarly top speed. Anyone can wind up a car as fast as it can go on a long enough stretch of tarmac. But inevitably what do you get from it? Potentially a huge fine, points and a ban. Not to mention the prospect of driving around a fiesta for the next 5 years until you can actually afford to insure anything entertaining again. It's not thrilling. Unless you get a buzz about the possibility of getting caught.
Yep, you can read all the above as: I'm getting old.
...and it's Monday and I'm not particulaly happy about being at work this morning.
Quote from: "juansolo"Nope.
I just meant didn't we all buy it to have fun? I know everyone isn't about traffic light dragging...don't really care about it myself. Don't really get any kicks from beating a stranger that I'll never see again...I think we're both getting old s8) 8) s8)
I do race from 0-whatever against friends though...even on public roads s:? :? s:? Most fun is to try the launches all alone though, it's a great feeling when you get it just right...only to impress yourself s8) 8) s8)
Quote from: "juansolo"FWIW, when I bought this car I had no idea what it's 0-60 was or it's top speed.
Likewise. They really didn't matter at that time, but I do know them now s8) 8) s8)
Quote from: "juansolo"Quote from: "Tem"Isn't that why we all bought the car in the first place?
Nope.
Well said Sir!
Whilst I don't really care how quick my car is 0-60, I'm still interested in it from a performance measure / mechanical side. Like Tem said they're is satisfaction from launching a car well. I think everyone inherently buys a sports car knowing that it has to be at least competitive in performance measures. Otherwise there would be a massive demand for those Daihatsu Copens, or Suzuki Cappuchino's
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "juansolo"Nope.
I just meant didn't we all buy it to have fun? I know everyone isn't about traffic light dragging...don't really care about it myself. Don't really get any kicks from beating a stranger that I'll never see again...I think we're both getting old s8) 8) s8)
I do race from 0-whatever against friends though...even on public roads s:? :? s:? Most fun is to try the launches all alone though, it's a great feeling when you get it just right...only to impress yourself s8) 8) s8)
Quote from: "juansolo"FWIW, when I bought this car I had no idea what it's 0-60 was or it's top speed.
YEP, agreed... I did not buy MR2 to drag race, but still does not mean I will not blast it from the traffic light once in a while... Same thing about doing 40mph to 80mph runs, thats even more fun.
Spyder already handles so well, to get some andrenalin running I would have to do a 80mph in 30mph curve, and thats a bit no no for the missus...
Likewise. They really didn't matter at that time, but I do know them now s8) 8) s8)
What about launch technique for SMT?
I don't normally go in for traffic light drag racing, so I've not really thought much about it. But I've got a feeling that just flooring it isn't the best method.
Any which way you try it in an SMT you'll end up frying the clutch.
Option 1: "Yawntastic" Select 1st. Floor it.
Hmmm doesn't that clutch smell nice...
Option 2: "Interesting" Select neutral. Usual amount of revs as if in a manual. Flip selector to first.
Yet more clutch disintegration but since the wheels tend to spin, the SMT blends the clutch quicker and you should get away quicker.
Option 3. "Scary!" Select neutral. Put foot to floor (ie 100% throttle). Flip selector to first just before desired revs. (the scary part:) Ensure throttle stays at 100% prior and during the SMT selecting 1st!
Note the subtle difference between options two and three. On the '01 SMT ECU (at least), if the throttle is at 100% at point of gear change, the controller decides against blending and just drops the clutch when it's enaged the new gear.
I doubt option 2 (nor 3) will work with an '03 controller due to traction control getting in the way. Booo!
Usual disclaimer applies: do this at your own risk; don't blame me when you need a new clutch... (though when you do, a lightweight flywheel is nice while you've got everything apart).
No different to a non SMT then s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
I've decided against options 2 and 3 so far! I remember reading a review where they reduced the difference between manual and SMT 0-60 timings by using option 2. I think the difference went from approx 1 sec to less than 0.5 secs. They also mentioned horrible noises and slightly eratic behavious (IIRC). s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Without risking options 2&3, is option 1 the fastest? I'm sure the last time I tried it there was a sort of lag before it picked up. I thought it might be quicker to give it (say) 75% and wait for it to roll a litte before flooring it(?) But its not something I tend to go in for, and I'd quite like to avoid replacing the clutch if poss, so I haven't really tested it out.