Best ways to launch manual s3

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Hi guys I have a 62 plate s3 8p manual with 29k on the clock.

I just needed your opinion on the best ways to launch this thing. I went santa pod yesterday and I was really disappointed as I struggled to get the thing of the line quickly.
Every time I help the revs and dropped the clutch it would sort of bog down for a split moment as soon as car takes off losing all boost and all power.
It was my first time at santa pod and to give you an idea how bad the bogging down was I ran a 15.7 on my first run.

I really want to go back there and perfect my launch. Any help is appreciated. Car is stock.

Thanks
 
How many revs ? traction control off ? Tyres warm ? Wet or dry or damp ?
 
It was difficult for me to hold it on revs at the line as I wasn't use to the whole traffic light system. So I used the Rev limiter. Put car in neutral planted my foot car would hold at just under 4k Put in first and dropped the clutch but as soon as car moved it would bog down and I'd lose all power and boost and then like I'm accelerating from like a 5mile per hour role but the occasional time I practised I managed to get brilliant launches but I could never consist it and never once even came close to a good launch at the start or each race
If I could consistently get the launches like I was doing when practicing I would have won the majority of my races. My launches were really really bad
 
You have to get the tyres to stick or you will be swimming in porridge, like I said a few factors involved in doing quarter miles some of the haters say straight line fairies but it can be quite difficult to get it all right.
 
Lots of things to consider here; you need to turn ESP off (the TC part at least). Warm your tyres up (yes, it does make a difference). Get some sticky tyres (Michelin PSS are good for road use). Use 5k revs then drop clutch, do not feed it in or it will slip. Or buy a DSG car with launch control.
 
All the races I lost was due to my awful launch. I was catching all cars up and could have potentially won but by the time I gained on them the rave was over.
Whether at santa pod or traffic lights what's best way to launch manual s3. I seen other s3 yesterday who were doing very well with great launches so I was a bit gutted really and really want to work on this as my car drives perfect in every way atm. I didn't do justice to myself or the car lol so promised to return with vengeance lol
 
Very much depends on how brutal you feel towards the clutch and transmission.

If you've got good sticky rubber on the car,and disabled the TC etc as above,then getting the rpm up to peak torque and slightly above,then simply dropping the clutch is one way of doing it,but it does load the transmission pretty hard.

Once my car was running a big turbo,I didn't use this technique,and would start lifting the clutch on an increasing throttle input,and that would hook it up pretty well without breaking the gearbox or other parts.

As I say,it depends on how much you value the clutch and gearbox as well as the state of tune.
 
Thanks for the reply guys. What should a standard s3 be running at the quarter mile. I've heard 13.8-9??

I was way of what I should be running
 
I don't do this very often for very good reasons (££) and a good launch is much easier with a performance clutch that can take some abuse.

Generally a good launch involves bouncing the revs at around 5 - 6k point, then raise the clutch ever so slightly to take up any slack on the drivetrain - this is so you dont strip gear or so any damage to rear diff/prop - Then when time to launch, drop the clutch part of the way out on the upswing of the revs but not all the way out and throttle wide open. You want to be slipping just enough to be at the point of tyre adhesion throughout. This is still a pretty quick movement.

A good launch on a manual car takes skill. Anyone can just dump the clutch but spinning tyres is not good for acceleration or mechanical parts, balancing the grip with the clutch is the way to get the best launch.

If you just drop the clutch you will probably bog down unless you have very high revs and at this high revs as Alex has said you can do damage to drivetrain. So make sure you slip the clutch and feed it out, just do it fairly quickly. The whole clutch slip should be over in 1 - 2 seconds - less if you are on a good surface. TC off.

It should be noted that if you don't have a performance clutch then the stock clutch will only take so much of this type of abuse before it either starts slipping in high gears or the flywheel gives up. SMF setups are much better designed for these types of launches.
 
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I would suggest that the reason for your bad launches is probably a combination of. Lack of revs and/or not bringing the clutch up on the upswing then releasing the clutch too fast and then bogging down. If you are keen on improving your quarter mile time you would benefit from a uprated clutch kit. It will last longer and probably shave half a second or more off your time if used correctly. Good tyres are also critical.
 
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DSG is not the answer. Launch control just bogs down like you describe...then it all hooks up and wheels spin in 1st and 2nd. because you had to disengage ESP to obtain launch control. TBH if you like your car i wouldn't even try launching it or dumping the clutch unless as the guys above say you have set it up to do so. :)
 
Car doesn't bog down with dsg. Mine blasted away almost every time at Castle Coombe with either traction slightly off or all off.

TX.

Sent from my STV100-4 using Tapatalk
 
It takes second for the clutches to release and a second on a 1/4 mile is life and death :)
 
A lot of drag strips time you from when you start moving, so you could actually lose to the car next to you but get a better time in theory!

Have you been in a car with DSG and used launch? It certainly doesn't take a second in mine. And yes, if you're past stage 1, you need to disable both TC and ESP to get a clean launch. No wheelspin, even on stage 3!
 
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nluk100 said:
A lot of drag strips time you from when you start moving, so you could actually lose to the car next to you but get a better time in theory!

Have you even been in a car with DSG and used launch? It certainly doesn't take a second in mine. And yes, if you're past stage 1, you need to disable both TC and ESP to get a clean launch. No wheelspin, even on stage 3!
Click to expand...

Same here.....the launch is pretty much immediate.
 
Don't see the point trying to launch a manual, the strain it puts on the entire drive train is simply not worth it, rolling starts, even at a couple of mph are much more friendly to the car. I would say unless your car is specifically built for it don't bother launching, it won't be worth the potential damage in £££s!
 
Must be just me then :) If i launch mine it takes just as long to get going as it does just flooring in in drive.. there is a lag while the clutches engage, a loud clang through the drive chain that shouts big bucks and it bogs down to about 1500 revs and then takes off just as quick as if you had just floored it in drive anyway. Its alway done that so i don't use launch now except to demo how bad it is. TBH my last dsg was the same as well.
 
You're not punishing the clutch enough. Has this very issue, best launches I've pulled were with around 3.5 to 4K rpm. If you let out the clutch immediately the car bogs painfully, best is to let it out to around 50% and start feathering it around there. Once the passed the potentially bogging stage let it out all the way.

Needless to say it's bell for the clutch but it feels good

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 
Just a bog standard A3 Quattro 2.0L TSI DSG here. Using launch control is immediate take off for me, of course it's not the car that is so quick of the line, it's the skill of the driver :sm4:.
In your manual car you can't hold the revs high as the ECU wants to protect the engine from overboosting.
 
You can hold the revs above 4k but not in neutral.
 
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