Launching the RS6?

[rsjoe]

Off the line my RS6 feels like it's starting in 2nd or 3rd gear and doesn't begin to seriously accelerate till I've gone about 20 feet. What's the story? I've tried it with ESP off. I've tried it with a brake stand but it will only rev up to approx 2500 rpm and it still feels like it's bogging on the initial take off. I've tried using the manual mode but when you are stopped the display goes back to "auto" mode. This manual mode seems to only work when you are moving. Am I perceptually challenged and it's really working as it should or am I missing some technique. It just seems like the initial thrust off the line is lame yet the mag numbers indicate that up to 40mph this car should be as quick as the E55. With awd I thought the takeoff would be much more dramatic. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[TheBrit]

4000lb car with turbo lag and a torque converter - all that adds up to a little bit of hesitation right off the line. IMHO, where the RS 6 claws it back is in the fact that 1st gear gets you to ~40mph - I would guess that a lot of cars would have to shift to 2nd before that and would lose pace doing so.

[Klint]

I would of thought a rolling start would be best for the RS6.

Get rolling as if your in a 'walking' pace traffic jam then floor it...see what happens..

[nene]

I think you are just getting used to the speed, thus no longer might feel as fast.
It's a big car, and it's power band is nice and smooth. It's still a very powerful car, and you shouldn't complain much. If you want kick off pants kind of speed, you might need a Viper or something, but then it won't be as smooth.

I have no issues off the line. All my friends go ''' holy shitz ''' and that's all good!

[jconley]

Try this:

Put it in sport mode, turn ESP off, hold the brake, floor the gas and get it to 2000-2200 rpms. Then sidestep the brake. Don't hold it too long or your will overheat the tranny fluid.

It will make a big difference, but a rolling start is still your best bet.

J

[steve]

Or you could put it in to neutral... rev it to 5000 rpm and then pull the stick to the bottom !

Not that healthy

[avdh]

Originally posted by rsjoe
I've tried using the manual mode but when you are stopped the display goes back to "auto" mode. This manual mode seems to only work when you are moving.

What ???

Do you mean to say that even when you have the gearshift in the manual gate, the RS6 goes to "auto" regardless.

If that is correct, since I always drive my S6 with the gear stick in the manual gate, thus in manual mode, and it stays in manual mode, I would say the RS6, IMHO, has a MAJOR flaw.

Anybody can confirm that ?

[jconley]

This is only true if you use the paddles while in Drive or Sport. If you push it to the manual gate it stays manual

[Erik]

If you have it in D or S mode and use the paddles it will stay in 'manual mode' for about 10-20 secs. (figure should be in the manual).

I also don't think it would shift back into D or S if you're making a sharp turn. (sensors feel what you're doing)

[Finnus]

If you have it in D or S mode and use the paddles it will stay in 'manual mode' for about 10-20 secs. (figure should be in the manual).

30 Seconds is the length of time it stays in manual before shifting back to auto. That seems pretty short in most situations.

It seems to hold the manual as long as you're accelerating. Can anyone confirm their experience?

FInnus

[rsjoe]

I've found that if left in "auto" mode the best way to launch is with partial throttle going to wot asap. In manual mode I completely spaced it and forgot about using the shift lever in manual mode since I always use the steering wheel paddles. With the shift lever in manual mode a first gear launch seems to work well with wot. Lastly, I'm not used to the grip of an awd launch. Perceptually there's a lot less drama to an awd launch (no wheel spin,etc) and that smoothness could be intrepreted as a "slow" launch. So far my RS6 experiences have been all good.

[avdh]

Originally posted by jconley
This is only true if you use the paddles while in Drive or Sport. If you push it to the manual gate it stays manual

Thanks for confirming the above, I was worried for a while!

[TheBrit]

Originally posted by Finnus
It seems to hold the manual as long as you're accelerating. Can anyone confirm their experience?

That's what I've found - accidental use of paddle override whilst cruising reverts back to Drive in ~10 seconds or less, actually using the override as a temporary manual and it will revert about ~30 seconds after you start maintaining a steady pace again.

[andyp]

Originally posted by rsjoe
Off the line my RS6 feels like it's starting in 2nd or 3rd gear

Doesn't sound right ... I tried this this morning with five of us lined up at the lights. I didn't load the brake pedal, just used partial throttle immediately going to deep throttle and the pull was strong and even ... oh and the other cars? Way back there

[JAXRS6]

Yeah, launch seems slow, especially compared to my 2000 chipped S4 6-spd, which is quicker off the line than most other fast cars -- not slower. It's later that the S4 falls short ...and the RS6 gains steam. Or so it seems, but I still wonder what would happen if my S4 was to start opposite the RS6. My body G forces tell me S4 would win to 30 or 40 mph, things might even up around 0-60 and the RS6 would take the quarter mile. By how much, though? Car mags suggest a second or so faster, but I'm not so sure.

[avdh]

JaxRS6,

You cannot compare the performance of a new, low mileage car, to that of an older fully run-in car.

Wait until your RS6 has 4500 miles or more, then you might think differently.

C & D in their long term test of the A4 3.0 Multitronic found that after 30.000 miles the car was 1 second faster to 60 mph and 0.7 sec. faster on the Q mile compared to when it was new. The same applies to all cars.