MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Craigh1983 on February 16, 2012, 08:15:36 pm
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Hi,
Sorry for yet another question... It might be a stupid one but i've never driven a fast car before. My previous was a Vectra 1.6 Saloon lol
Anyway... I was wondering how to get the best out of the car in terms of driving it. So for example lets say I am going to go onto the motorway and I want to pick up speed quickly... how would you go about doing this? do you build up most of your speed in 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear? When building up speed do you literally put your pedal to the floor?
I don't really know how long to stay in each gear for. What I did in my old car was to literally come out of 1st gear almost straight the way... and then when I hit 20mph I would go into 3rd gear... when I hit 30mph i'd change to 4th.... and then anything over 50mph id go into 5th gear.
In the golf I don't want to end up burning out the clutch or summat by staying in say 2nd gear for too long trying to build up speed when I should be changing up to 3rd etc
Sorry for such a weird question and i've prob gone a really long way around explaininig what I mean but any help would be great :)
Ta
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Just watch the rev gauge and feel of the car. Make sure you dont hit rev limit though. I dont know what speeds are done in each gear dont really pay attention, just know when to change by what the revs are saying and feel of the car.
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There is no given speed to be in before changing gear as road conditions etc will dictate when that is. I try not to go above 3k when the engine is cold and never give it full beans until after ten minutes driving. I also stop using the power about 1 mile from my destination to allow the engine sufficient time to cool down. Apart from that bit of advice, enjoy your new purchase :happy2:
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I wouldn't be so absolutely rigid about exactly what mph to shift a gear. Keep an eye on the revs and don't rely on the torque - It's not good for an engine and more importantly it doesn't leave you in readiness for a sudden situation whether that be to use acceleration or slowing down.
I very highly recommend remapping your brain and learning some performance car road craft with a day course with Drivetrain:
http://www.drivetrain.uk.com/
It's a course which is invaluable whatever you drive and the remapped brain stays with you!
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You've only just had the car. I didn't realise the full potential of the vehicle until after maybe a year of ownership. You really need to just get used to the vehicle and the controls. I don't mean how to drive a car, but how to drive your car. This takes time and experience. The more you drive it, the more used to it you'll get and the quicker you can handle it. You'll instinctively know when to shift with or without the engine sounds to help.
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Get on the track and learn the cars limits in a safe enviroment, shouldn;t be really pushing it on the roads... :driver:
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just drive it like you stole it simple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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just drive it like you stole it simple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL I love it!!
Thanks for the tips though everyone. Hopefully gonna get out at the weekend and get used to it and enjoy driving it. I'm sure i'll get the hang of it :)
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Get on the track and learn the cars limits in a safe enviroment, shouldn;t be really pushing it on the roads... :driver:
....Driving track and fast road are not quite the same.
For a start, most roads are two-way traffic and there is much more unpredictable stuff going on to react to and predict. Also, track is faster than fast road.
As stealthwolf says, get the feel of your car over time. And then if you want to learn how to drive fast more SAFELY, remap your driving brain with a professional course.
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Having driven a Vectra more than once I'd be more worried about a swap the other way! The Golf is an easy car to drive with safe handling, enough power to be lazy with gear choice, and respectable brakes. The Vectra has a steering wheel connected to the wheels with rotten elastic, terminal understeer, uses its wing mirrors to prop it up when cornering, and an asthmatic engine (that isn't very good on fuel either).
Golf - drive it however the hell you want and it'll cope.
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I went from a diesel car which struggled to maintain speed if not in specific gears to the GTI which can handle most speeds in any gear. Found it really strange at first but its something that you easily get use to, the main thing is just enjoy your new car mate!
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It's just a Golf. No less, no more. :wink:
Put the pedal to the floor and if acceleration isn't enough you need to shift later.
When cruising in town 1000 - 1500 rpm isn't any issue. DSG does the same.
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If this is your pride and joy , then you will learn to look after it. Letting the engine warm up before any heavy driving is a good point to remember.
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
???????
Why this? How should low revs be able to harm the clutch? :fighting:
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
Great advice, GTI clutches are the weak link and since i had to fork out for clutch and flywheel I never floor it in high gears, just drop a gear or 2 and use the revs
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
???????
Why this? How should low revs be able to harm the clutch? :fighting:
Agreed!!!??? Why would this wear the clutch seeing as it would all ready be in gear? Also this is a very strange topic, when I drive if won't to go slow I drive slowly if I want to drive quick I just put my foot down??? Its not rocket science mate!!!
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..........the hooligan's choice. :grin: :congrats:
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How a gti should be driven!!!! :driver:
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For mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Change down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
....Excellent advice! :happy2:
Not only will you not rely on low revs torque (not good for engine longevity if over used) but driving and handling will be SAFER < If I have to explain why, then you probably wouldn't understand!
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
???????
Why this? How should low revs be able to harm the clutch? :fighting:
You seem to be the 'no it all' in all things modifying. Are we about to get into the you know more thsan everyone else threads again? :fighting2:
Peak torque occurs at low revs, so if you are in 6th gear at 60mph and stick your foot down you will have a longer period of the clutch being subjected to peak torque and can and will likely cause premature clutchwear and clutch slip.
By changing down a gear you raise the revs. So not only will yoyu make better progress as more power is available, you will be running with less torque so wear and tear on the clutch is reduced=longer clutch life.
toque kills clutches, not power
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
???????
Why this? How should low revs be able to harm the clutch? :fighting:
Agreed!!!??? Why would this wear the clutch seeing as it would all ready be in gear? Also this is a very strange topic, when I drive if won't to go slow I drive slowly if I want to drive quick I just put my foot down??? Its not rocket science mate!!!
Im not talking about dumping the clutch in a traffic light grand prix 0-60, obviously that wont help wear and tear.
Manual clutches on the TFSI engines are widely known for clutch slip, and the scenario when this occurs involve low rev, high gear accelerating.
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:popcornsoda: this topic is so amusing, basically your asking how to drive a car. :driver: DSG may assist better!
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:driver: DSG may assist better!
Another point to back up my points above is DSG.
If your in a high gear low rev scenario, ie 60mph cruise and gradually stick your foot down, the DSG WILL change down gears for you in auto mode. it does this to preserve the clutch.
Probably a large contributing factor to manual clutches being much more prone to slipping as DSG removes the lack of ability/knowledge of drivers
from the equation
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1
Look at the floorboard; you'll see 3 pedals. From left to right, they are: clutch, brake, gas.
2
Study the simple diagram on the top of the gearshift, which will show you where the gears are. In most new cars, this will look like a three-legged H. First, third and fifth gears are at the tops of the legs; second, fourth and reverse gears are at the bottoms. The crossbar of the H is neutral.
3
Make sure the parking brake is engaged and the car is on a flat surface in an area where you have plenty of room.
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Press down on the clutch pedal and then move the gearshift into the neutral position.
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Start the car.
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Keeping the clutch pedal down, put the car into first gear by moving the gearshift to the top-left position.
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Apply the foot brake and release the parking brake.
8
Release the foot brake when you're ready to start moving.
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Begin to release the clutch pedal slowly; when you hear or feel the engine begin to slow down, slowly press down on the gas pedal as you continue to release the clutch. The car will start to move forward.
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Accelerate until the car has reached about 3,000 rpm, then take your foot off the gas, press down on the clutch pedal, and pull the gearshift directly down through neutral to second gear. Be sure to pull the gearshift down until it can't go any farther.
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Release the clutch pedal gently, simultaneously pressing down gently on the gas pedal.
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Repeat the shifting process each time you hit 3,000 rpm until you're driving at the appropriate speed. (Third gear is up and to the right; fourth gear is all the way down from there; fifth gear is up to neutral, right and then up again.)
13
Downshift by releasing the gas pedal when you want to decrease your speed. Press down on the clutch and move the gearshift through neutral into the next-lower gear (move down only 1 gear at a time). Once you're in the lower gear, release the clutch slowly and brake as you do so.
14
Stop the car by downshifting to second gear and applying the brakes. Apply the clutch just before the car stops. Don't downshift into first.
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Drive in reverse by following the same steps you would for starting in first gear. The reverse gear engages more quickly than first gear, however, so be sure to release the clutch slowly and begin to press the gas pedal as soon as the car begins to move
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^^^^I believe you are taking the piss sir.!
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^^^^I believe you are taking the piss sir.!
....What!? Someone take the piss on a car forum? - Nah, of course not. Never! :wink:
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Quality write up Maxload :congrats:
How to drive a :driver: must be the question of the year! :grin:
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for mechanical sympathy try not to accelerate in high gears at low rpm as it destroys the clutch.
Chage down a gear and accelerate that way instead. Then you will preserve the life of the clutch :happy2:
Great advice, GTI clutches are the weak link and since i had to fork out for clutch and flywheel I never floor it in high gears, just drop a gear or 2 and use the revs
No. Still nonsense. :popcornsoda:
Not only will you not rely on low revs torque (not good for engine longevity if over used) but driving and handling will be SAFER < If I have to explain why, then you probably wouldn't understand!
Robin, if you have enough acceleration, why change gear? This might be some kind
of philosophy, but the next point is not a question of taste but engineering:
There is also no reliability issue though. Today's engines are capable to stand full
throttle from idle on. There's enough oil pressure and perfect clean combustion.
You seem to be the 'no it all' in all things modifying. Are we about to get into the you know more thsan everyone else threads again? :fighting2:
Peak torque occurs at low revs, so if you are in 6th gear at 60mph and stick your foot down you will have a longer period of the clutch being subjected to peak torque and can and will likely cause premature clutchwear and clutch slip.
By changing down a gear you raise the revs. So not only will yoyu make better progress as more power is available, you will be running with less torque so wear and tear on the clutch is reduced=longer clutch life.
toque kills clutches, not power
What? Hey, I guess you learned that I was right in the coating thread. Will
you talk about driving or just talk about forum members? If you aren't able
to hear different opinions you should talk to your own.
But that's not the point.
The point is that here again some people tell stories based from rumors.
Let me explain why:
Yes, torque kills clutches. But don't matter what rev - 280 Nm remain 280 Nm
and no healthy clutch will be destroyed by 280 Nm !!
Yes, if you have a weak clutch it is a way to get home if you avoid high gears
and full throttle. But that's a completely different thing.
We are NOT talking about fully mapped engines with 330 BHP and 470 Nm !!
Why this? How should low revs be able to harm the clutch? :fighting:
Agreed!!!??? Why would this wear the clutch seeing as it would all ready be in gear? Also this is a very strange topic, when I drive if won't to go slow I drive slowly if I want to drive quick I just put my foot down??? Its not rocket science mate!!!
:happy2:
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(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_Lhq3Gx3TjvE%2FTP5I4dWxidI%2FAAAAAAAADYo%2F96PW_C8EGq4%2Fs1600%2Fboring.jpg&hash=ffdf3bf886a36ef66342a864187bd3dad0372afc)
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I do agree that stock torque won't make much difference, but mapped is a different matter
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Fine.
From what I understood Craighs question was how to drive an ordinary Golf GTI.
No race car, no 350 BHP beast:
Sorry for yet another question... It might be a stupid one but i've never driven a fast car before. My previous was a Vectra 1.6 Saloon lol
Anyway... I was wondering how to get the best out of the car in terms of driving it. So for example lets say I am going to go onto the motorway and I want to pick up speed quickly... how would you go about doing this? do you build up most of your speed in 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear? When building up speed do you literally put your pedal to the floor?
I don't really know how long to stay in each gear for. What I did in my old car was to literally come out of 1st gear almost straight the way... and then when I hit 20mph I would go into 3rd gear... when I hit 30mph i'd change to 4th.... and then anything over 50mph id go into 5th gear.
In the golf I don't want to end up burning out the clutch or summat by staying in say 2nd gear for too long trying to build up speed when I should be changing up to 3rd etc
Sorry for such a weird question and i've prob gone a really long way around explaininig what I mean but any help would be great :)
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This is fast turning into a classic thread :congrats:
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Rectal Rooter_Sy
What the fuuuuuuuu :grin: :grin:
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Rectal Rooter_Sy
What the fuuuuuuuu :grin: :grin:
That will be TC. You can't beat a moderator in a p1s$ taking contest lol
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Does anyone have any more suggestions?
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Yes.
1 - You should drive it fast.
If you have not pooped your pants by the end of the journey repeat step one until you do. Then make a cup of tea and get on camskills.co.uk to order some new front tyres.
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From what I understood Craighs question was how to drive an ordinary Golf GTI.
No race car, no 350 BHP beast:
....It doesn't matter what you drive, the art of safe driving (fast when you want it) is learning good road sense and understanding the limits of whatever vehicle you are driving.
It's not something you can learn on the hyperinterwebbynet - Do a 1-day professional course. I did CarLimits on an airfield and then Drivetrain on the roads of Oxfordshire.
If you want to do trackdays, there's usually tuition available. Simples.
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Hold the revs at some point above ~3k rpm for a second then foot to the floor for the best acceleration. (while rolling - not talking about a take off). Not sure why - I guess the turbo is fully spooled up and eager to go. Acceleration feels a bit flatter on mine if I just floor it from say 2k rpm than if I hold it at 3k for a second or so.
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To the OP.
Drive the car to your own limits - build it up slowly as you get used to the car.
Don't redline it everywhere - it will prematurely harm mechanical parts.
Ensure the engine is warmed up before full throttle blasts (needle on 90 degrees for a minute or so.)
Ensure the car is cooled down for 20 seconds or so before turning it off (allows the turbo to spool down)
Maintain the car as it should be - a neglected car is likely to go wrong.
Gearchange as you see fit - you will learn when the car is happy to accelerate and in what gear as you use it more.
Don't ride the clutch - you'll end up without one!
Above all enjoy it :happy2:
here endeth the lesson :smiley:
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And now lock the thread?!
The baby said it all!
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not yet i've got tuppance to add:
1.) To start the car, put the key in the ignition and turn one notch - this will light up the vitals on the dash.
2.) don't touch anything else at this point other than your seat belt - put it on
3.) next you fully depress the clutch (leave the gear stick in neutral)
4.) once clutch is fully depressed you have permission to switch on the engine
the other tip is don't give it the beans until the thermo meter for the coolant has hit 90 degrees PLUS
a.) add on another 5 minutes drive time for warm weather
b.) add 10 minutes drive time for cold weather
the reason for this is that the thermo is only showing you the temperature of your coolant, not your oil. Your oil takes longer to get up to temperature than the coolant so if you start thrashing it as soon as it shows 90 the likelihood is that you'll be maxing the engine and turbo when your oil temp isn't at optimum causing undue wear and tear. These times are probably a bit longer than necessary but unless you have an oil temp gauge i would always say its better to be safe and sorry when you are operating off guess work.
Final tip is to enjoy, it's a great car to drive, i've had mine for 7 months and i've never driven anything better, it still puts a smile on my face every time i take her out :love:
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I cannot believe your all taking so much time and effort to tell someone to drive a car, I don't know who's more insane!? :smiley:
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I cannot believe your all taking so much time and effort to tell someone to drive a car, I don't know who's more insane!? :smiley:
....We're just having a laugh and a banter and we're saddo's who spend too much of our lives on the hyperinterwebbynet thingy
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Like you stole it. Fin!
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Like you stole it. Fin!
Or like a rental :driver: nothing drives like one :driver:
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think the biggest point is missing tho .
respect all other drivers and have good road manners .
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think the biggest point is missing tho .
respect all other drivers and have good road manners .
Yup. While still driving it like you stole it/a rental. :driver:
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Fun but safe journeys.............
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Fun but safe journeys.............
...."Have Safe but Fun Journeys" is how I nearly always sign off messages/emails to those I know are car enthusiasts :happy2:
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Fun but safe journeys.............
...."Have Safe but Fun Journeys" is how I nearly always sign off messages/emails to those I know are car enthusiasts :happy2:
I know Robin! :laugh:
Apologies for missing out the 'Have' :wink: