Traction in 1st

[Blue9N3]

I can't seen to get traction in 1st gear even on dry Tarmac. Car has APR stage 1 (was done in late 2013) and new Kumho KU39's on the front. Front and rear sway bars (white line)

I had a 280hp Focus XR5 (sadly stolen and written off) before the POG which seemed to be able to put its power down better and it didn't have particularly special tyres either

Is this normal?


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[rollehgoo]

I'm running KU31s, sways and strut bars front and back. 1st and 2nd depending how heavy footed I am it will lose traction. Iv noticed there's a fine line between grip and spin when driving more spirited then usual.

[sambb]

I think the stock springing/damping doesn't help. Personally I find it better with the ESP off when I do a hard launch. With ESP on in my car when I break traction it seems to get locked into a bad axle tramp loop. With ESP off I atleast get progressive wheelspin.

[Stuwey]

Aftermarket suspension will greatly help, as does some firmer suspension bushings.

All of which makes your nice city car not a very nice city car

[seangti]

The XR5's have launch control (limit revs on launch) and lower power delivery in 1st and 2nd gear. You don't get full power till 3rd. Plus wide tyres to start with. The Polo doesn't lower power.

Are you launch the car from stand still, or rolling and punching it? Eitherway, it'll spin, but if launching you're best revving it to around 2500rpm and slipping the clutch a bit, anymore and it's turbo territory and tyre spin.

[Blue9N3]

No launch, this is rampant wheelspin from a roll, would better lower control arm bushes help? (Might reduce toe in on power?)

My xr5 used to get full boost (1.2bar) in 1st as it had been reflashed. used to wheelspin too but seemed to be able to put power down a bit better. Was lowered with the front sitting a bit lower than the rear, maybe that helps reduce front lift.


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[Stuwey]

Don't forget that your Polo is merely a $14,000 budget hatchback, with an old-generation turbo motor and a red stripe on the grille.

They're not all that fantastic, and those of us who want more, more, and more only highlight its' shortcomings.


Not that I have a problem with that, it's all part of the challenge!

[Blue9N3]

To be honest, other than build quality, ride,road noise, vibration and comfort, it craps all over the xr5 Besides, I've got a Merc for all of the above as the sensible car.


The Pog though handles better, feels quicker off the mark and is just more fun to fling around than an xr5 ever will be. Just can't figure out why traction is do bad....


Oh yeah, it was a $10k hatch




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[gavs]

The VW lower control arm design does flog out rear bushes quicker than many other cars, to be perfectly honest the bushes will be well past their best by 40,000kms if you drive on any surface other than a race track and drive like a nanna as well. Do front bushes, replace the rears with solid Mk4 R32 bushes, anti-rollbar bushes and all nuts and bolts with new ones and see if that helps, look at a stiffer dogbone bush as well....

[noone]

Lots of little things need to be addressed, but the tuned polo has a very lumpy torque spike.

I cant hammer 1st, but on even ground can usually get all of second down. Some things that helped;
- coilovers
- FSB, RSB
- Rubber control arm bushes
- 215/40/17 RSR's up front
- Nolathane rear engine mount
- Front strut brace
- Practice

Lots of fun, not a lot of refinement, but a great little toy.