automatic left foot

[greenbox]

Dear Readers.

I am wondering if you can help?

When pulling away from a standing start, is it o.k to use the brake with the left foot to gather rev's and then to release for a kick start? Will this harm the engine/gearbox in anyway? perhaps there are general rules to follow? Such as to not hold the revs on too long? Or to keep the revs below a certain threshold? This is for a 2001 3.2 s tiptronic.

Thank you for your help.

 

[sticker guy]

cant be good for the auto clutch one would imagine

 

[akwaugh]

Hi,

I think the correct full throttle start sequence is given in the manual. That is, put into manual, select 1st, hold on the brake and hit around 3000 rpm(?) then let go. This is from memory, so don't rely on that! I think you might have to switch off PSM too but check the manual first - note that without PSM things might get interesting.

Oddly, if you hit the brake and try to accelerate at the same time you go nowhere. I guess that's a fuelling thing though. So timing is everything!

I tend to find that racing starts are one thing but for most purposes the trick is to select 1st in auto mode, move off just a bit to get the wheels moving then hammer it. I have sport chrono which provides a switch for sport mode on the box additional to the inbuilt mode which helps, but ultimately you're going to be just as quick in auto mode as manual auto, if you know what I mean. The box won't let you overdo things.
If you're really keen remember that the box learns from you so if you're on the throttle a lot it will calibrate accordingly and you'll get sharper changes over time.

Read up on the spec for tiptronic, it's only a clever conventional auto with all the foibles of these things. I've also got an Audi DSG and it's a whole different ball game!


Also, in response to sticker guy, the autobox will suffer a bit if you do this regularly just as a standard car. However, it's less easy to burn out the brake bands in an automatic gearbox, you'd likely fry the auto fluid first. Either way - expect a big bill for repairs.

 

[Buddy]

I used to have a 968 Tiptronic, my preferred acceleration from standstill was to hold on the handbrake and release as I hit the go pedal but not to try to hit it too hard as it would increase slip in the torque converter best to try and keep this item cool along with the bands in the box as heating them just increases the clearances, so they become less effective at providing the transmission.

I drove a 996 C4 and a 986 both Tiptronic which did feel better in this respect plus the gearchange instead of nudging the stick was on the wheel and more involving.