5kcstq vs A4 30v

[TM]

Ken,
Your 5ktq is a high 7s 0-60 car when it was
new. The Jetta GLX VR6 (A3 or A4 chassis?)
in A3 form was about a 6.9s 0-60 car. The A4
2.8 30v is a low-mid 7s 0-60 car (IIRC). So
naturally, just by the numbers, you're at a
disadvantage. The other big thing is that you're
going against either a naturally aspirated car
(the 2.8) or a turbocharged car with a very
small turbo (the 1.8T). The huge lag of the
K26 really hurts performance off the line.
However, I was very impressed with the performance
of a chipped, MC-2 K24 10v. I imagine that similar
gains will be had by an MC-1 K26 10v, but less
off the line and more top-end.

You did better than me- I took on a Honda Civic EX
coupe, with the requisite coffee can exhaust,
18" wheels and stickers and was dead even with it
up to 70mph. We both quit the drag race at that
point. I don't think a Civic EX is faster than any
of the cars you mentioned, so my car must be down
on power compared to yours, or I just have terrible
launch technique (very possible, I'm not a drag
racer).

My friend's A3 Jetta GLX is about dead equal to
our chipped A4 1.8tqw. That equates to about a
6.9s 0-60 time for our A4, which agrees with Dahlback
Racing's quoted 0-60 times for their various stages
of tuning.

I've heard of modified 5ktqs getting down to the
high 5s range, so it can be done- our low compression
I-5 engines can take a lot of boost, with the right
turbo and enough fuel.

Taka