[s-cars] Re: 93 S4 Test Drive Questions -- Throttle Response

[William Noland]

Exactly. All comes down to the shape of the cam, that the throttle cable
actuates. Or, in the case of drive-by-wire, the shape of the virtual
cam, that the virtual throttle cable actuates. My WMB M Roadster has a
very aggressive cam -- almost an off-on switch, which takes a very deft
touch for smooth stop and go driving. One of the car mags noticed the
same in a comparison test involving the M3. They had serious problems
keeping it lined up for formation-flying group fotos. The Roadster does
"feel like a rocket" with the lightest step on the gas pedal.
(Fortunately, in the case of the Roadster, it still feels like a rocket
after .5 sec.).

If my middle-aging memory serves me right, it was Cadillac a few years
back (or some Ami boat manufacturer), that got complaints that their new
model was not powerful enough in the acceleration department. They
simply switched out the cam on the throttle body for one with a more
aggressive profile and the complaints disappeared. The Ur-S has what I'd
term a lazy throttle cam. If you're interested in go, ya just gotta boot
it with serious intentions. Imagine the idea was to put a little luxury
feel in the controls -- witness the (over)servotronic-ed steering.

The original Car and Driveway (or was it Rod and Truck?) comparison of
the S4 with the M5 and 500E noted that the S4 was indeed quick, but took
more planning to make it happen. With a slight delay in turbo spool up,
I find things work out best, if one feeds in a little throttle prior to
pulling out for a pass, or rolls on the gas a little before hitting the
apex of the corner. Then the car shows what turbocharging is all about.

Bill
Compensating in Northern California

>My friends and I were discussing this the other day.  I believe what you are
>feeling is throttle response and not acceleration.  Car manufacturers have
>mastered the art of throttle response.  I f I get in a Grand Am as a rental
>car and step on the gas it feels like the thing is a rocket...for about 0.5
>seconds.  What happens is the throttle response is so crisp that it fools
>your body into thinking you are accelerating really fast...and you are for
>about 0.5 seconds.
>
>