[V8] unisured motorist and sliding V8Q

[Barton Chambers]

> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 06:41:02 -0800 (PST)
> From: Jason Wilkerson <wilke_jb at yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: [V8] unisured motorist and sliding V8Q
> To: V8 list <v8 at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <20041221144102.70747.qmail at web41003.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Speaking of sliding,
>     My v8 (rest its soul) was always either 'grip like glue' or 'slide
> like crazy' without warning - I put it in the ditch 3 times, the last 
> one
> being the killer.  Anyway, I always wondered if I was that bad of a
> driver,(sometimes I deserved it, sometimes not) - the car was just
> unbalenced or it had something to do with the quattro setup on this
> application.


> It always seemed that the car would 'let go' when I let off
> the gas - I could be wrong but it may have something to do with that 
> rear
> locker doing, or undoing its thing.  Just some food for thought.  One 
> more
> thing, the last time I wrecked I had just got new tires on the front 
> and
> the rears were probably 50% - thought about it too late but - just 
> think -
> 3 differentials, two slightly different tire diameters - may have 
> caused
> it?
> Any opinions, comments?

Hi Jason,  I've got a couple of comments:

1.  Lift Throttle Oversteer (LTO) is probably the culprit.  I've had 
the same (sobering) experience in my '90 V8Q.  I think the V8Q is even 
more susceptible to than my '86 911 was.  Start practicing the 911 
pilot's mantra (do NOT lift once in the corner) when setting up for a 
cornering situation.   Good practice is to go in slow and come out 
fast.  If you must lift because you're seriously overcooking, do so 
gently and smoothly, and be prepared to counter steer if you do invoke 
the evil greasy skid monster.  Can you guess how I learned this...?

2.  Autotranny equipped V8Qs have Torsen Differentials front and rear, 
but have an electronically controlled clutch in the center diff.  The 
5-speeds have Torsens in all three locations.  I've no idea what the 
significance of this tidbit is, but that's the way it is.

yer kindly ol' unka Bart

PS  By way of introduction, I'm Bart Chambers.  I've been a member of 
Dan's Quattro list since '94 and have owned a QSW, a '90 V8Q and a '91 
V8Q5.  Since getting divorced in '00, I've been Audiless and thus been 
in deep lurk mode, although I've never un-subbed from either the V8 or 
regular Qlist.  It's just that not having an Audi, I've not had 
anything to contribute.  That has recently changed with my purchase of 
Roger Woodbury's beautiful '93 V8Q (and a '91 V8Q5 from Scott DeWitt) 
now in the loving and capable hands of Bruce and Keith at 
Audiconnnection.  I expect to drive my '93V8Q5 to my current home in 
Pensacola, FL (AKA, Baja Alabama) mid-January or thereabouts after 
Bruce and Keith work their magic.

I wish a Merry Christmas, Happy Channuka or such other Seasonal 
Salutation (as you may feel appropriate to the winter solstice) to one 
and all on this list.

bart