Outhandled by a new TT?

[ollys]

There is a stretch of autostrada in Italy between Torino and Savona that becomes twisty, and quite challenging: lots of variable speed bends, camber changes, tunnels and menacing concrete walls between carriageways, not to mention three lanes of variable speed traffic - and it was there that last week I chanced upon a local Italian new TT having some fun.... I am not the greatest driver in the world, I'll admit, and not having tracked my RS, I don't pretend to know where the limit of the car is (and I wasn't going to find out on this bit of tarmac), but I felt comprehensively outhandled by the TT. It just seemed to do (and carry) entry speed so much more comfortably in each corner, and I was rarely able to keep behind it though the fast 70 -100+ mph corners (although made rapid ground on the straights as one might expect ). Also my car seemed happier with slow in - fast out approach to cornering. If entering a corner too quickly, there would be turn in but quickly followed by an unsettled feeling, as if the car was struggling for balance and the back end wasn't quite sure where it wanted to be.

I am not sure that handling is this car's forte, but even so I expected it to be closer to the TT. Is magnetic ride on the new TT that good, relatively to 8 year old dynamics, or could there be something wrong with my set up? (running standard shocks / springs with fat H&R Arbs (set soft front/stiff back)).
Thoughts welcome
Olly

[A20LEE]

Doubt my RS4 wouldn't see which way my old S3 went on a twisty road so i'd expect the TT to run away from you. Its not just the shorter wheelbase making them more nibble and the lower weight transfer but the blown 4 pot is very punchy at 2-4000rpm.

[mattsimis]

Cant see why would think it "should" outhandle a new TT in such an environment..

[S25MRS]

Local Knowledge - goes such a long way on roads like you've described

[neckarsulm]

Local Knowledge - goes such a long way on roads like you've described

So does knowing the grip limits of your car - the TT's are much lower but still very grippy and much less weight transfer for the tyres/chassis to contend with.

[don]

I don't think your standard shocks/springs would have helped or given you any confidence to follow. Standard RS4 suspension even with fat roll bars is very poor for cornering at 40 mph +.

Either way the TT is like a go cart, but recommend you geta good set of coil overs installed if you want some fun and confidence with that sort of driving.

[dssean]

i'd of thought that the rs4 would of been left standing in that situation. i drive to italy alot and in a lot of different cars and the fastest around the italian roads was my evo 7.. But on staighter french and german roads the rs would have the advantage..

[bigandyw]

There is a stretch of autostrada in Italy between Torino and Savona that becomes twisty, and quite challenging: lots of variable speed bends, camber changes, tunnels and menacing concrete walls between carriageways, not to mention three lanes of variable speed traffic - and it was there that last week I chanced upon a local Italian new I am not the greatest driver in the world, I'll admit,TT having some fun.... and not having tracked my RS, I don't pretend to know where the limit of the car is (and I wasn't going to find out on this bit of tarmac), but I felt comprehensively outhandled by the TT. It just seemed to do (and carry) entry speed so much more comfortably in each corner, and I was rarely able to keep behind it though the fast 70 -100+ mph corners (although made rapid ground on the straights as one might expect ). Also my car seemed happier with slow in - fast out approach to cornering. If entering a corner too quickly, there would be turn in but quickly followed by an unsettled feeling, as if the car was struggling for balance and the back end wasn't quite sure where it wanted to be.

I am not sure that handling is this car's forte, but even so I expected it to be closer to the TT. Is magnetic ride on the new TT that good, relatively to 8 year old dynamics, or could there be something wrong with my set up? (running standard shocks / springs with fat H&R Arbs (set soft front/stiff back)).
Thoughts welcome
Olly

MAYBE HE WAS on that piece of road and in a car with he didn't have to pay for possibly??

Horses for courses is the expression, i know a 320bhp Nissan sunny GTiR which will destroy EVERY car on the road down a road he drives down every night!

But like wise he'd not come near me on a road i know like the back of my hand(or anything more than 500yards long) lol

Andy

[blackb1ade]

Ditto a lot of what's been said already - you never know who's in the car and what their history is!

BUT...

stock shocks I found to be pretty terrible - plus stock ( and worn!) rear brakes (and OE fronts for that matter) were woefully inadequate in terms of feel and performance. ARB's do help but I found the OE RS4 to be heavy, wallowy[soft], far too much body roll and massive understeer - add all that together and it was a pretty scary car to drive hard. So I'd say yes, the TT is a better handling car for a twisty road than the (pretty stock) RS4 - so it actually sounds lke you did pretty well to stay with him at all!

[ollys]

thanks for the responses... as I expected I encountered a local loon in a car better designed to go round the corners.

Don - I hear you - better shocks would be next on the shopping list, but for the fact that sadly I rarely get to encounter this type of road, and then if I do more than likely it'll be one of those occasions where any use of throttle results in a loud and persistent whine in my left earhole...

[Brooner]

any use of throttle results in a loud and persistent whine in my left earhole...

LMAO
I found when i had the car as bigandyw said local knowlage gose along way a few twisty back roads that i know i could hold off aor loose just about anything i met but the TT is a great cornrer eater and i think you did dam good keeping up.
possibly time to change the shock as i assume there will be a few miles on them now as there are the original set so maby a fresh set of standards or after market would bae as yopu said next on the shopping list but i would see if anyone would give you a ride in a harder set up if thats they way you want to go might be too hard for city driveing

[neckarsulm]

I've been driving an old shape TT recently (180 quattro Roadster) and it's easily a match for my RS4 on tighter corners up to 100 mph.
Big fast smooth sweepers with less weight shift and the RS4 is far better. Horses for courses.

[don]

...get to encounter this type of road, and then if I do more than likely it'll be one of those occasions where any use of throttle results in a loud and persistent whine in my left earhole...

I encounter this problem too... not sure if there is an affective mod for it.

Though to be honest new PSS9s and antiroll bars did make the wifey feel more confident in the passenger seat, much to my surprise.

Though now the baby's head flopping around can be a bit of a problem

[derdle]

Local knowledge is all very well and good on roads like these. But one day said knowledge won't prepare you for the dog/badger/deer/cyclist just around that corner!

[rsmonkey918]

Hi Ollys- agree with all the above but would have to say of all the things I've done to mine the fitment of PSS9's was by far the most effective- not only transforming the handling in conjunction with the H&R's but contributing to a 'nearly new' feeling- the car just glides on setting 7 of ?9- Dougs recommendation- and he smiled when I asked if I'd notice that much- he was totally right! Short story (again- sorry), nice fairly tight 90 degree slip-road sweeper as the A30 joins the M5 in Exeter- regularly taken somewhat uncomfortably at 40-50 previously. Just recently matey in Vauxhall Astra VXR cuts right across me having left it late to move over (nearly takes out an Escort parked on the hatchings) comes right across me into the inside lane of two at about 60- I take the outside lane and drive round him at c.70-80- no dramas and am well up on him 100 metres later as the slip road narrows toward the A376/M5. First time I had really appreciated the difference- not my usual style to be honest, but he was driving like a tit and got seen off by an 8 year old mobile dog kennel- result.