Medway Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 I'm planning on taking my R32 on a on a trackday when my local circuit in Losail, Qatar opens up to the public on 31st March. Has anyone trackday'd their mk5 yet and if so what did you think of it? Am I in for a great time or a great let down? I've not had much of a chance to test her properly yet, apart from when I took her down to the Saudi border when I managed to get her up to 250kph on a long straight empty road (is the R32 speed limited by the way as it just stopped climbing when I hit 250kph?) but many cars can hit those speeds and obviously it wasn't very involving - so I'm very keen to see what it can do on the bends. My car is DSG and completely standard and it's done a mere 5000kms. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubzter Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 I think it is limited to 155 mph which equals 250 kph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 you won;t get the car much above 120/130 mph on most tracks I would have thought - and be prepared for the standard suspension to be very soggy on the cicuit. in all honesty the MkV is just too heavy in standard form to be a serious track proposition - so be prepared for pleanty of much older smaller cars to be knocking on your door at every corner. It will still be fun, but don't ecpect anything too spectacular. However, fit some coilovers, ARBs and some more suitable tyres and it would be pretty good - but still a bit too heavy really. Have fun ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshadow Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 I'd watch for your brakes to go all mushy if you really go for it on the track. the OEM pads aren't up to track use so they tend to melt all over the rotors, causing bigtime brake 'judder'. and remember to not use the handbrake when you park it in the pits after a trackday session! other than that it's not bad on the track, even in stock form. pretty much an excersice is containing oversteer. speaking of which, don't be surprised of your sidewalls get worm away. also, good idea to lower the tire pressure a bit since it will go way up on the track after a few laps...32 all around ought to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisel Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 I was advised to keep the tyre pressures above normal for that very reason on a track day - you wouldn't want a soft tyre coming off the rim on a fast corner, would you? Spot on about the hand brake though. The heat in the discs will dissapate unevenly if you park it with it on & they will warp badly. Drive around at 20 - 30 mph for a couple of minutes to help them cool down & park it in gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrakeSnake Posted February 25, 2007 Report Share Posted February 25, 2007 Took mine on a 4 hour track session back in Nov at Silverstone. Even without the ARB's, she handles well and is involving and satisfying to drive. As mentioned b4, be aware of the weight, and hammering the brakes. Pads and Stock fluid aren't up to it. Change to Dot 5 if you can. When you track it, take it for 6 to 8 lap sessions, 2 warm ups, 4 hard runs and 2 cool downs, then pit for 20 mins to cool down. Park in gear and dont use the hand brake. I found it best to work the car at 7 tenths, it allows you to concentrate more on lines, apexes, avoids excessive brake heat and goes easier on the tyres, and balancing the throttle through the corners... which when done right, is extremely satisfying in the .:R. I went around with a tuned civic type R, and a 296 hp nissan 350z, and a 3.0 Z4, none of which could get the better of the .:R As for tyres, let the pressures down slightly before the day, and make sure you fill it with some good GO juice. Savour the noise and feed back... you'll love it... I did!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medway Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2007 Cheers for the replies. As long as I come away with a massive smile on my face and my car in tact I don't really care how fast I go round, although I must admit I'm hoping to meet a Mustang out there. I'm going to have to go easy on her anyway, Qatar's not the greatest place for VW tuners so I'm going to have to keep it running on OEM parts. So far I'm still trying to decide what I think of the R. It feels fast but not anywhere near as fast as I expected it to, it also corners much heavier than I thought it would aswell - I'm hoping a trackday will let me find out what everyone loves so much about this car as at the moment I just think it's just 'alright'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGK512 Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Not taken mine to a track at all but have been in other cars. Your engine will still have lots of 'loosening up' to do and will get better as the miles pile on. Yep they are a heavy car but put it on the right place on the track and keep it smooth and i doubt much stock stuff will get by Enjoy it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemon Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I was advised to keep the tyre pressures above normal for that very reason on a track day - you wouldn't want a soft tyre coming off the rim on a fast corner, would you? [/ QUOTE ] The point is, if you hit the track at stock street cold pressures, the hot pressures will rise way too high to maintain good grip and if the tire is sliding around it'll overheat and melt. For instance, if I started at my usual 38-42psi that I run on street, the pressures would be over 50psi hot, after a session on the track. That's why he suggested lowering the pressures a bit instead. Ideally you should just bring a tire pressure gauge and monitor your pressures. Run it one session and then let some air out to bring the pressures down to say.. 45psi and then keep em there. You'll find there's a pressure that gives the optimal balance of grip and sidewall rollover. Go above that, and grip goes away. Go below that, and your sidewalls will suffer. I've done a lot of track days in my MkIV R32 and the usual routine is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a lap to warm up the tires then 4-6 hot laps and 1 *full* cooldown lap without using the brakes, running at about 45mph. You can actually learn quite a lot on the cooldown lap so don't blow it off. I try to see how fast I can drive without touching the brakes by just following perfect lines. I always bring a tire stop (block of wood) that I put in the pits to park against. I park without using the hand brake for the reasons already given, and open the hood and let the engine idle to circulate coolant and oil, until the radiator fan shuts off. A hard track session can drive the oil temps over 280F, so just parking the car and shutting it off is not a great idea. Be sure to bring water to drink, and some munchies. If you get dehydrated or low blood sugar, you won't be thinking straight on the track, and trust me when I say that you need 100% of your mental facilities to be safe, and have fun. Some of my track vids here. http://www.houseofthud.com/car-av/ Anything with "PMI" or "Second Creek" is a track video. ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaminBen Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I wish I had Ian's advice before my first track day! I came away from that one totally dehydrated and woozy... As far as the MkV being a good track car, well, it's a 1600 kilo car! With the stock suspension, you will really be able to feel what the chassis likes and doesn't like. My guess is that it won't take you long to find that it loves hard throttle lift-off on corner entry for slight oversteer, and throttle on right before the apex (on most turns). Basically, it likes being treated like a fwd car. The tire pressures are crucial, and finding the right balance will go a long way towards providing a satisfactory drive. I like higher pressure in the rear tires, which tends to promote lift-off oversteer. Perhaps you could keep esp on for the first few laps, but after you've gotten a feel for grip have fun with it off (remember though that it momentarily reactivates if the car oversteers while you are on the brakes). If you get brake judder after the track day, you can get rid of it by doing massive high-speed braking (on a private road of course). Have fun and let us know how it went! Here are a couple vids of mine (Audi A3, same engine and chassis as yours, but with MT6): Watch as I totally overcook the turn "squuuueeeeaaaaalll" lol [image]<embed width="430" height="389" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s20.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/JaminBen1/A3V6Attaque993Targa.flv"></embed>[/image] With a Classic Mini (140hp, gutted, slicks) [image]<embed width="430" height="389" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s20.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/JaminBen1/A3V6AttaqueMini.flv"></embed>[/image] With a Renault Clio Cup (gutted 200hp, slicks) I almost lose it towrads the end... [image]<embed width="430" height="389" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s20.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/JaminBen1/A3V6AttaqueClioCup.flv"></embed>[/image] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrakeSnake Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 The car may be heavy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it... Just a matter of finding out which way you enjoy driving it most... Oh well, will have to wait until a Mk V FT360 kit becomes available... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I've spent more money that I really want to think about setting up my car to handle and slow down properly on the track, but it's been worth it, IMO. Yes, it's a heavy old lump, very nose heavy and a Scooby or Evo will go round the corners more quickly, even if you can match it in a straight line with some decent engine mods, but I know I've got a good compromise between something I can adjust the suspension on and run as a sensible daily driver, then tighten it up for track days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medway Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Cheers for all the tips folks. I've had to put the track day back to the 14th April because the in-laws are coming out on the 31st March. Never mind - gives two more weeks of loosening the engine up. With regards to the brakes, has anyone experienced any genuine warping of the discs? I've read before that's virtually impossible to warp discs, it's just where the discs have either had a build up of dirt or they've not been let to cool down properly. 9 times out of 10 the judder that people feel can be sorted by a couple of high speed braking sessions just as Ben said in his post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 I warped two sets of front disks doing track days, which is why I bit the bullet and bought the ECS Tuning Stage 5 upgrade, which uses 14" vented cross-drilled disks and Cayenne Turbo calipers. Anyone telling you that disks don't warp is smoking something funny. Yes, it has a lot to do with letting your brakes cool down properly, but road car disks are not designed to reach the temperatures you will easily reach if you're on tracks like Donington, Bedford, Silverstone or Combe. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 [ QUOTE ] or Combe. [/ QUOTE ] 6 laps there took about 2k miles of wear off my tyres going back on the 21st April, but not in the .:R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrakeSnake Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 in your little french number then rich?... Nicole.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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