Fabia vRS - Best technique for max performance?

[chowy]

I have owned by Fabia vRS for a week now and although I'm taking it easy running her in below 3500 rpm, I have noticed that the swell of torque starts at 2000 rpm and even when I change up gear at 3500 rpm, I'm still in the boost zone!!

My question is when is the best time to change gear for max performance?

Is it 2k to 3.5k, like I'm doing now running in or is it better to rev to 4.5k redline before changing up or somewhere in between?

I wonder how Autocar got 0-60 in 7.2 sec and at what point they changed gear?

Have any techniques been tested side by side?

[Andy vRS]

I personally get out of 1st asap, then take 2nd, 3rd and 4th to 4100 rpm and in 5th i take it to 4400 rpm and 6th i take it to around 4400

i put a green filter in mine, and it helps that last 300-500 rpm.

Andy

[ScoobyChris]

My car (non-vRS) still pulls hard at 3.5k so I keep it going til 4k before I change. This drops it to a shade under 3k so plenty of boost to carry on pulling.....

Chris

[SteVRs]

I agree, over 4 seems to give the best pace, but doesn't feel as good as the torque boost that you get at 2k-3k, you don't get the cool turbo noises either.

[gooner14]

goood question, ive found its best to get strait out of 1st then go to 40 in 2nd then take it up to 67 'ish' in 3rd then to 80 in 4th.
That seems the quickest way from 0-80 to me.

[Sonic1980]

Nah, you are all wrong!

You wanna get into thrid quick as thats the best gear to get going quickly in. Anything above 3500RPM when you change you are half way through the next gears most punchy point... change up quick with stabs of acceleration to thrird, then this is good for 80 ish...

[Andy vRS]

The thing about Td's is they are good initially between 2-3000 rpm - but long acceleration, where they are only as good as the power they produce they are ok - but changes at 3000 rpm to maintain a high level of torque isn't the quickest way to make the fabia's go. It is very deceptive when you are thrown to the back of your seat at each low rpm gear change - but that is all it is. Making the most of every gear is the best way to generate speed.

Between corners though being up a gear is lots of fun - pulling out of bends at 1500rpm is great - changing at 3000 rpm is best for this type of driving.

Andy

[chowy]

I wonder if it's true that subjectively, it feels faster to keep it in the max torque range 2-3.5k revs but in reality there is more power at 4-4.5k revs albeit less torque but the actual acceleration is quicker!

[Tom_vRS]

I like to change gear arounk 4k. The engine definitely seems to rev better higher now I have the PD160 intake though.

I just think I'm hurting my engine when it gets revved that high! I want to keep the car for a long time...

[pbirkett]

Of course its faster to rev till 4-4,500. I cant believe people think otherwise...

[Josh_PoloGTi]

I rev mine to just below the start of the red line in each gear (except 1st, which I get out of asap) when I'm giving it some.

As PBirkett implied, just nail it!

[barrie502]

Originally Posted by pbirkett

Of course its faster to rev till 4-4,500. I cant believe people think otherwise...

Believe it. The power and torque "multiplyer" effect you have running a lower gear is going to be offset at some point by running the engine well past peak power and torque. Both fall away so rapidly (with diesels) at higher revs that there comes a point (well before the redline) where you are in to diminishing returns.

I am not suggesting changing gear at 2500 but I do think that beyond 4000 you are not getting the best performance anymore.

Petrol cars tend to have flatter power curves and can usually handle revving hard as an alternative to changing early and often give you the performance benefit you seek.

On ours I suspect that all the noise and revving when you get close to the redline feels more impressive than it really is.

[bryand]

I think we're missing a point here - a vRS is about having fun, and the precise technique you use is up to you. So my advice to chowy is simply to go out and play, and figure out what works best for you.
And Fabia vRSes don't loosen up till 4500 miles or so, so you can consider the first 6 weeks as practice time, before you get too serious.

[pbirkett]

Originally Posted by barrie502

I am not suggesting changing gear at 2500 but I do think that beyond 4000 you are not getting the best performance anymore.

Petrol cars tend to have flatter power curves and can usually handle revving hard as an alternative to changing early and often give you the performance benefit you seek.

On ours I suspect that all the noise and revving when you get close to the redline feels more impressive than it really is.

I can guarantee that if I raced you in the vRS, I'd easily beat you by revving harder than it sounds like you would!

The vRS feels impressive keeping it in the torque all the time. But ultimately to go as fast as it can, you still need to rev it.

What I found with the vRS, is that day to day, it was great fun, but when you wanted to push it much further, although it was faster, it was ultimately less satisfying. My current car is probably slower, but in a way feels faster, because the engine and other noise is so much more prominent and it really picks up after 350 rpm!!

[Josh_PoloGTi]

Well...



So yes, the bhp and torque both start to drop off after 3750rpm, but even at 4115rpm I've still got 180bhp and 240lbft, it just doesn't feel as fast because it's dropping off. It's still a lot of power and torque though isn't it!

[skodakid]

stay on the highest curve....

[mikejay]

which gear box is best for performance?

[richarde]

Paul is right. Everytime you change gear you lose energy from the system, we have a close ratio 6 speed box for a reason, use it all. I diced with a 328i last week (from a roundabout and 3 times from lights) and although it was quicker he only really pulled away, below silly speeds that is, when I changed up!

[barrie502]

Originally Posted by richarde

Paul is right. Everytime you change gear you lose energy from the system, we have a close ratio 6 speed box for a reason, use it all. I diced with a 328i last week (from a roundabout and 3 times from lights) and although it was quicker he only really pulled away, below silly speeds that is, when I changed up!

The fabia does not have a close ratio 6 speed box. It is 5 plus overdrive. I do not quite understand what you are impying in the rest of your post.
"use it all" suggests it is a good thing to change gears and keep the car in the optimum powerband. I agree with you. However you also feel that changing gears loses "energy". So are you suggesting not to change gear? The result of this will be to rev out of the powerband and go much slower than if you changed up.

[skodakid]

Originally Posted by barrie502

I do not quite understand what you are impying in the rest of your post.

Your not the only one!

Assuming a level road....During gear change, you stop accelerating, it may "feel" that your slowing but its really the other guy pulling away.....

for a bog standard vrs with old style gearbox the optimum change points are
1-2 28 mph
2-3 51 mph
3-4 81 mph
4-5 111 mph


The new gearbox has closer ratios
1-2 26 mph
2-3 47 mph
3-4 72 mph
4-5 96 mph

remapping/mods will change the torque curves and the optimum points. It will also be influenced a little by how good/fast your gear change technique is, and road conditions (mainly uphill/downhill)