How much can I expect from my 97 Talon Tsi Awd AUTOMATIC!!

[Derek'sTalon]

Ok guys, I've got a Talon, it's beautiful, fun to drive and runs great, BUT...it's an AUTOMATIC. I want someone to level with me, straight up, and tell me what kind of performance can I expect to get out of her when I can't do the shifting (except for the push button OD!! !!)? If I go nuts with mods and tuning, will I be forced to replace the tranny, or worse CONVERT to manual (yikes!)? Now, I ain't rich, so this will be a slow process, not a weekend make-over! I don't plan on doin' any serious racing or anything, but I would like to be able to munch a few Mustangs, crunch a Camaro or two, y'know what I'm sayin'. Shout at me brothers! Let me know what's in store for me!

 

[Coldandafraid]

as long as you have about a 3 second warning before a race from a stop, you will have enough time to build 6 or 7 psi to launch with. If not, you will get killed on the launches and always be playing catch up. Other then that, I'm satisfied with my automatic.

 

[Derek'sTalon]

What about standing on the brake and reving to about 3500 or 4000 for a launch technique? Good , bad, dangerous?

 

[draxus83]

you can read about your launch procedures in the vfaq's .. i have also so heard that the auto's are faster in the 1/4 is this true

 

[EclipseGST-95]

well the auto's hold boost between shifts but u cant launch at 5 grand like manual awd...ur also not gonna get as much outa each gear cus auto's shift at certain rpm's...but in the long run autos are better in the 1/4 mile but...none of us will ever see that in our dsm's anytime soon...u can get it converted to manual...i think some guy with the sn boosted dsm or something got slowboy racing to convert his... i think u would be better off finding a manual car if u wanted to go that route...ive heard holding the brake down and getting the rpms up is effective but its not gonna compare to a 5000 rpm clutch dump...

 

[Coldandafraid]

What about standing on the brake and reving to about 3500 or 4000 for a launch technique? Good , bad, dangerous?

The most you might be able to get to is 3000 rpm. And, 7 psi is decent to launch at. No... not the same as 5000 rpm manual launch, but respectable.

Get an end clutch, shift kit, and upgraded torque converter and your tranny should be good to go.

http://www.plymouthlaser.com/
http://www.importperformancetrans.com/

 

[temfate]

What about standing on the brake and reving to about 3500 or 4000 for a launch technique? Good , bad, dangerous?

Well, you can try it. It's never good for the tranny but it can take it. I do it all the time in my rental cars! But there's a point at which it won't rev any farther till you let off the brake. And it doesn't help much (in my rentals at least). A better technique is the neutral drop, but once again, most modern tranny's will protect themselves against this behavior.

 

[halik008]

Well, you can try it. It's never good for the tranny but it can take it. I do it all the time in my rental cars! But there's a point at which it won't rev any farther till you let off the brake. And it doesn't help much (in my rentals at least). A better technique is the neutral drop, but once again, most modern tranny's will protect themselves against this behavior.

Yes neutral drop is very effective....if you want to kiss ur tranny good bye.

NEVER EVER do a neutral drop u'll ruin ur tranny..

halik

 

[doug]

Get an end clutch, shift kit, and upgraded torque converter and your tranny should be good to go.

Throw in a good tranny cooler and you're set. In fact, a tranny cooler is a must, IMO. The auto trannies, both the F4A33 and W4A33, are good for at least 300HP, and probably a lot more. With similar mods to a 5-speed it won't be quite as quick in the 1/4, but that can be overcome by just making more HP however you choose to (more mods, upping the boost, etc.).

 

[yankees1919]

To be honest...A manual will beat an auto with the same mods...But an Auto can go fast...With the correct mods and tuning, I've seen auto's in the high 11's...So it is HARD...but very possible

 

[draxus83]

Yes neutral drop is very effective....if you want to kiss ur tranny good bye.

BUH BYE TRANNY AND

its not gonna compare to a 5000 rpm clutch dump...

YOU BETTER BE CALLING SHEP FOR A REBUILD AND YOU WILL NEVER DO THAT WITH AWD

 

[temfate]

Yes neutral drop is very effective....if you want to kiss ur tranny good bye.

NEVER EVER do a neutral drop u'll ruin ur tranny..

halik

Notice I said, "rental cars"!

Futhermore, most tranny's will wait for the engine revs to drop below the threshold before engaging the gears. Of course it's bad on them, automatics are NOT designed for high RPM launches. His question though was how to do it.

Also, using the brake to hold still while flooring the gas might spool the turbo, but it also quickly overheats the tranny fluid. You should never do either of these in a car you care about.

 

[tom1995tsi]

I can rev to about 3.1k rpms and i can get the boost up to about 15 with my 16g Just make sure you let everything cool off before you race. drive it slowly after you break boost.

 

[Derek'sTalon]

What about the AWD? Will it present any problems with significant hp boost that comes with the mods and tuning? Again, I'm no drag racer, and I ain't rich ... but 300hp+ sure sounds nice to me!

 

[temfate]

If you're talking crazy HP levels then yes, if you're just talking 300-350, then it'll just age/wear a bit faster than stock... The AWD drivetrain doesn't like extremely high RPM launches (it's harder to spin all four tires than it is to break something!) but since you have a auto, it's never going to be capable of those launches anyway. Enjoy it.

 

[boostaddictgsx]

yeah, too bad about AWD autos

on a related topic, my friend has a VR4, and he dumps his clutch at 5000 all the time, and his transmission is fine, his clutch, not so fine

and we only do neutral bombs in my other friends honduh accord, thats just funny as shit

 

[Derek'sTalon]

Thanks All! I appreciate the input and the tips! See you on the roads, eh!

 

[Grimis]

i've taken mine to the track, 2500-3000 is fine, just let it cool. I have thought about the manual swap, but rev'ing to 5k and droping clutch seems to me once to many times and bam, trans gone, not saying power braking doest do any to the trany, but have the trans blow to pices, not cool. , Deff get a End Clutch Kit, Shift Kit, and an High stall convertor and you will be good to go