I guess we’ve not fully addressed the 2 stage traction control system in detail yet?
One touch of the ‘ESP’ button raises the threshold for driver aids (ESP symbol flashing on cluster)…and holding it for 4 seconds turns everything off (ESP symbol solid, illuminated, in cluster). I think I’ve got that right. Now, does that include ABS?
On the B7 S4, one tough of ESP shows the ESP symbol solid in the cluster, but it is really just raised thresholds…not fully off.
In any event, if I’m accelerating HARD in the RS4, the 2-3 shift will cause traction control to step in on dry pavement with perfect traction (that’s also at 70 mph). That’s pretty interesting because my B7 S4 that definitely made more torque than the RS4, would not really ever do that on dry pavement when going into 3rd…and that’s only at 62mph or something in the S4, let alone at 70.
4.11 gearing FTMFW! Straight nasty. The RS4 definitely needs the help from that gearing. Another good example of how awesome the gearing combined with quattro is for acceleration is the 12.2 @ 112 quarter mile times put up by Dan @ JHM and ‘2000S4’ in the fall. You’ll be hard pressed to find ANY 4000 lb car that can reach the finish line that quickly at such a low trap speed. In fact I’d submit that you can’t find anything over 3600 lbs that can do that.