Throttle response in first gear -- lunging?

[soho]

I never seemed to have this problem before, or at least not as often, but lately, I've found that in first gear, I'm getting some hesitation, which is translating into small lunges, that are downright embarrassing and hard to take.

This typically happens when I need to only go short distances in first gear at a slow speed, where I don't need to be on the throttle long. When I take my foot off the throttle, the car seems to be lunging.

I can't tell if this is a car problem or just me not manipulating the throttle well enough. It doesn't seem to do this when the car is warm -- mostly when it's still a bit cold. Or maybe I just get better at playing with the throttle while I'm driving it?

I'm not sure - just wanted to know if anyone has had any similar lunging experiences in first gear.

[PC R8]

I have a V10 r-tronic and I experience a bit of the same effect when I am coming to a stop. It seems when I am braking and the car shifts down into 1st it lunges a bit just before coming to a stop.

[soho]

Yea, I definitely experience that as well, and you're right, the car does lunge occasionally on that 2-1 downshift coming to a stop if the RPMs are still a bit high on the shift.

But what I'm talking about is almost a stuttering lunge, in that there are a succession of 2-4 quick lunges.

[bz888]

I think what you are experiencing is related to a Cold Engine. If you use 1-3% throttle in 1st gear with a cold engine, she will lunge and bunny hop a bit.

Goes away when engine is warm. Nothing to worry about. My old E46 M3 would do the same thing...

[soho]

I think what you are experiencing is related to a Cold Engine. If you use 1-3% throttle in 1st gear with a cold engine, she will lunge and bunny hop a bit.

Goes away when engine is warm. Nothing to worry about. My old E46 M3 would do the same thing...

Thanks for the help. I think you're right in that it's just a cold engine problem. I was just hoping to hear some confirmation from others about the "bunny hop", so thanks!

[ignomini]

Are you in a V8 or V10, manual or RT? I've never experienced anything like what you are describing in my V10 RT. It feels perfectly smooth no matter the temp. However, I do experience the downshift surge every once in a while.

[soho]

V8 r-Tronic.

Like I said, it seems to only happen when it's cold, and if I abruptly remove my foot from the throttle in first gear. The car seems to make quick and successive lunges, or "bunny hop" as bz888 put it.

[the_buch]

As others have suggested, I think you'll find those are the downshifts which disrupt smooth braking just a bit as you come to stop. In addition, I find the car a bit jumpy when trying to operate with a bare minimum of throttle - I assume it's the nature of a drive-by-wire throttle which lacks a certain subtlety or 'feel' you get with a mechanical linkage?

[ignomini]

Even with a mechanical throttle control, my Porsche lunges on and off throttle in first gear. I find the R8 reacts much smoother, but it still might be surprising if you're used to an auto trans.

[Rit2]

My 2009 V8 R-tronic does the same when driving slow (<15kph/10mph) in 1st gear. It even occurs with the very latest ECU/transmission software release. Temperatures here are generally between 27 - 36 deg C (81 - 97 deg F), and therefore it's does not appear to be external temp related.

I tend to take the gear to Neutral early or use the steering paddle/manual mode to control the up/down shifts during slow drives, which gives me user 'control' over the situation.

Ignomini is right, it also occurs with hi-perf manual trans cars, especially when you don't 'balance' that throttle/clutch pedal. I remember this condition well during my old days with hi-perf man trans cars.

By the way, that latest ECU/Trans update is really very good. It's has smoothed out that major gear-change 'hesitation' during accelerations that people been complaining about, considerably. It's still there but it's very mild (to remind us that it's still a man's trans )