Frolicking with a Jetta

[83-944]

I was driving home from work this morning driving about the speed limit (55) and get passed by a Jetta doing at least 80. Suddenly, a shot of adreneline kicks in as I think "ooh, a chase!" I drop a gear, catch up and then the Jetta takes off. We near a large sweeping left followed by a tight right 180. He begins to brake before the sweeper but I hold speed (100). I swing by him in the bend and brake HARD for the 180. Jerk the wheel to the right to loosen up the rear and proceed to do a drift through the turn. Gas it coming out of the 180 and look in the rear view to see coming up behind me again. We accelerate down a sweeping left to a short straight heading toward a right bend followed by a left bend ending at a stop. He tries to pass me in the straight but can't make it before the turns begin. He tries to hold the inside line but brakes mid turn and almost looses control. We pull off at the stop, shake hands, BS for about a minute and part our ways.

That Jetta had some awesome acceleration to catch up that quickly after the 180. Decent suspension too. Thank god for short straights or I'd have lost!

Map here:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...sYUG07Seaqk%3d

[FabricGATOR]

That was a great story. I have been having fun with my new toy. I have been testing the limits so as to better utilize her finer points........ acceleration not being one of them. I went yesterday and finally came off my wallet for new tires. They really made the difference. I found one rim bent on the inside that was very evident on the wheel balance machine, but a visible across the working end of the tire showed smooth and even. Noting its position I went ahead with the install and finally got to enjoy this machine on the highway 95 for the first time. The old, spent Eagles were loud and vibratory..... shaking the steer column starting about 64MPH (would make my arm go numb) Price and availability got me into the Kumho Ecsta 712 Supra's for about 430 dollars rolling. Z rated with a W connotation. My other choice would have been the Kumho Ecsta ASX (an all season radial) with better ride comfort, noise, and tread wear.....with minimal loss of traction in comparison. For me, I need more tire life then all out performance. ($)
They were not available set (4) from this vendor... he did have a Kumho 710 front/711 rear (H rated) program for 50 less.... I went just a few dollars more.
Now I can feel a little rotor surge/warp that I couldnt notice before...maybe its that rim.... I never owned (or heard of) Kumho and I have only 50 miles on them...... I'll report my findings when time tells.

Hey Sebring, how did you make out in the hurricane? I'm glad it didnt come this way because I have the back hatch glass seperation and do have evidence of water incursion. I have some business in Arcadia on Sunday-22 I'll get to see whats left. I hear that some of the downtown brick buildings are in piles and quite a bit of other sustained damage.... God help them endure..........

Kurt

[xveganxcowboyx]

Sounds like fun. Was it the vr6? Unless it had quite a bit of work Idon't think the 4-banger could keep up on a straight-away.

[83-944]

Sebring made out good considering the west coast. Power was out for a while so okeechobee was flooded with people.

I remember it was a GLI model and stick shift. I don't remember if he said it was a VR6 or not.

[xveganxcowboyx]

In newer models GLI has the VR6. 2.8 liter V6 w/200 horses and matching torque. Weighs about 3200 lbs.

I don't think they had a GLI before that. GLX was VR^ before.