First impression of my i4 from a current V6 manual owner

[Wiz33]

Wrap is all done along with 2 coats of CC on wheels and calipers. Cloudy day and you really can't tell the difference before and after. Now have to suffer through the 1K break in.

Briefly tried the fast sequential down shift. Still slower than the PDK but not bad, will give it more tries in the following days.

 

[Stiffarm]

I like the red seats….well done. I played it safe and went with black with yellow stitching but I think I prefer yours

Wrap is all done along with 2 coats of CC on wheels and calipers. Cloudy day and you really can't tell the difference before and after. Now have to suffer through the 1K break in.

Briefly tried the fast sequential down shift. Still slower than the PDK but not bad, will give it more tries in the following days.View attachment 59631View attachment 59630View attachment 59632

My spec inside and out except for black wheels

 

[Wiz33]

I think I felt the e-LSD today. I drove around the office for about 20 miles. I gave it about 1/2 throttle at the apex of a turn and for like a 1/4 sec, it felt the car was slow to rotate but then the brakes hits the inner rear and you rotate faster. I maybe blowing smoke out of .... since I never experience an e-LSD before. (edited)

 

[marc1adrien]

I think I felt the e-LSD today. I drove around the office for about 20 miles. I gave it about 1/2 throttle at the apex of a turn and for like a 1/4 sec, it felt the car was slow to rotate but then the brakes hits the inner rear and you rotate faster. I maybe blowing smoke out of .... since I never experience an e-LSD before. (edited)

Is it a noticeably different feel from the traditional LSD?

 

[Rayjoedef]

Received my nimbus turbo yesterday....the look of this car is shocking in person.

 

[Wiz33]

Is it a noticeably different feel from the traditional LSD?

On the V6 it's seamless, you don't feeling it activating at all.

 

[Nova]

Is it a noticeably different feel from the traditional LSD?

Traditional LSD that is internal friction actuated doesn't have a sudden onset, any disagreement in the left-right output shaft speed will result in frictional torque transfer. Brake actuated limited slip will need to detect a slip and decide to apply brakes to intervene. That gap may result in slippage momentarily.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Traditional LSD that is internal friction actuated doesn't have a sudden onset, any disagreement in the left-right output shaft speed will result in frictional torque transfer. Brake actuated limited slip will need to detect a slip and decide to apply brakes to intervene. That gap may result in slippage momentarily.

Not to split hairs but I believe the LSD in the V6 is even better than a friction actuated unit. It is a Torsen LSD which transfers power entirely through gears instantaneously, no springs or clutch plates.

 

[Nova]

Not to split hairs but I believe the LSD in the V6 is even better than a friction actuated unit. It is a Torsen LSD which transfers power entirely through gears instantaneously, no springs or clutch plates.

Sure, but Torsen style LSDs use internal friction to transfer torque. Essentially, whenever there is a output shaft torque output differential, the output worm gear shaft with less torque is presses against the differential case. This pressure bearing surface has a thrust washer designed to present a specific amount of friction, when then translate into an increase of torque to the opposite worm gear output shaft. It was initially shocked at this but I read papers on it. I even printed a 3D model of a Torsen diff just to understand how it worked.

You don't think it be like it is, but it do.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Sure, but Torsen style LSDs use internal friction to transfer torque. Essentially, whenever there is a output shaft torque output differential, the output worm gear shaft with less torque is presses against the differential case. This pressure bearing surface has a thrust washer designed to present a specific amount of friction, when then translate into an increase of torque to the opposite worm gear output shaft. It was initially shocked at this but I read papers on it. I even printed a 3D model of a Torsen diff just to understand how it worked.

You don't think it be like it is, but it do.

I’ll take your word for it. My basic understanding is that because a worm gear can turn a spur gear, but not the other way around, the load path is set up so that forces acting on the wheels (from the road) can move gears in the differential resulting in the left side turning at a different rate than the right side. However forces from the driveline cannot turn the gears and therefore the power is transferred out to both wheels. I haven’t taken one apart or 3D printed models. I did watch a couple animations a few years ago because I was curious about the one in my Miata.

 

[Jinba ittai]

I said I’d take your word for it, but I needed to understand if I’m wrong. Now that I’ve checked a few websites I am more confused. I confirmed what you are saying about thrust washers providing friction. However I also confirmed what I’m saying about power being unable to transfer to the worm gear (due to the mechanical disadvantage). I don’t understand why thrust washers are necessary to provide friction when the worm gear shouldn’t be able to turn anyways.

 

[Nova]

I said I’d take your word for it, but I needed to understand if I’m wrong. Now that I’ve checked a few websites I am more confused. I confirmed what you are saying about thrust washers providing friction. However I also confirmed what I’m saying about power being unable to transfer to the worm gear (due to the mechanical disadvantage). I don’t understand why thrust washers are necessary to provide friction when the worm gear shouldn’t be able to turn anyways.

Yea I could not understand it either, that's why I had to 3D print it to see it for myself.

 

[Nick in Sydney]

Received my nimbus turbo yesterday....the look of this car is shocking in person.

Shocking good, I hope?

 

[Rayjoedef]

Shocking good, I hope?

Couldn't be happier

 

[Wiz33]

Finally got a some miles on the i4 and have a few more observations. Went for a morning drive to Santa Cruz. Traffic was heavier than I expected on south bound 17 at 7:30. (Hwy 17 between San Jose and Santa Cruz to day is basically a high speed mountain drives). Went to the wharf, said hi to the sea lions and just got back to the office. Still a pretty enjoyable drive, just shorter than I wanted. The i4 have stiffer suspension than my V6 (both touring). I would say a touring i4 suspension is about as stiff as a V6 with sport suspension.. I drove down in tour mode and drove back in sport mode, The difference is fairly dramatic. In sport, it will happily stay above 3K rpm so you have like minimal turbo lag and 400nm of torque instantly. The downshift are very aggressive so you're almost always in the peak torque range and you actually accelerate faster out of the curves since you have as much torque at 3500 rpm as the V6 at 6800 which helps a lot since I'm still doing breakin and taking it easy. The i4 will be a beast once you can open it up all the way.