Well, response is better.
Quick blips are now quick blips, and the car is more linear, but I get the feeling the rest of the system is
expecting the delay; as if the other computers are a bit frustrated that they aren't getting their way anymore.
Acceleration is still a touch "notchy"; like occasional (but very subtle) sharp peaks and flat spots in the power band. I feel like those are deliberate adjustments happening. It was doing this before, as well, but with the additional throttle precision, it's a bit more noticeable.
Yes, the gearing is part of the problem with the vehicle, but they're killing torque in lower gears to prevent
something. That's a
fact. Power output is still being manipulated. With the gearing that thing has, even everyday spirited driving should be engaging traction control, but it's just a tractor in first and second. Doesn't matter how much you give it. Makes a lot of noise, but doesn't go anywhere; and with those gears, it should be bucking like it's balls are tied up.
The thing is, the chassis is good enough to handle that power, so what's the deal? Why the nerfed juice?
I'm going to say it: This is not actually a particularly good car out of the box. It's a bit like a poor tuner job from 1998; as if VW went for too much grunt, grabbed any old transmission off the shelf, and then just managed the hiccups with a computer. It's got a bit of an identity crisis; the car doesn't know what it's supposed to be.
It's a hot hatch, but it's set up for GT use. It's set up for GT use, but it's got the transmission of a hot hatch. It's got the transmission of a hot hatch, but it accelerates like a minivan. It accelerates like a minivan, but...
...and so on.
I'm not sure what the designers were thinking, but they were clearly drunk. You know, I didn't get it before, and I didn't think I ever would, but now I see why everyone tunes these things: It's
necessary.