Not So Guilty Pleasure

5896 Views 30 Replies 13 Participants Last post by hunter81, Apr 8, 2014

hunter81

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2014

I am a huge fan of going fast when the road is clear and the visibility is good, so yea, not exactly legal, but I don't get stupid about it or inconsiderately weave in and out of normally flowing traffic. It's like, when I'm having "alone time" with my car and the freeway. After about three years in my G37 Coupe, the brake rotors became extremely warped from the heat created rapidly decelerating from deep triple digit speeds. I replaced them with 3rd market drilled and slotted rotors that actually ended up performing worse and became warped in much less time. The car just never quite drove the same after the rotors became warped the first time.

So, here's the part that just tickles me sh*tless. In the hybrid, all I have to do is click the paddle shifter once to downshift and then I can slow down rapidly without any friction braking at all. It's so satisfying to be able to rocket up to high speeds and then slow down just as quickly without putting all the stress on the car that the G got. It's like eating donuts without getting the calories. Also, nothing charges up a battery like harnessing the kinetic energy of 4,000 pounds moving at 140 mph. Fun!

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1 - 20 of 31 Posts

Klamalama

· #2 · Feb 18, 2014

Officer, I was just charging the batteries because I'm a Greenie Nerd, really.

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hunter81

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 18, 2014

KLamalama said:
Officer, I was just charging the batteries because I'm a Greenie Nerd, really.

Hahahaha.

InfinitiPlusOne

· #4 · Feb 18, 2014

140mph is scary fast.
Does both the gas engine and battery power the car at the same time at 140mph?

hunter81

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 19, 2014

InfinitiPlusOne said:
140mph is scary fast.
Does both the gas engine and battery power the car at the same time at 140mph?

I haven't actually cruised at 140 so I couldn't tell you. Every time I have hit 140 it was usually on my way up to a higher speed that I didn't get to maintain for long due to my exit coming up (basically it's hard to find too many places you can do that for very long). I have, however, cruised at 115 in sport and saw that the engine was charging the battery very rapidly. From what I can tell when you really push the car it will obviously use the electric motor to help you get up to a high speed, but once you're at the speed you want to be going, it'll start using the engine to recharge the battery. It seems the faster you are going, the more it's trying to recharge. Like i notice the car works more to recharge at 90 than it does at 80, and the needle, if I remember correctly, was far to the left when I was cruising at 115. I'll have to do more "research" on it though. "Officer, you're interrupting some very important product testing by pulling me over."

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AustintaciousQ

· #6 · Feb 19, 2014

(basically it's hard to find too many places you can do that for very long).

Go drive in West Texas on I-10 (between San Antonio and El Paso). DPS can't be everywhere.

Reactions: 1

BNB-Ryan

· #7 · Feb 20, 2014

This is the reason I sold my motorcycle. Was doing 160mph and realized I have a wife and kid at home. The bike was gone a few days later. If I catch myself doing this in the Q50.... it'll be gone. I more enjoy turning off traction control and having relatively low speed fun. I do want to take the Q50 to the track sooner than later.

avanti5010

· #8 · Feb 20, 2014

Go drive in West Texas on I-10 (between San Antonio and El Paso). DPS can't be everywhere.[/QUOTE]

Had my GT-R up to 160 there for several minutes. Only thing that worried me was hitting an animal (and, of course, the cops).

Team_STILLEN

· #9 · Feb 20, 2014

Engine braking for the win!

@Hunter81 - What aftermarket rotors and pads were you using that warped so fast?

vbx

· #10 · Feb 21, 2014

Interesting how people in different forums think!

is it bad to use my paddle shifters to slow down like a manual.

hunter81

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 21, 2014 (Edited)

avanti5010 said:
Go drive in West Texas on I-10 (between San Antonio and El Paso). DPS can't be everywhere.

Had my GT-R up to 160 there for several minutes. Only thing that worried me was hitting an animal (and, of course, the cops).

Yea, hitting an animal at 160 would suck. My uncle, who was actually kind of my inspiration for fast driving as a kid, was up in Montana back with they had the "reasonable and prudent" speed limits. He was going 150 in his Lexus LS and hit a bird. The bird hit right on the driver A-pillar and went splat on the car like a bug.

By the way, so jealous of your ride! Nice choice!

hunter81

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 21, 2014

Team_STILLEN said:
Engine braking for the win!

@Hunter81 - What aftermarket rotors and pads were you using that warped so fast?

They were from Brake Performance. I got drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic pads if I remember correctly.

hunter81

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 21, 2014

vbx said:
Interesting how people in different forums think!

is it bad to use my paddle shifters to slow down like a manual.

You made me curious. I checked around and from what I could find and it seems like the extra wear on the engine is marginal and engine braking is still recommended for maintaining vehicle control like when you're coming down a hill.

I only do it though when I'm coming down from a really high speed since the car's kinetic energy increases as the square of your speed. So, maybe 2 times a month. (The brakes have to work 4 times as hard slowing a car down from 40 than they do slowing down one from 20 mph, and they have to work 49 times as hard slowing down a car from 140 mph!)

Klamalama

· #14 · Feb 21, 2014

hunter81 said:
You made me curious. I checked around and from what I could find and it seems like the extra wear on the engine is marginal and engine braking is still recommended for maintaining vehicle control like when you're coming down a hill.

I only do it though when I'm coming down from a really high speed since the car's kinetic energy increases as the square of your speed. So, maybe 2 times a month. (The brakes have to work 4 times as hard slowing a car down from 40 than they do slowing down one from 20 mph, and they have to work 49 times as hard slowing down a car from 140 mph!)

Folks who don't value downshifting need to drive Colorado I-70, east of the Eisenhower Pass. That's about a 30 mile, and a decent 7% descent. It will fry your brakes (or break your brakes), unless you take a break to let your brakes cool. Or, you could simply downshift, and let that underhood air pump (engine) work for you. Bonus for hybrids: guaranteed full battery charge will be available at the bottom.

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selzini

· #15 · Feb 21, 2014

KLamalama said:
Folks who don't value downshifting need to drive Colorado I-70, east of the Eisenhower Pass. That's about a 30 mile, and a decent 7% descent. It will fry your brakes (or break your brakes), unless you take a break to let your brakes cool. Or, you could simply downshift, and let that underhood air pump (engine) work for you. Bonus for hybrids: guaranteed full battery charge will be available at the bottom.

Beautiful country. I drove west on I-70 many years ago. I didn't pay much attention to mpg then, but I'm sure it was lousy(going uphill).

Team_STILLEN

· #16 · Feb 21, 2014

vbx said:
Interesting how people in different forums think!

is it bad to use my paddle shifters to slow down like a manual.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The ware on the engine would be in the opposite side of the synchros than is worn by normal driving. It would ware some of the clutches a little more than just using the brakes (in theory), but I don't think it would be extreme enough to cause any concern. However, brakes are cheaper than transmissions so...I just use brakes unless it a situation like that mentioned in Denver.

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hunter81

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 22, 2014

Team_STILLEN said:
I wouldn't worry about it too much. The ware on the engine would be in the opposite side of the synchros than is worn by normal driving. It would ware some of the clutches a little more than just using the brakes (in theory), but I don't think it would be extreme enough to cause any concern. However, brakes are cheaper than transmissions so...I just use brakes unless it a situation like that mentioned in Denver.

That's what I read too. The wear is on the opposite side of the teeth in the transmission. Engine braking all the time probably isn't a good idea, but for certain situations it sounds like it's a great way to spare brakes from damage from excessive heat.

Reactions: 1

Jasonviper

· #18 · Feb 24, 2014

How effective is the engine braking on our Hybrids?? I remember engine braking on my G37 coupe was like depressing the brake pedal by maybe 10%? Is really noticeable breaking at those speeds?

Klamalama

· #19 · Feb 24, 2014

Jasonviper said:
How effective is the engine braking on our Hybrids?? I remember engine braking on my G37 coupe was like depressing the brake pedal by maybe 10%? Is really noticeable breaking at those speeds?

Engine braking is the same as any other ICE car. However, the addition of regenerative braking adds another dimension. I often take advantage just by sliding the gearshift to the manual side. As a former 6MT driver, it seems more intuitive than using the paddles.

hunter81

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 25, 2014

From reading the factory manual, it's apparent that friction braking can be used along side regenerative. I had been under the impression from articles that there is some kind of "switch" that happens. Well, knowing this, I'll take even more care with high energy stops.

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