# Best traction settings for acceleration in a 2020 VW GLI with Manual Trans

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299>\
**Category:** Driving/Drivers\
**Tags:** gli, volkswagen\
**Created:** [April 22, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299 "2021-04-22T13:00:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/1 "2021-04-22T13:00:53Z")

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In my GLI Autobahn there is a button that is labled traction control that controls the ASR and ESC systems. Should I be turning eithor or both of those systems off (they can be turned off separately depending on how long the button is held) when I want to accelerate quickly from a stop? I normally leave those on during normal driving.

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**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/2 "2021-04-22T13:08:08Z")

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Leaving that function on will not affect acceleration unless you are burning rubber. This function only activates when a wheel has a different speed than the others.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/3 "2021-04-22T13:26:12Z")

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The answer depends on just how hard you are accelerating and how skilled you are as a driver.

ASR will do nothing for acceleration positive or negative, Traction control will a spinning tire. since you can’t know what the road surface is under your car in all instances, just leave it on.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/4 "2021-04-22T13:44:33Z")

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> [@Mustangman](#):
>
> since you can’t know what the road surface is under your car in all instances, just leave it on.

+1  
The Owner’s Manual should have an explanation of the limited circumstances when it should be turned off.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/5 "2021-04-22T13:47:21Z")

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Test the different settings and see. But I’d just leave it on.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/6 "2021-04-22T13:52:08Z")

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> [@texases](#):
>
> Test the different settings and see.

Are logical suggestions even allowed ?

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**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/7 "2021-04-22T14:03:22Z")

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That appears to be the best option at this point.

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/8 "2021-04-22T14:04:49Z")

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I usually leave it on; but will test the options for quick starts anyway.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/9 "2021-04-22T14:05:48Z")

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U normally leave it on. Just looking for that one instance when I need a quick start.

Thanks

![image001.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/7/7508dade32313c8e39f819dd2f9092f9be27d9d5.jpg)

![image002.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/2/2485d26919316b1d80aa60f5ca8e2cb5bc0275fe.jpg)

![image003.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/5/52e3d8429dc9df354e80745a95a85b3abf8eb09e.jpg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/10 "2021-04-22T14:08:41Z")

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You might get a quicker start with it on, it would limit wheel spin.

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**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/11 "2021-04-22T14:08:47Z")

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I usually leave it on for most driving. During quick acceleration, one or the other causes intermittent locking slowing the acceleration and making a banging noise that I assume is the breaking action. Guess I will just have to test the options and see.

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/12 "2021-04-22T14:09:47Z")

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I need to test the options I guess.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/13 "2021-04-22T14:18:08Z")

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One option to try, hit the red reply button at the lower left, rather than individual reply button. All of us can see all of your replies.  
Unfortunately this is not well explained on this site.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/14 "2021-04-22T14:20:14Z")

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What, exactly, does your owners manual say about this?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/15 "2021-04-22T14:39:11Z")

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The owner’s manual is not much help. I describes a little about what the systems do; and what to do in snow and loose traction situations; but not much else.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/16 "2021-04-22T15:06:45Z")

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> [@RalphSalvucci](#):
>
> Just looking for that one instance when I need a quick start.

And if you have a need for a quick start are you going to have time to mess with the Traction Control button ? Not likely . And if the road surface is not ideal then the Traction Control might help keep you going in a straight line .

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/17 "2021-04-22T15:48:19Z")

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Yup. Not very often these days. Not like the good ole’ days anymore. Yes, usually I have enough time to hold the button for a second or so while at a light. I got a feeling that the system is easy to turn off and readily accessible for just that reason. I had a similar button in my BMW 340i and Legacy GT; both AWD You didn’t want to take off and slap it into second at red line with the traction control on in those cars; trust me!! Thank you all. I have what I need now.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/18 "2021-04-22T18:10:09Z")

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> [@RalphSalvucci](#):
>
> During quick acceleration, one or the other causes intermittent locking slowing the acceleration and making a banging noise that I assume is the breaking action.

Is this on a dry clean road with good tires?

If you’re accelerating hard enough to break traction, that’s honestly not safe on a public road (not to mention that you’ll be wearing out your tires more quickly). It would be best if you learned the limits of your car and avoided that instead of worrying about the traction control setting.

Having said all of that, I’m not sure that a banging sound is correct, so you might want to demonstrate this to the dealer while the car is still under warranty.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/19 "2021-04-22T20:43:31Z")

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You could only really answer this question with the aid of a dragstrip and timing equipment. Given your choice of cars, I think you might be very interested in the answer. If you find out let us know.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RalphSalvucci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@RalphSalvucci](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RalphSalvucci)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299/20 "2021-04-23T10:43:56Z")

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Really!! A lecture!! You’re kidding. Trust me, the banging sound is correct.

[Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-traction-settings-for-acceleration-in-a-2020-vw-gli-with-manual-trans/176299.md?page=2)
