I was talking with a friend of mine and he mentioned a magazine articles take on the DBW throttle in the new Civic Si. They state that the ECU can put the throttle in the most optimized position for any given speed, gear, RPM, etc.... Meaning, from a standing start, wide open throttle may not be the best position for full out accelleration. For example, you floor it and dump loads of air and fuel into the intake, where the ECU can put the throtle in the best position to get the right air and fuel into the intake to acheive the most power output.

I was also reading the new Yamaha R6 and R1 bikes for 2006 have 2 butterfly throttles. One is connected to the throttle on the handlebar adn the other is connected to the ECU. The ECU positions the other throttle to get the best performance. The new R6 revs to 17,600rpms and has 140hp, and the new R1 has 170hp.

Do you think it is possible that a DBW throttle could out accellerate a cable throttle, given the DBW throttle could be positioned at the optimized position the entire time?

What is your take?

 

Just to play devil's advocate (I'm not an expert on this subject)...

If the ECU optimizes the A/F mix on accelleration, but takes a "moment" to do so (the lag that most people are fearful of with the introduction of the DBW system) are you really gaining anything?

If you cable gives instant forward motion, albeit less than optimal, while the DBW takes a moment to figure it out, but then does so perfectly, which one comes out ahead?

 

My only experience with DBW is my 2004 F150, and I do NOT like at all. When you want to go, it hesitates. You get out of sync with pedal/engine and you have to "get used" to it. For the F150, new ECU programs are available that help quite a bit, but I'd rather just have the honest, expected feel of the cable. Granted - the truck isn't a sports car, but if it is noticable in that, what will it be like when you are trying to manage the revs on the S2000? I just bought a left over 2005 - in part because I did NOT want DBW that came wit the 2006. They may get it right and some may like it - but there isn't anything that needed fixing with the pre-2005 cable configuration...

 

i had DBW in my 04 mazda 3.. didnt like it too much.

 

I don't think that's how a DBW throttle works. The ECU responds to the position of the throttle. It will only "back off" throttle in consort with stability control. I highly doubt it will alter throttle to maximize performance. The ECU will alter injector pulses and engine timing to do this.

 

isn't the reason why they made it DBW is because its needed to maximize the stability control? ie, if you nail the gas pedal in a turn, can the stability control still override a physical cable and prevent you from going off the road?

anyways, my 2000 a4 has a DBW throttle.. I always found the inputs to be smooth, as it seems as if the computer was modulating the throttle for me.. but then again, different sort of car. hopefully honda will program the ecu to benefit the s2000 as a sports car, and not as a german sports sedan

 

My 2004 STi was DBW...only difference I could notice between DBW and cable was it'd take a split second for the engine to decellerate after I let off the gas.

 

My issue with DBW and please don't flame me for this cause I've yet to test drive the 06...... is that how does it respond to Rev-matching and quick heel-toe down shifts.

If the DBW can't register in time for any type of throttle "blip" then it's going to be nothing but a big PITA to drive IMO.

If someone has been able to rev match with a DBW setup... does it work?

Tim

 

I had drive by wire in my BMW -- I hated it. There was no feel to the throttle.

 

When are the 06's going to be in the showroom?