I've started to notice a serious hesitation approaching the red line in first gear at WOT, particularly if I'm starting out turning left and heading up hill. There is this one up hill intersection where I have to turn left into traffic from a stop where it seems to always happen. I usually use the lapse in acceleration to shift into second and then it seems to go just fine, but it can be nerve racking to lose power in traffic.

I strongly suspect fuel starvation, but I was wondering if it could be anything else. I have nearly 100K miles on my RS, and although I have performed all maintenance regularly, I haven't been kind to her over the years.

Thoughts?

If it generally happens while turning under moderate to full accelleration then I would think it could be related to the differentials. Maybe the center or rear is binding up a bit while under a heavy load.

My best guess.

Do the rpms bounce up and then drop down?

Is this a manual or auto tranny?

Does the car shutter at all: under your feet, through the pedals, through the shifter?

Interesting thought...

The hesitiation actually happens after I've straightened out, a few hundred feet down the road (after I've reached read line from a stop in first).

It's a manual transmission. In thinking about it, I think there is a surge in power then total drop off. It's quite violent actually. There is no shudder that I've noticed I just get pushed back into my seat then thrown forward.

Thanks for your help!