Launch control on a road car? Bit naff or best thing ever...
Discussion
Surely it's just an exercise in being able to post fantastic 0-60/0-100 times to aid the marketing hype around new cars?
I can't imagine the non-LC 0-60 time of the new GT-R would be any less impressive to the average car enthusiast, but shaving off those last couple of tenths through launch-control gives Nissan's PR team incredible licence to write headlines and demonstrate its role as a 'tour de force'.
I can't imagine the non-LC 0-60 time of the new GT-R would be any less impressive to the average car enthusiast, but shaving off those last couple of tenths through launch-control gives Nissan's PR team incredible licence to write headlines and demonstrate its role as a 'tour de force'.
daveofedinburgh said:
Struggling to think of a tartier option/ feature on a car.
Pure Bradford/ Birmingham rudeboy bragging-rights stuff. 'All the toys' innit?
As mentioned already, surely just for testers/ journos to allow headline performance numbers in the motoring press?
Some of them obviously work better than others.Pure Bradford/ Birmingham rudeboy bragging-rights stuff. 'All the toys' innit?
As mentioned already, surely just for testers/ journos to allow headline performance numbers in the motoring press?
This was a bit from the Autocar road test of the Leon Cupra 280 fitted with the DSG box - they seemed to do a faster time without the systems on
I have had it on a variety of cars and I think it is absolutely nonsensical.
(1) I do not go to drag strips
(2) It is not eligible to run in F1 and have s standing start
(3) On the street it makes the user look like and inconsiderate oik, bring rubber and skittering down the road.
(4) It has very little to do with how drivable the car it.
I first had it on a V10 M6, and now it on my 991RS.
To be fair, it is not the only silly thing. The RS has a pit lane speed limiter. When I go to the track I am not driving with timers on my pit laps. and never needed this thing before.
I do, however, quite enjoy when some character pulls up beside my at a red light, revs, indicates we should let the cars rip. I usually nod, give a few blips, and then when he takes off in a cloud of smoke, accelerate like an 80 year old vicar............
(1) I do not go to drag strips
(2) It is not eligible to run in F1 and have s standing start
(3) On the street it makes the user look like and inconsiderate oik, bring rubber and skittering down the road.
(4) It has very little to do with how drivable the car it.
I first had it on a V10 M6, and now it on my 991RS.
To be fair, it is not the only silly thing. The RS has a pit lane speed limiter. When I go to the track I am not driving with timers on my pit laps. and never needed this thing before.
I do, however, quite enjoy when some character pulls up beside my at a red light, revs, indicates we should let the cars rip. I usually nod, give a few blips, and then when he takes off in a cloud of smoke, accelerate like an 80 year old vicar............
V8RX7 said:
Impasse said:
It's got to be about twenty years since I last did a full bore standing start.
How sad.I'm over 40 and still enjoy a traffic light GP whenever the opportunity arises - it's harmless fun, particularly when the other participant thinks he has the faster car.
I did enjoy blitzing him because I have always chuckled at how the MX5 is all show and no go yet some owners seem to think they are the quickest thing on the road.(appreciate most enjoy the MX5 for what it is though an enjoyable lightweight fun car).
cerb4.5lee said:
V8RX7 said:
Impasse said:
It's got to be about twenty years since I last did a full bore standing start.
How sad.I'm over 40 and still enjoy a traffic light GP whenever the opportunity arises - it's harmless fun, particularly when the other participant thinks he has the faster car.
I did enjoy blitzing him because I have always chuckled at how the MX5 is all show and no go yet some owners seem to think they are the quickest thing on the road.(appreciate most enjoy the MX5 for what it is though an enjoyable lightweight fun car).
270bhp Turbo which is rather nippy.
My friend's just ordered a new Mustang. That's got "Line Lock". A tremendous addition by Ford and something the 11 year old kid in me looks forward to him using over and over again 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2AxbKmJnBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2AxbKmJnBA
V8RX7 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
V8RX7 said:
Impasse said:
It's got to be about twenty years since I last did a full bore standing start.
How sad.I'm over 40 and still enjoy a traffic light GP whenever the opportunity arises - it's harmless fun, particularly when the other participant thinks he has the faster car.
I did enjoy blitzing him because I have always chuckled at how the MX5 is all show and no go yet some owners seem to think they are the quickest thing on the road.(appreciate most enjoy the MX5 for what it is though an enjoyable lightweight fun car).
270bhp Turbo which is rather nippy.
I didn't realise you had a MX5 and I just read the post you made and it made me think of that situation I was in. I bet your MX5 is great fun as it will take so many by surprise
I used to like that about my lightly tuned 200sx as they look very plain Jane yet go pretty well once fettled. Good to hear you enjoy a little fun when you can.
Liquid Tuna said:
My friend's just ordered a new Mustang. That's got "Line Lock". A tremendous addition by Ford and something the 11 year old kid in me looks forward to him using over and over again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2AxbKmJnBA
When I first saw this a few months ago...I too would enjoy that feature!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2AxbKmJnBA
I think it was just a bit of fun that the manufacturers did simply because they could do it and it gives the marketing team a good clean repeatable number. Of all the guys I know with the potential, most have never even used it, out of mechanical sympathy, or out of fear, instead perhaps. Even if they still cite it in the forums (as do I, if I'm honest).
I use it in my RS4 semi regularly. It's certainly a quicker way off the line that just mashing the throttle in Sport or drive, but you need it to be a reasonable surface or it just bogs down in wheelspin
Well worth having in my opinion and it was standard on the car, so not a cost option - Would I have spec'd it had it been a few quid option, probably, yeah
I've done back to back data logs with a Vbox to compare, and it's 4.3 to 60 with & 4.6 without on a good surface, plus there's a hesitation as the revs build if you just sit and then mash the pedal in sport manual without it
Doesn't require any other buttons other than to turn the TC off
Well worth having in my opinion and it was standard on the car, so not a cost option - Would I have spec'd it had it been a few quid option, probably, yeah
I've done back to back data logs with a Vbox to compare, and it's 4.3 to 60 with & 4.6 without on a good surface, plus there's a hesitation as the revs build if you just sit and then mash the pedal in sport manual without it
Doesn't require any other buttons other than to turn the TC off
Edited by graeme4130 on Monday 12th October 20:16
PunterCam said:
I'm 31 now, and I've never done a "drop the clutch" style start
You poor thing. Next you'll be telling us that you've never done a hand-brake turn, a j-turn, left foot braking, jumped a humpback bridge, a doughnut, drifted or slid off the road in a blaze of glory either....
MC Bodge said:
You poor thing.
Next you'll be telling us that you've never done a hand-brake turn, a j-turn, left foot braking, jumped a humpback bridge, a doughnut, drifted or slid off the road in a blaze of glory either....
All those things require skill and are fun for that reason. I can't say I get a lot out of satisfaction out of pressing a button and then holding down the e-throttle and the brake then, with amazing skill, stepping off the brake. It made my car feel like a dodgem. Next you'll be telling us that you've never done a hand-brake turn, a j-turn, left foot braking, jumped a humpback bridge, a doughnut, drifted or slid off the road in a blaze of glory either....
Maybe I'm just bitter because my old auto car would smoke me from the lights in my 'manuel'.
I put my hands up and admit I come from the antediluvian school of motoring.
My greatest joy with Launch Control was with a fairly recently owned RS500.
An obvious target for the backwards-facing baseball cap brigade, I loved it when some young t
t pulled up next to me at the lights, hanging onto their steering wheel with one fully extended arm, whilst reclining on a seat who's backrest was almost horizontal.
A few blips of my accelerator would have gangsta-boy going into full 'eyes wide and staring' mode with his engine bouncing around the Rev limiter.
As the lights change from red, I'd watch them fly away with a smoking start thanks to their Launch Control.
Me? Nah, no launch control, I'd gently accelerate away from the lights, gaining appreciative nods and wry smiles from people who appreciate proper cars.
Unless you're a journalist or going to somewhere like a hill climb or Brighton Speed Trials , Launch Control is, as the saying goes, as much use as tits on a fish.
My greatest joy with Launch Control was with a fairly recently owned RS500.
An obvious target for the backwards-facing baseball cap brigade, I loved it when some young t
t pulled up next to me at the lights, hanging onto their steering wheel with one fully extended arm, whilst reclining on a seat who's backrest was almost horizontal.A few blips of my accelerator would have gangsta-boy going into full 'eyes wide and staring' mode with his engine bouncing around the Rev limiter.
As the lights change from red, I'd watch them fly away with a smoking start thanks to their Launch Control.
Me? Nah, no launch control, I'd gently accelerate away from the lights, gaining appreciative nods and wry smiles from people who appreciate proper cars.
Unless you're a journalist or going to somewhere like a hill climb or Brighton Speed Trials , Launch Control is, as the saying goes, as much use as tits on a fish.
ORD said:
All those things require skill and are fun for that reason. I can't say I get a lot out of satisfaction out of pressing a button and then holding down the e-throttle and the brake then, with amazing skill, stepping off the brake. It made my car feel like a dodgem.
Maybe I'm just bitter because my old auto car would smoke me from the lights in my 'manuel'.
I agree. Maybe I'm just bitter because my old auto car would smoke me from the lights in my 'manuel'.
you are, however, missing my point:
The chap is proudly announcing on a motoring forum that he is 31 and has never done a full-bore, drop-the-clutch start!
MC Bodge said:
I agree.
you are, however, missing my point:
The chap is proudly announcing on a motoring forum that he is 31 and has never done a full-bore, drop-the-clutch start!
Oh. Fair point. I can't think of a single car that I have driven and not done it at least once. I remember my wife saying 'Why are you trying to wheelspin this?!' in some god-awful diesel Alfa hire car. I am bloody terrible at launching cars, though, which should make me want LC, but I just don't find it remotely enjoyable.you are, however, missing my point:
The chap is proudly announcing on a motoring forum that he is 31 and has never done a full-bore, drop-the-clutch start!
its a bit of a gimmick but its still very fun. I used it on a e63 at MB world and it was so much fun
it makes this audi be very far away very quickly
https://instagram.com/p/8q2Fb7u5_D/
it makes this audi be very far away very quickly
https://instagram.com/p/8q2Fb7u5_D/
Nickbrapp said:
its a bit of a gimmick but its still very fun. I used it on a e63 at MB world and it was so much fun
it makes this audi be very far away very quickly
https://instagram.com/p/8q2Fb7u5_D/
When properly tuned in conjunction with the TC it is pretty fit makes this audi be very far away very quickly
https://instagram.com/p/8q2Fb7u5_D/
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