Launch control on a road car? Bit naff or best thing ever...

[cerb4.5lee]

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/

Blimey that does launch well! you would need something seriously quick to get the better of that I would imagine.

[Carlique]

I agree they are a bit pointless for road use as you're not going from lights to lights launching everywhere. But at the end of the day launch control is a great indicator of a cars performance and not too dissimilar to a manual launch, for example Golf R DSG 0-60 is 4.9 and the manual is 5.1, M4 DCT is 4.1s and the manual is 4.3 etc etc.

I do still think launch control is a fantastic feature and really great fun for use on given occasions. However I do think that manufacturers should also state non-launch 0-60 times in their releases as it'll show the consumers a more accurate, real world performance figure. Not that that's going to happen any time soon. Maybe pistonheads can start the trend?

[ORD]

Huh? The LC figure is far more 'real world' in that any idiot can obtain it repeatedly and reliably. The idea that I could reliably get a manual car to it's 0-60 time is nonsense; but it was child's play in a PDK car. The 0-60 time for a LC car is what you could get everyday.

The only problem is that it makes AWD cars with LC appear faster than they are at everything but standing starts (i.e. the 0-60 figure gives a less accurate feel for general pace).

[s m]

Carlique said:

I agree they are a bit pointless for road use as you're not going from lights to lights launching everywhere. But at the end of the day launch control is a great indicator of a cars performance and not too dissimilar to a manual launch, for example Golf R DSG 0-60 is 4.9 and the manual is 5.1, M4 DCT is 4.1s and the manual is 4.3 etc etc.

I do still think launch control is a fantastic feature and really great fun for use on given occasions. However I do think that manufacturers should also state non-launch 0-60 times in their releases as it'll show the consumers a more accurate, real world performance figure. Not that that's going to happen any time soon. Maybe pistonheads can start the trend?

Would also have been interesting, for the Autocar test with the Leon mentioned above, if they'd said how much slower it was with the launch control rather than all the systems switched off

[TransverseTight]

I was wondering how many cars are capable of getting their 0-60 time driven by a normal person without launch control?

I timed me in mine at the weekend and got within 1/10s 7.86 vs 7.8(official) (Timed by a 10 year old with videogame reaction times.... he keeps fragging me on CoD).

Mine doesn't have gears or a clutch though (BMW i3). Just stomp on the pedal and giggle that everyone else hasn't started moving and you are the other side of the lights. That time was with 25% left on the battery and 3 10 year olds in the car. So pretty respectable vs the official figure.

[R8VXF]

Interestingly, all LC systems are not equal anyway. Can't find it right now but there is a VXR8 vs S63 AMG drag race where they preferred not to use the LC in the Merc because it was st and they got better times without it. The VXR8 LC just works though.

[s m]

R8VXF said:

Interestingly, all LC systems are not equal anyway. Can't find it right now but there is a VXR8 vs S63 AMG drag race where they preferred not to use the LC in the Merc because it was st and they got better times without it. The VXR8 LC just works though.

Yes, same as in the Leon Cupra - faster without it

[R8VXF]

s m said:

R8VXF said:

Interestingly, all LC systems are not equal anyway. Can't find it right now but there is a VXR8 vs S63 AMG drag race where they preferred not to use the LC in the Merc because it was st and they got better times without it. The VXR8 LC just works though.

Yes, same as in the Leon Cupra - faster without it

Sorry E63, bit of a tt to get off the line but auto box makes up for it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X-rKtDOF5U

[Lowtimer]

TransverseTight said:

I was wondering how many cars are capable of getting their 0-60 time driven by a normal person without launch control?

If they are:
1. not ludicrously overpowered
2. have some form of autobox, and
3. are on a good grippy surface

... then almost all of them.

With manuals, then its a different story. Not many private owners are happy to keep their foot flat on the loud pedal between manual changes while sidestepping the clutch at every change.

[velocitas]

One of those features for the day you pick up the car. Press it once, laugh, then forget about it until a younger relation wants to go for a spin in your fast car.

Later on realize the damage it does to clutch wear or the fact that your ECU lists the number of times it's been used to be viewed by potential buyers of your car.

Overall a fad to satisfy youtube car reviewers.

[menguin]

C.A.R. said:

I see it as a bit of a necessary evil.

Manufacturers sell cars based on performance criteria, such as quarter miles, top speeds and acceleration times. The performance of modern cars and their complexity means that the most consistent and effective way of maximising these figures is by installing launch control.

It's like that thread the other day, people now proclaiming that the 911 Turbo S has surpassed the GTR because it won a drag race by a car length or so. These people completely oblivious to the fact that the Porsche cost some 80% more to buy than the Nissan!

But by getting that 'edge' and having people aware and talking about their product, I'm sure Porsche will attract more customer interest
, even if this performance is totally irrelevant after the sale has taken place.

And here we have the PH equivalent of Godwin's law - someone bitterly comparing the GTR with the 911

[menguin]

V8RX7 said:

And that demonstrates why I have had the most fun in my MX5.

270bhp Turbo which is rather nippy.

Rather! My old one had 210bhp and that was bloody quick enough - it'd wheelspin changing into 3rd with Toyo R888s! I imagine 270hp is quite fun

[ATG]

Manufacturers feel the need to keep adding more features to differentiate their latest models from last year's and from the competition. Lots of the features are pointless ste that make the product more fiddly to use and less reliable. E.g. ignition key versus keyless ignition; a simple, reliable system versus a more complicated, insecure system when there was no problem with the former system in the first place. As for launch control, well it's just a bit more software as you've already got the necessary hardware on most modern cars anyway, so why not? But it is a useless feature.

[Alias218]

My gripe with technogy like this is that it takes away driver involvement. With all these semi-auto transmissions, launch control systems and the like, where's the satisfaction that nicking that perfect gear change, or nailing a perfect launch in a manual, unassisted car gives you? It's all about instant gratification with new cars; there's no skill involved. I'm sure it's exhilarating, but it's all a bit hollow when it's all said and done.

The same could be argued of ABS or traction control but at least they have a safety element to them. Plus traction control can be switched off given the right car.

[SHutchinson]

Alias218 said:

My gripe with technogy like this is that it takes away driver involvement. With all these semi-auto transmissions, launch control systems and the like, where's the satisfaction that nicking that perfect gear change, or nailing a perfect launch in a manual, unassisted car gives you? It's all about instant gratification with new cars; there's no skill involved. I'm sure it's exhilarating, but it's all a bit hollow when it's all said and done.

The same could be argued of ABS or traction control but at least they have a safety element to them. Plus traction control can be switched off given the right car.

Yeah, same with syncromesh gearboxes, where's the satisfaction in not crashing your gears these days! Call that progress? Pah!

[Limpet]

Aside from a Run what ya Brung session at the Pod, I cannot think of a single use for it.

[paulwirral]

R.I.P the traffic light burnout , launch control maybe quick but holding it on the brakes with the rear tyres smoking is more fun .

[CO2000]

Had it on a Escort Cosworth in the 90's, along with antilag.........broke a front diff! (& prop later) RWD was fun though

[Fastdruid]

ORD said:

The only problem is that it makes AWD cars with LC appear faster than they are at everything but standing starts (i.e. the 0-60 figure gives a less accurate feel for general pace).

TBH the same can be said about FWD vs RWD (or RWD vs AWD). For example playing with a 0-60 calculator and there is roughly a second's difference in 0-60 times between "my" car changing from FWD to AWD.

[ORD]

Fastdruid said:

TBH the same can be said about FWD vs RWD (or RWD vs AWD). For example playing with a 0-60 calculator and there is roughly a second's difference in 0-60 times between "my" car changing from FWD to AWD.

True. I mentally add half a second to AWD cars' times and take about a second off for FWD when trying to guess at how fast the car would be for normal use. A 6 second 0-60 time for a FWD is bloody impressive, for example.