[daytonadweller]

I've been lurking for awhile. Finally created an account to get an answer to a burning question. My account is new so they won't let me post links.

I read the 2015 Edmunds article about the Macan S non-Sport Chrono launch control. Google "Edmunds Macan Launch Control". It'll be the first result

Also of note: this process works without activating Sport Plus mode (our Macan doesn't have it) and without "Launch Control Activated" being displayed, both of which are mentioned in the owner's manual.

I also read the Macan Forum thread. Google "Macan Forum Poor Mans Launch Control". It'll be the first result.

There DOES appear to be a launch control "feature" that you can activate using the following steps.
1) Drive the car until operating temperature
2) Press the sport mode button
3) Depress the brake all the way down (IMPORTANT: firmly but slow/smooth so you do not activate the HOLD function)
4) Floor the gas pedal all the way past kick down (Flinstone it)
5) The car revs to 3500 rpm (without the loud exhaust/ rumbling sound, and you do not get a launch control light)
6) Let go of the brake
Voila... more civilized launch control. I would describe this as similar to the BMW launch control (non-M cars) in terms of overall experience.

I tried it last night with my 2016 Macan S (no Sport Chrono). It worked and felt amazing. The process was not unlike my old Nissan GT-R with built-in launch control (albeit a bit slower ).

That said, is this the real deal (aka, initially programmed from the factor) or am I risking damage to the transmission?

 

[Louisssss]

yes, its real. i've done it. its not very violent, since you're only starting the car at ~3500rpm.

harm to the transmission? Its all relative... the more you drive you car harshly, the more 'damage' you'll do. its all risk/reward.

I've done it twice so far, but i've floored the car over 50x. i've also driven it at 100% for 2 laps around the nurburgring.

 

[desmodeanna]

I don’t know if we have a 100% definitive answer directly from Porsche, but this recent thread sure seems to conclude that yes, it’s the real deal.

https://www.macanforum.com/forum/en...engine-technical-discussion/168225-how-many-have-used-tried-launch-control.html

 

[RidgeRunner0207]

yes, its real. i've done it. its not very violent, since you're only starting the car at ~3500rpm.

harm to the transmission? Its all relative... the more you drive you car harshly, the more 'damage' you'll do. its all risk/reward.

I've done it twice so far, but i've floored the car over 50x. i've also driven it at 100% for 2 laps around the nurburgring.

IMHO, Porsche has the launch control all figured out !!

I just spent yesterday at PEC Atlanta picking up my 2019 Boxster GTS, they had all models there and all were at the launch track making hot lapped passes with SC-Launches.

My wife did 7 in a row in a 2019 Boxster GTS and then I took the car 45 mins later and did that many or more, the PCM Stores the data, and those cars survive that beating day in and day out for 3k miles before they get replaced.

Those PEC Track Cars are beat on by strangers for many hours every day of the week, and the only thing they replace is tires and brake pads.

I would not think twice about hurting anything, PORSCHE Engineers have it all figured out.

 

[Teddis]

Dunno if I would do this without SP, clutch is engaged .....read this post:
"
The PDK disengages the clutch when LC is activated and drops it when you take your foot off the brake. Without LC the clutch stays engaged and the engine will lug against the breaks. Much different launch experience"

 

[oqjnLu@>@W]

yes, its real. i've done it. its not very violent, since you're only starting the car at ~3500rpm.

harm to the transmission? Its all relative... the more you drive you car harshly, the more 'damage' you'll do. its all risk/reward.

I've done it twice so far, but i've floored the car over 50x. i've also driven it at 100% for 2 laps around the nurburgring.

That would be at *your* 100% and not the Macan's 100% around the Nurburgring, right?

If I learned nothing else at all of the driving schools I attended, it's that the car was capable of greater
performance than the person sitting behind the steering wheel.


...or perhaps you're the driver piloting the Macan in that Assetto Corsa video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hg49JKf4V0​

 

[Louisssss]

That would be at *your* 100% and not the Macan's 100% around the Nurburgring, right?

If I learned nothing else at all of the driving schools I attended, it's that the car was capable of greater
performance than the person sitting behind the steering wheel.


...or perhaps you're the driver piloting the Macan in that Assetto Corsa video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hg49JKf4V0​

depends. The gas pedal was on the floor for up to a minute, engine at 100%. After slowing down for a turn (theres 73 turns/lap), i'd floor the pedal again to gain speed. I slammed on the brakes triggering the tires to squeal and trigger ABS, brakes and tires at 100%. I used launch control, sport mode, used the paddle shifters and probably was in the wrong gear, very high RPMs, PDk at 100%

When i finished driving hard for 20 minutes, the tire pressure was up from 36psi to 42(or maybe 45? i forget). Brakes were smoking with a smell and visible smoke.

I think the car was operating at 100%.



I believe you're confusing driving the car @ 100% vs setting the fastest lap time with the Macan. I didn't set any lap times, the car hit redline about 20-40x as i slammed on the gas though. Which is what we're talking about here.

 

[iszatso]

Good ol "power braking"..

 

[RidgeRunner0207]

Good ol "power braking"..

Stalling up any vehicle while on the tq convertor will generate excessive heat quickly, the PCM also will not allow full power when you release the brake, their is built in brake/tq management in the pcm software.


There is a huge difference in brake stalling and an actual SC/Launch, the two are not even close.

 

[Col M]

7 minutes in best describes non Sports Chrono launch

https://youtu.be/OoWBNr5u4zY

 

[daytonadweller]

7 minutes in best describes non Sports Chrono launch

Thanks. It definitely works, I'm just curious whether or not it's hurting the car. Is this an engineered Porche easter egg or is it akin to a "neutral drop"?

 

[bans]

this was shown to me by the instructor at PEC Atlanta. I was complaining that I did not order sports+... and then he said you do not need it and showed whole process. I tried it multiple times there.. Works perfectly..

 

[adlim]

can anyone confirm this on the base macan? i tried this a few times and rev stops at 2000rpm

 

[ozziegt]

Stalling up any vehicle while on the tq convertor will generate excessive heat quickly, the PCM also will not allow full power when you release the brake, their is built in brake/tq management in the pcm software.


There is a huge difference in brake stalling and an actual SC/Launch, the two are not even close.

Are you talking about the Macan here? PDK is a DCT, so the Macan doesn't have a torque converter.

You can see in the video that "Col M" posted, the car is holding RPM without engaging the transmission. How do I know this? Because it's not building boost. If he was "brake stalling", it would be building boost (also, real launch control does build boost).

 

[SomeGuy]

Dunno if I would do this without SP, clutch is engaged .....read this post:
"
The PDK disengages the clutch when LC is activated and drops it when you take your foot off the brake. Without LC the clutch stays engaged and the engine will lug against the breaks. Much different launch experience"

Physically that doesn't make sense...if the clutches are engaged the engine would stall because the wheels aren't moving or since the PDK is effectively a manual transmission (there's no torque converter) either you're massively slipping the clutches (which I doubt) or they aren't engaged.

 

[BooBoo]

Do I have it?

looked online and if I read the options correctly, it’s only there if Sport Chrono package which I do not.

Sales manager says I have it. I have to put the car in Sport Mode ( he did not say which level of Sport Mode ) and press and hold the brake pedal while mashing the gas pedal and hold to over 4500 rpm. Then release accelerator pedal and hold on.

I see no reference to it in the Owners Manual…..

PS - Maybe this should go in the Technical Discussion area??

 

[lyricgskills]

Sounds like he gave you the instructions for “poor man’s launch control.” Use at your own risk.

 

[yrralis1]

You need sport Chrono. It requires putting the car into sport plus. Somewhere on this forum there is a thread, titled “poor man’s launch control“. That thread discusses how to try and launch it in sport mode. It won’t be the same as sport plus. The reason is aside from the initial dig given by the rpm held on the line is the rapid shift rate and points of shifting. Sport plus takes the car to its threshold.

 

[BooBoo]

I thought the sales manager may have been incorrect. When I mentioned the options page, etc on the website, he insisted I had it and offered to show me on another car on his lot. Maybe he thought my car has it due to the different modes of Sport Mode I can select??

 

[reguy]

he insisted I had it and offered to show me on another car on his lot.

I hope you’re outside the NY area. I want to stay away from that dealer.