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Poor man's launch control - real?

21K views 25 replies 19 participants last post by  BooBoo  
#1 ·
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 :D).

That said, is this the real deal (aka, initially programmed from the factor) or am I risking damage to the transmission?
 
#2 ·
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.
 
#4 ·
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.
 
#6 ·
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


;)
 
#7 ·
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.
 
#9 ·
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.


:)
 
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#16 ·
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??
 
#25 ·
Nop. If done properly, the clutch does not engage, even though one doesn't have the Sport Package. The car won't shake, it won't fight its brakes.
It's a real launch, but with a little less boost.

The difference is quite obvious: if one tries this when the engine is not in optimal temperature, the LCC won't engage, and the engine will fight against the brakes. One can fill the car doesn't like it.

But anyway, launch systems are not useful in real life.

 
#18 ·
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.
 
#19 ·
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??
 
#21 ·
Seems to be common down here. I have yet to find a dealer that really knows their products. 3 stick out here - Land Rover, Toyota and now Porsche.
And, if you want another Porsche dealer you’d have to drive at least an hour to Baton Rouge I think…..

oh , just thought of another , BMW. The salesperson there could not tell me where the battery is on the floor model …. They also have a term for their battery assisted something or other which she had no idea what that option is.
 
#22 ·
If you don't have Sport Chrono option, you don't have 'different modes of sports mode'.
 
#24 ·
My mistake. Sorry. I was confusing Chassis Sport and Chassis Sport Plus with different modes of Sport. But I guess it’s a moot point if you need the Sport Chrono option for Launch Control.
 
#26 ·
So the sales manager told me to come to the dealer and he would demonstrate "Launch Control" for me and that my car does have it. They had just taken a 2022 GTS Macan in on trade - he said its identical to my car - no sport chrono. I got to the dealer and they brought the car up to temp by running it around the building - looked like a 3 stooges clip - the orange car zipping around the dealer service building and parking lot about 3 times. I thought they were going to clip a car in the parking lot. He then ragged it to the expressway in front of the dealer and got air in 1 of the tires then came back to pick me up.

He raced it up and down a small strip of the road then pulled in front of traffic that was at a red light. He showed how toehold the brake until "Hold" comes on the dash, floored the accelerator, then released the brake and off we went. You see, launch control - he says....

Guess the car has it. Or whatever he just demonstrated. But, I not doing it..... Whatever. I still think he's wrong.