Launching Car

[sparoz]

I must admit I am a crappy manual driver. I am having problems launching the car quickly. The max torque is already there so I thought I can just launch around 2k, but when the clutch engages, it drops back down to almost 1.1. May be I just need to treat the car less gently and give it more throttle? Or may be in am slipping 1st gear too much?

[wkthyk]

I get a same issue - fail to launch the car quickly. I tried a few times to work out the 0-100km time, the best I can do is about 5.3s but usually sitting about 5.4-5.5s. What I usually do is launch at about 2.5-4K with slipping the clutch a little bit at begining. Launching at over 5K ends up of too much wheel spin on RFT.
One more issue I have is I can't get the right time to shift from 1st gear into 2nd. The 1st gear is too short for me and always hit the red line before I can response to change to 2nd gear. Just wonder if anyone has same issue or is that just my problem...
Any experts here to give some hints?

[aus135i]

hmmm i have the ssk i dont have any of those issues above.

[Dazza]

I raced Formula Fords for a while .... we used to hold at 4k until lights out, dump clutch, which would wiggle the car for a fraction of a second as it fought for traction, felt overrevved until it gripped, then the revs climbed really fast as you'd expect, hook second at 6,7k, slight wiggle, then no looking back .... getting goosebumps already!

[qship]

How to launch an Escort

[GtiGyver]

Hold at 4, don't dump clutch completely (control wheelspin) and shift out of first at 5, no later or you'll hit the limiter. After that, go to 6500 for later shifts.

That should give you better times. But, either way, it isn't good for the clutch, or the tranny, or the rear diff for that matter.

[Breville]

Originally Posted by qship

How to launch an Escort

It's the only way! Good one.

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by GtiGyver

Hold at 4, don't dump clutch completely (control wheelspin) and shift out of first at 5, no later or you'll hit the limiter. After that, go to 6500 for later shifts.

That should give you better times. But, either way, it isn't good for the clutch, or the tranny, or the rear diff for that matter.

Are we talking with DSC off completely or on DTC mode? With DSC off completely I would imagine it would be quite difficult to avoid frying ones tyres

[GtiGyver]

DSC off completely, and you're right, the tires will spin, just try and modulate the gas to minimize the wheelspin.
Practice on a wet road, it'll wear out your tires less and be harder to tame.

[sparoz]

Starting to get the hang of it, and last night, I've successfully performed my first heel-toe, what a bit difference when you get it right.

[andrew@southernBM]

I need help with this also Sparoz.

[TimMc]

Ditto. Come & help me with this at Lakeside next week Sparoz!

[harpoon]

Does anyone find heel-toeing difficult in the 135? I drove a cayman S last time I was at a track day and found it so much easier - it feels like the 135 pedals are at odd heights?

[adrian@vishnu]

Originally Posted by harpoon

Does anyone find heel-toeing difficult in the 135? I drove a cayman S last time I was at a track day and found it so much easier - it feels like the 135 pedals are at odd heights?

I have no problems with the 135I. I thought I would due to bottom hinged accel peddle, and I am used to Jap cars (top hinged like brake), but it is fine... nice smooth heal/toes. I tend to not heal toe as much as ball of foot on brake and outer foot twisted onto accel.

The only issue I have is that I tend to use heel/toe for hill starts, but the hill holder holds the brake on as well... longer than I normally do so it stuffs up my timing on hill starts. Can the hill holder function be disabled so it allows the car to roll back and let me deal with it?

-- Adrian

[harpoon]

Originally Posted by adrian@vishnu

I
The only issue I have is that I tend to use heel/toe for hill starts, but the hill holder holds the brake on as well... longer than I normally do so it stuffs up my timing on hill starts. Can the hill holder function be disabled so it allows the car to roll back and let me deal with it?

-- Adrian

Yeh this took me time to get used to...I don't think it can be disabled.

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

I believe if on a hill, let out break while in neutral, rather than being in first and the hill assist does not hold the break.

[adrian@vishnu]

Originally Posted by Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!

I believe if on a hill, let out break while in neutral, rather than being in first and the hill assist does not hold the break.

This does not really help me. I find because I heel/toe on hill starts that I start to release the clutch before I release the brake (so car does not roll back as clutch is holding car). I tend to find that after I have released the brake and the clutch is already partially engaged that the car is holding the brake on until I am fully off the brake pedal, but I can't get fully off the brake pedal without coming of the accel pedal since I am doing both with the same foot. It is just a pain, and I was hoping the hill holder function could be disabled, but apparently not. I have driven for 20 years without a hill holder in manuals. I don;t need it now!! Even when you decide to use the feature it releases after a few seconds... I almost rolled back into someone, as I released my foot off the brake with the clutch in on a big hill, and it was holding and then it suddenly released.... I hate the system!!

-- Adrian

[jksgoh]

it is a pain at the start and does take a little while to get use to in the beginning. have you tried just simply moving your foot from the brake to the accel w/o heel and toe? the hill assist should hold it long enough so you dont roll back while your moving your feet.

[adrian@vishnu]

Originally Posted by jksgoh

it is a pain at the start and does take a little while to get use to in the beginning. have you tried just simply moving your foot from the brake to the accel w/o heel and toe? the hill assist should hold it long enough so you dont roll back while your moving your feet.

Yes I can certainly drive normally without heel/toe, but then I get used to that and I hop into my other cars and start rolling back. It is just annoying to me when the provide driving aid features that cannot be removed. Atleast you can turn off DSC/DTC. In the new 370Z you can turn off the auto throttle blipping, but BMW do not allow this to be turned off. I am sure that most of the customer base appreciated this feature. it is just that I would prefer it not be there. I can live with it.

-- Adrian

[WAY]

Originally Posted by Dazza

I raced Formula Fords for a while .... we used to hold at 4k until lights out, dump clutch, which would wiggle the car for a fraction of a second as it fought for traction, felt overrevved until it gripped, then the revs climbed really fast as you'd expect, hook second at 6,7k, slight wiggle, then no looking back .... getting goosebumps already!

Can't compare something with slicks! What Ducati do you have btw?

[sparoz]

Yes, I have performed my first perfect heel-toe, but yet to have done the second yet. . 1st to 2nd is getting annoying at the moment thinking about the CDV mod but not sure what it will do to the clutch in the long run. Love to come to lakeside, but I am either working or on my long weekend. Working = can't come, not working = spending time with wife = can't come

[jksgoh]

Originally Posted by adrian@vishnu

Yes I can certainly drive normally without heel/toe, but then I get used to that and I hop into my other cars and start rolling back. It is just annoying to me when the provide driving aid features that cannot be removed. Atleast you can turn off DSC/DTC. In the new 370Z you can turn off the auto throttle blipping, but BMW do not allow this to be turned off. I am sure that most of the customer base appreciated this feature. it is just that I would prefer it not be there. I can live with it.

-- Adrian

arr... i see your point now, it must be a pain moving from car to car... i remember jumping into my bros mini and i had quite a bit of trouble doing a hill start first go...