NewZ06Man

Ran a few tests using PDR on the street with performance mode set to Track/Sport 1 and using Launch Control on my A8 Z06/07 and best I was able to run was 3.6s to 60.

Now I know conditions are not ideal on street and I have MPSS ZPs on the car now, but still think I should be sub 3.5s consistently using launch control and this set up on the street and it is more like 3.6 s/3.7 s consistently.

Suggestions?

Launch seems like it is pulling power back quite a bit and a bit of wheel spin at 1-2 shift.

I know people have gotten better results without Launch Control, but have also seen many vids with sub 3.5s using Launch Control.

ZoratZ06

I would definitely think you can do better than that. I can run fairly consistent 3.5-3.6s in my M7 on the street without heating the tires up. I've done sub 3.5s on the drag strip...and I've seen a vids of people getting 3.1-3.2 in the M7 on the street. So, I'd expect the A8 to be quicker for sure. Try it without launch control and see what happens.

davepl

In an A8 Convertible with drag radials my best with launch control was 3.6 and without was 3.1, so there's lot of room for improvement.

Launch Control, in my opinion, regulates the slip but does not recover acceleration from that slip - you can do a better, albeit not necessarily safer, job with your right foot.

It's getting late in the year but I want to try the drag radials on a prepped surface (ie: the dragstrip launchpad) both with and without and see what I net out each approach.

NewZ06Man

Yeah I was thinking I should be able to get sub 3.5s on the street with Launch Control.

Not sure all the vids of people with low 3s times are real and not just recording wheel slip as opposed to car speed, some I have seen definitely jump over 60 and then back down below when the car hooks.

Will give a shot to launching the car myself and see what I can do.

hksevo9

I thought Launch Control was only activated under TRACK ->RACE
I don't think its on when using Sport1?

jaden61

Well, it is.

spearfish25

I have to be honest. I've avoided launch control completely after seeing a few videos of rear ends grenading when using it. Am I being overly worried about breaking something?

Race allows some drag variation of launch control. Maybe it assumes a prepped surface.

OVR60

On a Porsche all you do is press a button hit the gas to the floor and away you go. GM could have done better on this one.

NewZ06Man

Tried brake torqueing the trans and launching it myself in Touring mode. Need to work on it a little to get best launch RPMs, set it about 1800 RPM or so and launched it myself and rolled into the throttle and managed 3.50s. Think if I launch it at more like 2500 RPM and roll in faster I could take a couple of tenths off, but I don't see getting much quicker than 3.3s with these tires on the street (at least on the roads around where I am in Mexico ).

Will also try Launch Control in Track/Race as well when I get a chance.

To be honest this car is easier to control than I thought it would be, especially watching YouTube vids (at least without everything turned off). My R8 with AWD was more of a handful trying to get a quick launch.

Thomasmoto

I've been 2.70 at the drag strip but that was using DR's on my A8 , I never have had any success with LC that was just footbraking it and using the Tour setting. It lets the car transfer weight better and that helped ETs

NewZ06Man

How did you launch it?

Bigdog9586

I've done 3.5 on my auto a couple times. Full tank gas, top off, county blacktop road, launch control, 32ils. And 82 degrees and auto shifting itself. I was after basically like I would normally run it on the street.

tbrenny33

The slippage does happen on the M7 cars so you have to be careful when you see the videos. My best on the street with MPSS tires is a 3.3 w/LC, but very consistent 3.4-3.6. On sport cup 2's I've gotten 3.1 and 3.2. To do it I lowered tire pressure to around 28-30 psi, one of the keys is to drive around a bit (or if you can a light burnout or at least a quick one to clean tires). I've then used sport 1 and manual shifted so i can shift right at redline. In Drive it always wanted to short redline by like 500 rpm. I think if i was at a track I'd use sport 1 then try track, I've tested track but it seems like on the street it attempts to put more power down and it just doesn't wanna hook as well. I've tried rolling into it but I either get to aggressive or not enough. Would like to see some videos of people rolling into it if you have one. Also PDR does not factor in rollout like quoted 0-60 times. So whatever your getting is probably really a couple tenths faster.

Thomasmoto

Just held on the brake and put some load on it and off the brake quickly for the launch.
I've been drag racing for 38 years, it's a seat of the pants feeling with me. Not trying to be smart, it's just difficult to put it in words.

NewZ06Man

PDR of 3.5s run in Touring launching at 1800 RPM and rolling into the throttle.


of course goes without saying I made this vid while in Mexico

tbrenny33

Nice. I'll have to try it in touring maybe. I always try it in track so that maybe my biggest issue. The trans definitely short shifted, i think you could've cut .1-.2 just from that. I can pretty much get 3.5 or better every time from LC. No need to say, its all in Mexico!! Here's one of my good ones.

NewZ06Man

Nice run, going to have to give a shot to shifting myself I guess. Also I was wondering today if I should put it into Performance Shift prior to the Launch if that would help with better shifts. Might give that a try too.

tbrenny33

Thanks, I personally like to manual shift, so once you get used to it and get it timed you can get great redline shifts. Performance shift is better but it still short shifts 1st a lot.

NewZ06Man

Any idea why the A8 is short shifting with WOT? Is it because I rolled into it? I am hoping Performance Shift Mode will give better shifting when I give it a try, but now I am also wondering if after I stop the car prior to launch, if the car goes out of PSM.

tbrenny33

I'm not positive but I thought PSM was in available track mode, so that could be in issue. I don't believe it kicks you out if from stopping instantly but if you can, before you launch do a quick burnout and it should reactivate PSM. I know I have been in PSM before and it still shorted redline on the 1-2 shift.