US Launch Control F430?

Apparantly the US version of the 599 has a secret launch control built into the software. "Select CST "off", put the car in 1st, pull on the downshift lever until a beep sounds, left foot on the brake, bury the throttle and let go of the brake" Does the 430 have the same?

 

Whoa - gonna check that out this weekend.

 

I am surprised there isnt more interest?

 

Has anyone tried this?

faz

 

I know my 599 has it, but I won't be trying it...I've grown attached to my clutch

 

You can't tell me that this post was made almost 24hrs ago and no one has tried it on their 430 yet?

I'm tempted to wake the poor sleeping people in my condo's and crank it up!

 

I know in the UK the only way to use Launch Control is simply to put the Mode in CST, Press LC while holding the brake, hold brake and gas to ideal RPM, release the brake.


Is it different in the US?

 

Yeah because US spec cars don't have the button. Apparently on the 599 the computer software is still there just no button and thus the process described above activates the launch control. The question now is does the 430 have the software too?

 

Has anyone tried this out yet on a U.S. F430?

 

I thought the launch control was prohibited in the US and standard in the euro models?

 

No...it is not prohibited, but F chose not to install LC ( warranty or legal issues? ).

 

Great post...

 

Hey guys, settle down, wet dreams are a nighttime phenomena. If you figure out how to tap into Launch Control, you'll wind up doing what almost all the Challenge Stradale owners do which is (i) don't use it, (ii) recommend not using it, or (iii) use it 2-3 times and then never again to avoid frying the clutch.

 

LC is hugely overrated. Unless you are in a specific, timed event, it's really much more fun to put the car in Sport mode, bury the throttle and let the car upshift perfectly at redline. It feels absolutely thrilling, it doesn't hurt the clutch like LC and there is no human alive who will be able to tell the difference without a stopwatch between 3.2 secs to 60 (LC equipped car road test) and 3.4 (US version - non LC road test).

 

3.2 seconds?? What kind of car are you talking about?

 

While this is an interesting discussion, I'm really interested in the answer to the original question.

Do US version 430's have a "hidden" launch control mode?

I'm not suggesting someone actually launch their car to find out, just go through the steps outlined in the original post below to see if the car responds (beeps) the way the 599 does.

Frank

 

I'm gonna throw you under the bus Mike. You posted it. Surely you've tried it by now. What's the scoop?

 

I have the LC button in my CS. From what I understand, using it eats the clutch pretty quickly. I have NEVER used it, and I really don't care if it had it or not. Why would anyone need this option for a F430? Even to try it sounds stupid, and potentially expensive........

 

I can see where it would be hard on a clutch. But some have said that it will cook a clutch after 5 launches if that is true a Ferrari has the weakest clutch I've ever seen.

 

I totally agree with you. I had a friend who had a US F430 and he got the way to install the LC here in Miami, and he used it several times (3) and never heard he had any issue of wearing out the clutch, but he told me that it had burned about 20% of the clutch.

 

Excellent contribution because you're citing real data, or at least your friends rendering of the situation. 20% clutch wear attributable to 3 LC burn outs is pretty significant. I can imagine someone with LC, spurred on by a bunch of yahoos, doing 3 burns in one session. To offer a bit of perspective, on my CS, with Launch Control which I haven't used, my clutch wear was 16.5% with 10K miles of driving

 

20% total clutch loss? Did he check it before and after to come up with the loss? I have about 70 HARD launches in my Viper with kumho's on it. I'm making over 800 hp at the wheels with nearly 900 lb's of torque. I have no way of measuring how much clutch is left but it still hooks up fine. This is with a stock organic disc with a centerforce plate. I'm not saying that it isn't wearing the clutch down I just don't think it is doing it at an alarming rate.

 

Bro...that was a double decker bus . I will try it on sat morning and report back.

You should stay in on friday night and meet up for broke back Ferrari breakfast on sat morning..lol

 

broke back Ferrari breakfast???????????????

Did that double decker bus knock you into the closet?

 

...the only thing weaker than a Ferrari clutch...is a Lambo clutch! Seriously though, I find it extremely annoying and condesending that the 'Government' does not allow the American consumer the same choice that Europeans have. There are numerous cars in available in Europe that we aren't even allowed to drive here....and even when they do import a particular model to the US, it usually is a 'bastardised' version which is 'dumbed down' in some manner or the other (as an example, the launch control in the Ferraris). For a country that likes to title itself 'the Land of the Free', we seem to be without many of the choices that 'freedom' implies....thoughts?