*** Ferrari 430 F1 LC - LAUNCH CONTROL ***

I've heard from a tech that after 9 uses of it the clutch is gone. It was two years ago I heard this, so I might be a little off. It may have been after a certain amount of time the new clutch costs $9,000. I do remember it was a low amount of times using it, would damage it.

Hope this is a little helpfull

 

You will have to wait for non-US owners to answer this one, since they do not have LC here on the F430. I have also read bad things about the clutch life with LC use, so I would not make it a regular thing unless you have money to burn.

 

I think closer to $5,000 for a new clutch.

 

Does that include labour?

 

Hearing stories that using the LC uses 10/15% of your clutch each time has put me off ever trying it. Besides, putting my foot through the floor seems to work just as good

 

yes

 

Popping the clutch at max RPM applies huge stresses to the clutch, transmission, and engine. Eventually something will fail, maybe more than the clutch. My CS has it but I have not and will never use it. As Jeremy Clarkson said in Top Gear, launch control is just a stupid way to impress one's friends.

 

I have used it on all of my cars, I have never had to replace a clutch as of yet, but I havnt had any F430 long enough I suppose. On my first car, I tracked it often, using Launch Control often there, in my experience just planting the accelerator with CST off is a much better experience, the E-Diff keeps the car pointed very streight, but with the launch control you have a large jolt due to the inertia(sp) of dumping the clutch at 8000rpm, where as just nailing it without launch control the effect is less harsh, but just as spectacular. If you wear out your clutch, hey better doing it enjoying the car then poodling around town as this is the highest wear factor on these cars.

Best
Michael J

 

Jeremey Clarkson is nothing but a showman, I do wish people would stop taking his word as gospel, who knoes better? Ferrari or Clarkson? I put it to you that Launch Control is indeed a definate racing operation with great benifits when used in an appropriate manner, no doubt it impresses as a 'gadget', but serves a very perpousfull function, often misinterpreted as an 'Impress your Mates' button for city fatcats. Use the car as it was ment to be used, otherwise you may aswell buy a replica and save loads of money as opposed to the $$ is costs to replace the clutch.

 

if you ask me jeremy knows what a super car is as good as ferrari does. I dont think anybody in this world has his experience on that type cars hmms maybe stig

 

I would use it on a press car all day long.

 

With all due respect, I think that Jeremy Clarkson shouldn't be compared with Ferrari. They know 10000x more than him... I think that the Launch Control works in a simple way, you press it and you'll be able to build up the revvs up to 4000 RPM instead of 2000. When you let go of brakes, the car with Launch as a missle. Please correct me if I'm wrong... But a Ferrari Clutch is much more reliable than an M3's clutch for example ( E46 SMG ). I think you can use it very often without hurting your car.