I'm interested in 599 GTO owners offering their thoughts and experiences with the PS (Launch Control) function. It's really the only thing I'm waiting to use until after a "reasonable" break in time--I'd guess around 1,000 miles. Have you tried it yet, and if so, how many miles were on the clock before you did? How did it perform and what were your impressions--positive and negative? What is the "use sequence" on US models? Is there a difference between US and ROW models? Thanks... Forza! Scuderia GTO!
I have always been told that the launch control is very hard on the clutch. I'm not sure if it's worth abusing your clutch for the sake of getting to 100kph (or 60mph) 0.2 secs faster.
I haven't used it yet nor am I planning on using it. I was told (like Carlo stated above) that it doesn't really do any good to your clutch. So in the end ... what's the point? She gets off to a pretty quick start without LC anyway Forza Scuderia GTO!
Understood, but somehow just think I should test this factory performance funtion at least once--one of these days we'll have a "Texas Mile" type event at an air strip and the PS button would be add to an already interesting moment... I'll let you know Agreed, Forza Suceria GTO!
Just saw an article in Automobile magazine about that texas mile thing- the writer took a 458 there... I'd imagine the launch control is tough on the clutch and I personally would never use it. If you want to try to use it the first time at the texas mile event for the first time might lead to an embarassing moment. If you want to practice using it before the big day may lead to a big $$$ expense for new clutch, or premature clutch/cv/etc wear. Just my opinion which is not worth anything By the way, the day the 458 went it was spanked by a souped up vette....if you want a drag car get a big american V8 and put some turbos on it
Not "The" Texas mile, just a similar type get together. There are several each year informally held at air strips. I'm just not a worried as you seem to be--its a factory installed program on a car under factory warranty. I simply can't image it would "wank" the clutch using it once or twice during a car's life... But, maybe a few in Europe can discuss their experience on Scuds or 430's, both of which featured similar (if not as developed) options.
My understanding of the older launch systems, a-la Enzo, is that you got 5 launches before you had to replace the clutch. I have no idea what it is in the 599 GTO but I can imagine it will still be rough. However you bring up a great point, it's a factory system! Use it!
As I said, I don't know detail on fuction, which is the reason for my post--but I have a hard time believing using it once or twice in a car's life is an absolute recipe for "disaster". I'd image however its not something of which one would want to make a habit.
I would imagine that the older systems are going to be much much harder on a clutch than the GTO. Since the GTO has newer technology and faster shifts, I would infer that the GTO's launch control wouldn't be as rough on the clutch compared to a CS or Enzo. Now I'm sure that it is still gonna be tough on it no matter what, but I think doing it a couple times over the clutch life isn't going to be detrimental to the car. You may just get a tiny bit shorter life span out of the clutch by using it a couple times, say 20k miles instead of 25k without using LC.
A 599's clutch should last way longer than that. I know someone with a 599 (F1) that has 150,000+ kms (90K+ miles!) and is still on the first clutch.
I was just using the numbers as an example. That's impressive that a 599 already has that many miles, and even more impressive it's on its factory clutch. Must be alot of highway driving.
Paul- Wear items like clutches, brake pads, and tires are not covered by factory warranties. You wear it out, you pay for a new one. The CVs they would cover, most likely. Probably still fun to try and the 599's (and 612 OTO's) twin plate clutch is way tougher than the single plate clutches in early 612s and earlier 12 cylinders. Taz Terry Phillips
Apparently 4-5 uses of LC on a Scud/GTO and you need to replace the clutch. F430 was even less than that. The 458 LC has no additional wear on the clutch due to the dual-clutch config. Personally I would never use it - don't even know why they put it there. More of a marketing gimmick. The cars get off the line fast enough without it!
Much better clutch on the 599, OTO and GTO than the Scud, Enzo, etc, which were single plate clutches. The Scud/16M used the same clutch as the F430. Have not heard of any 599 or OTO owners having worn out a clutch. Speak up if anybody with the dual plate clutch has had to replace their clutch. Would love to have that clutch in my 575M, but too hard to do. Taz Terry Phillips
430 clutch and Scud clutch are identical. The GTO's is not, and not even similar except for being dry, and we have no data on the GTO's clutch burning out. Extrapolating data from one car to another is not warranted unless you know they are using exactly the same components. It becomes pure speculation. So what you should do is look up the componentry and see what you have. Here, for instance, is the F430/Scud/16M clutch. Next is the 599 clutch, but we do not know for certain if that was a carry-over to the GTO because we do not have parts catalogs for the GTO yet, if we ever will since they went on-line with their service data. So the launch control may not even bother a GTO. We do not know without data unlikely to become available any time soon. Taz Terry Phillips http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=263839 http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=111023
