After reading the thread about someone's 4 day old vRS, where he mentioned the launch control on a DSG, I had to try it.

Found an empty bit of road on the way home, turned off traction, engaged sport, left footed the brake, then held down the loud peddle.

Let the brake go, she paused then wheel span, a huge thump through the transmission, then she took off.

What a shower of sh@@e. Not sure if the TDI has too much torque or something, but launch control was an absolute waste of time.

Anyone else tried it? Is the TSI any different?

What a shower of sh@@e.

I take it you weren't impressed then ?

 

Try it with more road grip, high grip surfaces at traffic lights for instance.

I have for the past 2 nights after borrowing a Racelogic box  .  I don't think foot to the floor 'dumping the clutch' at 2500rpm is very forgiving and like you say it just wheelspins.  However, you don't need to pin the throttle and I've had better launches around 1500rpm and 'jolt' it off the line before full throttle.  

Lol..... Just lol....

Lots of variables could cause issues.

Torque spike. Not sure if the TDI does this as they used to.

Summer Tyres on cold roads. Not sure what your running.

Tyre pressures.... When did you last check.

Gear changes.... Generally to get good 1/4 mile times many people with TDI's do second gear starts. Don't think it's possible with DSG, but can you change straight into second?

Do you need to feather the throttle after initial take off?

I tried it tonight, slippy roads so I'm hoping it will be better in the dry.

Having tested both the 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI I can say that the TSI's acceleration feels more balanced in a wider rev range. The TDIs power surge is front loaded so it is no wonder that launching the FWD 2.0 TDI will result in the abovementioned irritating tyre spin.

 

This is one of the reasons I had a 4x4 this time, as I hated my wheel spin at every traffic light.

 

So I suppose my experience with the launch control is nin the 4x4 TSI is noticeably more pleasant than the vRS...but I still think it is a rather pointless feature

Whats the difference with/without the traction control?

 

Sometimes to avoid the delay in pulling away, say at a traffic light,  I use left-foot braking and then gently give it some gas (~1500rpm?) before coming off the brake - then it pulls away instantly. 

 

Mechanical sympathy stops me dumping the clutch at 2500rpm!

I had an M135i with the 8 speed ZF auto, which had a launch control feature. It was pretty useless also. I could get off the line like scalded cat just by putting it in 2nd and flooring it from stationary. The hook up was incredible.

My vRS tdi will have DSG. Can you make it start from 2nd gear anyone know?

Does the DSG actually use 1st gear for a normal take-off?

I though on a flat road under normal conditions it will pull away in 2nd?

 

I'm not sure what people are expecting from "launch control" on a FWD family hatchback with the traction control turned off...

I'm sure even the 1.4 TSi would spin the wheels. (TheManWithNoAim can probably confirm this )

Oh yeah,as much as Choirboy 's ain't safe with a Priest.

Regards

T

Launch control does work (it did on my mk2FL), I've yet to try it in the mk3. Though as above, the current weather doesn't help..... *in scotty's voice* launch control canny change the laws of physics

Edited 28 January, 201610 yr by M12MKD

Does the DSG actually use 1st gear for a normal take-off?

I though on a flat road under normal conditions it will pull away in 2nd?

 

I'm not sure what people are expecting from "launch control" on a FWD family hatchback with the traction control turned off...

I'm sure even the 1.4 TSi would spin the wheels. (TheManWithNoAim can probably confirm this )

 

 

From a standstill, it uses first.  Changes to second before you notice though.

 

And yes, it is possible to spin the wheels. And the clunking as the traction control kicks in is a pain in the derriere.

From a standstill, it uses first.  Changes to second before you notice though.

 

And yes, it is possible to spin the wheels. And the clunking as the traction control kicks in is a pain in the derriere.

The clunking is called "tramping" and basically it's the UJ'S agreeing that yes you are realy trying ! Practise can teach you how to feather the throttle at the right point BUT and yes it's as big a butt as Byoncy's it ain't as much fun !

You guys just don't appreciate the **** I go through finding this stuff out for you.

Regards

T

I first experienced that over 40 years ago! (But I appreciate some of our younger readers might not know )

 

 

Valve bounce - who remembers that?  IME a much better way of warning that you've passed the rev peak than an electronic limiter, which cuts the engine dead and you wonder WTF!!! until you release the throttle and the engine catches again - all in the space of a couple of seconds.

I first experienced that over 40 years ago! (But I appreciate some of our younger readers might not know )

 

 

Valve bounce - who remembers that?  IME a much better way of warning that you've passed the rev peak than an electronic limiter, which cuts the engine dead and you wonder WTF!!! until you release the throttle and the engine catches again - all in the space of a couple of seconds.

 

 

Cheers, TMWNA !

Whats the difference with/without the traction control?

 

Sometimes to avoid the delay in pulling away, say at a traffic light,  I use left-foot braking and then gently give it some gas (~1500rpm?) before coming off the brake - then it pulls away instantly. 

 

Mechanical sympathy stops me dumping the clutch at 2500rpm!

 

 

That pull away lag really annoys me, but until the warranty runs out I will have to wait to fit a pedal box. In the meantime when I am at a roundabout and need a quick take off with less 'lag' I just pop the DSG into 'Sport' which does help then drop back to 'normal' as soon as possible. Not great but better than standard.

 

Only got the auto due to wife's dodgy left knee, I have had manuals most of my life, far more controllable and a lot more fun!!

Edited 30 January, 201610 yr by ajw1100

That pull away lag really annoys me, but until the warranty runs out I will have to wait to fit a pedal box. In the meantime when I am at a roundabout and need a quick take off with less 'lag' I just pop the DSG into 'Sport' which does help then drop back to 'normal' as soon as possible. Not great but better than standard.

 

Only got the auto due to wife's dodgy left knee, I have had manuals most of my life, far more controllable and a lot more fun!!

I don't seem to have"pull away lag",but all our car's re remapped 2.0TSi's, so there's quite a lot of torque just above idle rpm.

 

Not bothered with launch control at all, (the instructions are in the EOS manual), an enthusiastic start in "S" produces e.nough unpleasant axle-tramp.

 

Easier to get it rolling & then open wide.

 

As for starting in 2nd, that's only possible if the car hasn't come to a full stop. When crawling in traffic I often select 1st manually to minmise clutch wear at 2/3 mph in 2nd..

 

Probably not necessary with a wet clutch, but who knows?

 

As for manuals, no thanks, after driving for 50+ years I'm quite happy to own autos that take the grunt work away & still give me a good degree of control,

as & when I feel the need to intervene.

 

Different strokes, etc.

 

DC

 

 

As for manuals, no thanks, after driving for 50+ years I'm quite happy to own autos that take the grunt work away & still give me a good degree of control,

as & when I feel the need to intervene.

 

Different strokes, etc.

 

DC

 

Have to agree with you too on that one. Yes Manuals can be more fun, on a open road without traffic. But after over 20 years of driving I for one enjoy the DSG doing the town work gear changing for me. And on todays road the DSG is more than enough control to make progress.

 

Don't get me wrong the manual shift experience on a good road, on a good day, is without doubt brilliant........but sadly that kind of day very rarely exists now days.

 

Any way back to the launch control, I might try it out next time I'm out in the car on my own, as the other half hates speed :(

As for starting in 2nd, that's only possible if the car hasn't come to a full stop.

DC

Mine starts in 2ND quite often as long the road is flat. And I mean from a full stop.

Mine starts in 2ND quite often as long the road is flat. And I mean from a full stop.

Your car has the 7-speed dry clutch DSG, maybe the control setting are different to our 6-speed DSG's?

 

DC

Your car has the 7-speed dry clutch DSG, maybe the control setting are different to our 6-speed DSG's?

DC

I have the 1.8TSI 4x4, so its a 6speed.

Edited 31 January, 201610 yr by Gromle

Cars 150ps and below..also anything with the dry clutch 7 speed do not have LC.

So a 150 TDI 6 speed and 140/150 TSI with 7 speed...or anything else with 7 speed wont have it...so probably the 2wd 180 TSI too.

The dry clutch couldnt handle the clutch slip.

Its utter garbage anyway....on a TDI anyway from my own experience of having had it on a Mk2 170 CR vRS.

Edited 31 January, 201610 yr by pipsypreturns

I have the 1.8TSI 4x4, so its a 6speed.

My bad, I did not know that. 

 

Your car isn't sold here, so the differences were unknown to me. I looked at the Norwegian Brochure but I couldn't see, (or understand!)  why it uses the 6-speed.

 

Maybe the 7-speed can't be fitted with the 4x4 drive-train?.

 

DC.

I first experienced that over 40 years ago! (But I appreciate some of our younger readers might not know )

 

 

Valve bounce - who remembers that?  IME a much better way of warning that you've passed the rev peak than an electronic limiter, which cuts the engine dead and you wonder WTF!!! until you release the throttle and the engine catches again - all in the space of a couple of seconds.

 

 

Cheers, TMWNA !

I remember valve-bounce only too well, especially on the 105E Anglia & also something similar in a 1980 Mercury Capri, (Mercury branded Ford Mustang), no redline on the tacho 

but what might have been the hydraulic tappets giving-up at high rpm.

 

(A 3.3 litre,  straight 6 cast iron pushrod lump, a single barrel carb & strangled with early emission control gear. It made 89 bhp @ 3,300 rpm. so not much point in trying harder!)

 

DC

My first experience was on an 850 Mini that I'd fitted with an Oselli Stage 1 head and bigger SU carb.