How to best launch?

I've had my 4S cab and still have a lot of learning to do on how to best drive it. Any recommendation on how to best launch it; rpm, wheel spin etc?

drag racing 101. at a safe place ,try different rpm. eg 2500/3000/3500. dump the clutch .you want a balance between little wheel spin and bog. the car is gonna wheel hop...get off the gas before ya break something. have a few grand set aside for a clutch . btw. porsche never made or will make a street light racer.a 20 year old corvette is gonna spank you along with some late model pick up trucks.do you really wanna learn this on a porsche

Rear wheel spin, smokey burn outs, happy power slide launches..not gonna happen in a C4S. Best bet is get a good full clutch engagement and let the awd do its thing. Get into the powerband early and shift to keep it there. Even when you switch off PSM the ABS and AWD can re engage. It will be fast and stick to turns like a gecko on a window tho. Like extanker says, Dragster it's not.

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I don't believe it is possible to "launch" a C4S the way you are wanting to. You need to take your car to the track....and not a straight track and learn how to drive it.

not that I recommend using the car that way, but my guess would be to try 3500-4000 rpm and dropping the clutch(slightly preload it first to help eliminate driveline shock), PSM off of course...

A fast launch is all done with clutch modulation, not dumping the clutch. Rev the motor to around 6k rpm. As you start to,let the clutch out, floor and hold the gas to the floor. Now, modulate the clutch so the rpms stay around 6k and you don't bog or spin the tires. This method is fast but very hard on the clutch.

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You should be able to get at least 3 maybe 4 runs with this. Then Replace the Dual mass flywheel, clutch and Giubo disk.

you mean at the most 3 or 4 runs before it fries

Too funny. I figured it's not gonna smoke me like my e39 or e60 M5's did. It's way cooler though...

I don't even get the question, drive the thing properly you didn't buy an old chevy Camaro!!!

Porsche 996 GT2 9.45 @ 153mph 1/4 Mile - WORLD RECORD - 1.26.14 - YouTube

That 996 GT2 video is the reason TO NOT WASTE TIME OR MONEY on trying to make 996 fast in the straight line. Do you guys realize how much money it took to get that GT2 to run that time? And if anything breaks, you are looking at five figure repair bill, guaranteed. World's quickest 996 can be beat by $10,000 modden LS1 camaro or fox mustang. 996 Turbo with manual transmission is horrible car for 1/4 miles due to short first gear and extremely tricky launching. That is why despite enormous HP numbers, so few 996 Turbos break into 10s. It is extremely difficult to cut a fast 60" time on the 996 turbos despite the AWD due to the platform and drive train specifics. After spending tens of thousands of dollars on trying to make 996 fast you will just achieve what fox/LS1 platform can do for 1/10th of the price and effort. Hell, a $2,500.00 600-750 CC bike from craiglist will annihilate 996 in any trim in a 1/4 mile. Here, for $1,200.00 (or a price of 996 muffler set), you get a 10.X second bike that will out-accelerate 99.99 of vehicles on the road. RIPSPEED fastest LS1 cam and nitrous only. 9.51@140mph (update) - YouTube

"Launching". When applied to a Pcar... Never understood it. Never will. It's all about the corners.

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I agree that other cars are better drag cars but, what does that have to do with a 9second 911; I'm just showing the platform can do it all....USP's GT2 is stock internals +Pauter rods and 'bolt-ons'....mine runs ~130mph 1/4 with tune and exhaust...for the record, I am 100% a roadcourse/corner guy

I knew before I bought my 4S that it wasn't designed for 1/4 mile repeats. And there's a lot of better/cheaper options for that task. That wasn't the intention of my question. I'm looking to dial in on how to best get the jump from a stand still/red light. I'm certain a car this well engineered is capable of doing that within reason without breaking... I'll enjoy learning how to best drive my Pcar and get the most out of it. Although, I'm sure I won't get it close to the limits of its capabilities.

OMG I pity the person who buys your cast offs. For the quickest take off. I suggest you park your car 20 yards facing towards a good solid brick wall. Hit the red line and DUMP your clutch. That way no decent guy will ever have the misfortune of buying your crap. A 996 was never designed for drag racing.

Who gives a crap about the next owner? Its your car, do whatever you want and stop saving it to the enxt owner.

Don't worry, I photoshopped the solid brick wall out of this photo.

My neighbor has a 2013 V8 Mustang and he really wants me to take my 2002 Targa to the local dragstrip to really show those guys what a real car can do. He just has no idea. I just politely decline every time he asks.

Too funny. I drive my cars as their were intended. Not abuse them. I'd be hard pressed to believe that my $100k German piece of engineering can't go fast in a straight line, in turns, braking etc. Isn't that why we bought the thing? Not talking about drag racing guys. Just driving as it was intended.

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Can you photshop the dress out of the picture?

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Can you photoshop the dude in jeans out of the picture and make the skirt shorter

Drive the car how you want. I am working on the dress now

When I drag race, I always wear my jean shorts and concert t.

My theory is simple. I may lose some of the streetlight battles but at the end of the race I still get to drive off in a Porsche

1) Replace your motor mounts (otherwise, wheel hop is TERRIBLE). 2) Tear out the FWD components (optional but highly recommended) 3) Disable PSM 4) Rev to ~3K with your heel-toe skills 5) Rather than dumping the clutch, release it quickly (maybe .25-.5 seconds), and feather the throttle. You want to get some wheel slip, not a smoky burnout wheel spin. You can't control it if you dump the clutch, but with practice, you can get your clutch releases down to nearly instantaneous. If you dump the clutch, you're going to get a lot of wheel hop, and wheel hop is rough on the drivetrain. Incidentally, a decent launch is useful at the autocross, not just the drag strip, and it's a fun skill to learn. The 996 is fun to launch because the HP/torque available isn't going to smoke the tires every time. Putting power down effectively counts, especially on shorter strips where the higher HP cars don't have room to make up the distance once they're firmly hooked.

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Welcome back, Hurdi! FWIW, OP, Hurdi thinks that all people who track their cars are idiots, so it's not just you.

Thanks 5CHNELL.

When my C4S was still AWD, if I was in the mood to do a launch, I found getting up to around 4000rpm and letting the clutch out quickly (not popping it, though) got the best results. You need to do a bit of modulating while releasing it to prevent wheel hop. And turn off the PSM first.

Will all 4 tires break loose?

on a C4S, I'd bet 1 or maybe both rear wheels will spin if driveline is stock, the VC generally isn't 'sticky' enough to get the fronts going...

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The front tires may chirp a bit, but don't expect to be doing any 4-wheel burnouts.

Thanks all. I'm so jacked to own my Porsche. It's exciting learning and driving something so special. Spent the weekend with a clay bar plus a couple coats of Z5. Tomorrow's weather is warm and sunny. I'm going to take the pcar to the office. Practice my hole shots and four wheel drifts... Not really.

Heh. Awesome to see you so stoked to own a 911. I found the front-wheel-drive components to be meh at best and alarming at worst. When I first got my car, the suspension was HARD and twitchy, and when power was going to the front wheels during cornering with ANY bump, PSM kicked in and scared the hell out of me. So, the long-winded moral is: don't go flying around off-ramps in a tail-heavy car you don't know very well yet unless your seats have recently been conditioned. And Scotch Garded.

If you could see how frail the clutch disk is on the 996, you wouldn't be thinking of drag racing it. The are slightly bigger than a Civic's and supposed to handle 300hp. No wonder many don't make it much passed 60K miles.

Sounds like you need a 6-7 G launch to set you straight. Forget the helmet & focus on the snorkel & oh yeh, leave the pcar on the dock

I agree that P cars aren't drag racers but last summer I spanked a 2012 GT500 Mustang from O to just over 100 2-3 car lengths and yes the Mustang was trying he's just started a race from 80 to 140 ish which he got beaten at and followed me down the off ramp to try again smh

I'm thinking the Mustang guy spent his money on GT550 emblems and stripes. How could you possibly "try" and lose a race against a 300HP flat six in a 550HP V8. The math just doesn't work. Not calling you a liar, but either you were making some serious power in the 996 and you need to share, you were racing a GT550-look Mustang, or someone dumped a 5-lb bag of sugar in the dude's tank. Sure it wasn't a Mustang GT? 305HP V6...seems much more realistic that you could walk that in a 996.

I raced the E92 M3 on I17 past Black Canyon city. Going uphill, up to 150MPH, at midnight. Flat 6 screaming at 7k RPM, next to V8 screaming at 8k RPM, high beams ON, two German cars flying side by side through turns. For around 20 miles we engaged in the debauchery on wheels. You could have filmed another F&F movie there. I couldn't pull away form him on the straights, he sat right behind me from 75-150MPH when we hit some traffic. When he would be at the front, he would slightly pull ahead, but I was not being left behind. I was a bit surprised that 996 stayed with much newer and more powerful M3, but weight played an equalizing factor. And tiptronic 3rd gear is perfect for high speed acceleration 75-120MPH.

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Glad I wasn't heading to Flagstaff that night. Be safe...for yourself and for others.

In my c2, you have to be fairly aggressive with the launch to get the tires to break loose. If I'm too gentle with it, the clutch will slip. I'd imagine you will have to be really aggressive with a c4 to get the tires to slip. fwiw I only launch to car at prosolo's. I have also found it launches quite well when done correctly.

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Oh, don't worry. I had a pack of durex on me in-case there were girls in the BMW.

Talk about launch... http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2014/s...ch-control-is/

Best way to launch is in a 60's Camaro with a big block

I could leave a 100ft posi patch in my 03 E39 //M5. What a blast and such a great car. I should of kept that one.

5CHN3LL I was thinking the same thing that it must have been all decals, When he first started I very nearly didn't take the bate expecting complete humiliation ! From the line he was certainly having a problem putting the power down but that doesn't explain the 80-145, but it made me feel good lol

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tool if there is a car with more of a glass jawed clutch than a 911, its an E39 m5. that car sucks.

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I would hardly say the e39 m5 sucks... it is one of the best driving sedan cars out. The noise, the low torque band, aesthetics, decent power, and reasonably priced. I had one and absolutely loved it. Not as much as any of my M3s or the 911 but i really did like it a lot.

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Agreed. I replaced my clutch at 75k. Not bad. I've had 2 M3's (e36 and e46) an E60 M5, 545i and my DD now is a 328 m line 6sp. The E39 M5 was by far the best. I still miss that car. I think most would agree its on a short list of one of if not the best all around sport sedans ever.

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Not really the way to win drag races though

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I use line locks on my front brakes to launch the Corvette...load up the front brakes, engage the locks, bring the revs up to load up the suspension, pop the line locks when the light changes, and ramp up the throttle as fast as I can without breaking the tires loose. Biggest problem is the 1-2 shift - I have to back off the throttle so I don't smoke the tires on the shift. My 'Vette is no 911, but it's just as much fun to drive. It's just a different kind of fun.

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it sucks period. crap vanos, crap clutch, crap mafs, typical e39 electrical gremlins. looks good inside and out. Front suspension is way too soft, the car plows like a whale, brakes are ok, steering feel is crap (recirculating ball...really?) I had one for about 1.5 years and hated it. Couldn't wait to get rid of it. Sound? what sound? The engine was an oil hog too. garbage

Quadcammer, you sound like you enjoyed your M5 about as much as I liked my X5. Granted, it's a pig of an SUV, but I expected...well, I don't know what I expected, but I didn't get it out of the X5. That car made me happy twice: Once when I purchased it, and again when I sold it 2 years later.

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My wife loved the idea of an X5, until she test drove one (to be fair, that also applied to Cayenne). We ended up with an Infiniti FX35. It's been the most maintenance/repair-free car I've ever owned. And it drives like a car.

What's all this launching about, why are we launching??? If we're talking, X5, Cayenne and FX35, its Cayenne all the way...

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We decided on the AWD Murano, which is the FX35's slutty younger cousin. I missed having an SUV I didn't mind getting branch/brush scrapes, etc. The Murano isn't exactly "trail rated," but it's gotten us up and down some dirt roads that the X5 couldn't handle (since it had the same mass as a smallish sun...).