Acceleration Feel / First fast car

[DocGT]

Time for a fresh discussion.

The fastest car I ever drove was a 2012 mustang GT convertible with just a little over 400hp. This will be my first true high performance vehicle.

What is this thing going to feel like?
Is it going to be like a wave of torque or is it going to be more violent?

Is this the type of car you can just “floor it” in or you are going to end up in a ditch?

Any advice on how to learn to handle this kind of power on the road?

Thanks for your inputs!

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[obspsd]

Leave traction control on and floor it!

 

[DocGT]

Leave traction control on and floor it!

Does traction control nuke the feeling of acceleration at all or does it help to achieve that sensation of violent acceleration?

 

[obspsd]

Does traction control nuke the feeling of acceleration at all or does it help to achieve that sensation of violent acceleration?

It cuts power down low to reduce spinning.
It also makes it safer.
Not quite as fun though.

 

[DocGT]

It cuts power down low to reduce spinning.
It also makes it safer.
Not quite as fun though.

So what is the concept of launch control?

Is it just an optimal mix of acceleration and traction control?

 

[kilobravo]

Doc: I'll let someone more knowledgeable correct my guess regarding the DCT. In a manual car, you set a Launch Control RPM. Then, with the clutch depressed, you can push the throttle to the floor and the car will hold that RPM until you release the clutch. I don't know how it works with the DCT but my guess is, the brake replaces the clutch in the aforementioned equation and the engine goes to full throttle when you release the brake. That's my guess, anyway.

 

[obspsd]

So what is the concept of launch control?

Is it just an optimal mix of acceleration and traction control?

Launch control is pretty much worthless.
Only time it is any good is on a prepped drag strip.
You can adjust what rpms to launch at.
Better to just foot brake it.
Launch control is generally used with traction control off.
Stop light to stop light I leave traction control on because it won’t spin much and it takes off nice and I have “only 435hp”
I have never lost to anyone on the street.

 

[DocGT]

Doc: I'll let someone more knowledgeable correct my guess regarding the DCT. In a manual car, you set a Launch Control RPM. Then, with the clutch depressed, you can push the throttle to the floor and the car will hold that RPM until you release the clutch. I don't know how it works with the DCT but my guess is, the brake replaces the clutch in the aforementioned equation and the engine goes to full throttle when you release the brake. That's my guess, anyway.

Great info. Seems like the most efficient way to get the power down.

Would this be something anyone would ever do before the break in period, or not until about 1000 miles are on the car?

 

[DocGT]

Launch control is pretty much worthless.
Only time it is any good is on a prepped drag strip.
You can adjust what rpms to launch at.
Better to just foot brake it.
Launch control is generally used with traction control off.
Stop light to stop light I leave traction control on because it won’t spin much and it takes off nice and I have “only 435hp”
I have never lost to anyone on the street.

Does foot breaking cause any undue stress on the brakes? Any more/less than launch control?

 

[obspsd]

Does foot breaking cause any undue stress on the brakes? Any more/less than launch control?

A tiny bit but like I said launch control is worthless on the street and mostly worthless on the drag strip unless you have a great prepped surface.
On the street leave traction control on or you will have to feather the pedal some from a dead stop.

 

[DocGT]

A tiny bit but like I said launch control is worthless on the street and mostly worthless on the drag strip unless you have a great prepped surface.
On the street leave traction control on or you will have to feather the pedal some from a dead stop.

Great info. Thanks.

What are your thoughts about doing anything like this before the break in period?

 

[obspsd]

Great info. Thanks.

What are your thoughts about doing anything like this before the break in period?

No don’t do it.
Also don’t do burnouts or go over 100 mph for the first 1,000 miles.
Some of this break in is just for the tires and rear end.

 

[Sparko]

Time for a fresh discussion.

The fastest car I ever drove was a 2012 mustang GT convertible with just a little over 400hp. This will be my first true high performance vehicle.

What is this thing going to feel like?
Is it going to be like a wave of torque or is it going to be more violent?

Is this the type of car you can just “floor it” in or you are going to end up in a ditch?

Any advice on how to learn to handle this kind of power on the road?

Thanks for your inputs!

Doc....Congratulations on your new GT 500. My only advice when driving a car like this is be very respectful of the power. I have a 2013 GT500 and have ordered a new GT500...if you are not used to driving a car with this much power do what they taught me in racing school...go slow before you go fast. These cars are amazing but they can also bite you quickly.

 

[DocGT]

Doc....Congratulations on your new GT 500. My only advice when driving a car like this is be very respectful of the power. I have a 2013 GT500 and have ordered a new GT500...if you are not used to driving a car with this much power do what they taught me in racing school...go slow before you go fast. These cars are amazing but they can also bite you quickly.

Great advice. Is it more of a concern learning to drive a car like this through the corners, from a dead stop or everywhere in between?

 

[BmacIL]

Just respect the power and you'll be fine. You'll have very few situations where you can just floor it from low speed. You'll need to be in higher gears/speeds. 400 whp is enough to get one in a ditch pretty easily. ~650 whp and it's child's play to break the car loose. Keep your head leveled and cool and you and your car will be fine.

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