trev0006

This is one odd race but we still get to see what each car runs without the launch control setup.



From the article:


Photos and video - Drag Race – Mercedes C63 AMG S vs BMW M4 vs Porsche 991 C4 GTS

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whoadude

That was silly.

Scorponok

Ha - funny. But I agree with the closing statement. Launch control is just a gimmick.

chuckbdc

That was the perfect way to demonstrate the incompetence of the reviewers, who had to reach into nonsensical procedures to generate the nonsensical commentary and results. Or perhaps of a viewer who has not used launch control on any of the cars.

Archimedes

Well that was a waste of four minutes. What a moronic little test. I agree that LC is a nonsense feature, but that was just stupid.

The only thing to be learned/confirmed from that video is that the M4's power is too manic for it's own good.

trev0006

M4 has too much low end torque.

mb1

Silly video, but it kinda sums up how I feel about driving PDK. Unless you're driving routinely in SPORT mode or shifting "manually" (which I suspect many PDK owners aren't), I always feel like the PDK is in too high of a gear to get optimum acceleration at an instant. I recognize that from a standing start in first gear the car with PDK will accelerate more quickly than a 7 speed. But has anyone compared accelerating from 30-50 when the manual starts in the appropriate gear versus the loafing PDK that has to downshift from 3rd or 4th gear (I assume geared that way for gas mileage purposes) before it can accelerate strongly? Although obviously not as complicated as having to initiate launch control, my PDK auto never feels as instantaneous to me in day-to-day driving as does my manual. (disclosure Macan vs. 997, and yes I know that comparing the cars is probably apples to oranges)

2fnquik

A manual may be more engaging and fun, but there is no doubt the PDK is faster. Anyone trying to go fast will have it in Sport or Sport+.

Para82

All that engineering and no road course. Bummer.

strumbringer

FYI, just in case you aren't aware: If you quickly press and release the gas to ~half the way, it kicks down into the optimal gear for torque. Faster than changing gears with a clutch pedal, same effect

mb1

^^ I know that the PDK shifts more quickly than I can. My comparison was when the PDK has to shift into a lower gear to accelerate compared to when the manual was in the right gear to begin with and no shift is needed. No shift is always faster than the fastest automated shift, even PDK, as good as it is. BTW, I think that PDK is by far the best non- manual that I've driven, but I still find it dull for street driving.

Bacura

I must be missing something. I can keep the PDK in any gear I want just like a MT. What if I have my PDK in third and you have your MT in 4th which will be faster? Seems like a stupid question. So pull up beside a MT car in 3rd gear, have my PDK in 4th and both floor it with me having to downshift???? Doh.

mb1

Yes, you are missing something. I prefaced my initial comment by saying that I was excluding those who drive the PDK in manual mode and who would also be in whatever gear they choose. I'm not trying to say that manual is better than PDK, only that I prefer manual and gave my reasoning.

thomnellie

Ha! Love it. Best argument yet for MT. The Porsche would probably have done worse if Start/Stop had been engaged before going into Sport+. Of course, most of us would have anticipated the need for LC before the light had changed, hopefully.

Karl911

That was BS, Porsche has best launch control. Just hit S+, MB is way to complicated