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  #61  
Old 07-26-2010, 11:40 AM
jenniferq jenniferq is offline
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How did you know I was a Canadian, Cal? So you know, the wait time in Canada for the 458 is only about 12-18 months as told by my dealer. The California is even faster. Why do you need to wait for Jan 2011 production?
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I'm in Canada and only have 400km on my California. Though I'm still new to car, I'm enjoying it. Thanks for the explanation.
We all do, Rainman!
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  #62  
Old 07-26-2010, 11:40 AM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Hey omni.

That sounds wicked. But won't that burn out the clutch or damage the car somehow? I would hate to do anything detrimental to my new baby.

Do the tires end up peeling out?
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  #63  
Old 07-26-2010, 11:48 AM
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RickLederman RickLederman is offline
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I have not gone back to see how much black there is on the ground but there is no smoking burn out, it is designed just to make the car go. With the brakes on and the gas to the floor mine hovers around 1800 to 2000 RPM, then it goes to 5000 when the brake is released until the wheels catch up with the RPM. It is pretty cool. I probably have done it at least 8 times.
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  #64  
Old 07-26-2010, 08:21 PM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Hmmmm I'm gonna have to try it out. But if the Rpm hovers around 2000, letting go of the brake should make it peel out. At least in theory it should.
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  #65  
Old 07-27-2010, 03:53 AM
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MarkCollins MarkCollins is offline
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I understand you should do it twice, the 1st one it uses a set of predetermined specs as to revs etc and it's likely you'll get some wheelspin, the 2nd time it uses the information gained from the 1st run to ensue the fastest possible launch

I've not tried it but must get around to it, I've been told that clutch wear is not an issue with the twin clutch wet system installed
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  #66  
Old 07-27-2010, 11:56 AM
calitalia calitalia is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainforest View Post
How did you know I was a Canadian, Cal? So you know, the wait time in Canada for the 458 is only about 12-18 months as told by my dealer. The California is even faster. Why do you need to wait for Jan 2011 production?
Cos TIHK ici, ce n'est pas Canada de tout... the cali has a wait time now for 12 months. Lucky you, if I am back in Canada, for what I pay for my Cali, I can buy the 458 fully loaded with no waittime and premium with enough leftover for a porsche... that's how crazy it is. You from Vancouver?
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  #67  
Old 07-29-2010, 11:26 PM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Hey everybody. I actually just looked in the manual regarding the Launch button, and it says the following:

Launch
The “Launch” mode is a performance start function. Activating this
function gives the vehicle the best possible acceleration.
The device transfers the necessary torque to the ground and avoids
skidding of the wheels during acceleration.
The “Launch” mode is activated as described below:
- the vehicle must be stationary
- gearbox must be in manual mode
- select the first gear
- press button L to the left of the centre console
- press the accelerator pedal and release the brake pedal.

It doesn't say anywhere that the brake must be held while you rev the engine. It basically says that you put the car in manual, press Launch, and then "step on it". I assume that the driver has to upshift the car manually throughout the acceleration.

Can anybody help me clarify this?
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  #68  
Old 07-29-2010, 11:57 PM
db6 db6 is offline
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seems like it is missing a step, because it says to "release the brake pedal' AFTER hitting the accelerator pedal.

thus, since one cannot release the brake pedal unless it is being pressed, one can surmise that you must be on the brakes before you stand on the gas.
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  #69  
Old 07-30-2010, 01:06 AM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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...hence my confusion. Help!
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  #70  
Old 07-30-2010, 01:16 AM
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ddemuro ddemuro is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainforest View Post
...hence my confusion. Help!
If it's anything like my 911, you have to hold the brake pedal down, build revs with the accelerator, then let go of the brake pedal. The launch control software then sends it forward with the force of a rear-end collision at 30mph. It's nuts on my car - I can't even imagine it on a California, or something even faster...
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  #71  
Old 07-30-2010, 03:29 PM
Scuderia_Ferrari Scuderia_Ferrari is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainforest View Post
Hey everybody. I actually just looked in the manual regarding the Launch button, and it says the following:

Launch
The “Launch” mode is a performance start function. Activating this
function gives the vehicle the best possible acceleration.
The device transfers the necessary torque to the ground and avoids
skidding of the wheels during acceleration.
The “Launch” mode is activated as described below:
- the vehicle must be stationary
- gearbox must be in manual mode
- select the first gear
- press button L to the left of the centre console
- press the accelerator pedal and release the brake pedal.

It doesn't say anywhere that the brake must be held while you rev the engine. It basically says that you put the car in manual, press Launch, and then "step on it". I assume that the driver has to upshift the car manually throughout the acceleration.

Can anybody help me clarify this?
Well, and this is just my opinion, but if your in your California "stationary" and selecting first gear, I (and I think the owner's manual) assume your foot is on the brake pedal to begin with...

As with the launch control, again I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure when it's turned on you can push the whole pedal to the floor and the engine managment will rev up the engine to just the right RPM's and then releasing the brake pedal will launch the car while TC and SC keep the rear tires in check.

Can anyone confirm If I'v got it right?
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  #72  
Old 07-30-2010, 05:35 PM
db6 db6 is offline
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See Post #60. It doesn't get much more clear than that.
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  #73  
Old 07-31-2010, 08:08 PM
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RickLederman RickLederman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scuderia_Ferrari View Post
Well, and this is just my opinion, but if your in your California "stationary" and selecting first gear, I (and I think the owner's manual) assume your foot is on the brake pedal to begin with...

As with the launch control, again I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure when it's turned on you can push the whole pedal to the floor and the engine managment will rev up the engine to just the right RPM's and then releasing the brake pedal will launch the car while TC and SC keep the rear tires in check.

Can anyone confirm If I'v got it right?
Yep, right on. The RPM with the brakes on and the RPM with the brakes off seems to change based on conditions. It would be interesting to know what the computer is looking for but we probably will never know that. It is great fun, I have done it a few more times now!
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  #74  
Old 07-31-2010, 08:13 PM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Ok. So it is confirmed that I need to hold brake down and floor the gas at the same time, right? Then, I need to let go of the brake and hold on for dear life!

Just want to make sure because I did pay quite a bit of change for this set of wheels, and I would hate to do any damage to it.
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  #75  
Old 07-31-2010, 08:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainforest View Post
Ok. So it is confirmed that I need to hold brake down and floor the gas at the same time, right? Then, I need to let go of the brake and hold on for dear life!

Just want to make sure because I did pay quite a bit of change for this set of wheels, and I would hate to do any damage to it.
I put mine in Sport mode, Auto off, first gear, left foot on brake, mash the PS button (Launch if you live in a country where stupid do gooders are not running the government), Right foot gas to the floor (RPM on mine goes to about 1800 or 1900 and seems to waver there, wait a couple seconds, Left foot off the brake. RPM jumps to about 5K and it launches. RPM stays at 5K until the rear wheels catch up with the slipping clutch. I assume that the computer controls clutch slip to keep the RPM at 5K until them match up therefore keeping the torque up as high as possible during the launch.
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  #76  
Old 08-05-2010, 04:24 AM
f1cal f1cal is offline
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Launch control clarification

Hi all,

It's my first post here but I have been learning loads from the forum over the past few weeks.

I am hoping to try and clarify the launch control for those of you that have been asking. I don't actually have my California yet but am hoping to collect from the factory at the end of September. However, prior to buying I was lucky enough to be asked by Ferrari to go on a track training course at Millbrook over here in the UK. A few of us were taken out on the various different tracks and courses by trained racing drivers in six different Californias. We had the opportunity to "properly" drive the car around the bowl, on the standing straight and also on the alpine track (where they filmed the famous Aston rolling in Casino Royale).

Anyway, I'll get to the point! I had a few runs down the standing straight and the car was incredible but, I had to ask the question "so how does the launch control work in this then?". My trained racing driver informed me that we should give it a go as launch has been much improved since the F430 (he said you could use it 3 times before the clutch burned out). Apparently it has been redesigned so that it doesn't wear the clutch anywhere near as much. So, the following is what he instructed me to do:

1. Switch the Manettino to "all off" (i.e. all the way right).
2. The transmission can be in either manual or auto (we tried both but auto first).
3. Press the "Launch" button.
4. Left foot on the brake.
5. Right root on the accelerator (foot to floor).
6. Wait to 3000rpm and then release the brake.

You can switch the Manettino back into Sport or Comfort once you are away if you wish to he said but we were on a perfect straight anyway.

The other thing that he suggested was that if you are able to go back and do the launch again from a similar starting position was that you would get a better start still as the car has made calculations from the previous run. Whether this is true or not, I can't really say as we did the run again but in manual (which definitely seemed quicker anyway). I think the fastest I had on the straight was about 162mph before having to break hard for the slowing banked corner. I probably did about 10 runs down the straight with the roof both up and down.


The other thing we did was run the car past 100mph in the top lane of the bowl and take our hands off the steering wheel. Quite honestly one of the scariest things I have ever done but apparently all cars are capable of this at that speed at the certain angle of the bowl. PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT A TRAINED DRIVER ON A SUITABLE BOWL THOUGH!

Anyway, hope that helps. I have some photos from the day but unfortunately none from the actual track as it is a track where vehicles are tested prior to launch and no cameras are allowed.

Hope you enjoyed,

Andy

Last edited by f1cal; 08-05-2010 at 04:26 AM.
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  #77  
Old 08-05-2010, 10:23 AM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Ok. There is a clear consensus that both the gas must be floored while the brake is held down. Very clear now. Just hope it doesn't kill my clutch to quickly.

If you have photos from the track day with some cars in them, please post!
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  #78  
Old 08-05-2010, 05:47 PM
f1cal f1cal is offline
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Hi rainforest,

Sorry if I had just repeated what others had said in previous replies but I thought I would just share what I had been told. Not to say any of that was correct but I hope it helped.

Here are a few of the images I took on the day. These were taken at the hotel we met at before heading off to Millbrook.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg californias_001.jpg (65.7 KB, 57 views)
File Type: jpg californias_002.jpg (64.0 KB, 57 views)
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  #79  
Old 08-05-2010, 08:04 PM
rainforest rainforest is offline
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Hey Andy. That's great that Ferrari invited you to a driving event.

A couple of questions for you.

1) Was there a charge for this event? Just curious, because Ferrari has the racing school here in North America where they charge something like $10,000 for two days.

2) What was your overall impression of the California after driving it flat out? There are quite a few people here on the forum who are not fans of the California, and feel it is much inferior to the 458. What are your thoughts on this?

3) Did you only get to drive the California, or were there other Ferrari's at this event as well?
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  #80  
Old 08-06-2010, 04:10 AM
f1cal f1cal is offline
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Hi rainforest, thanks for your reply.

1. There was no charge for the event. It was basically set up to invite good previous customers to come and fully test the California in mind of trying to sell them one. I was lucky as someone dropped out last minute and because I had ordered one a month or so before they knew that I would want a proper go in one on the track (I had said as much when I ordered it).

I have since been invited to driver courses at Ferraris Fiorano track in Italy but they have been ones to pay for.

2. I absolutely loved the California on the track. It was great to fully test every aspect of the car and see how differently it performed in all it's different settings.

I know there are a few people out there who don't like the California but I personally completely disagree with them. It's a completely new breed of car for Ferrari and I believe that it does everything they suggested it would and more. Ok, it's not a 458 but then it isn't supposed to be. I haven't driven the Italia yet so I can't compare them but from what I understand they are both great road and track cars.

All I can say is having driven a lot of supercars in the past I enjoyed the California most so far. Maybe it was because I was on the best tracks I have driven to date but I think I will enjoy the car just as much when I finally collect it. Can't wait now and I am looking forward to many more track days in it!

3. There were only 6 Californias there on the day so that was all we got to drive. I did however do another great day last year on the roads with 6 different supercars and will be doing it again later this year. It was an amazing day driving some of the best roads in the UK and meeting at check points to switch cars. The day involved an Audi R8, Carrera 2S, Bentley GT Speed, Ferrari F430, Lambo LP560-4 and an Aston Martin DBS. What a great gift to receive from my now wife! Again, I have some photos I can post if anyone is interested.

Thanks to all for listening,

Andy

Last edited by f1cal; 08-06-2010 at 04:14 AM.
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