GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: MarkHowells on 22 February 2025, 22:14
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What is the point of launch control/mode, how is it initiated and where can you use it?
Also, how do you set it up?
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It’s an essential tool for YouTubers who drive other people’s cars and for making impressive getaways at 3am when your mates have just robbed the local vape shop.
I’ve never used it but I think you turn off ESC, go into Sport mode, plant left foot on the brake, plant right foot on the accelerator. Release brake and whooooosh, while the Tesla in the other lane vanishes over the horizon in front of you.
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Many thanks for the reply. I don't think I will use it as I don't intend to make a quick getaway anytime soon :smiley:
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You could always find a quiet bit of road and have a play with it. It’s a bit of a gimmick, no doubt some types of owner have a bit of fun with it but it serves little practical day to day use. It probably puts quite a lot of strain on drivetrain components too.
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Yeah I think I will give this a miss
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Seem to remember there is an ecu counter for it too...
It probably is the quickest way away from the traffic lights but having seen it on YouTube it's nothing special...
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It’s a bit more impressive in an R than a GTI, fwiw.
That said. Never Launched mine. Not once. Never. Has to put a Big strain on the transmission.😬
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No sense to use Launch Control in GTI.
Did a couple of times in mine, but that's it. Opt for the R if you want to unleash it. No reason to use it in FWD car.
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I did it once, like others say, can’t be good from transmission.
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Seem to remember there is an ecu counter for it too...
It probably is the quickest way away from the traffic lights but having seen it on YouTube it's nothing special...
I always take what a salesperson says with a pinch of salt, however the salesperson i've dealt with for years and is pretty legit did tell me they had an R in with a blown engine and they had a record of how many times the owner had launched it... Not sure what this meant for the owner.
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Seem to remember there is an ecu counter for it too...
It probably is the quickest way away from the traffic lights but having seen it on YouTube it's nothing special...
I always take what a salesperson says with a pinch of salt, however the salesperson i've dealt with for years and is pretty legit did tell me they had an R in with a blown engine and they had a record of how many times the owner had launched it... Not sure what this meant for the owner.
It wouldn’t mean anything for the owner, it’s a function that VW built into the car, having said that, id never use it on a GTI, I tried it once on my Mk7 and it tramped its way up the road, its obvious to me that it could cause damage, I winced when I tried it. There is a counter on the transmission ECU, I was able to view it on the mk7 using VCDS, thankfully it only showed the one time I’d tried it.
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I recall reading somewhere that the techs can tell how many times the function has been used and beyond a relatively few times they could challenge any associated warranty claim.
It has brought to mind one occasion with my last GTI when, after a service, I was told they had detected that the car had been “driven beyond its normal limits” or words to that effect.
As I was the only only person ever to drive it (apart from dealer staff!!!!!), I was quite indignant with them but never demanded further explanation or evidence. Recalling that now, six years later, it makes me wonder once again WTF had been going on.
Anyway……launch control? just don’t do it.
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The car has a feature, that if used, invalidates the warranty?
Imagine that. Sorry sir, you've opened the window too many times therefore we won't fix the failed regulator.
Madam! This is a GTI, according to our records you've pressed volume up more times than supported by our strict terms so we won't be repairing it.
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There’s no way it invalidates the warranty, wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. It’s a built in feature.
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Webrop,
Yes but it begs the question why does the car count it...
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Webrop,
Yes but it begs the question why does the car count it...
Yep, good point... very strange
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Webrop,
Yes but it begs the question why does the car count it...
There’s lots of data available in the memory of these control modules, it’s nothing sinister.
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Don’t shoot me!
Maybe what I think I once read was just an uninformed opinion…..
Like my own.