How to Properly Launch

[cwp]

I have recently purchased a 2005 Legacy GT Limited (my first new car!). She's a fantastic drive and her performance is awesome! However, this is my first time owning an AWD vehicle and launching her has been a bit difficult for me to adjust to (I used to own a 97 Honda Prelude). She's not very friendly when you hit the governer . . . unlike my old Prelude where you could bounce it, the Legacy seems to shut down for a second which disrupts the aggressive acceleration.

So, what is the best way of launching her?

Thanks!

[pdawg]

Nice and easy till she's broken in.

[cwp]

:lol: I hear ya!

I have about 6600 miles on her now. I didn't try to start launching her until my 2nd thousand mile, but I dont think I'm doing it correctly because I either pop her to redline too quickly or she engages quickly and I feel there's lag in 1st gear.

[Pwise2326]

With any turbo car you want to take it kinda easy in first gear, don't really punch it until you hit second. Another reason why you could be feeling some lag is just the turbo lag...I don't know how bad the stock 05 LGT's are, but you wont feel the power right off in first than you will in second when everythings good and spooled up.

[Reason]

Nice and easy till she's broken in.

OMG pdawg is right, you don't want to mess up the new car. I don't think it's a good idea to launch an AWD car (daily driver) unless you race it and have the money to replace the clutch and or tranny. You could blow that tranny no problem. I couldn't tell ya how many clutches my friend went through with his 04 STi. Redline is not the answer, experiment and find her sweet spot and dump (side step) the clutch. As Ryan said a turbo ride vs. a NA is a bit different. That turbo lag plus the AWD may be you problem.

[belladonna]

pwise - i test drove a 05 legacy gt limited and the turbo didn't fully spool up till 3-3500, but that's just a guess since there is a lack of a boost gauge.
honestly, i wouldn't be launching it either. you might have more than 5000 miles on it, but it's still pretty new...however, it is your car and i would have to go with reason on this one. experiment and find her sweet spot.

[gator gt]

Not that I condone doing this to a new car (unless you have money to burn; if so, PM me, I'll give you my bank account number to make monthly deposits :-D )

If the boost doesn't kick in until 3-3500 rpms, then you'll want to get the clutch to the floor, hold the revs to 4500 and dump the clutch. At that point, don't drop the hammer (gas on the floor) until you KNOW that the clutch is engaged and not slipping.

And last but not least, don't forget to shift or it'll ruin your whole launch vibe; fuel cut at redline and all.

And for the love of all things Boxer, don't mistakingly downshift when you mean to upshift. My dad works at a GM dealership and a Corvette tech called him over to check something out.

Supposedly, this C5 owner let his friend drive his Vette. The friend was putting it through its paces pretty heavily, when he was going to grab 4th and accidently grabbed 2nd.....

What about the rev-limiter you ask? Well, sure the C5 has one, but since he shifted into 2nd, the rear axle was already spinning at speeds that were high for 3rd gear and mechanically forced (through the selection of 2nd) the engine to fly right past the redline.

The result: all, yes ALL his valves got bent, pistons ruined and the motor had to get torn apart and rebuilt by this corvette specialist. yes, it appears that the corvette engine is an interference engine, as are most Subaru engines.

Learn from the mistakes of others.

EEK!

GGT

[pdawg]

yes, it appears that the corvette engine is an interference engine, as are most Subaru engines.
GGT

O.K. not to hijack a thread but, what an "interfence engine"?

[shazapple]

The pistons and valves extend far enough that they could touch if the timing on your engine isnt right (if that happens, crunch goodbye motor)

[gator gt]

sha_zapple is right on. thanks man.

GGT

[legacy92ej22t]

Hold the RPM's at around 3500-4000 and lift the clutch pedal as quickly as possible just to the point where the clutch starts to engage. Then smoothly release the rest of the way out to full engagement a bit slower. Go WOT throughout this process.

This technique should get you sub 2 second 60' times if done correctly.

[2deadlegs]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't most standard transmission vehicle only let you shift into a certain gear if you are only going a certain speed.

Take for instance the vette. If this person was going over 30-40 mph wouldn't the lockout keep him from shifting it into 2nd and 1st gears? I only say this because on all the cars I own, when I go to down shift I can put it right near 2nd but only when I slow down to a certain speed can I engage 2nd.

I've never owned a C5 vette so like I said......correct me if I am wrong.

[jey]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't most standard transmission vehicle only let you shift into a certain gear if you are only going a certain speed.

Take for instance the vette. If this person was going over 30-40 mph wouldn't the lockout keep him from shifting it into 2nd and 1st gears? I only say this because on all the cars I own, when I go to down shift I can put it right near 2nd but only when I slow down to a certain speed can I engage 2nd.

I've never owned a C5 vette so like I said......correct me if I am wrong.

Very few cars actually have the lockout. No Subaru I know has it. In fact, the "lockout" that you refer to on the Corvette is a totally different lockout - it locks out 2nd and 3rd gears when you're upshifting from 1st to save fuel. So it forces you to take 1st then 4th unless you've got the revs up high.

The "lockout" you experience with your cars is not really a lockout, but the worn syncromesh's inability to match shaft speeds quickly when you're going really fast and wanting 2nd gear. If you double-clutch and rev-match in neutral you should be able to shift right in without waiting for the synchros.

[2deadlegs]

I stand corrected. Now I know and knowing is half the battle......gee I'm slow.

[Tris_STi]

yes, it appears that the corvette engine is an interference engine, as are most Subaru engines.


No.

A corvette engine is a completely different demon from ANY EJ series engine, opposition notwithstanding. Agreed?

First off, most EJ engines and ALL of the 1st gens (USDM, anyway) are SOHC, which means they are non-interference. (With that lack of timing control, your valves can't collide in many circumstances.)
DOHC engines, for obvious reasons, ARE interference engines. There's more control over the timing, and with more control, comes more opportunities to fubar it. This is the advantage to SOHC: only one cam to deal with, and if your t-belt goes, your motor is still intact, you're just not going anywhere anytime soon. Snap a t-belt in a DOHC.. ..ehh.. I'll drink one to you. :wink:

I'm sorry if that was mean.

[gator gt]

Don't get me wrong, Detroit pushrods and Japanese screamers are different beasts!

but other than having pistons, sucking, squishing, banging and blowing; the interference is the only other commonality that DOHC Subaru and Corvette engines share.

interference is not a proprietary process....so it can be designed into (or inherently be in) any reciprocating engine.

[ooberdoob]

doesn't mater the layout, dohc, sohc, w/e, all that matters is this question:

with the valve all the way extended... will it hit the piston at top dead center?

if yes it's an interference motor.

period.

vette and an EJ may be totally diff, but both are apparently intf engines.

[Tris_STi]

Apparently.


























. . . if both are DOHC. :D