Launches
 

How bad for the clutch/tires is dropping the clutch at 7000-8000 rpms? I know people say the 5.9 sec or whatever 0-60 time is with a clutch drop like that, and that in the real world it would be more like 7.5 seconds. Is it going to kill my car if I do drop the clutch that high?

Try it a few times and let us know.

I'm not sure if that's sarcastic or not....

Sarcastic ?

Anyone who has driven a stick for more than two days knows that dropping the clutch at 7K RPM does not promote longevity of your clutch.

Yes, the magazines did that to get the best 0-60 times because that's their job and they did not pay for the car. Trust me you don't want to do that every day or you will fry your clutch before you first payment is up.

Sorry, I wasn't try to be sarcastic but I thought you were kind of leading us on with your first post.

from a standing start once and the only time i really pushed my car so far i was to 60 in second gear in significantly less than 7.5 seconds. trust me you dont need to drop the clutch to get a rush from this car.

I've driven a stick for years, I know it's not good for the clutch. This is the first car I've had with a warranty though, and the clutch is covered right? Maybe it's not, I don't know. I wouldn't do it every day, I just wanted to know if doing it every once in awhile for fun, or even once to see what it's like, would screw my car up. According to Car and Driver, there's a 2 second difference between a dropped clutch launch, and a "street start." That's a pretty big difference, and I'd like to check it out. Plus, if some punk wants to race me I want to know how to get the best start.

I don't know for sure but a wornout part like a clutch would not be covered by warrenty. If you clutch failed prematurely (not worn out) they would fix it. If on the other hand you burn it up doing a lot of 7k starts then you will lay out the cash to get it fixed.

Dropping at 7-8K all the time can't be good for the car. I've done it a couple of times, and it's like letting a tiger out a cage. There's god awful wheel screeching (for an extended period) car lurches forward pulling to the right a little so you have to correct to keep your line. Yes its fun but I don't think it promotes longevity. :D

The warranty is there for "normal" use and a fried clutch at low mileage certainly indoicates "abuse" and may cause the dealer to deny replacement under warranty.

I am sure launching at 7K or higher a couple of times is not gonna destroy it but it will reduce longevity.

Could they prove that the clutch is worn because of abuse and not because it was defective? Also, how much does the car move to the right? Would I hit someone next to me?

I have taken my car out to the drag strips 3 time. Twice at Qualcom Stadium and one at the Carlsbad drag strips. What I found is that, any clucth drop over 4500 rpm produce a very bad 60 ft time(at least for me) and alot of real spine. My 60ft time would be anywhere between 2.5 to 2.8. My best 60 ft is 2.34 when I drop between 3800 and 4500 rpm. My best quater mile time is 15.4. I'm not a good drag racer so my time is a little slow. I prefere autocrossing. On the steet, when I need to pass a car at the stop light and reve it to only 2500 to 3000 rpm and drop the clutch. I get very little wheel spine and the acceleration is quich enough most of the time for me to safely pass. Except one time when I try to do that to an 02 Cobra. However I believe you could drop around 6000 rpm and not hurt the car at all. Just my opion.

Clutch dropping is for increasing the torque at launch, right? I assume horsepower number at low speed doesn't matter.

You are storing energy by spinning up the flywheel and moving parts, and then converting it to forward motion by engaging the clutch.

Where should we send flowers to, or would you prefer cash donations to the survivors? It is clear you don't know what you're doing so you're out to hurt/kill yourself. The only shame is you are likely to take out someone innocent along with you plus mess up a beautiful car along the way. :(

I'm pretty sure the C&D street start is tool along at 5 mph, and then hit the gas. That's going to be much slower than just a normal, non-7K launch.

And no, unless the clutch just breaks, the wear on it will be obviously due to your driving.

jds

Thanks for the smartass response. It is clear I don't know what I'm talking about? That's astounding considering the point of the whole thread is me asking a question! You are right, I do not know what I am talking about- that is why I asked people with experience in dropping the clutch at these high engine speeds for their advice. Someone said the car lurches to the right, so I asked how dramatic it was. Sorry if that is below your level. If I was reckless I would have already tried this. By the way, if you're so against utilizing a car's performance, why did you buy a sports car?

thanks to everyone else, by the way, for your HELPFUL and POLITE responses

As someone already mentioned street racing is not a good idea and only a matter of time before your kill yourself (and more probable someone else in the process). Have you seen those street race videos were a guy loses control and plows into a crowd of people watching the race... All kinds of loopy stuff can happen to make you lose control, my car seems to like to go to the right when I launch so correction IS necessary for me....

Disclaimer: I'm not telling or suggesting you go try anything...

Hey Noahprtlnd....From the sounds of it most people are agreed that a 4500 to 6000 clutch drop every once in awhile won't hurt..... So my advice is find an empty parking lot somewhere.....and give it a go...take it to 4500 drop it.....if you don't get excessive..weel spin...try 6000 and drop it....Once or twice ain't gonna kill your clutch....But if you wanna a good street start from a light...spinning wheels only impress's the guy behind you...the guy next to you has already won...so test the car a little....Find what feels good....but don't try to drop it allot."every honda that gets next to you"...or you'll just join the list of lost tranny guys...

SO GO HAVE FUN WITH IT....<<<<SAFELY>>>>:cool:

I really wish you ppl would stop third-degreeing, flaming or otherwise reading into or miscontruing what ppl ask. He inquired into clutch drops and it took too many threads to get an answer. I read no where about his ambition to start a career in street racing and risking ppls lives, and like he already said, if he was reckless in that manner he would have already attempted it. Just get to the point and call it a day.........dang morality police!!!

Ok, so I am to believe noah's questions about revs, trannie damage, pulling to the right, etc. was simply intellectual curiousity with no intent to follow up on it?

If you want to be a brain surgeon, you don't read a book then go try it. You get educated and practice under controlled conditions until you are proficient. It is clear noah doesn't have the proficiency or he wouldn't be asking such basic questions. Like the surgeon, he should learn and practice under controlled conditions (like lower revs, maybe less powerful car, on a track) then when he wants to race, he won't need to ask what'll happen, he will know from experience. You are encouraging and abetting dangerous behavior, and implying with a little knowledge noah can tear it up on the streets. So as I said in my earlier post, just let me know where to send the flowers.

Stupid question, are you guys dropping the clutch at 6K with the traction control on or off?

Thanks
- Drew

how much wheel hop is there when dropping the clutch at those revs? If i leave the TC on when it is wet out and stand on it in first gear, the wheels start hopping. Is it just the nature of the ABS trying to stop the wheels, so turning it off would correct?
Eric (wannabe suicidle street racer)

Re: Launches
 

Just try to get a rental for a day and try it out :-)

More likely for a success, take your friend's car, go to the mazda dealership (not the one where you get yours serviced!!!) and ask for a test drive.

-Peter

THANK YOU!! I am not considering "street racing", I don't want to be Vin Diesel etc. Every once in awhile it's fun to take off from a light, not even exceeding the speed limit. Not only that, but I'd feel pretty foolish owning a car like this and never testing it's full ability to accelerate.