i just cant get my head around the person who would launch a Porsche in that fashion. It's not a drag car, and anyone who wants a drag car doesn't buy one.

 

Might be a drag car in Germany - BMW SMG (M cars) has launch control too. Obviously there's some "drag strip" culture over there with these cars. I reckon if you are racing and need to get out of the gate mucho pronto, then there you have it.

But I'm with you - I can't imagine wrenching my car like that. Porsche's car at some demo event, why not? But not my car.

Here's what the manual says:

Driving with Launch Control

Driving with Launch Control allows you to achieve maximum acceleration from a standing start. It is intended to provide you with a unique enjoyment of your vehicle under controlled circumstances and is not intended to be used in any location where it could be a nuisance to other persons.

Warning!
Risk, bla, bla, bla, be safe, bla, bla, bla...

Caution!
Stress on components increases dramatically when starting with maximum acceleration in comparison with normal driving off. Use of Launch Control will inevitably reduce the life of the engaged engine and transmission components.

Preconditions:

- Launch Control should only be used when the engine has reached operating temperature.

- "Sport Plus" mode must be switched on (light-emitting diode in button is on and "SPORT PLUS" is displayed on the on-board computer).

1. Press the brake with your left foot.
2. Quickly press down the accelerator fully *kickdown is activated) and hold.
The engine speed will flatten out at around 6500 rpm.
"Launch Control active" is displayed on the on-board computer.
3. Release the brake within a few seconds.

Remaining stationary for a long time with "Launch Control active" can lead to overloading of the transmission.
In order to protect the transmission, the engine power is then reduced and the "Launch Control active" process is cancelled.

--------------------------------------------

Warranty:

Your Responsibility for Normal Vehicle Use

Your Owner's Manual (which includes specific recommendations against using your car in certain ways) was written with the assumption that you will use you car only in ways for which it was designed:
.....


My take is that "Launch Control" is a designed feature...for a lease car .

 

Additional information from
All 911 Carrera Models

 

how about autocrossing starts?
I wouldnt worry about using launch control, it has enough fail safes built in to not self destruct, porsche is very smart about how they operate. if there were a risk it wouldnt be an option, they did have launch control on gt2, I would think there would be more room for failure in a manual trans with launch control then the doppelkupplung