The "Launch" Button

[brewer12345]

WTF?

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/what-does-this-insanely-awesome-button-do--204659286.html

Jeep's launch control is standard on SRT8s for consistent, enhanced fast starts of the high-performance SUV. Launch Mode brings the engine, suspension, transmission and driveline together for fast launches from a standstill by revving the engine at a standstill and launching the 5,000-pound SUV like a rocket.

[arebelspy]

No mention how how much gas the launch button burns...

[brewer12345]

Imagine what the insurers think of this...

[martynthewolf]

Imagine what the insurers think of this...

ChaChing!?

[BlueMR2]

Better to have a controlled launch than people smoking tires, losing control, breaking driveline parts, etc...

[brewer12345]

Better to have a controlled launch than people smoking tires, losing control, breaking driveline parts, etc...

In a 5,000 pound SUV?  No doubt they will do all of that anyway.

[Joet]

my mustang drag car has a line-lock, pretty much the same idea. Allows me to lock the front brakes (but not the rears) when actually launching [weee 1.4x 60' on a 10" slick]

so whats the point here? that someone elses hobby isnt yours? we get it, you dont like fast cars

[brewer12345]

my mustang drag car has a line-lock, pretty much the same idea. Allows me to lock the front brakes (but not the rears) when actually launching [weee 1.4x 60' on a 10" slick]

so whats the point here? that someone elses hobby isnt yours? we get it, you dont like fast cars

I could not give a flying fuck what other people do as a hobby.  But this doesn't strike you as a tad excessive for what is supposedly a production vehicle for street use?

[Posthumane]

Lots of high end sports cars have launch control. The theory is that high-end sports cars are bought mostly for entertainment rather than practical transport, and this is a feature that is useful on a race-track only. Putting in on an SUV does seem pretty lame, but then again most modern SUVs are pretty lame in all departments. It's like a vehicle with an identity crisis: Doesn't handle great because it's heavy and high off the ground, doesn't go offroad well because it is designed for street use, doesn't haul stuff well because of all the luxury items, etc.

[Jamesqf]

Must say that with all this, I find it somewhat strange that I, in my little 1000 cc, 3-cylinder hybrid, can be a good ways down the road a second or two after the light turns green, while all those powerful SUVs are apparently still waiting for the stimulus to reach their dinosaur brains...

Hey, didn't that Newton fellow have something to say about this?  F = MA, thus A = F/M, meaning that if you make your vehicle lighter, it accelerates faster :-)

Lots of high end sports cars have launch control.

I dunno...  Seems like someone needs to revisit the definition of sports car.

[Joet]

SRT8 Jeep runs what a 12 something 1/4? and an insight is probably over 20 seconds I bet? The slowest car I have ever run on a 2nd gen Gtech was a ~2000 era ford escort rental in Colorado (altitude penalty). It still managed a 19 or so heh. The power:weight ratio of an SRT8 vs a gen1 insight is probably in the 4:1 ratio or thereabouts (probably higher)

Translated to the dragstrip, the SRT8 is done before the insight reaches the 1/8. Who cares, I get it, we dont like fast cars here---especially those that we deem representing excessive consumption or resource utilization or similar.

[Jamesqf]

SRT8 Jeep runs what a 12 something 1/4? and an insight is probably over 20 seconds I bet?

Wouldn't know, as they have these things called speed limits on the roads hereabouts.  So when I'm up to that limit (+5 or so :-)), I cruise.

FWIW, I never could see the point of drag racing.  Brisk acceleration, sure, to get on the wave of light timing, or merge safely into freeway traffic, but other than that, driving just isn't interesting unless the road has curves.

[brewer12345]

Who cares, I get it, we dont like fast cars here---especially those that we deem representing excessive consumption or resource utilization or similar.

I drive an F150 with a turbocharged engine, so you will not catch me saying that there is no reason to drive anything but used econoboxes/hybrids/whatever.  But for the average consumer with lots of debt, little net worth and no obvious need for a "launch button?"

[Joet]

ah yes the ol "my personal definition of fun " is better/different/superior to yours is present. heh. if it has wheels I say race em no?

Also perhaps not entirely tangential: I'm not sure a gen 1 insight is technically speeding in a 1/4 mile, depending on the road this is performed. EG, trap speeds will be in the ~70 mph range lol [SRT8 probably around 115] Of course, these things are better off performed at a drag strip. And dont let me stop you from auto-xing or running a road course. Indeed the steering wheel works.

[brewer12345]

ah yes the ol "my personal definition of fun " is better/different/superior to yours is present. heh. if it has wheels I say race em no?

Please yourself, so long as you can afford to do so.  What percentage of the buyers of this SUV are likely to pay cash?

[Joet]

What if the buyer decides it offers a sufficient ROI and the APR is low enough that it makes more sense to have a loan to pay it off [eg sub 3%]? Who cares.
But yea, I'm personally over the SUV thing. But not everybody is. I try not to judge others for one particular reason: I realize I dont always have the same values as other people (and moreover tend to be kind of an idiot on certain topics). Best not to judge.

[matchewed]

It's funny how no one brought up the aspect of the "Launch" button being an aspect of a hobby until someone started accusing someone else of being judgmental towards the hobby.

My point being you're being damn judgmental when no one said anything judgmental. All they stated was a simple opinion about a new feature on a jeep. They made no judgments of a hobby or people who participate in that hobby.

[brewer12345]

It's funny how no one brought up the aspect of the "Launch" button being an aspect of a hobby until someone started accusing someone else of being judgmental towards the hobby.

My point being you're being damn judgmental when no one said anything judgmental. All they stated was a simple opinion about a new feature on a jeep. They made no judgments of a hobby or people who participate in that hobby.

Wait long enough and you will be accused of being a racist, closed minded fool, etc.

[Joet]

ah yes, I am the judgmental one here, not the ones listing the:

weight
utility
size
function
used/unused off-road capability or lack thereof
luxury or hedonistic aspects
financing/payment options/lifestyle of the potential purchaser(s)

it was me, got it. I am the judgmental one for suggesting that others are. Circle of irony is complete

[brewer12345]

Its wonderful how those who desperately desire to be added to an ignore list just jump up and shout it out.

[Joet]

sounds like a fate worse than death!

[arebelspy]

What if the buyer decides it offers a sufficient ROI and the APR is low enough that it makes more sense to have a loan to pay it off [eg sub 3%]? Who cares.

Um, okay.  So add that to his original question:

What percentage of the buyers of this SUV are likely to pay cash?

Now it becomes what percent pay cash or could pay cash yet choose a low interest low to take advantage of interest rate arbitrage?   The number is exceedingly low, I'm sure, so his original point stands.

Think about the average buyer of this vehicle.  How many of them need a "launch" button?  And for those who have some sort of racing hobby, how many of them will buy this?  Or even want a launch button, rather than complain about how it takes the skill out?

The overlap of hobby people and people buying this and people who can afford it is approximately... 1 person.

;)

[matchewed]

My point is that having an opinion towards an object does not make one judgmental towards a hobby.

Saying shorts that basketball players from the 70's wore look funny and too short does not equal a judgment towards basketball players.

Do you even see the difference between those two things?

[Jamesqf]

Also perhaps not entirely tangential: I'm not sure a gen 1 insight is technically speeding in a 1/4 mile, depending on the road this is performed. EG, trap speeds will be in the ~70 mph range lol [SRT8 probably around 115]

Oh, I assure you that I can get the Insight up to 70 within 1/4 mile (freeway speed limit is 65 hereabouts), or the length of a typical entrance ramp.  Top speed is another matter: you top 100 only with a good tailwind or downgrade.

And another thing: seems as though a launch button would take all the fun/skill out of things, kinda like letting yourself be strapped into a rocket sled.

[arebelspy]

And another thing: seems as though a launch button would take all the fun/skill out of things, kinda like letting yourself be strapped into a rocket sled.

Though that may not be skillful... How exactly does that not sound fun?  :P

[matchewed]

The term "Rocket Sled" has been positively correlated with the request "Hold my beer and watch this."

[swiper]

And another thing: seems as though a launch button would take all the fun/skill out of things, kinda like letting yourself be strapped into a rocket sled.

Though that may not be skillful... How exactly does that not sound fun?  :P

Agreed about taking some skill out of it ... all you need now is a camera to watch the light

[MountainFlower]

It seems to me that Jeep's strategy is to build somewhat inferior cars with lots of cool stuff for a lot less money than the Japanese SUV makers.  They try to keep the Grand Cherokee cutting edge while keeping the prices lower than say a 4Runner or Pilot.  So while a launch button seems pretty stupid, it seems like it's in line with the way in which Jeep keeps selling somewhat crappy cars.

We're on our 3rd Grand Cherokee.  One was horrible, but we just sold our 1998 with 220K miles on it.  The repairs were not bad at all on that one, while on the first one, repairs were regular and expensive.  Perhaps it's inconsistency that is their problem.  Just got a 2007, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

We live at 9000 ft where winter starts in September and continues through May with plenty of snow, wind and drifts.  I haven't figured out a way around a high clearance 4WD/AWD vehicle. However,  a launch button in my car would pretty much gather dust. 

[Jamesqf]

And another thing: seems as though a launch button would take all the fun/skill out of things, kinda like letting yourself be strapped into a rocket sled.

Though that may not be skillful... How exactly does that not sound fun?  :P

If there's no skill involved, where's the fun?  And no, the rocket sled does not sound like fun at all.  It's like the difference between flying my own plane (usually fun) and sitting in the back of a commercial airliner (definitely not fun).

[skyrefuge]

My point is that having an opinion towards an object does not make one judgmental towards a hobby.

But, this the MMM forum, for chrissakes! We're supposed to be judgmental towards non-Mustachian hobbies! And drag-racing, being terribly inefficient and completely un-badass, has to be one of the most un-Mustachian hobbies out there. Pointing and laughing is not only ok, it's almost required!

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/12/05/muscle-over-motor/

[Jamesqf]

Just wondering...  Would those launch buttons be allowed in actual drag racing?

[velocistar237]

MMM once said something like, there are so many awesome things to do in life that you never have to get to the expensive ones.

As an engineer, I think drag racing is awesome, but I don't have any business spending money on it, since I'm only 1/3 to my FI goal and only at a 45-50% savings rate.

[BlueMR2]

Just wondering...  Would those launch buttons be allowed in actual drag racing?

It depends.  There are all sorts of different classifications of organized drag racing.  Then there's the open track days where anything goes (as long as safety rules are observed).

[Jamesqf]

Just wondering...  Would those launch buttons be allowed in actual drag racing?

It depends.  There are all sorts of different classifications of organized drag racing.  Then there's the open track days where anything goes (as long as safety rules are observed).

Then why not take it a step further, and eliminate the driver? 

[Russ]

IMO the sport of car racing is between builders and mechanics just as much as it is between drivers. Eliminating drivers wouldn't change that aspect of it.

[AlexK]

Alright James enough trash talking. I challenge you to a drag race with my 1 liter, 3 cylinder Geo Metro! I think we could do it right in front of the police, actually nobody would even notice. :)