[andy c]

Dont Panic!!!
As i previously quoted i had a gearbox overheating problem when trying out the launch,and then subsiqently assumed a down shift problem???
Not quite what i thought!!,the car went in today for this to be checked out,and was found to be perfect,so whats the problem.The lemon behind the wheel!!
To Start with the launch,when i tried to do this i parked close to the verge,so i could wait for a large gap in the traffic,were i went wrong is that the steering has to be dead centre for the launch to attivate correctly,so the drive is fighting against the brakes and overheated the gearbox,which then goes into safety mode and disabling the hydralic airbrake.
So next time i need a wide flat road and point the car in a straight line as the steering wheel has to be true to a couple of degrees.
After the inital problem i put 2and 2 together and came up with 5 again,that is to say about the box suddenly changing from 7th to 2nd.
AGAIN THE LEMON,which is my driving style!
When i was running the car in carefully, the downshift into a corner holding the paddle would shift down through the gears and select the correct gear for my speed,all very nice.
Now its run in im driving alot more aggressively,and the car is so responsive i am attacking the 90 degree corners and hitting the brakes hard,the gearbox recognises this and drops into the correct gear for the corner at the maximum revs that are safe,hence the 7th to 2nd at 8000rpm,brutal but safe for the box.i think this car is teaching me how to be alot smoother driver and i will now try a quick but smoother style,so i dont have to peel my face off the windscreen any more.
One more thing to add,the Mclaren service was impeccable.

 

[roundincircles]

Great explanation, but what is a smoooooth driving style in a MP12?

Break earlier, no the brake steer wants late breaking and later turn in so you can gas it earlier........um......over to you Andy

 

[andy c]

Great explanation, but what is a smoooooth driving style in a MP12?

Break earlier, no the brake steer wants late breaking and later turn in so you can gas it earlier........um......over to you Andy

it only happens on 90 degree corners when you virtually need no speed,on any other corner,you would only need 4th/3rd,Ok im a crap driver,need more circuit time,fast in and even faster out!!

 

[falb]

You were trying to do launch control while merging into traffic? Please be careful. Just keep saying smooth is fast, smooth is fast.... and get to a track so you can really enjoy that beast.

I assume you could command each down shift as you are slowing, as opposed to holding the paddle if you wished?

 

[6th element]

Glad it turned out to be nothing, andy.

Now, what are you waiting for - find a flat straight road and launch that baby! You must need a new edition of the paper!!

Be safe!

 

[roundincircles]

Andy. When I did launch control in a 458 on the mile straight at Millbrook we where at around 186 mph at just over the half mile. If you did not launch in time then the launch reverted to track mode.

Anyway, launch control was violent addictive mind blowing sweaty palm 'am I still on earth stuff'.........you can't do it in traffic.........can you........LOL and well pray for survival

 

[roundincircles]

Andy. Your comment about your driving ability sparks a thought. Remember some of the journalists criticised the MP12 handling and requested McL made it like other cars.

Well what about the 911, don't you have to learn how to drive that? Hook it up and fire it out from the apex, brake like sh..t on tight bend to get it to turn in....blah blah blah.....seems to me your ahead of the pack and learning how to drive the MP12.....KEEP LETTING US KNOW HOW YOUR DOING.....

 

[andy c]

You were trying to do launch control while merging into traffic? Please be careful. Just keep saying smooth is fast, smooth is fast.... and get to a track so you can really enjoy that beast.

I assume you could command each down shift as you are slowing, as opposed to holding the paddle if you wished?

I usually command each downshift,which is the most rewarding anyway,i just wanted to try this method,and chose the wrong type of corner to try it on.
As for the launch,the road i chose was a very little used one,but sods law two or three cars came along at once,then i wanted a good 1/2 mile of space
before lift off

 

[andy c]

Andy. Your comment about your driving ability sparks a thought. Remember some of the journalists criticised the MP12 handling and requested McL made it like other cars.

Well what about the 911, don't you have to learn how to drive that? Hook it up and fire it out from the apex, brake like sh..t on tight bend to get it to turn in....blah blah blah.....seems to me your ahead of the pack and learning how to drive the MP12.....KEEP LETTING US KNOW HOW YOUR DOING.....

When this happened i was trying to evoke the brake steer around a 90 degree corner,so i wouldnt be going too fast the first time!!
The next time i tried I downshifted manually and got it working,it felt like i was the stone in a slingshot,i actually backed off a little because it surprised me even though i was expecting it.Still trying not to drive it like a 911,old habits!!

 

[Osiris_x11]

andy c, truly glad to hear on this end that you're experiencing your MP4-12C the way it was intended to be driven!

 

[6th element]

Great explanation, but what is a smoooooth driving style in a MP12?

Break earlier, no the brake steer wants late breaking and later turn in so you can gas it earlier........um......over to you Andy

I have yet to drive 12C in real anger through corners, but I would hypothesize that earlier braking is the fastest way round. I would think the effect of Brake Steer is best used on corner exit (i.e. to maximize longitudinal acceleration) rather than trimming excess entry speed. Also, I would imagine that braking early and getting back on the gas as early as possible thereafter will minimize loss of turbo boost pressure and also maximize apex speed and therefore the downforce created by the rear diffuser throughout the radius of the turn. Just guessing, though.

I remember watching EVO's Roger Green charge the corners and over-drive the sh!t out of the car in their Bedford shoot-out videos and I wondered if this is the reason he could not extract the maximum performance from the car. Same for Jason Potato head, perhaps. All cars (street and racecars) need some level of adaptation of your driving style to maximize.

 

[roundincircles]

Yes understand but the brochure illustrates how the line thru' a corner with the mp12 is better by later braking with the brake steer turning the car. Hence my comments.

 

[6th element]

Yes understand but the brochure illustrates how the line thru' a corner with the mp12 is better by later braking with the brake steer turning the car. Hence my comments.

I see. Thanks.

 

[SSO]

surprised me even though i was expecting it.Still trying not to drive it like a 911,old habits!!

Is this your first mid engineed supercar? If so, it will take a few times out to adapt to the different balance and characteristics.

 

[andy c]

Is this your first mid engineed supercar? If so, it will take a few times out to adapt to the different balance and characteristics.

yes,i see what you are saying

 

[roundincircles]

Andy. Interesting how your beginning to realise the MP12 is different regarding handling and how to adjust. I usually need a couple of thousand mile to become completely comfortable.........whereas the first 100 metres signals the major differences it is the nuances that have to be mastered.

That's why, I guess, some of the journalists failed to understand and adjust to the handling. Seems McL need to get some communication/coaching activity in motion.

The brochure illustrates the different line with brake steer and seems to indicate brake later, turn in faster with a later apex combined with a'shallower line' that allows earlier throttle and faster corner exit. Very different to a 911 !

With the London demo car at 11000 miles on the original tyres it suggests the chassis balance/suspension clearly is in another league.......I'm assuming the demo car has been thrashed.

Let us know how you are getting on plus now you have done a few miles what new character is coming through?

 

[6th element]

Do you have a scan of the diagram? I've never heard or read anything about McLaren actually advocating a different line through corners. Very interested to see what you are referring to.

Andy. Interesting how your beginning to realise the MP12 is different regarding handling and how to adjust. I usually need a couple of thousand mile to become completely comfortable.........whereas the first 100 metres signals the major differences it is the nuances that have to be mastered.

That's why, I guess, some of the journalists failed to understand and adjust to the handling. Seems McL need to get some communication/coaching activity in motion.

The brochure illustrates the different line with brake steer and seems to indicate brake later, turn in faster with a later apex combined with a'shallower line' that allows earlier throttle and faster corner exit. Very different to a 911 !

With the London demo car at 11000 miles on the original tyres it suggests the chassis balance/suspension clearly is in another league.......I'm assuming the demo car has been thrashed.

Let us know how you are getting on plus now you have done a few miles what new character is coming through?

 

[Senna]

were i went wrong is that the steering has to be dead centre for the launch to attivate QUOTE]


Does the steering not have to be centered for any of the "Active" functions to activate or was i misled ?

 

[andy c]

were i went wrong is that the steering has to be dead centre for the launch to attivate QUOTE]


Does the steering not have to be centered for any of the "Active" functions to activate or was i misled ?

Not really,you can change at will on a bumpy road,as long as you are not going round a corner

 

[SSO]

Not really,you can change at will on a bumpy road,as long as you are not going round a corner

Any idea on why it was set up that way? Safety?