Are you faster with traction control on or off?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by NIKOLA

I try to keep my traction control off, but it comes on automatically after travelling a short distance down the road. How are any of you keeping traction control off all of the time?

[Seattle944t]

Originally Posted by NIKOLA

I try to keep my traction control off, but it comes on automatically after travelling a short distance down the road. How are any of you keeping traction control off all of the time?

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

What he said, there is a lot of useful information for you there.

But, to answer your question: If you just press the Trac button it is temporary and will turn back on once you go over 30MPH. To disable it you need to hold it down for 3 seconds and you will see both the Trac and VSC lights activate. Now it won't turn back on when you exceed 30MPH.

[NIKOLA]

Wow.....what a tough crowd! Ok, so I didn't read the manual. How many people actually read any manual of any kind?

Anyway, thanks for the info. It wasn't that hard to answer my question.....was it?

[wrxgoose]

Originally Posted by NIKOLA

Wow.....what a tough crowd! Ok, so I didn't read the manual. How many people actually read any manual of any kind?

Anyway, thanks for the info. It wasn't that hard to answer my question.....was it?

*raises hand* i still have all the manuals to my old Sega Genesis and NES games. But i'm weird. lol

[DJCarbine]

Originally Posted by NIKOLA

Wow.....what a tough crowd! Ok, so I didn't read the manual. How many people actually read any manual of any kind?

Anyway, thanks for the info. It wasn't that hard to answer my question.....was it?

Reading manuals is the best pooping material ever. You learn, you poop... that is basically 2 of my favorite things.

Stack your manuals in your bathroom, its a good time.

[#944_10_Series_FRS]

Here is a video talking about traction control... They even tested on our FRS;

http://autos.yahoo.com/video/mythbus...175528043.html

[(fr-s)]

In dry weather I usually go TC off. If its wet, in my experience, if TC is off and you aren't careful or paying attention the back end WILL step out on you. I usually keep it on in wet unless I'm specifically trying to have some fun and fully focused on doing so.

[gzpermadi]

Too much variables in daily driving, better keep them on.
I hate to imagine some kid just run crossing and I have to brake in mid corner while at the same time that particular road are wet not because of rain but because some sprinkler malfunction.

[Hawaiian]

Originally Posted by juliog

My own experience with the FR-S (can't speak for other cars):

- If you're a beginner, TC ON will make you faster on the track/autox. Poor throttle inputs during cornering with TC OFF + prius tires = spin out (I know!).

- After one or two track days or autox's, VSC ON may be faster (YMMV). You're better at modulating throttle input but still make rather big mistakes once in a while. Having VSC ON increases the slip angle threshold before the computer kicks in, so now you can corner faster.

- As you gain seat time and start going faster and faster, TC becomes too intrusive, literally slowing you down. So at this point you turn it off.


I think if you have to ask, then leave the aids on. When it's time to turn them off, you'll know.


On the street I leave everything on, save for one or two canyons that I know very well and trigger the TC even at moderate speeds.

This, although i leave vsc on for my first run while.the tires are cold.

[Jose_Timberlake]

Originally Posted by maj75

I'm sorry, but exactly how are you faster on the street with traction control off? I would have hoped this was about the track because if anybody is driving faster on the street without ESC they are an idiot and this would be an idiotic topic. Streets are speed limited. Having ESC doesn't waive speed limits. Since almost all speed limits are set well below what the road can safely handle, why have a discussion that's about whether you can drive the speed limit with TC on or off. Speed limits are the max speed, conditions may require slower speeds.

You can plan for "unfortunate events." It's called defensive driving. Ride a motorcycle as long as I have and you will understand what I mean. In an urban setting, with heavy freeway traffic, you assume everyone around you is trying to kill you, you always have a plan, and you are anticipating something bad happening. It is no guarantee, but it will keep you alive a lot longer than assuming other drivers will do what they are supposed to. Work the same in a car, only your chances of injury are far less if something bad does happen.

Owned/rode a K7 Gixxer for a couple of years and it definitely made me a better driver. Totally get what u mean about having to think for everyone else on the road as if they were out to kill you! The '07 Gixxer came with a factory stabilizer which saved my ass w/out question one Sunday morning ride (nasty speed wobble)...I'll use this analogy when it comes Traction Control:

TC and/or VSC is like a condom(s), I'd rather have one & never need it, instead of needing it & not having one.

[Jose_Timberlake]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

Don't try and justify TC with things that don't interfere with the way I drive. I use my seatbelt all the time and feel uncomfotable without one, but that doesn't interfere with what I want the car to DO.

I drive at safe distances that give me enough time to react to certain situations, if you don't, you need to go to driving school, I've avoided many accidents because, even though I speed a lot, I keep enough of a safety margin that allows me to calmly think of the situation and do what I need to do to correct it.

Hmmm...I'm also consistently inconsistent. You speed a lot yet manage to keep a "safety" margin? How can you keep any margin of safety when speeding? Contradictions at its finest...

[Frost]

On a public road = TC on (if there is one)
On a private road / track / closed environment = I go through the trouble of disabling TC

Why bother on a public road? I've had cars with and without TC.

Keep in mind, the cars I had without TC were also typically lower horsepower and torque but also lower weight. That means less to bring to a stop and less grip needed to maintain control.

People talk about grip like it is digital, either you have grip or you don't. NOT TRUE. Most of the time, there is actually SOME grip but we overpower it through excessive throttle and environments (downhill slide for example) will exacerbate it. Cars have gotten heavier no doubt about that and we have even more to stop whereas tire technology hasn't caught up as much as the weight and hp wars have gone up.

People talk about hydroplaning and losing control like a lab experiment but in reality for a car to have ALL FOUR TIRES to do exactly that and get a perfect hydroplane is actually not that high. I need to dig up that SAE paper on traction control and its merits.

Now I am ranting.

Either way, hats off to the old geezer who drove lots of cars without TC. I may not have driven as many cars but I did drive a few and I am accident free so far (knock on wood).

Frost

[Jose_Timberlake]

Originally Posted by Noob4Life

Well what are we all lecturing you for you almost maintained a constant drift on perfectly paved wet pavement on a closed course. You can definitely handle the flawed, public roads of the real world.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

Apparently things for @Luis_GT are always black & white, never a grey moment. The man is ready to handle any "Oh S**t" moment where something unexpected & unpreventable happens while speeding in & out of traffic...with all of the safety "nannies" switched off, of course. The man will rise to this unforeseen scenario with such precision that he'll put the old adage of "S**t happens" to shame, because clearly...his reflexes would outperform any TC system any day of the week.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Jose_Timberlake

Hmmm...I'm also consistently inconsistent. You speed a lot yet manage to keep a "safety" margin? How can you keep any margin of safety when speeding? Contradictions at its finest...

Quite easily in fact, I speed when traffic is light and if I see 2 cars in front I slow down to the speed limit and take my time to pass, but I'm guessing you lack driving judgement, depth perception, and the ability to plan what to do ahead of time.