VSC Sport, Trac Off, Both Off - Which do you use for normal driving?

[dcamco]

Originally Posted by michaelahess

I learned on old heavy RWD cars, I drive two big ass trucks, mostly in 2WD in the snow and ice, only ever using 4WD in the worst weather.

I leave all the nannies on.

It's the same as the previous post about airbags, just because my old cars didn't have them, I'm not disabling mine on the BRZ. It's a safety feature that COULD prevent death. Why the feck would I turn that off to go buy groceries?

If it becomes intrusive, and you KNOW you are being safe about where/when/how you are driving, kill the TC and leave VSC on, that's reasonable. Killing all of it to buy a burger at McD's? Not even smart.

What if that one trip has a random dude pull out and you over-correct with it off? You'd have avoided an accident because of that technology, regardless of driving skill. Emergencies don't have guaranteed reactions on your part, regardless of skill/experience.

I agree 100%. I don't have my BRZ yet, but I've owned many rwd tail happy cars and I have never disabled TC unless I was at the track (not since I was about 18 anyways). It just seems like an unnecessary risk for the above reasons.

[ABQautoxer]

Yeah I do everything people on forums say. They are all the best lawyers and know what's best for everyone else.

[zc06_kisstherain]

I don't have my BRZ yet but i had first generation of Miata which didnt have any kind of this system in the car. it didnt even have ABS brake lol.

even i know how to handle tail-happy car, i will probably turn them on daily driving. why turn them off to put yourself into unexpected danager?

I drove my miata in heavy snow one time (didnt have choice but had to get home), i thought i was gonna die on highway. 80% of the time, i was drifting or sliding on the road and had to keep controlling the car. even you can control your car, other cars on the road might end up hitting you and you have to prepare for that.

[ABQautoxer]

The first, I dunno, 25 cars I owned never had any of these features including ABS. Some how I didn't get sued, die, or kill anyone else. The last 6 cars I've owned have had all of them, and I turn them all off other than ABS. Weird, the universe hasn't ended. I must be doing it wrong.

Look if you want to drive with them on, thats great, many people probably should. I've been teaching high performance driving for a long time and I can tell you most people need this. But for several of you to say they are better than a human driver with enough talent and judgement, which it doesn't take a whole lot of, it simply not true as a blanket statement. Those of you that have ever hit icemode in ABS or left on the assists and come back with nearly burnt out rear brakes on cars that have these features know what I'm talking about. Those that do not, you probably should experience this whole driving thing a lot more before posting so much.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by ABQautoxer

The first, I dunno, 25 cars I owned never had any of these features including ABS. Some how I didn't get sued, die, or kill anyone else. The last 6 cars I've owned have had all of them, and I turn them all off other than ABS. Weird, the universe hasn't ended. I must be doing it wrong.

Look if you want to drive with them on, thats great, many people probably should. I've been teaching high performance driving for a long time and I can tell you most people need this. But for several of you to say they are better than a human driver with enough talent and judgement, which it doesn't take a whole lot of, it simply not true as a blanket statement. Those of you that have ever hit icemode in ABS or left on the assists and come back with nearly burnt out rear brakes on cars that have these features know what I'm talking about. Those that do not, you probably should experience this whole driving thing a lot more before posting so much.

Thank you! bravo, bravo!

I think some folks should have bought a TC instead.

[michaelahess]

Originally Posted by ABQautoxer

The first, I dunno, 25 cars I owned never had any of these features including ABS. Some how I didn't get sued, die, or kill anyone else. The last 6 cars I've owned have had all of them, and I turn them all off other than ABS. Weird, the universe hasn't ended. I must be doing it wrong.

Look if you want to drive with them on, thats great, many people probably should. I've been teaching high performance driving for a long time and I can tell you most people need this. But for several of you to say they are better than a human driver with enough talent and judgement, which it doesn't take a whole lot of, it simply not true as a blanket statement. Those of you that have ever hit icemode in ABS or left on the assists and come back with nearly burnt out rear brakes on cars that have these features know what I'm talking about. Those that do not, you probably should experience this whole driving thing a lot more before posting so much.

You are being naive, no offense but you are. The bolded statement above is 100% correct for 99.9% of drivers. That's why we shouldn't be telling people "oh just turn it off if you think you can drive" most people can't.

And just because you can drive, doesn't mean you can do it safely during every conceivable emergency situation that may happen. That's why you SHOULD NOT turn them off during everyday driving.

They are a safety net, just like airbags, abs, lane change warning indicators, etc. If the car has them, keep them functioning for SAFETY's SAKE. Rejecting technology because you think you are better than it is just plain stupid/old fashioned. Sure you might be able to do better without it if you are a REALLY good driver, but why the hell risk it? It's your LIFE after all.

Learning to drive without the aids is also 100% necessary, that way if they do flake out or act abnormally you will have an idea on how to handle it. That gives you the best of both worlds. Do some crazy maneuvers in a parking lot with the nannies on and off, compare the differences, and learn to handle them.

[ABQautoxer]

I disagree. This is much like anything, why shouldn't they be able to turn it off. Both companies, in all their wisdom, made it a button right next to the shifter. Sure seems convenient for something that so damn taboo. What so stupid about this whole debate is you do realize the number of cars that did not have these things for 100 years. I'm not saying they aren't an improvement, what I am saying is simply the idiots of the world will crash their cars anyway because in the end its personal judgement. You can still have some awesome crashes with all the nannies on.

[ill86]

Answer me this:

What are you going to do when your nannies fail and you cannot correct in an emergency situation because you don't know how?

Rely on something and you will fail when it fails. This is the sole reason why I teach understeer and oversteer recovery to teens and adults alike. In driving 101.. Same with ABS.

It does NOT compare to airbags and seatbelts. Different discussion entirely.


If you want to keep your electronics on.. Great. But don't get on others because they choose to drive the car without.

[mattles]

lol if you think you are going to wreck it with the nannies off. Its a car with no power, and a fair margin for error. I drove nothing but miatas for years - and none of those come with nannies aside from ABS (and several miatas dont even have that!) and Im a pretty shit driver, but lookit that Im still alive today.

Although to answer the original question:
I tend to drive the FRS however I feel at the moment. Sometimes Im too lazy to hold both buttons all the way down, sometimes I forget to disable anything.

[Neziah]

I turned it off once, and instantly spun off the road and burst into flame as soon as I released the button......

[ABQautoxer]

Originally Posted by Neziah

I turned it off once, and instantly spun off the road and burst into flame as soon as I released the button......

[michaelahess]

Originally Posted by ABQautoxer

I disagree. This is much like anything, why shouldn't they be able to turn it off. Both companies, in all their wisdom, made it a button right next to the shifter. Sure seems convenient for something that so damn taboo. What so stupid about this whole debate is you do realize the number of cars that did not have these things for 100 years. I'm not saying they aren't an improvement, what I am saying is simply the idiots of the world will crash their cars anyway because in the end its personal judgement. You can still have some awesome crashes with all the nannies on.

I have no issue with turning it off, if you know what you are doing and accept the risks. I'm just saying there is very little reason to do so for normal everyday driving.

They put the buttons right there because this car is meant for track use.

ill86, re-read my last post, I specifically said that drivers should experience how the vehicle handles both with and without the nannies.

The simple reality is that the nannies could save your life, regardless of skill, that alone is reason enough to leave them on. I'm sorry but there is no debating the slight chance that a life could be saved.

I'd also like to point out that unlike most of us, a large portion of new drivers (like all of them) have grown up on cars with ABS and TC systems, they have no idea how a "raw" car handles, if they are lazy, and you know they will be, they won't test the limits of the car safely without the nannies, so they DEFINITELY need to leave them on.

[res]

Originally Posted by michaelahess

I learned on old heavy RWD cars, I drive two big ass trucks, mostly in 2WD in the snow and ice, only ever using 4WD in the worst weather.

I leave all the nannies on.

It's the same as the previous post about airbags, just because my old cars didn't have them, I'm not disabling mine on the BRZ. It's a safety feature that COULD prevent death. Why the feck would I turn that off to go buy groceries?

If it becomes intrusive, and you KNOW you are being safe about where/when/how you are driving, kill the TC and leave VSC on, that's reasonable. Killing all of it to buy a burger at McD's? Not even smart.

What if that one trip has a random dude pull out and you over-correct with it off? You'd have avoided an accident because of that technology, regardless of driving skill. Emergencies don't have guaranteed reactions on your part, regardless of skill/experience.

This.

Thank you.

I learned on 60's and 70's RWD cars. Corvettes, Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, 'Cudas, Challengers, Triumph Spitfires, MGs, Fiats, Datsuns, etc.

I leave all the nannies on when driving on public roads. One mistake without them and you may be dead, someone else may be dead, or someone else may own you.

Good luck.

[Grateful Dave]

When you start the car, the traction control is on and the VSC is off. So I have been driving that way. I haven't really tested all the variations. I have driven with everything off. I noticed when you turn on VSC, the traction control is off. Is that right? I guess I need a good explanation of these controls.