Are you faster with traction control on or off?

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

Thing is, even with traction control, if you can't react to a sudden unpredictable scenario, you can have an accident even with TC by making a bad decision. TC isn't a fool proof plan as everyone in this thread is making it out to be.

I can and have gone all my life without relying on TC, and have not had an accident. It may increase my chances of avoiding an accident by 2% in some situations, but to me that 2% is just insignificant.

Are you always prepared to make any sudden corrections when needed? TC is always is.

How does having TC hurt you on your daily commute? Honestly I'd find it tedious having to hold down the TC button down each time I get in the car.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by ayau

Are you always prepared to make any sudden corrections when needed? TC is always is.

How does having TC hurt you on your daily commute? Honestly I'd find it tedious having to hold down the TC button down each time I get in the car.

I like taking my chances, makes things much more fun.

Having TC on doesn't hurt my commute except when I have to pull out on a dangerous intersection where I don't want TC to suddenly kill all the power.

Holding the button down is just part of my routine... sometimes I don't even notice it when I do it. In my BMW I've turned TC back on thinking I forgot to turn it off in the first place.

[thill]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

I like taking my chances, makes things much more fun.

Having TC on doesn't hurt my commute except when I have to pull out on a dangerous intersection where I don't want TC to suddenly kill all the power.

Holding the button down is just part of my routine... sometimes I don't even notice it when I do it. In my BMW I've turned TC back on thinking I forgot to turn it off in the first place.

Well since you are the perfect driver, why even bother with a seat belt? Seems rather ludicrous to have something getting in the way of enjoying the car since you are in complete control of nearly all situations due to your superior driving skills.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by thill

Well since you are the perfect driver, why even bother with a seat belt? Seems rather ludicrous to have something getting in the way of enjoying the car since you are in complete control of nearly all situations due to your superior driving skills.

What is it with people throwing seat belts into a TC argument? how does a seat belt affect the way you drive a car, or intervenes with the cars characteristics?

This is about the stupidest thing being thrown into the argument.

[Minhtyfresh]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

I can say the same, if you aren't losing traction why do you need TC in the first place?

The argument works for both parties.

Sure TC can save you in a few very specific cases, but those cases involve a combination of breaking the law (taking a corner faster than it was designed for) or driving at speeds that weather doesn't allow.

I think you missed the point. I mentioned intentionally losing traction vs accidently losing traction on public roads.

Intentionally losing traction = illegal. Leave TC on.
Accidently losing traction = safer to Leave TC on.

See that? In both cases, if you have TC as an option for public roads... Leave it on. If TC on is not an option. Thats okay too. But if the option is there, there is no reason to have it off unless tracking or stuck.

[thill]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

What is it with people throwing seat belts into a TC argument? how does a seat belt affect the way you drive a car, or intervenes with the cars characteristics?

This is about the stupidest thing being thrown into the argument.

Ironoically, it actually is not the stupidest thing being thrown into the argument.. Alas, I am dropping back out of this one.. Somehow I got sucked back in...

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Minhtyfresh

I think you missed the point. I mentioned intentionally losing traction vs accidently losing traction on public roads.

Intentionally losing traction = illegal. Leave TC on.
Accidently losing traction = safer to Leave TC on.

See that? In both cases, if you have TC as an option for public roads... Leave it on. If TC on is not an option. Thats okay too. But if the option is there, there is no reason to have it off unless tracking or stuck.

Accidentally losing control = Driving to fast = illegal. TC can save you, but you can avoid it by following the law.

Intentionally losing control is illegal, has nothing to do with traction control, in fact, if you are trying to intentionally slide and TC kicks in it can cause an accident.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by thill

Ironoically, it actually is not the stupidest thing being thrown into the argument.. Alas, I am dropping back out of this one.. Somehow I got sucked back in...

How is it not... what does a Seat Belt have to do with how a car reacts, or how I want it to react?

[Minhtyfresh]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

2% is a rather insignificant number, thus TC is insignificant

I don't want to assume that math is not your strong point.. but consider the number of people driving in north america alone. Now consider that 2% more people avoiding accidents = ALOT of people. It is pretty significant.

In anycase, I'm not saying you are an unsafe driver. I'm saying TC on, if it is an option, is the better choice no matter how you look at it.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Minhtyfresh

I don't want to assume that math is not your strong point.. but consider the number of people driving in north america alone. Now consider that 2% more people avoiding accidents = ALOT of people. It is pretty significant.

In anycase, I'm not saying you are an unsafe driver. I'm saying TC on, if it is an option, is the better choice no matter how you look at it.

TC on TC off, in the end it's an option. To some TC on is worse, to some it's better, to me it's worse as it makes me feel the car is far less predictable and dangerous if I suddenly feel a loss of power while trying to merge into the highway.

[itisthumper]

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.

I've had my car for 10 months now and feel very confident taking it around corners. I've only played with the TC once and used it to slide around in a parking lot.

Even when I feel fine driving the car with TC on, I still don't know what to expect with TC off ( due to my lack of experience). So I don't know exactly when to start driving with it off. How would you know you are ready without trying it?

[Minhtyfresh]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

Accidentally losing control = Driving to fast = illegal. TC can save you, but you can avoid it by following the law.

Intentionally losing control is illegal, has nothing to do with traction control, in fact, if you are trying to intentionally slide and TC kicks in it can cause an accident.

Alright let's clarify that again -

Accidently losing control does NOT = driving too* fast. Anything from unexpected pot holes, animals, black ice, shitty lumps in the road as high as speed bumps... of course, driving too fast is also a possibility...

If I make a mistake, mis-judge the conditions of the road, fail to see a potential hydro-plain... I don't need to be driving wrecklessly for things to happen.

Even if it has anything to do with being illegal... You're STILL helping yourself and others around you by having TC on. This is still not a valid reason to say TC off is better.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Minhtyfresh

Alright let's clarify that again -

Accidently losing control does NOT = driving too* fast. Anything from unexpected pot holes, animals, black ice, shitty lumps in the road as high as speed bumps... of course, driving too fast is also a possibility...

If I make a mistake, mis-judge the conditions of the road, fail to see a potential hydro-plain... I don't need to be driving wrecklessly for things to happen.

Even if it has anything to do with being illegal... You're STILL helping yourself and others around you by having TC on. This is still not a valid reason to say TC off is better.

You can drive with TC on if you want, to me, TC is just a handicap to help incompetent people who would otherwise crash and burn without TC drive on the road, and keep them from hurting the people who know how to drive.

[Minhtyfresh]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

You can drive with TC on if you want, to me, TC is just a handicap to help incompetent people who would otherwise crash and burn without TC drive on the road, and keep them from hurting the people who know how to drive.

*sigh*.

And that is fine. If you feel safer with TC off then do it. As long as you aren't putting anyone else around you in danger.

And I agree, TC really is for the majority of the population that aren't particularly great at driving. But I don't agree that it is for the incompetant.

We are not gods of driving. Mistakes happen. We are fallable, no matter how great you are at driving... I would like to think I'm a decent driver. No accident history, racing experience, decent sense of surrounding area. But for that 1/10000 chance of an unexpected scenerio, I'll be happier knowing that my car will grab traction again quicker than I can react for me.

Similarly: I don't get into accidents, but hell if I do, I'll be glad that airbag I don't use is there too.