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

[ABQautoxer]

Full off. I actually put the car in reserve and while backing up I hold down the T/C button so when I put it in 1st, the car is ready. Pretty much the same ritual in all my cars except the Porsche which doesn't have any nannies to disable.

[Shizuma]

First thing I do when I get in my car is pus the VSC Sport button, though in the winter when the roads are slippery I'll likely leave it on, personally I prefer them off because sometimes the intrusiveness can be dangerous when your car is all of a sudden not accelerating at the rate you expect or handling how you expect it too because the system butted in.

I learned to drive (including in snow) on my father's 84 Lincoln Towncar, RWD V8with no systems like that to speak of, my first car was a 77 Plymouth Volare, RWD with a slant 6, and I've also owned a Dodge Dakota R/t 5.9, RWD lowered pickup with a V8 and no traction control to speak of which about the worst thing you can get for snow driving and I had no problems driving that in the winter, in fact I preferred driving that in the snow over my 98 Dodge neon I had prior to that, so yeah, I don't need those systems on to drive safely because I know how to handle a car without them, and the BRZ compared to the Dakota R/T is so much better handling and less likely to lose control, and I was fine with the Dakota.

[wbradley]

Truly, there is no reason to turn that stuff off for the streets unless you want to do something that you probably really shouldn't. Not that most people wont do it from time to time.

I say, switch everything off and knock yourself out in a completely deserted parking lot. Especially in the rain. But for the streets, as invincible as you are, consider other drivers on the road who don't expect to see cars drifting around corners.

Im guessing that for the most part this driving behaviour will be prevalent among younger and possibly less experienced drivers.

[ABQautoxer]

Funny, I can trigger the nannies taking a turn onto the highway because there is a sudden elevation change not doing anything dangerous. After that happened two days in a row of my commute making my car decide to cut throttle like a missed shift with cars behind me, I've shut it off. Up until that (3rd day of ownership) I thought it was rather unobtrusive.

[Skye]

If you want to learn safe driving, if you survive, drive a motorbike for several years. I can now feel the state of the road by the seat of my pants

[PMok]

keep in mind that with the current state of technology in ECUs and black boxes, if you are ever involved in an accident, the fact that you had TC or VSC disabled will likely be discoverable evidence. It might be used as indicia of your contributory negligence and result in you being convicted of a crime, losing a civil case or being denied insurance coverage. I hear you guys that say "I can drive better with my X years of experience than the nanny can", but imagine what a typical jury will think. This young (or old) fool turned off his safety aids and got into an accident -- GUILTY. Sorry but America is too litigious these days.

Those of you in Australia, UK, Asia, or where ever.. have at it.

[Zadkiel]

Full off unless the road is wet. I had one instance where I did take a turn a little too quickly. The turn was a right hander with a crest in the middle of it. The VSC and TSC intervened, but it made the car wobble left and right very violently when it did. I did the exact same thing another day with the TSC and VSC full off. Rear started to rotate. I applied a slight countersteer, lifted slightly on the throttle, and recovered without incident or yawing of the wheel. I was scared that the VSC and TSC was going to shake the car off the road the first time.

That and I hate it when it pulses the ABS to do it. For the record, other than my boring Versa I just gave to the wife, I've only owned RWD, MT vehicles. 1st was a barebones 87 Chevy S10(no AC, PS, and no weight over the rear axle). Then a 2000 Ford Mustang, and then an SR swapped 240SX. Needless to say Winter was pretty interesting those years(PA).

[pinoyplaya]

Anyone having problems climbing a hill with VSC in Sport and traction off?

I was trying to park my car in the garage today and since theres a slight dip between the cement of the garage and the driveway, my front tire got stuck there. Then I tried to get out.... couldnt move lol!

So I turned VSC back on with traction on, and boom! car moved.

Hmmm....

So funny!

Maybe I didnt let go of the clutch

[soconfoozed]

I love a spirited drive as much as the next guy (when my BRZ isn't at the dealer, zing!), but keep this stuff on the track.

I would have to think that even a pre-law student could just utterly slam you if you got into an accident and were found to have disabled driver aids, particularly in a sportscar, but for those conditions where the manufacturer specifically advises it.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by soconfoozed

I would have to think that even a pre-law student could just utterly slam you if you got into an accident and were found to have disabled driver aids, particularly in a sportscar, but for those conditions where the manufacturer specifically advises it.

No way you can get pinned for that. As others have said, controlling the car is actually more predictable without the aids in certain scenarios.

Experience>Technology

[soconfoozed]

Originally Posted by chulooz

No way you can get pinned for that. As others have said, controlling the car is actually more predictable without the aids in certain scenarios.

Experience>Technology

Really? You can't hear that argument in your head? "This guy thought he was driving a racecar on public roads, and in a callous disregard of public safety he disabled the tools put in place by the manufacturer to protect himself and others, but we can see that Speed Racer here isn't so talented a driver as he thought, and now look what's happened" etc.

A decent attorney would probably spend more brainpower deciding what to have for lunch.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by soconfoozed

Really? You can't hear that argument in your head? "This guy thought he was driving a racecar on public roads, and in a callous disregard of public safety he disabled the tools put in place by the manufacturer to protect himself and others, but we can see that Speed Racer here isn't so talented a driver as he thought, and now look what's happened" etc.

A decent attorney would probably spend more brainpower deciding what to have for lunch.

All of that would get you no where, its not illegal and you cannot directly connect it to the incident (turning it off isnt in itself dangerous). Beside this would mean cars pre-nannies would be crashing left and right, yet they didnt and they arent. If you are experienced and responsible enough there should be no problems... now ABS is a different story.

[xwd]

I've driven with it on and off but in my daily commute but generally just leave it on. I used to drive a turbo diesel 2WD F250 with no LSD in the winter in Wisconsin I can't imagine the BRZ being more of a handful than that vehicle.

Insurance companies will do anything to get out of claims. I don't doubt they would use not having vsc/tc on a reason to deny a large claim and given general ignorance they would probably win.

[soconfoozed]

Originally Posted by chulooz

All of that would get you no where, its not illegal and you cannot directly connect it to the incident (turning it off isnt in itself dangerous). Beside this would mean cars pre-nannies would be crashing left and right, yet they didnt and they arent. If you are experienced and responsible enough there should be no problems... now ABS is a different story.

Oh nonsense, it clearly expresses a belief that you're better than technology designed with the intent of keeping you and those around you safe. Whether or not earlier cars had such features is irrelevant, and you know that. Argue honestly. What matters is that cars DO have such features now, and you specifically choose not to use them -- every time you give your car the two finger salute for three seconds. You are specifically and willfully disabling what the state of the art has determined will make you more safe. That is the issue.

Your car may not have a button labeled "wrap car around tree," but you can certainly do things that significantly increase the likelihood of that result.