Traction Control??? Get a grip...

There has been some discussion about TC on another thread today. I think it is a subject worth an airing.

For what it's worth, i have been driving since the early 70's and consider myself a fair driver. I'm no racer and have no points on my licence neither have I ever been responsible for an accident. I chose my current car-a Subaru Legacy-as it has all-wheel drive with ABS, Traction Control and Vehicle Dynamics Control, none of which can be de-activated. I have been in situations where I have needed all the help I could get as my ability ran out and the car saved the day. You could say that I was driving beyond my limits-but when someone swerves in front of you on a motorway at 75 and you are 10 feet away from them, in my opinion you need all the help you can get even if you are the best driver in the world.

If you take your car onto a closed race track then it's a different scenario. I do wish these motoring journalists would remember this when they test cars. But I guess that's another subject.

JC likes to turn off the traction control so he can burn out tyres ... does anyone remember that they had traction control in F1 before it was banned ... so it can't be that bad

on the road, i would ensure that all my car's traction/safety systems are on. not so that i can use up that margin of protection, but to know they could lend a helping hand if push came to shove.

My Polo has no electronic active safety systems at all, so my incident survival strategy is based on me keeping my cool and having the presence of mind to cadence brake (which i can still do). Or to ensure that my cornering speed is relative to grip/conditions etc.

I would welcome the intervention of electronic aids, but i don't have them.

g

I had a Citroen C4 picasso (7 seat) as a courtesy car, I used throw it into corners/roundabouts far too fast just for the ESP system to kick in, it was hilarious ... you could almost feel the computer poo itself!!!

i turn traction control off every time i get into the car, it annoys me when the car cuts in, robbing me of part of my driving experience.

To be fair I think the other thread was talking about what Jeremy Clarkson said on Top Gear.

There was some issue with the perception that he was advocating turning TC off and how that could be dangerous.

What he actually said was people turn it off when they go for a trackday - an entirely different proposition.

I used to drive a 162 mph-capable Boxster S with no driver aids other than ABS. That was interesting.

The Cup was 150mph+ and that didn't have traction control

On the new cars (especially Alfa's), the systems are so subtle you really have to be hooning it to activate them. They are an excellent safety feature

Saying that, pre-Q2 diff and in the wet, the mearest dab of throttle would spin the front wheels up on our V6 GT

I've never driven a car with traction control.

Although my 200SX could have done with some, especially in the wet, might have stopped those 3rd gear wheelspins........

My TVR in the wet was interesting, especially as the tyres worn down to the minimum.

Wheelspin at 120 mph in 5th gear in the wet. (on a private road of course)

I drove a 3 series beemer for a while & ended up turning the TC off - it just felt weird when I was already compensating for a situation, then the TC would kick-in & try and keep up with me

My Merc had all the safety features, but if you flicked it into Sport it lessened their influence. Needless to say I always drive around in sport. You could turn the traction off, but I never did, didn't think it was worth it.

I'm sure I've seen or read an interview with JC in which he said he never drives on the open road with the TC off.

I can't help but think that people these days drive like maniacs because they know that their cars have all of these safety nets to catch them if it all goes pear shaped. So in effect the safety aspects are cancelled out by the drivers over confidence.
Airbags are another, someone recommended replacing them with a large spike. Everyone would drive carefully then.

4x4 drivers are another one. They drive at normal speeds in ice and snow believing that because they have a 4x4 they cannot skid.

If you have a powerful RWD car with no electronic gismos, then you certainly drive it with respect and care. Otherwise you will crash backwards.

I think the TC can be safely turned off in Alfa's every time. Plus it makes the car more responsive in my experience. If i had a TVR or something else equally powerful i might reconsider except on bone dry days. I never have mine on but like i say, 150bhp isnt exactly a lot.

Originally Posted by symonh2000

I can't help but think that people these days drive like maniacs because they know that their cars have all of these safety nets to catch them if it all goes pear shaped.

That's true. A programme (can't remember which) did a test. They got people who drive modern cars with all the trimmings (ABS, ESP, TC, etc) and got them to do a course. They then asked that they repeat the course in cars without all the electronic life-savers... they failed, miserably.

Bit of a wake up call I thought.