Stability Control.

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

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Joined
26 Oct 2004
Posts
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Location
Isle of Wight
My Boring FWD car probably saved our lives or at least its self this evening.

Enter bend at 60MPH, cross forming ice, slide sideways, and before I even get a chance to react, the car has already fixed the situation, all by its self, and I'm travelling in the right direction again.

Given my proximity to the ditch, the speed, and the angle at which I began to slide, I don't think that could have been recovered without ESP.

The joys of owning a modern car with modern traction and stability control systems, hey.

My question is, how many other people have had their stability control or similar save their bacon?

Also, how long have mid-market hatchbacks had these kind of systems (or at least, these systems that work) for?
 
The fact that I'm a driving god saves my bacon daily.


On a more serious note, I'm always impressed with how stability control systems work so fast, I really am. Like you said, before you know it!
 
Howard said:
The fact that I'm a driving god saves my bacon daily.
Click to expand...

I've saved my own bacon many a time, with some clever juggling of steering, braking and handbrake application etc.

I was just surprised to find that the car had fixed the situation before I even had a chance to contemplate it, let alone react.
 
i had it kick in on the vectra over saddleworth moor

entered a tight right hand corner that had standing water that i couldnt see. Went in too fast and the car started to slide. Had it not been for ESP i could have quite easily slid off the road and down the hill not inches from the edfe of the side of the road.
 
I think there has only been one time that DSC has saved my car/life.

The first time I went to the Nurburgring in my 330d, I got within about 10 miles of the track and got lost. It was getting dark and I was was just driving around some awesome country lanes looking for some signposts.

Anyway, it was October and pretty desolate. The roads were fairly wet, and it was now dark. I passed a German Audi S3 which was parked up by the side of the road. As soon as I passed it, it erupted into life and stuck right up behind me. With the tiredness and excitement of going to the Nurburgring for the first time, I thought I'd have a little play with it.

So we drive through the forests and along the glorious twisty lanes at speed until we came out into an open section. As we're travelling along a steeply banked section (fields either side, few metres drop to the outside of the corner), my car starts fishtailing a lot on the greasy bank at about 80mph. I lift straight off the accelerator and pray that the car sorts itself out. The S3 by now had backed off and was now about 50m behind me. The DSC and ABS juddered a lot and brought the car down to speed and I managed to get in a straight line again.

The S3 followed me for a bit at a distance, then left me at the next junction.

I was 22 at the time, so pretty naive. Had I been in an e36 M3, maybe I'd be dead now - although maybe I wouldn't have been so blasé about the conditions. Since then I've never been in a situation anywhere near as hairy as that.
 
You're far too late to the table, MikeHiow.

I was regaling Motors with tales of exciting RWD stability control escapades in 2006.
 
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My Elise self corrects itself loads of times. Just today in fact! Light watery stream coming off a field. Enter corner, go over the stream, car has a slight fish taily type moment. Within half a meter the problem is gone and traction restored. Car self centers.

So it's not only electronics that can do this :p
 
Yeah simlair situation. Had not long had the astra, giving it some beans round local back rounds. Being so awesome, I entered a corner in the wrong conditions a bit too quick. Understeer kicks in, I try to correct and next thing its all ok again. Think I made it worse by over correcting it though.
 
The statistics are indicating that ESC can make a significant impact to the number of road accidents, especially singe vehicle ones.

The current regulations indicate that by late 2011 all new models type approved for the EU will have to be fitted with ESC, and by late 2014 you won't be able to sell new cars without it.

I think it's a good thing. Today ABS provides people with shorter stopping distances and much better accident avoidance. Soon ESC will be enhancing that and providing even more control in tricky situations.
 
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Ricochet J said:
I'm suprised your Astra has traction control.
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ESP & TC acctually!
rolleyes.gif
:p

Although a switch shall be going in shortly, TC can become very annoying at times. Its way too responsive the slightest slip and its on.
 
Can I get some subjective opinions please

I've posted an aerial view of the piece of road I was travelling along at 60MPH on a dry road, with outside temp reading 3-4c. I was travelling what I'd call the outside line, from right to left on the picture.

Do you consider this an unsuitable speed for a bend that is barely a bend, given the apparent dry conditions?

corner.png
 
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My 328i has no such driver aids alas, and it simply scares the crap out of me from time to time as a reminder not to drive like a tool in poor conditions.... :o
 
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