ESP - off

[hertfordshire1]

Anyone out there drive their cars with the stability software disabled?

Does it make the car more fun, or is it a recipe for disaster!!???

Steve

[Golich]

When I demo'd the Avant I switched ESP off to see if it donuts any easier than the B5. It seemed much the same.

Warning don't try that unless the road is very greasy and you have loads and I MEAN loads of space. It can do some seriously wide radius circles VERY VERY quickly. BIG wet slippery car park required!!!

[Mikeyboy]

Do you mean fully off?
I turn the traction control off pretty regularly, it saves the brakes on hard runs and most importantly kills most of the understeer. Doesn't allow you to get back end out but then its 4wd so its unlikely anyway.
fully off I've not been brave enough to try yet but may give it a go on the first track day of the year.

[fx2]

I never ever have the traction control on, it already kills the quick gear changes. Full of is a bit tricky at the beginning, i'v done at least 4-5 spins(lost control in a corner) in the city, at night, on empty roads. On the track the ESP full off is a must for maximum fun You can get quiet nice drifts for a 4wd.

[Golich]

What do you mean fully off? Can it be switched off in various degrees? I was able to get a partial donut at a wide junction by just hitting the switch once. I thought at the time the front end pulled more than my B5 would have which confused me as I was expecting more rear end power bias and I got a bit of larger radius 180 turn than I did on my b5 when I took it back to the same spot. But then I know how to brake the back end out on the B5. But I'm pretty sure the traction control wasn't interfering as I got power perhaps not all the power I did see to loose grip quite easily then gain grip part way through the 180. Hhmm now you have me thinking. Difficult to be certain from just one attempt what the car was doing or not?

[hertfordshire1]

i'v done at least 4-5 spins(lost control in a corner) in the city

Feck that!!!!

I know with the system engaged, quick getaways and shifts into second seem to prevoke a noticable dip in power, must be the TC kicking in and stopping warp drive......


Are there stages of TC?

on - partially on - fully off?

[simple1]

If you push the ESP button, the light comes up on dash but system is still fully active although with lower limits, you need to push and hold ESP button for 5 seconds to fully disengage the system. This turns all driver aids off completely. Had one go at driving with this off, at Silverstone, and car is a handful, drifts nicely but when it breaks away, unless you have lightening quick reactions, it gets out of order very quickly.........

[hamski]

I'm almost scared and excited at the same time...like when you put your hand in a fire to see how hot it is (as a kid of course). need to find a big carpark

[fx2]

The thing that amazed me most was, that i was able to do a full burnout, front wheels standing completly still and the back ones burning at 8000 rpm Had to cheat a bit though and got the car into the position on a slightly wet track and with the handbrake, still a very interesting 4wd, that would have been impossible with the Impreza.

[Adam]

the name fx2 is burned into my memory should I ever wish to buy a used RS4

[Mikeyboy]

Blimey Golich et al RTFM gentlemen, RTFM.

[flashyg]

Good new for the b7 I'm liking it!
Shpin that funky music, wide boy.
Shpin shpin shpin...........

[fx2]

the name fx2 is burned into my memory should I ever wish to buy a used RS4

The car is made for great driving!

[Nige_RS4]

Blimey Golich et al RTFM gentlemen, RTFM.

Who RTFM on a test drive???