VSC Poll

Although the increased steering control while in a skid could be a life-saver, I find it annoying that VSC kicks in when making a turn from a stopped position (like turning left at an intersection) when the road is even slightly damp. Power to the wheels simply stops for a second until the wheels can grip again. This is actually *dangerous* (especially if a semi is bearing down on you).

You'd think the Prius computer would be smart enough to disengage VSC when you're accelerating...

 

The only time I've noticed it kicking in is in snow/ice. I don't feel like it saved my car or my life, but driving in the same conditions in a Camry w/ just ABS, and no VSC I could feel more slipping and less control.

I drive very conservatively in the snow though, and I'm used to the amount of slipping that I feel in the Camry. I actually wonder if VSC might give me false confidence in my Prius's ability to handle in those conditions! I'll still drive carefully though

 

Thanks for the warning! I think I have VSC (is that vehicle stability control) and I wanted it because who wants vehicle instability? I have no idea what it does, how it works or if I need it. I was swept away by the name. Yes, yes, I want to live!

But I did not know that it sounded beeps and alarms! Thanks for the warning! As if it isn't bad enough to be about to skid or getting in a bad situation, to have alarms go off! That would scare my pants off and make me wreck.

My old Passat (RIP, you sorry but beautiful piece of junk) had a warning bell that would sound when it got below 40 degrees. Ice danger or something. Here in S.C. it frequently gets below 40 and we don't die or even get icy roads, so it was a terror-inducing warning more likely to cause an accident than prevent one. Everyone in the car would freeze and say, "What was that?" I'd feel like I needed to pull over to the side of the road. Why is my car sounding this ominous bell? What's the matter now?

Oh. It's 39 degrees. Just shut up, okay?

I want the VSC to work and not tell me about it until it's all over with! I don't want bells, alarms, whistles or anything unless I need to immediately evacuate the car.

 

I still think it's stupid to say it's the best safety feature since the seatbelt, or even an airbag.

 

our prius doesn't have vsc. i still feel perfectly safe and have avoided a few accidents on my own. maybe it would be nice but i don't feel it's a deal breaker.

 

I hate vsc and stuff like that. I don’t mind traction control but still hate it. in my Mini I had all the sport options and that gave you the ability to turn all that stuff off. I thought what the heck just leave it on because it is supposed to be safe and I never had a car with anything like that before. well an accident happened right in front of me I had to make some very harsh maneuvers to avoid the accident. I was doing fine until the traction control and dsc minis version of vsc kicked in and I almost crashed. I wasn’t prepared for that. It was like I wanted to do one thing and the computer wanted to do something else. I got lucky on that one though but I turned off the dsc and never turned it back on. I went out to this raod called the dragon in Tennessee with some friend and never had a problem with the handling of the car it would slide a little here and there b ut since I didn’t have the dsc on I was in control.

On the flip side of that. My sister loves her car with the dsc/vsc equivalent and says it has saved her life. so it really depends on the person. I think it is not safe others think it the best thing ever. I just want the option to turn it off when I am driving.

 

The 2nd question was missing "Whenever it is needed".

Are you suggesting that if VSC never comes on when you drive or it has not prevented a crash...it isn't worth having. Odd point of view? Do you have insurance?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 5 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]418195[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure I agree with the last part of this. While most of the handful of times that VSC has kicked in for me have been after turns there was at least one time when it activated while I was going straight. This was in wet snow. I was probably braking, but I don't remember. Even at the low speed traffic was going I was glad to have a little extra help staying in my own lane.

I'm not sure asking how many times it has prevented an accident is a fair way to judge VSC. After all, I've never had airbags deploy, but I wouldnt want another car without them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Apr 5 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]418217[/snapback]</div>

I am a newbie here and a seasoned driver not only in day to day normal driving but as a professional driver OTR.
I think Driving leasons are needed even more today than they were 20-30 yrs ago.
Think about this for a moment, when was the last time you were on the freeway and the car merging (well suppose to) coming onto the moving traffic actually meerged and either speed up or slowed down to get on?

NO one looks anymore they think oh they will get over in the other lane ..

So I think the best safety device is Driver training school. that will save lives.
my 2 cents anyway.


BTW a great site have been checking it out
will possibly do the EBH and EV mod

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Apr 5 2007, 12:42 PM) [snapback]418291[/snapback]</div>

Yeah really, it seems like half the people on the road are reckless and don't expect anything bad to happen to them. How hard is it to signal? At least do that if you're going to cut me off.

I'm thinking about the EBH and EV mods as well, more so the EB than the EV (seem's kind of complicated to install).

 

You know what I hate. When you have like two or three car links between you and the car in the lane you want to be in and you put on your blinker and get ready to get over and the a**hole floors it and gets next to you so you cant get over Wth is that about. I was going the same speed or faster sheesh people. Don’t get me wrong I always signal always well unless it is an emergency and I am concentrating on getting out of the way.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Highly ImPriused @ Apr 5 2007, 04:33 PM) [snapback]418404[/snapback]</div>

I think this has a lot to do with individual driving style - I have a 2005 Prius (38,000 mi) and a 2001 Highlander (99,000 mi) - both have VSC. I have put about 90% of all the miles on both vehicles and experienced VSC only once in the Highlander and never in the Prius. However my wife - who has put the other 10% of the miles on both cars has told me several times that the VSC alarm went off (I won't allow her to drive when I'm in the car).

Go figure!

 

A lot of times VSC will be functioning, but there is no visual/audible indication for it.

 

:blink: Double posted some how sorry.

 

Um the traction control actually kicks in because you have given the car to much power and the wheels are slipping. If you gradually give it gas you will find you get better performance. Its called rabbit footing it or what ever. You start out normal getting some forward momentum and then firmly and relatively quickly give the car more gas until you have it floored. The car will move very fast and you will not have the hesitation of traction control. The reason for traction control is people have a tendency to want the car to move and they just floor it and go no were because the tires are just spinning. It actually takes les time for the traction control to stop power and then gradually apply power then it does to just keep your foot down and wait for the tires to grab. Driving is a little more elaborate then just mashing the pedals and turning the wheel once in a wile. That is why we have all these programs. Ever see people start fish tailing and just start to jerk the wheel back and forth in a panic with their foot on the gas peddle of e brakes smashed to the floor usually they just make the problem worse than it started out to be.