View Poll Results: Do you leave the vsa on?
Yes
72
93.51%
No
5
6.49%
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll
Do you keep your VSA on?
#1
Racer
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Do you keep your VSA on?
Do you guys keep your VSA activated? I personally keep mine on all the time, even when I'm doing some spirited driving. I know that some people believe that VSA cuts performance but I can't tell a difference with it on/off.
#5
i turn it off from time to time to get familier with the limit of this car, even with 5AT the VSA definitely make the car felt smoother, and less roll, but i am not sure about the effect on acceleration yet. anyone thing VSA will save fuel?
#7
Originally posted by Santacruz
if i'm driving hard through some twisties i turn it off.
if i'm driving hard through some twisties i turn it off.
personally... when I'm racing I make sure to turn off all my safety features. I find that disabling my airbags gives me that extra boost off the line.
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#8
such a dirty birdy
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I leave it on. I've pushed the car hard a few times, but to be honest I've never really noticed if the VSA activates at all. Probably not. When I'm cornering hard and esp if the car is starting to slide, I'm watching the road, not the dash lights.
Last week I saw a replay of the Tradin' Paint show on speed channel, where Jeff Gordon and J.P. Montoya swap cars for a day at Indy. Montoya made a few comments about how good the traction control was in his car and how much he relied on it. He told Gordon to turn it on for faster laps. I thought that was an interesting observation, basically that he can drive a lot faster and have more control with it on. Bit of a contrast from what you read from "civilian" drivers who say they turn off trac control when they want to drive hard.
Of course, there's a bit of a difference in how much power is on tap in an F1 car and a street vehicle. Plus, the street trac control is no doubt tuned more for safety than for performance. Certainly that is how it's sold/marketed.
I would be very interested to hear from some of the TSX owners that have autocrossed their cars. Especially if someone has had a chance to do comparison runs with VSA on/off. Hopefully we see something from them on this thread.
Last week I saw a replay of the Tradin' Paint show on speed channel, where Jeff Gordon and J.P. Montoya swap cars for a day at Indy. Montoya made a few comments about how good the traction control was in his car and how much he relied on it. He told Gordon to turn it on for faster laps. I thought that was an interesting observation, basically that he can drive a lot faster and have more control with it on. Bit of a contrast from what you read from "civilian" drivers who say they turn off trac control when they want to drive hard.
Of course, there's a bit of a difference in how much power is on tap in an F1 car and a street vehicle. Plus, the street trac control is no doubt tuned more for safety than for performance. Certainly that is how it's sold/marketed.
I would be very interested to hear from some of the TSX owners that have autocrossed their cars. Especially if someone has had a chance to do comparison runs with VSA on/off. Hopefully we see something from them on this thread.
#9
'12 TL (prev '04 TSX 6MT)
I participated in a Mazda RevItUp event, sort of an autocross with the Mazda6. Everyone turned the VSA (or do they call it TCS?) off. We were driving ATs, and they also 'told' us to put it in manual mode, shift to 2nd, and leave it there for the whole course.
Of course, that was in just a parking lot full of cones. The damage done when slipping off course is minimal compared to driving in traffic or on a twisty mountain road.
Of course, that was in just a parking lot full of cones. The damage done when slipping off course is minimal compared to driving in traffic or on a twisty mountain road.
#10
Originally posted by Crazytree
um... isn't that when you're supposed to have it ON?
um... isn't that when you're supposed to have it ON?
When I'm driving hard through twisties I'm paying particular attention to driving. When I'm cruising I may be flipping through my CD case or trying to get something from my glovebox.
#11
Senior Moderator
Originally posted by Count Blah
I participated in a Mazda RevItUp event, sort of an autocross with the Mazda6. Everyone turned the VSA (or do they call it TCS?) off. We were driving ATs, and they also 'told' us to put it in manual mode, shift to 2nd, and leave it there for the whole course.
Of course, that was in just a parking lot full of cones. The damage done when slipping off course is minimal compared to driving in traffic or on a twisty mountain road.
I participated in a Mazda RevItUp event, sort of an autocross with the Mazda6. Everyone turned the VSA (or do they call it TCS?) off. We were driving ATs, and they also 'told' us to put it in manual mode, shift to 2nd, and leave it there for the whole course.
Of course, that was in just a parking lot full of cones. The damage done when slipping off course is minimal compared to driving in traffic or on a twisty mountain road.
#12
such a dirty birdy
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Originally posted by fdl
The VSA on the TSX will compensate for oversteer and understeer..so its kinda different. I'd say you want it OFF when racing because you dont want the computer braking or taking away power when you dont want it to. Luckily the VSA in teh TSX isnt too obtrusive and doesnt come on too early.
The VSA on the TSX will compensate for oversteer and understeer..so its kinda different. I'd say you want it OFF when racing because you dont want the computer braking or taking away power when you dont want it to. Luckily the VSA in teh TSX isnt too obtrusive and doesnt come on too early.
So while it may be true that the TSX VSA system is geared toward increased safety and should be turned off for best perfomance, it's not necessarily a given. That's why I think some timed runs on some kind of road course w/ VSA on/off would provide some useful data points for comparison. It's pretty hard to draw meaningful conclusions from the "feeling" we get from the occasional fast turn on public roads.
#13
Racer
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Originally posted by Santacruz
umm...nope.
When I'm driving hard through twisties I'm paying particular attention to driving. When I'm cruising I may be flipping through my CD case or trying to get something from my glovebox.
umm...nope.
When I'm driving hard through twisties I'm paying particular attention to driving. When I'm cruising I may be flipping through my CD case or trying to get something from my glovebox.
#14
Senior Moderator
Originally posted by ssm_tsx
Yes, but if you start to slide around one of the bends the VSA makes sure you stay on your intended path.
Yes, but if you start to slide around one of the bends the VSA makes sure you stay on your intended path.
#15
Originally posted by ssm_tsx
Yes, but if you start to slide around one of the bends the VSA makes sure you stay on your intended path.
Yes, but if you start to slide around one of the bends the VSA makes sure you stay on your intended path.
#16
Houston we have a problem
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I kept it on on normal driving, but off when I am racing. VSA is good for wet surface but sucks on dry surface. It actually does a commendable job in keeping the traction but it's pretty hard to gauge the threshold. Sometimes when I want the car to slide a little, VSA will kick-in in the middle, and grab the car back. That puts me off my intended line though...
#19
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Re: Do you keep your VSA on?
Originally posted by ssm_tsx
Do you guys keep your VSA activated? I personally keep mine on all the time, even when I'm doing some spirited driving. I know that some people believe that VSA cuts performance but I can't tell a difference with it on/off.
Do you guys keep your VSA activated? I personally keep mine on all the time, even when I'm doing some spirited driving. I know that some people believe that VSA cuts performance but I can't tell a difference with it on/off.
#21
I am Ahab!
Originally posted by dnl2ba
It's supposed to light up on the dash when it activates, right? I don't think I've ever seen it.
It's supposed to light up on the dash when it activates, right? I don't think I've ever seen it.
#22
My other "car" is a 4x4
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The VSA light is supposed to flash when it's active. In order for you to notice the flashing, the VSA would have to be active long enough to flash more than once (it flashes kind of slowly) and you would have to be looking down at the dash at the same time. I've only seen the lamp flash one time so far, so I guess it does work.
#23
Photography Nerd
After completing several performance driving classes (most recently BMW Levels 1 & 2) I can say without a doubt that I would leave any stability program on. The only time I would turn it off is if I needed to spin the tires a little to get me out of snow or ice. The system will do it's job too well and prevent wheelspin when that's what you want.
I haven't pushed the limits of the TSX yet and I wouldn't unless I was on a track but there is no way you can drive faster on a public road with VSA off than with it on. Now if you're doing it for fun, that's a completely other story!
I haven't pushed the limits of the TSX yet and I wouldn't unless I was on a track but there is no way you can drive faster on a public road with VSA off than with it on. Now if you're doing it for fun, that's a completely other story!
#24
Senior Moderator
Originally posted by Dan Martin
After completing several performance driving classes (most recently BMW Levels 1 & 2) I can say without a doubt that I would leave any stability program on. The only time I would turn it off is if I needed to spin the tires a little to get me out of snow or ice. The system will do it's job too well and prevent wheelspin when that's what you want.
I haven't pushed the limits of the TSX yet and I wouldn't unless I was on a track but there is no way you can drive faster on a public road with VSA off than with it on. Now if you're doing it for fun, that's a completely other story!
After completing several performance driving classes (most recently BMW Levels 1 & 2) I can say without a doubt that I would leave any stability program on. The only time I would turn it off is if I needed to spin the tires a little to get me out of snow or ice. The system will do it's job too well and prevent wheelspin when that's what you want.
I haven't pushed the limits of the TSX yet and I wouldn't unless I was on a track but there is no way you can drive faster on a public road with VSA off than with it on. Now if you're doing it for fun, that's a completely other story!
#27
Photography Nerd
Originally posted by fdl
Hey...how did you like the BMW driver training? I have a couple friends that did it and absolutely loved it. I really want to give it a try but its kind of expensive. What kind of car did they give you for level 2?
Hey...how did you like the BMW driver training? I have a couple friends that did it and absolutely loved it. I really want to give it a try but its kind of expensive. What kind of car did they give you for level 2?
#28
Burning Brakes
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I leave it on. It's like Election Day: vote early and vote often.
Ooops. That analogy (metaphor?) doesn't quite work. Afterall, one doesn't vote continuously.
Ooops. That analogy (metaphor?) doesn't quite work. Afterall, one doesn't vote continuously.
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