Who drives without the VSA on? Is it better on gas? I am thinking of using it only during the winter time.

 

VSA is not a mechanical. i think it just detects wheel slipage and corrects it for you. so it does not affect gas mileage in anyway

 

Vehicle Skid Assist. It is an Electro-hydraulic system (a.k.a ABS and Traction Control). It uses sensors such as a steering wheel angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, yaw rate sensor, and a lateral accelaration sensor. Basically, it only comes into play when you are trying to push the car beyond its limits so it will in no way affect your gas mileage...

P.S. - It's probably not a bad idea to leave it on unless there is a reason to turn it off because you never know when you might need its help...

 

why turn it off you'll never notice its on unless you need it then you'll be glad it's on.

 

One thing I don't understand is how come people say that when you turn off VSA, the car is faster...

 

0-60 is faster without VSA because VSA limits wheelspin. A full-throttle 1-2 shift will spin the wheels and as soon as the VSA system detects the spin it shuts off the fun. That being said, leave VSA on unless you are racing.

 

i'm not sure if its just me, but I find the car more enjoyable to drive with the VSA turned off. Maybe its just a mental thing, i'm not sure, but it does seem more fun hehe.

 

Vehicle Stability Assist, actually.

 

VSA will make a major difference in spirited driving, but for day to day driving, just leave it on. You won't even feel it.

 

I agree. I was able to spin the tires when shifting 1-2 and 2-3 with VSA ON, so I really don't see why to turn it off. One can have fun with VSA, too.

My TSX is 5AT.

 

Nocturaltsx is right, maybe it's a mental thing. I find more fun to drive the car with it off. I just don't understand why they have an off button instead of a full time VSA if there's no differences between on and off. I guess I have to drive it more to see the difference.

 

The main reason there's an off button for the VSA is for if you are trying to get moving on ice. You need to be able to spin your wheels to get moving so if VSA was permanently enabled you'd be stuck.

 

question: how is VSA = ABS?

 

VSA works as a team with the ABS and other various sensors.. when you turn off VSA you do NOT turn off abs..

It will however not stop wheelspin or if it thinks you are going out of control.

 

ah stupid me

i read it wrong


thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

You can spin slightly the tires on hard shifts, but you probably felt the engine slighly die on you. That was the TC coming on, and you just lost time on your acceleration. If you want the best acceleration, you definitely need to turn off the VSA.

, Dan.

 

Oops, there are so many names it's hard to keep them all straight. In my Audi it's ESP (Electronic Stability Programming)...

 

The VSA saved a dog's life and vehicle damage for me last week. I was driving home from my fishing camp on a wet 2 lane road. The highway is not lit very well. The black dog appeared in my headlights just about 20 yards in the center of my lane while I was going about 60mph! I slammed the wheel left and missed him by about 6 inches. Had the VSA not been on, I would have either hit the dog or ended up in the canal on the side of the road. It was scary but the car went right back on track after the hard left and right. Moral of story: How would I have known if I would need the VSA at that time? It is like a guardian angel for the TSX.

 

I had a very similar experience in my TT, except I was going about 70 mph and it was a dead deer blocking my entire lane. The ESP is the only thing that kept me out of the woods...

 

and that is why people should leave it on unless they're messing around. You just never know