VSC Poll

[priussoris]

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

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

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

[mywhitenoise]

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

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).

[iaowings]

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 wtf 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.

[Highly ImPriused]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Apr 5 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]418251[/snapback]</div>

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?
[/b]

I'm not suggesting anything. Just looking for the pulse of Prius drivers on this topic. I was wondering how frequently it actually functions vs. generalities like "whenever it is needed". I do appreciate your point of view though.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifter @ Apr 5 2007, 01:07 PM) [snapback]418272[/snapback]</div>

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.
[/b]

I'm not sure if it's a fair way either, but it's what I was interested in finding out. Airbags don't prevent accidents, so I don't think it's really an apt comparison. Some people here are even saying the VSC may be detrimental in a crash if you're not used to driving with it. I don't think that's a common point of view, but it is out there.

Thanks for the responses all and keep them coming. This is interesting (to me anyway ).

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paulccullen @ Apr 5 2007, 08:19 AM) [snapback]418186[/snapback]</div>

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...
[/b]

That's traction control, not stability control.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(formerVWdriver @ Apr 5 2007, 08:50 AM) [snapback]418210[/snapback]</div>

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.
[/b]

The idea behind the beep is to tell you that your car is sliding, the computer is gonna try its best to fix the situation and be a bit more cautious because the road conditions allowed your vehicle to slide.

In other words, don't do what you just did cause that induced a slide.

[anj48]

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

I'm not suggesting anything. Just looking for the pulse of Prius drivers on this topic. I was wondering how frequently it actually functions vs. generalities like "whenever it is needed". I do appreciate your point of view though.
I'm not sure if it's a fair way either, but it's what I was interested in finding out. Airbags don't prevent accidents, so I don't think it's really an apt comparison. Some people here are even saying the VSC may be detrimental in a crash if you're not used to driving with it. I don't think that's a common point of view, but it is out there.

Thanks for the responses all and keep them coming. This is interesting (to me anyway ).
[/b]

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!

[Presto]

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

[Tideland Prius]

and here's my regular response to the thread.

Most of the time that VSC has gone off is when I intentionally set it off. It's one thing to know about a feature but it's another to see what it actually does. I set it off in a controlled environment so I know exactly what the computer will do so I won't freak out when it comes on in real life in a real situation.

I've only had it come on once and that was because I was making a left from a side street to a main street at a traffic light with a damp road. The light turned green for the other side and for whatever reason, the a**hole in the Ford Escape (rental car cause it had Alberta rental plates) decided to accelerate hard (he was on the outside lane to my left so he was the closest to me). I saw him accelerate so I sorta panicked and press my accelerator harder to get out of his way. The car understeered and the VSC beeped. When I looked back, he was the only guy in the intersection. All the other vehicles were waiting for me to finish my turn.

What an a**....

[iaowings]

Double posted some how sorry. :P

[iaowings]

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.