stevefredbelle

I took delivery of my new stormy blue leather pack manual RX8 a week ago. Have only covered 600k's so far and have not yet driven the car aggressively. I am 58 years of age with an extensive motorsport background (some have been rotary powered vehicles) and to date I have steadfastly avoided vehicles with electronic driver aids. I have other cars including a very raw 1981 Porsche 911 , an early Suzuki Swift GTI and a Nissan Pulsar Q (the latter two are used in dirt track autocross competiton) and the driver is solely responsible for how these vehicles behave on the limit. In the recent past I have had a Mazda Familia 4 WD turbo with ABS and my times were much quicker once I fitted a switch to disable the system. It also generally stopped sooner with ABS off! I do not intend to put the RX8 on the track however I am uneasy about driving a sporty vehicle that may have the ability to take away some degree of intuitive driver input in certain situations. I am sure I can live with ABS on this new car however DSC concerns me. In what circumstances do you choose to drive with DSC either fully or partially off ?
Do you consider it is helpful to leave the system activated in normal day to day driving? Has the system been a help or a hindrance in certain circumstances? I look forward to the views of forum members.
Please excuse the long post
Steve (sunny Ballarat, Victoria)

Revolver

G'day Steve.

Welcome and all that.

Although I understand the concerns you have expressed, the general wisdom is that Mazda have got it right with the DSC settings in this car. For street use, I think many of us leave it fully on at all times. It allows a modicum of 'fun' before stepping in to control the car and is a good security blanket on wet or greasy road surfaces. In my experience, it certainly does not have an adverse affect when it functions but I understand one or two others have complained about it.

There's little doubt the car is faster on a track with it disabled and in the hands of an experienced driver but in my view that is the only place it should be turned fully off unless you wish to temporarily explore the car's handling in some sensible street locations (i.e. where it will not affect other roadusers should you run out of talent).

I think you'll find this is a very subjective area and you'll get as many different answers as there are respondents to your query.

DrGonzo

The DSC is fully switchable - holding the DSC button down for 7 second disables the DSC and traction control.

I got to drive my car on the limit for the first time today at DECA and I reckon it's the most fun you can have with your pants on! I've never driven such a nicer car, love it!

auzoom

Yeah I am with Revolver...welcome and all that joking...Welcome. You will definately get a lot of different opinions. I see no need what so ever to be driving in city traffic with either of those driver aids off. When you are tracking, you are constantly on the edge but expecting the car to be loosing it any second. In the city you wouldnt be doing that. Hence they save your ***.

l am a little differnt on the track. I drive with the DSC 1/2 off as I like the ABS input, but the DSC on the track is a major pain.

Cheers

Andrew

Ottog

Hi Steve,

Welcome, with your background I'm sure that you will have a lot of fun with your new toy.

With regard to the driver aids, I agree with Revolver and Andrew. I never turn mine off on public roads. I too like to explore the car and my handling limits and can attest to "Mazda got it right" theory re: the DSC.

Apart from the ABS you have to work hard to make the RX8 step out of line but when it does the DSC is a very welcome feature.

By the way, don't need to be doing anything risky for it to save your behind. I recently had the lower front diver side brake caliper retaining bolt decide to part company with the car. The net result was the caliper being flung away from the rotor and jamming into the wheel rim locking it up (fortunately at only 40K). The DSC did a fantastic job of keeping the car in a straight line and avoinding what could have been a dangerous and costly incident.

On the track is a different kettle of fish. Once I gain in the circuit I will turn it 1/2 off. Like Andrew, I prefer to keep the ABS working.

Cheers.... Otto

Speedy400

What are trying to do, driving an RX8 at your age?

labrat

I'm older than Steve (he's just a kid), and I've been driving my RX-8 for over 4 years. I hope to be driving it (or its successor) for years yet. If you survive as long as me, it is perhaps remotely possible you might acquire sufficient wisdom to realize how stupid and offensive such remarks are.

labrat

Hello Steve. I don't pretend to have anywhere near your driving experience or skills, and for that reason I am profoundly glad I have DSC on the car. You can search for an early thread on this forum for a report I made on an incident when a driver didn't give way at an intersection and the DSC saved my life. Perhaps for you, your skills might have saved the day without DSC, but isn't it nice to know it's there for you at a time when simultaneously you are confronted with an emergency and you have been distracted momentarily beforehand.

As I've said in another post, I'm older than you, but I don't regard DSC as newfangled. However, I am a scientist, and I tend to embrace whatever is new and useful. As road accident research is now showing, DSC is not only useful but a lifesaver. I'm one of those who believe it should be mandatory on all new vehicles sold.

All the best with your new baby. I hope you love your car as much as I do mine.

Speedy400

Naw, just trying to crank the ole geezer up.
I'm 58 here too and living my second youth right along wid him... and you?
BTW, I've been enjoying every minute of the RX-8.

Here's my list.. probably shorter than yours.
OK, here goes -
60 Mini 850 2 yr restoration
60 Mini 850 project, autox
64 Mini 960 autox
65 Mini Cooper S 1275 fast, nimble - real deal
65 Austin Healey 3000 cool - bmoc
67 MGB-GT coupe/hatch - a refined Healey
75 BMW 2002 well balanced, good investment
76 Subaru common sense
79 BMW R80/7 m/c, rode for 24 years - sweet
82 Audi 5000
85 Audi 5000 many problems
90 Mercedes 190 well made very boring
90 Audi 100 mistake
93 Volvo 740 good family truck.. err car
93 Nissan Maxima did well
96 Integra RS reliable, fun
01 BMW Z3 Coupe more fun, sexy, head turner
05 Mazda6 sporty family car - current
07 Mazda MX5 PRHT fun, reliable - current
05 Mazda RX8 - current

No offense meant, just trying to spar a little for fun.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

I track my car a lot and drive agressively on the open raod when conditions allow . I would say DSC is a great safety device . The only times I turn it off are :
Dry track
Dry windy road (when I'm having fun and there is no traffic)
When I want to be an idiot . I'm not much younger than you BTW

stevefredbelle

Wow ! I am overwhelmed by the quality of the information I have received here. While my "new fangled" reference was tongue in cheek I really did not have any idea what to expect from the electronic add ons . All the respondents obviously take their motoring seriously and have made every effort to fully understand their cars. Thanks folks. I am happy to concede that in most circumstances Mazda can do a better job of avoiding a motoring mishap than I can.
Steve