How important is DSC?
 

I'm looking to buy an RX-8 in the next month or so and they are extremely rare in my area (Tennessee). I'm kinda picky on color, transmission, etc so anything I can do to widen my search would be helpful. How important is having DSC? If it's not that big of a deal it would open up a lot more options for me. I understand what it does and everything but I wanted to hear from owners who have it/don't have it what they would recommend. Thanks.

I would definately recommend getting it. It saved me in the rain when I started to slide.

it's very helpful when a driver does something stupid. It's bound to happen eventually, you're going to take a turn too fast or lose traction in the rain; helps to correct the error. Not a fool proof plan but definitely helpful.

i'd recommend it. i drive spiritedly, but not like an ass and it takes a whole bunch for it to kick in, so it won't interfere until you really get yourself in trouble. that aside, i've been lucky enough to have never had the car tweak on me near the limit. i have read innumerable times on here, however, that it really saved people and their vehicles from huge accidents. better safe than sorry, no? i only turn it off when it's uber-dry out and i want to really really wring the car's neck. when i'm just bombing around normally though, it stays on, and rarely steps in to put things right. i'd highly recommend it. get the sport package at the least, and if you could find a touring, i'd bet you'd appreciate the sunroof and upgraded stereo. good luck.

Get it even you dont use it a lot (like me)

I wont use the word *saves*, cuz it doesnt, it *helps* to correct user error.

Get it! You'll be glad to have the options.

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like it's a pretty important safety feature. It's funny that Mazda didn't put it on all the models. Okay, my follow up question now is this: is there any way to tell if an 8 has DSC without physically seeing the button on the dash? I've been searching online for cars and lots of people selling them don't list things like that. Is there a way I can tell from pics if the car has it? Thanks again.

All Grand Touring RX-8's came with it. (look for leather)
Touring models came with it also. (look for HID headlights or Bose)

Thanks, so would one with a sunroof and Bose sound system definitely have DSC? I talked to the sales person and he claimed it didn't, although it wasn't at a place that regularly deals with Mazdas.

DSC saved my ass twice now in the snow

It is completely useless - until you need it.

I think you can get it as another option, and not only with the grand touring ...I have DSC and do not have a sunroof or bose, but i I have the HID lights. Yes if you see snow then you want it 100%.

Someone either verify this or correct me...if you have the VIN number of the car you are looking at, cant you call Mazda and ask them for what options the car has?

I'd be curious as to Edward's question as well ^^^

And to clarify my previous question, would it even be possible to get an '06 from the factory with Bose, HID, sunroof, but no DSC? I would think the combination would imply DSC as well. I'm looking at one with all those options but the guy claims it has no DSC, although he wasn't looking inside the car when I was talking to him and is not a Mazda salesperson.

It depends upon how you drive.

If you are aggressive or drive in adverse conditions consistently like rain or snow.... then get it.

if you have fogs, and hids you have dsc. and tc..

beers :beer:

Yes, Edwards - you can run the VIN in to any Mazda dealership's service center, and they can run it through Mazdanet. It will show a complete history of every option put on the car, as well as every time the car has been in a Mazda dealership for service, and what they did to it. It even includes really mundane stuff, like replacing sun visors.

*Edit: This does mean that if you take your RX-8 exclusively into a Mazda dealer to change oil, you won't need to worry about keeping records to prove it, and things to that affect.

Saves me in the rain. Saved me twice today.

it's one of those things that never hurts to have

Except the pocket book as you have to have a certain package to get it.

for those of you that dont live in rainy/snow, do you turn it off? (lets say it was a bright, sun-shiny day)

I do.

it's like a safety belt.even if you don't think you need it.it will be there when you do! nuff said like nike just do it !

If it has a sunroof it has dsc. Fogs = most likely, but fogs can be added aftermarket (or by a dealer) with no way to visibly tell the difference. Check the VIN w/Mazda to be sure. I don't know for sure if Carfax would have all that, tho I assume it would be included.

I'm on my second snowy winter with a base model 05 - no DSC. No problem. Even in a nasty storm that had cars stuck on the highways for hours getting home I chugged along without it and the Dunlop M3s did fine. Passed many cars off the roads +/- spun out on the ramps and thought "I wonder if that is just a terrible driver; a dumb-ass on summer rubber; or both."

DSC should NOT be a limiting factor for anyone looking to purchase an 8 (or any car, for that matter.) If you have similar choices take the one with DSC every time. But don't pass on something you want because it doesn't have DSC.

Like he said.

In the dry you really have to beat the crap out of the car to get it to activate... eg.: take a 90 degree turn and stomp on the throttle.

But in the wet, especially if it's cold, it's very useful. Needless to say it also makes winter driving easier since you can drive "stupid" and it will dial back the throttle input for you.

It saved my butt once, it was one of my first ride after getting the winter tires on, there wasn't any snow but the road was pretty cold and the winter tires less grabby that my summer tires. I took a curve as fast as I'm used to and it was too much for the winter tires... I slid about halfway into the line next to me while DSC lit up blinking and stopped the slide. I would probably have slid a whole lane or more and hit the curb if DSC hadn't been there.