mwood

There's still people out there who think the Z06 is faster "for most drivers" with the AH on...just goes to prove the old saying "you don't know what you don't know, until you know"

Razz1

OFF

then don't blame me for spinning a 360.

Learn how to drive.

takahashi

Same.

I would have it totally off for autoX since there are 200million miles before you hit a wall and you are only traveling 40mph.

John V

iTrader: (1)

You guys must really be putting along at the track if you can get away with having DSC / TC even partially on. I've mistakenly driven the RX-8 with the nannies half-on (one push) and fully-on (no push) and it wouldn't allow any slip angle at all...

takahashi

I will save me when an idiot in front break too early in the middle of the corner

John V

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't want to count on Mazda's DSC to "save me" while driving on a track... I would rather learn how to drive. But that's just me.

takahashi

I know I know. The best feel of the car when it is off of any electronic stuff.

If there are ample run off and plenty of space between the end of tarmac and the wall then it is ok.

Partially off is helpful since the EBD is still on. There is still freedom on the throttle and you are able to get as much tail as you could.
Trail braking is not a problem either, to bring the rear end out and point the head into the corner. I am not interested in drifting into corner, since I have too much fun and end up losing time.

If I want to do drift then everything goes.

I rather keep away from the wall since most Australian track's wall is only 20-30m away in some places.

In Melbourne, Sandown, the worst tarmet is at a corner (turn 2) where the wall it next to the ripple strip. ...

tony_673

Ummm.....I've met her berfore and I think she can take you.

I usually turn both off and run faster times that way.

Why don't you race over at Lakeland with SCCA?? The tracks are bigger and much cleaner. I stopped racing with NORA/ASCC after the second event of the season.

Beth, isn't it? I'm Tony (obviously ) with the Ti Grey 8. I ran with you guys at NORA once this year. It's good to see you on here!

Mazdagirl

Hmm, I dont know what you mean by take him..LOL I hope its not because you think I'm fat....

Yes Tony I remember you =) And yes its Beth.

I am loyal to ASCC and NORA. This is my 3rd season with them and I couldnt ask for a better group of friends to be with when I race! We have new pavement BTW, Northfield Park.. HUGE LOT very nice...

I think you should give us another try. I would love to have another RX to run against! I read your post about not being happy with the Grey 350 and all I can say is ignore him... Maybe he was having a bad day?

tony_673

Absolutely not! I simply meant that you aren't just some whimpy looking high school girl, that's all. No harm intended.

I was just reading about that. It sounds nice!

I'd love to have another 8 to run against too. Unfortunatly, though, the SCCA events are falling on the same days that NORA events are on. The people that I raced with at NORA were great. I just didn't care for the way things were run there.

Ooooh, you read that huh?.... That's quite possible. It just seemed weird the way he was acting. Maybe I was overreacting?? Anyhow, there's no hard feelings anymore. I'm just there to get some experience, that's all.

Mazdagirl

Well I invite you to attend again and promise ALOT of changes have gone on and we put on one of the best Autocrosses in the area now!
Wiseman will back me up on that =)

And no I'm not a high school girl... 42 this week and still going strong! 42 is the new 25 ya know!

Headed to Peru, IN on the 17th for the Divisional and cant wait!!!!!!!

tony_673

Wait, so does that mean that 25 is the new 42?? Damn.....

As I mentioned before, the ASCC/NORA events fall on the same days as my SCCA events for a few months, so I'll be attending those. Thanks for the invite, though! Maybe in October I will come try NORA out again (barring any snow!).

BTW, just like I remind all of my older friends.......You're old enough to be my mother......

All in good fun, All in good fun......

GRGJTSN

My first autocross with the RX-8, I forgot to turn any driver aids off...did ok, but after reading how "neutral" this car is supposed to handle, I couldn't figure out why I was pushing wide in all the tight corners...until my third run when I remembered and pushed it once to turn dsc off. Then it felt SOOO much better! I don't know why i didn't hold the button to turn it completely off (DSC and TC), definitely next time I will.

Also my first time I was stock except for the exhaust, can't wait to do it again with my new springs and brakes (see sig.)

Good Luck Mazdagirl!

jwiseman

[totally off topic]

One of my favorite clubs, great officers as well

Come on out Tony !

[/totally off topic]

No DSC on my base model !

john

Mazdagirl

Holding in the DSC button helped guys!!!! I have never beat these guys by so much =)
I know it might not seem like alot but with what we usually run against each other it is!

My first run out I just had the DSC off. All other runs were with it held down for 7 seconds... I could not believe the difference it made. I love the way the car handles with it all off.

Thanks again for all your help..

Beth =)




STU 71 ELIZABETH SMITH 05 MAZDA RX-8
50.529 +1 49.77 49.672 49.772 49.256 49.325
FTD 49.256

STU 26 JIM BRINDZA 03 NISAN 350Z
51.32 OC 51.398 50.768 50.125 50.527
FTD 50.125

STU 88 JONATHAN PAINE 04 NISSAN 350Z
53.152 50.862 50.237 50.35 49.734 +1 50.144
FTD 50.144

tony_673

Nice work!

+1 on the DSC off. It helped me this weekend too.

WpgDSMer

Does this work the same on Canadian models? When I push the DSC button once, the car does not appear to have any TC, and does not interrupt the tail from sliding. I definately notice when I forget to hit the button as it kicks in at the slightest slip.
I'll have to check this again next time I drive the car. I havn't sold my previous car yet (4WD) so it's getting the bulk of the winter driving duties.
What is the indication the system is still working when in the push once mode? Does the slidy car light flash, hear/feel the brakes kicking in, other?

Wondering if this is a real dual stage shut off, or just an internet legend.

WpgDSMer

So, in my car at least, I don't have any proof that this is a dual stage disable.

I just did my slippery condition test drive.

With DSC on:
Accelerate quickly from a standstill - feel the TC kick in. Seems to be able to keep wheel spin to a minimum.
Try to do a dough nut - feel the DSC kick in after the car slips a little bit, really stops the spin.
Hit the brakes hard - feel the ABS working.

With DSC off:
Accelerate quickly from a standstill - spin the tires up to 30kph (approx 20mph). They spin and continue to spin freely until the car slowly gets to that speed. No indication of the system working.
Try to do a dough nut - no indication the car is attempting to halt the spin. Did two full loops, at one point, the car was moving slightly backwards with the wheels spinning forward (at the end of the test), still no indication of intervention.
Hit the brakes hard - feel the ABS working.

With DSC 'really off'
Accelerate and spin felt the same. Forgot to do the ABS test, but think they should still work (ABS light does not come on). Will test that tomorrow.

So, does anyone have an actual experience that shows the system is still somewhat engaged when in the 'off' position? My tests were on very slippery conditions (hard packed snow and ice), so I'm thinking some people who might think the system is still working just made the proper corrections to regain traction (easier to do in the dry or wet).

NotAPreppie

I thought I read somewhere that with DSC in the first "off" setting, the stability control kicks in only with excessive slip angle or yaw AND ABS is active while traction control remains off.

Though I could be remembering a dream from three months ago.

altiain

iTrader: (3)

Straight line testing isn’t going to illustrate the difference between the various “off” settings.

Here’s my experience, based on experimentation during wet autocrosses. I’ve also had several opportunities to test the dry surface response with the DSC partially off, usually when I’ve forgotten to turn it off before starting a run and I manage to partially turn it off right after the launch.

DSC on: The slightest bit of wheelspin will trigger the system to cut throttle input. This can be felt during an aggressive launch – any wheelspin will cause DSC to intervene, and the car will bog. In addition, the computer is taking wheelspeed inputs from the ABS sensors at each wheel and steering angle inputs from the rack, and using these to determine whether the car is actually going where you’re attempting to steer it. In extremely slippery conditions (like standing water on V710s) this can be useful, because the car will brake individual wheels in order to minimize slip angle and point the car in the intended direction of travel. In dry or damp conditions this is not helpful, since it does not allow the driver to fully utilize the tires (which work best at a slip angle greater than zero). You can feel this best in a slalom, as the DSC will selectively apply brakes as you exceed the programmed slip angle threshold during direction changes. The more aggressively you drive, the more intervention you will feel.

DSC partially off: This mode seems to be analogous to “traction control off, stability control on”. The car will allow a significant amount of rear wheelspin during acceleration, but the stability control function, as described above, still works. There may be slightly higher limits (i.e., higher slip angle allowed) than with DSC on, but I’m not sure of that.

DSC completely off: No traction control, no stability control. ABS still functions normally (just as it does in every other mode).

Red Devil

YES! I don't know how many times I've forgotten to turn it off, been in mid turn and under control and then the nanny steps in and cooks my brakes...

WpgDSMer

Is your desciption of the 'DSC partially off' from actual experience, or by what you think or heard it should be? When I had DSC 'partially off', I was able to spin the car with massive slip angles and no apparent intervention from the DSC system. It was from a slow rolling start, so I'll see if I can find a safe place to try a few high slip turns when starting off going forward a little more quickly.

Gecko69

I am working until 7pm tonight, but I will test this out and see what happens........just have to find a parking lot somewhere.....should be fun

NotAPreppie

Same here. I have been able to do truly stupid things with oversteer and understeer after "one push" with no intervention from DSC.

WpgDSMer

Did another test tonight. I do not think this is a two stage disable system.

With DSC off:
Going forward at about 15-20 kph (9-12mph) I started a slow turn and then pressed the gas down. I didn't floor it, just slowly kept adding more throttle. The car spun. I went a full 180 before I stopped the spin. No sign of intervention.

With DSC on:
Same test - the DSC kicked in once the car started to slide a little, kept the curve in a fairly steady, slow arc.