Dynamic Stability Control is it worth it?
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From: Lake Forest, IL
Definitely get the sports package. The DSC is most likely worth it. I'm buying an 8 tomorrow with one so I can't say how good it is but I have DSC on some E46 BMWs and it works wonders and it is reassuring with my wife driving RWD in the rain and snow.
Besides, you also get HIDs with the sports package which are pimp.
Besides, you also get HIDs with the sports package which are pimp.
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From: Buford, GA USA
Last edited by SilverEIGHT; Feb 16, 2005 at 05:19 AM.
WWFSMD?
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From: Massachusetts, USA
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/traction-control-needed-46916/
I didn't get DSC/TCS for myself, but I've been driving in New England weather with various RWD/FWD/AWD vehicles for 15+ years. Given the choice again, I still wouldn't get it.
However, while my wife's a good driver, her only experience with RWD is driving my RX8 occasionally (in dry conditions and with words of caution from me about how easy it is to break the back-end loose). Anyone with that little RWD experience shouldn't even consider getting an RX8 without DSC.
I didn't get DSC/TCS for myself, but I've been driving in New England weather with various RWD/FWD/AWD vehicles for 15+ years. Given the choice again, I still wouldn't get it.
However, while my wife's a good driver, her only experience with RWD is driving my RX8 occasionally (in dry conditions and with words of caution from me about how easy it is to break the back-end loose). Anyone with that little RWD experience shouldn't even consider getting an RX8 without DSC.
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From: Lake Forest, IL
Originally Posted by Rhawb
I see you decided against the Z for good, eh Machan? Well congrats and welcome to the club 
I think you'll find yourself happier with the 8 than you expected...I know I am!
I think you'll find yourself happier with the 8 than you expected...I know I am!
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From: Germany
Originally Posted by -=Zepplock=-
I turned it off once just to see what happens.
All I can say - I'll NEVER do it again under no circumstances.
All I can say - I'll NEVER do it again under no circumstances.
I tried again and even managed it without spinning around the second time, but the experience from the first time was quite ... impressive. At a training you know what's happening in the next moment, in real traffic you don't. I've never considered to turn it off on public roads since then.
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From: Massachusetts, USA
There are posts in this and similar threads by drivers who say DSC has saved them several times and/or they lost control that one time they turned it off. I don't have DSC, I drive assertively most of the time, and I break the tires loose often. I've slid unintentionally only once or twice and never in a way that I couldn't recover (well, except for screwing around in big, empty parking lots).
How are you guys driving that you need DSC? Are you concerned with it becoming a crutch? I've always thought of it as a wonderful safety feature, but not as something to rely on to be able drive faster.
How are you guys driving that you need DSC? Are you concerned with it becoming a crutch? I've always thought of it as a wonderful safety feature, but not as something to rely on to be able drive faster.
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From: South Surrey, BC Canada
I've always thought of it as a wonderful safety feature, but not as something to rely on to be able drive faster.
Besides, we only have two models in Canada, GT or non-GT. GT model has leather, HID, Homelink, DSC, etc. I went for the car that had the stuff I wanted. I wasn't concerned that much about DSC prior to owning my 8, but now having it kick in a couple times on me in icy conditions (when in my early morning sleep numbed state I didn't realize it was icy), I realize that it's a good safety feature.
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From: Orlando, FL
Although I've never managed to engage the DSC during any of my limited hard-driving stints, I really don't think it's possible for it to become a "crutch" for driving faster. If it's anything like other DSC systems that I've played around with, it's designed to pull you back from the ragged edge of traction, and in order to do so kills (or at least takes over and severely limits) your throttle in the process...Not real good for maintaining speed. It's great to have if you hit some unexpected conditions and the car ends up doing something unsavory, but it certainly wouldn't help your times on a racetrack.
Last edited by Rhawb; Feb 16, 2005 at 03:03 PM.
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From: Roselle, NJ
I have a 6 speed without DSC and I've only lost control a couple of times. Everytime was when I was caught out when it started to snow. That's scary. The car breaks loose every time you touch the gas or hit the brakes. Other then that, once when I first got the car and was showing off to my girlfriend by spinning the tires in the rain.
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From: Germany
It's certainly not a crutch. It's a security feature. In fact it's an automatic multiple-tire-brake.
Example: On the spur of the moment I once speeded up to 200 km/h on a slightly wet autobahn - DSC light constantly flashing. Temperature was below good Bridgestone Potenza conditions, somewhere around 5° C. Some may flame me for irresponsible driving now, but I can honestly say that I have roughly 10.000 kms net experience at speeds beyond 200 km/h. Things were pretty much under control, no traffic. Point in fact, DSC slows you down when you don't - altough you really should. Lesson learned: Never ever try such things whith DSC off, it's obviously there for a cause.
It didn't save me as far as I can judge, but I actually don't know what would happened without it in some situations. We have much snow here at the moment and I wouldn't even touch the car without DSC.
Example: On the spur of the moment I once speeded up to 200 km/h on a slightly wet autobahn - DSC light constantly flashing. Temperature was below good Bridgestone Potenza conditions, somewhere around 5° C. Some may flame me for irresponsible driving now, but I can honestly say that I have roughly 10.000 kms net experience at speeds beyond 200 km/h. Things were pretty much under control, no traffic. Point in fact, DSC slows you down when you don't - altough you really should. Lesson learned: Never ever try such things whith DSC off, it's obviously there for a cause.
It didn't save me as far as I can judge, but I actually don't know what would happened without it in some situations. We have much snow here at the moment and I wouldn't even touch the car without DSC.
SweetNV (Sweet Envy)
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From: Jonesboro, AR
Dsc/tsc
I read on one of the threads that if you hold the button on the DSC to turn it off and continue to hold it, it turns off the TSC. Helps a little on the gas mileage. Having said that, when it is wet or has just rained, I leave it on. Learned my lesson going off road on an on-ramp because I goosed it. Luckily no damage, but did up the pucker factor quite a bit. 
As has been said, I do notice a difference in the get-up and go between with the DSC on and off. Hope that helps.
As has been said, I do notice a difference in the get-up and go between with the DSC on and off. Hope that helps.
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Originally Posted by SweetNV
I read on one of the threads that if you hold the button on the DSC to turn it off and continue to hold it, it turns off the TSC.
Originally Posted by SweetNV
[turning it off] Helps a little on the gas mileage.
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From: Kansas City
I believe DSC and TCS to be two different things but I don't know if you can get one without the other. There is also a limited slip differential. The DSC does wonders for the cars stability in the corners. If you start to loose traction in a corner the DSC will kick in and save your butt by chnging power output and adding braking to the non-skidding wheel.
The TCS changes your power output to the spinning wheel. I tried this one in my driveway on snow. The car would not move because of the summer tires. So I tried something just for kicks. I put the gas pedal all the way to the floor and held it there. The wheels would not spin faster than 5mph.
TCS is nice DSC can save your life.
The TCS changes your power output to the spinning wheel. I tried this one in my driveway on snow. The car would not move because of the summer tires. So I tried something just for kicks. I put the gas pedal all the way to the floor and held it there. The wheels would not spin faster than 5mph.
TCS is nice DSC can save your life.
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Its like the navigation system, its worth it once you have it and use it. The DSC kicked in this past weekend when I was driving on a road that I was unfamiliar with. My cousin who was with me told me it had some great curves. One caught me by surprise and the DSC took over. I will be the first to admit I was going faster that I should have for being on that road for the first time, but its these little brain farts that the DSC saved me from sliding off the road into a ditch. Search DSC on google and you will pull up some pretty reputable articles about how DSC (and its variants) is one of the greatest innovations for automobiles. A friend of my mine did the Porsche Driving school at Road Atlanta. He said they hit the skid pad and did runs with and without DSC. He said its absolutely amazing what it does. He could drive in circles for days and the car would never slide out. Did the same thing with it off and immediately put the car into a 360.
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From: Mondaflore, Ikinburlistan
The "Click and Clack" guys weighed in and recommended DSC.
As for it becoming a crutch:
As for it becoming a crutch:
RAY: Your husband -- like most guys who take his position -- is wrong. Sure, we all want to be "in control." But the fact is that microcomputers can handle certain tasks better than even the most skilled driver ever could. The computer that controls these systems can pulse an individual wheel's brake 10 or 15 times per second. A human driver could never do that.
TOM: Of course, most cars with stability control have a switch that allows you to turn it off. So, if your husband is determined to have control, he can turn off the system, make some high-speed swerves and crash your new car into a chicken coop to prove our point.
TOM: Of course, most cars with stability control have a switch that allows you to turn it off. So, if your husband is determined to have control, he can turn off the system, make some high-speed swerves and crash your new car into a chicken coop to prove our point.
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I live in PA....Stock tires...sometimes the DSC is off sometimes it is on.
Today it is snowing. We slide coming to a stop at a stop sign...DSC kicked in and helped out.
If you live in a place where inclement weather is probable than I recommend getting it.
Today it is snowing. We slide coming to a stop at a stop sign...DSC kicked in and helped out.
If you live in a place where inclement weather is probable than I recommend getting it.
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From: Kallyforniiya
I recommend it, too.
I left it on at Laguna Seca, all day. Maybe it reduced my lap times a bit, but it almost never kicked in, except occasionally on turn 11, which is so tight that a lot of people spin out there. I usually kept the car within its limits, with only a little drift going on, and the DSC stayed off. It's really non-invasive.
On the street, I like to kick the back end out occasionally on 90-degree turns. DSC keeps the back end in line so it's not quite as fun, but in the rain it saved my butt once or twice, when I hit the gas and felt the back end start to slide. My OEM tires are not very good in the rain, so they lost traction long before I expected them too. The DSC was very nice to have then.
I left it on at Laguna Seca, all day. Maybe it reduced my lap times a bit, but it almost never kicked in, except occasionally on turn 11, which is so tight that a lot of people spin out there. I usually kept the car within its limits, with only a little drift going on, and the DSC stayed off. It's really non-invasive.
On the street, I like to kick the back end out occasionally on 90-degree turns. DSC keeps the back end in line so it's not quite as fun, but in the rain it saved my butt once or twice, when I hit the gas and felt the back end start to slide. My OEM tires are not very good in the rain, so they lost traction long before I expected them too. The DSC was very nice to have then.
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From: Houston, Earth
Ok, here's an aspect of DSC that I haven't seen mentioned yet...
One time, DSC almost caused an accident for me. I was taking a turn at a wet intersection and I playfully powered through expecting to slide. DSC grabbed and tracked me through more of a turn than I wanted and I almost hit the curb.
But it doesn't take much getting used to for DSC to work wonders for vehicle control. There are still times when I will want to shut it off, but for everyday driving it stays on.
My 8 has skidded off the road one time. DSC was shut off. I was in the passenger seat at the time. In spite of all the bangs and bumps going sideways and backwards through the grass, there was no damage (except for my relationship to the person driving). I'm certain that it would not have happened if DSC had been on.
One time, DSC almost caused an accident for me. I was taking a turn at a wet intersection and I playfully powered through expecting to slide. DSC grabbed and tracked me through more of a turn than I wanted and I almost hit the curb.
But it doesn't take much getting used to for DSC to work wonders for vehicle control. There are still times when I will want to shut it off, but for everyday driving it stays on.
My 8 has skidded off the road one time. DSC was shut off. I was in the passenger seat at the time. In spite of all the bangs and bumps going sideways and backwards through the grass, there was no damage (except for my relationship to the person driving). I'm certain that it would not have happened if DSC had been on.
