Have you tested a vehicle's ESP system?

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Anyone had the opportunity to test their vehicles ESP system, intentionally or not?

Apparently it is, or soon will be mandated in all new Australian vehicles.

I have just completed a driving course with Audi (highly recommended if you're into such things) and a big part was pushing the car into situations that required the ESP to do its thing. I have to say I am very impressed. We tried very hard, but it just won't let the back end step out (oversteer) or let the front end plow on (understeer). Of course the laws of physics still apply, so if you really wanted to crash, you could. But as a driver aid and possible life saving device, it works very well.

I'm extremely reluctant to deliberately test it in my Prado, but I'm sure there are people that have been in situations where its kicked in and saved the day.

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

I've had it kick in a couple of times when cornering on gravel roads at speed - nothing crazy mind you, just enough to start slipping sideways. You can really feel the vehicle snap back into line before you even realise what is happening. It's definitely a very cool safety feature.

VXWesty

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

I got to use it once when a van in front of me slammed on its brakes and i had to swerve real hard to the left into the next lane at high speed. My instincts told me to counter steer to the right but the esp kicked in and straightened it all out for.
To pull in a big car like it did was awesome

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yep tried it out purposely tried it out in the old 90 grande I had. Actually did it a couple of times also to show the wife how it works and what bells n whistles she will hear if it activates although it would probably be the last thing on her mind. As any one who knows where I live it's all bends n roundabouts and one bend in particular is a sweeping short bend but also cambers the wrong way so it tries to throw you into the bushes. It was wet which really shows how effective it is. I come around at a normal speed I would do in the dry not the wet and as I come into it I nailed it and gave it a bit more right hand down at the same time. It instantly alarmed, light on dash come on and you could feel the back end wiggle very so slightly, the power you could feel was decreased until all was ok and then back to normal with full power, I also held my foot down on throttle to really exaggerate the situation. The wife hung onto the "oh shit handle" whilst saying a few words. I only ever did it twice but was extremely effective and that was on a 2001 90 series so imagine the 120 n 150's would more refined again in that time. It's certainly a life saving device in my opinion and I don't have on my 120. I told the wife unless your about to be wiped out head on at 110k by a semi (prime mover) don't swerve on the motor ways at high speed, you will for sure either roll and/or end up in your roof and possibly won't be around to say what happened. Her next car will certainly have all these extra safety features....... Cheers Steve

[farmernz Member Find all posts View Profile Close farmernz]

i heard it beep, then the brakes started grabbing and squeaking, my wife turns and says "don't worry thats just the traction control working" .

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

""my wife turns and says "don't worry thats just the traction control working"
LOL that's amusing she just said it so casually .... Cheers Steve

[farmernz Member Find all posts View Profile Close farmernz]

LOL that's amusing she just said it so casually .... Cheers Steve[/QUOTE]
yes it was pretty casual, apparently it does it regularly, but nothing surprises me with her driving anymore. back in 2004 we bought a new manual xr8 ute, i was driving it after we had owned it about 3 months and was crawling along behind a campervan, as i went to pass she said "it'ill do 100 in 2nd before the limiter kicks in" i was like what the f***!, how do you know that?.anyway touch wood she has never had a scratch on the cars.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

""it'ill do 100 in 2nd before the limiter kicks in" i was like what the f***! "" that's even more amusing lol, she can obviously drive no problems......Cheers Steve

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

We tried very hard, but it just won't let the back end step out (oversteer) or let the front end plow on (understeer).

If you can't get the back out then where's the fun in that?

I, like many people my age, have managed to survive the 70s, 80s, 90, naughties, and almost halfway through the 2nd decade of the 2000s without the need for ESP. Come to think of it I also got this far without airbags despite a myriad of roll-overs, tail-enders and ramming sessions. Drive to the conditions, I say.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

If you can't get the back out then where's the fun in that?

I, like many people my age, have managed to survive the 70s, 80s, 90, naughties, and almost halfway through the 2nd decade of the 2000s without the need for ESP. Come to think of it I also got this far without airbags despite a myriad of roll-overs, tail-enders and ramming sessions. Drive to the conditions, I say.

I'm of a similar vintage and I take your point. However, 1000 - 2000 dead people per year, on our roads might disagree. If they could.

To put it another way - I've never needed the safety of my seat belt, despite wearing it every time I get in a car. Maybe I should ask for a refund?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Trust me, I have tested seat-belts many times. Both on and off road. Most of those people would be alive if they paid attention, were not distracted, did not drive beyond their abilities, adopted a defensive attitude to their driving, kept an eye out for all the idiots on the road, drove to the road conditions, planned their route, anticipated the unexpected, drove sober, didn't abuse drugs, etc. Technology has probably saved thousands of idiots that maybe should not have got a drivers licence in the first place.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

""Technology has probably saved thousands of idiots that maybe should not have got a drivers licence in the first place"" your probably right Dave, some people I see driving or parking I think to my self where/how the hell did you obtain and keep it.......Cheers Steve

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

We have over 50,000 people driving on extraordinary licences. Many have multiple suspensions for drink driving, dangerous driving, yet the courts keep handing out the E licences.

[Pog Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pog]

I frequently test the Traction Control and Stability Control in my new SR5 ute. At first I couldn't work out what was going on... I was feeling a weird feeling through the brake pedal and hearing weird noises, mainly from the front wheels, then worked out that the ABS had kicked in on a wheel and the ute was straightening without me having to be constantly correcting it.

I drive a lot of dirt, and am comfortable with the ute sliding around, but all that has stopped now.

With the traction control, I can keep my foot on the go pedal, and the ute will accelerate as fast as possible without breaking traction.

I have come to like these features. Now.

[RanJ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close RanJ]

In Alaska, I used to love scaring the crap out of people with 3500 Ram. Come to a stop in an iced parking lot, turn wheel full lock.. ..plant Tue foot! What happens? The truck lurches forward and then bells and whistles go off and we simply go around in nice smooth circles. The look of terror on passenger faces when the Diesel roars for that second haha haha still smile when I think about it.