Who needs traction control......

[Charger_Pete]

....when you have air con!

Driving home tonight it was raining rather heavily and there was substantial standing water on the road. On my way home i have to pull out of several junctions that are rather busy so you have to go for a gap when you see it. So, DSC off, i proceed to pull out for a gap in the traffic and the engine revs die then pick up at the last minute to save me from impending T-bone

I had forgotten how much torque the air con saps from the engine and i drive with the air con switched off 98% of the time. Of late i have been using it to demist the front screen given all the rain we have been having. It seems a bit of a rigmoral to switch the DSC off, then the air con just to get a sharpish pull away.

I could of course use 4000rpm+ but then that would be silly......

Anyone else experienced this lately?

C_P

P.S.
a) My car does not suffer the yoyo effect and
b) yes i can drive, my clutch control is not crap (Hev...no comment please )

[LMB]

I tell ya what DSC save me the other day. I lost traction at a roundabout (wet) and I was heading for an 18wheel truck that was on my inside when the DSC kicked in and got me traction. It more than paid for itself in that one instance.

So to answer your questions: Who needs traction control......? Me.

[Martin L]

Pete, you've got a fairly old MCS right???

That means you've got the older mapping of the DSC where it kills revs at the first sign of rain
Later MCSs have a newer mapping where it doesn't kill the revs until really necessary. Yes there's more wheelspin, but at least you can control that with a little clutch slip

On my first MCS I had this problem big time, but my second one I didn't have the problem at all. In fact it was hard to put power down due to wheelspinning too much

[Charger_Pete]

Granted, DSC has saved my ass a few times, it has certianly paid for itself. If anyone asked me i would advise them to get it, especially when accident avoidance is called for .

I will have to call into the dealership and ask them about updating my DSC cal, thanks Martin. How is that RX8?

C_P

[jason2025]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin L

Later MCSs have a newer mapping where it doesn't kill the revs until really necessary. Yes there's more wheelspin, but at least you can control that with a little clutch slip
p

When did this change take place? I'm looking at buying out the lease of my friend's '03 MCS.

Cheers.

J\

[Martin L]

Not sure when, just knew it happened. The difference between my old and new was huge.
Might have happened at one of the new engine management upgrades

[snek]

Quote: Originally Posted by jason2025

When did this change take place? I'm looking at buying out the lease of my friend's '03 MCS.

Cheers.

J\

Mine changed with the v.36 software upgrade in December 03

[vagt6]

I can't imagine using it under most driving conditions. I'd rather drive by the seat of my pants, limiting wheel spin by feel and accelerator than leaving it up to a computer.

I use cruise control, but it's not the same. The DSC takes too much away from the driving experience, IMHO.

Anyone else?

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by vagt6

I can't imagine using it under most driving conditions. I'd rather drive by the seat of my pants, limiting wheel spin by feel and accelerator than leaving it up to a computer.

I use cruise control, but it's not the same. The DSC takes too much away from the driving experience, IMHO.

Anyone else?

In a way but it can also save you.

[HObzy]

This has been covered in a thread before i'm sure, but day to day, DSC on, track and spirited sunday drives in good weather on roads i KNOW, off.

[Martin L]

The only problem with the MINI DSC is that it cuts in too early. You don't know you've reached the limit until you see the little light flickering. The DSC should let the car slide a tad just to let the driver know what's going on. This will add to the experience.
In my RX8 it does this. Let's the car "slide" about 6 inches before bringing it back under control. This way you get the feel and have the chance to correct things yourself

[scooperman_uk]

i had this plenty of times on the autobann in germany, the weather was torrential, aquaplaining all over the place. I shut it off as it was killing the revs and the engine was just dying. In the end i ended up loosing revs and going from 5th down into 3rd gear, my speed was no more than 60mph and the jugonaughts were bearing down on me with little prejudice!!!!

[randap]

Quote: Originally Posted by Charger_Pete

I had forgotten how much torque the air con saps from the engine

Odd. I hardly notice any difference to the performance of my MC with A/C on or off. There's a slight change in fuel consumption (about 3-5mpg), but little change to the perceived performance (and before you ask, I thrash it everywhere). Consequently I nearly always have the A/C on. Maybe when you are running a Pipercross and BP Ultimate, it levels things out.....

I actually notice much more of a difference when the fuel tank is full of fuel compared to when it is full of air.

P.S. BP Ultimate is currently 92p per litre around here - ouch.

[Rich_IX]

I love my Traction Control in the Winter Icy Roads are not a problem with it turned on

[Tomasz]

Is DSC worth £200 more than ASC?