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It will be quicker with it off, as its not limiting the engine as it thinks its about to spin the wheels.
as for saving from crashes, do a search for ESP on the Mk1 forum, i've seen many posts where people says its worked when needed!
Car is quicker off the mark without it turned on, easily demonstrated from a starting start. The ESP/TCS limits the revs when I change into 2nd gear, without it turned on it pulls much harder and spins the wheels into 2nd.
ESP is another driver aid, it will help to a point but if you are trying to take a sharp bend on a wet road @ 90 mph it won't be able to help much.
ESP is another driver aid, it will help to a point but if you are trying to take a sharp bend on a wet road @ 90 mph it won't be able to help much.
Yea although it wasnt me driving. My mate who has an LCR was raving about how much more responsive it was with esp off. On our way to meeting some friends he sees this bend that looked quite inviting and went at it with speed (not incredibly quick but enough) and the car just oversteering badly. I know why the LCR's have brembo's nowTalking from experience?
Was a lesson learnt and the good thing is nothing bad happened.
Saw a test of ESP on TV once. They drovethe circuit with and without ESP Made a heck of a difference. Think it was Tiff Neddell doing it. He reconed it was the best drivers aid ever invented
IIRC you can't fully turn the esp off, I know on my old LCR it turned the traction control off but only backed the esp off letting you get it a bit wild (I had the car nearly sideways) and it kicked in even though it was switched off.
I had ESP in my Clio 172 (last run of 172s came with it), and after it saved me once or twice in the wet I never turned it off. Still needed a new pair of pants afterwards, as you need to push clios seriously hard before they let go. Won't be doing that in the heavier Leon Fr for a while!!! I think you'd be ok in the dry, but NEVER do it in the wet.
Also the ESP button turns the traction control off, which admittedly is more fun as it doesnt cut the power, but letting 320nm of torque loose through your front wheels without any restrictions can burn through rubber like no-one's business!!!!!!
I must say though - coming from one of the best handling hot hatches produced to a diesel Leon - I am VERY impressed with it.
Also the ESP button turns the traction control off, which admittedly is more fun as it doesnt cut the power, but letting 320nm of torque loose through your front wheels without any restrictions can burn through rubber like no-one's business!!!!!!
I must say though - coming from one of the best handling hot hatches produced to a diesel Leon - I am VERY impressed with it.
I believe if you push the button its disabled, but if you get too silly it'll still cut in.
If however you push and hold the button in for 5 seconds or more, than it totally disables it, and will sit there laughing at you when you stack it.
(at least thats how it works on the new TT's)
No-on the LCR when you pressed the button it was off completely!!-enabled serious angles of oversteer if you wanted!!! I never had it cut in and had some lovely slides from the rear!
The new system I believe is still in nanny mode when its off and comes into play (as suggested above) if you get out of shape badly?
Same as the new Vrs Octavia I drove a few months back.
If you press the button it should be completely off in my book-thats why 'you' have pressed the button!!
The new system I believe is still in nanny mode when its off and comes into play (as suggested above) if you get out of shape badly?
Same as the new Vrs Octavia I drove a few months back.
If you press the button it should be completely off in my book-thats why 'you' have pressed the button!!
When I tested the FR on the track, and on the skid pan - it's 100x better than the LCR ESP
ESP on with the FR, the back end still kicked out, but the ESP just brought it back in, so no fishtailling - even at 100+, hell you didn't even need to apply the throttle (really hard for me to work against my instinct!)
On the skid pan, induce a slide, and the ESP brought it back in tidily.
ESP off, the instructor really had to work hard to induce a big enough slide to actually spin me (lots of handbrake!!) but I was really working hard on the wheel & gas to keep it straight.
it's certainly not going to be a hindrance on your spirited driving, and since you're not going to know that there's mud all round the next corner, you'd be well advised to leave it alone (in the ON position)
ESP on with the FR, the back end still kicked out, but the ESP just brought it back in, so no fishtailling - even at 100+, hell you didn't even need to apply the throttle (really hard for me to work against my instinct!)
On the skid pan, induce a slide, and the ESP brought it back in tidily.
ESP off, the instructor really had to work hard to induce a big enough slide to actually spin me (lots of handbrake!!) but I was really working hard on the wheel & gas to keep it straight.
it's certainly not going to be a hindrance on your spirited driving, and since you're not going to know that there's mud all round the next corner, you'd be well advised to leave it alone (in the ON position)
Thats a fair enough point as we don't always drive on roads we know and that are clear sighted as well.
I just think that some people (me included) would like the option to have complete control over a traction control system. Some manufacturers give this option and some don't. As I said above, if you are confident enough to press the switch then it should be completely off. (or set in stages as mentioned above)
Just before anyone accuses me of being irresponsible by wanting to turn off the tcs-I am not an irresponsible driver-I am as careful as I can be in a given situation-but I do like to have fun where it is safe to do so-thats why I choose my cars carefully.
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