traction control....

[cablemn]

has anyone ever experienced the traction control yet, as in snow or ice or rain?

[TW85]

Traction control or skid control? Two different systems that control the car in two different ways.

I've experienced traction control in normal driving and skid control only in a BMW Performance course. The skid control is far more impressive in what it does. It is truly shocking when you drive a car without skid control and try to pull out of skids and then drive the same car with skid control turned on. The VSC takes over nearly everything but the steering wheel and definitely keeps the car on track. When manufacturers say it detects the start of a skid before you do, they are 100% right.

I do not like regular drive wheel traction control. Braking the wheel is one thing but taking nearly all throttle input away from the driver is another. But, you cannot have skid control without traction control.

[angelo]

I've experienced the VSC numerous times on icy roads in the winter. It makes the car AWD when moving - very impressive.

[Rudy]

I've experienced the VSC numerous times on icy roads in the winter. It makes the car AWD when moving - very impressive.

ummm?

[slingshot]

I've experienced VSC and traction control last winter and they were very impressive in keeping me driving well in the snow. My confidence in driving in bad conditions went up alot. Hopefully in the near future they won't just be options on the highest car levels.

[invdrgir]

random question i have is with the 2004 solara which models have either the traction control, skid control or both. do all the models have both or do some models (ie SE, SLE, SE Sport) have different precautionary measures added onto them?

[slingshot]

Only the V6 SLE has both VSC and traction control as one option. You can't just select one of them. The other models have neither technology. This brings the V6 SLE to the same safety technologies as BMW's, Infiniti's, Mercedes, etc.

[angelo]

Only the V6 SLE has both VSC and traction control as one option. You can't just select one of them. The other models have neither technology. This brings the V6 SLE to the same safety technologies as BMW's, Infiniti's, Mercedes, etc.

--------------
this is the case in US - in Canada all SLEs come fully loaded with VSC and traction control standard

[angelo]

I've experienced the VSC numerous times on icy roads in the winter. It makes the car AWD when moving - very impressive.

ummm?

I meant All Wheel Drive by AWD.

[Rudy]

I've experienced the VSC numerous times on icy roads in the winter. It makes the car AWD when moving - very impressive.

ummm?

I meant All Wheel Drive by AWD.

I'm completely aware what awd means, I just dont understand how vsc makes the rear wheels drive on a fwd car?

[angelo]

I've experienced the VSC numerous times on icy roads in the winter. It makes the car AWD when moving - very impressive.

ummm?

I meant All Wheel Drive by AWD.

I'm completely aware what awd means, I just dont understand how vsc makes the rear wheels drive on a fwd car?

- thats part of what VSC does. If any of the rear wheels is sliding or is about to slide, the ABS is applied until this specific wheel "bites"...
Using the momentum of the car + ABS, VSC actually makes the car AWD when moving (not from a stop though since there is no momentum...).
The feelling on an icy curve is similar to what I experience in an advanced AWD cars like Audi Quattro and is much different than a fwd car.
For the curves it is even better than most trucks and SUVs since it works every wheel individually - not axle by axle...

[Rudy]

hmmm, true, i've just never heard it compared to awd. It's kinda awd i guess but it's still not "give it gas and all 4 tires get power"

[angelo]

hmmm, true, i've just never heard it compared to awd. It's kinda awd i guess but it's still not "give it gas and all 4 tires get power"

It is definetely not awd when accellerating, but I think it is as good as awd (if not better) is most critical situations (eg. going around an obstacle on an icy road, taking an icy curve etc.).
I think SLEs come in Canada with VSC standard for a reason...

[richy]

I have the traction control on my SLE and it worked great last winter. And mind you, I drove in the awful snowy conditions of Binghamton, upstate NY.

However, I do have a question for anyone who can possible help. I leave to go back to Binghamton (I go to school up at SUNY Binghamton - live on Staten Island, NYC) in a couple of weeks and was wondering if I should get my tires changed, considering the large amount of snow I drove in last winter. I think I should be fine for at least another year or two, but I'm asking just in case.

Thanks a lot for any input.

[bassthrive]

Hey richy, I just graduated from SUNY Bing in May and I am definately not missing the snow down here in fla-di-da. I put new rubber (sumitomo htr+ all season) on my rims mid junior year - my stock potenzas were almost worn to the cords. I had a walled, narrow and steep (scary) driveway at my house and when it would snow or ice over, getting up it was sometimes impossible with my old wheels (I dont have t/c). The new wheels were a huge improvement over the worn stockers in all conditions.

So to answer your question, check your tire's tread depth with a penny. If you can't see the top of lincoln's head and you are still on all season rubber, you should be fine. If you are still concerned, do as the townies do and throw on some snow tires.

- Paul