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ESP and understeer
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:49 am
by sashpe
I had my first proper play with the Roc and I have to say I am absolutely delighted. I have the 140TDi so it's not exactly fast but, WOW, this car steers. Grip is fantastic in bends and body roll is nonexistent. Despite the damp conditions and the smaller winter tires. Excellent rush of adrenalin!
I had little understeer on one of the bends. Nothing to worry about nut it got me thinking about the ESP. Does anybody know if the ESP (or any of the other safety systems) intervenes in case of understeer or if it only prevents oversteer? Not that I am planning to push the car to such extremes but it is good to know.
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:10 pm
by wigit
unfortnuately i don't think ESP can fully overcome the laws of physics and the inability to drive around a corner at the correct speed.
weakspot on the roc is putting the power down coming out of low speed/gear corners imho
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:44 pm
by kenny..c
Ive been really impressed with the Rocco handling.........I do drive my cars pretty hard.....
In the snow/ice ive been amazed how well it feels....wide tyres on quite a heavy car normally =......bad on snow/ice...but not so. Ive never ordered a car with ESP before as I like to slide cars around abit......but the ESP on the Rocco is very good as it does allow you to "play" so long as your nice and smooth on the throttle.
As soon as you "stab" at the throttle the ESP will cut in
On another subject......i remember reading the ACC only effected the shocks...but ive got it on good authority it also effects the throttle response.....can anyone confirm this..??
Ken
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:46 am
by Malcolm
And the steering weight too I believe............
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:27 am
by trix
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:06 am
by maisbitt
VW say in their literature that sport mode selected with the ACC button increases throttle response and steering weighting as well stiffening the suspension (you were wrong with your comments in the thread you refer to Trix, although the throttle response change is probably far more noticeable in a 2.0TSI then either the 140TDI or 160TSI, unless VW were outright lying when they published the claim). See ACC's "merits" as an option on the MK6 Golf in it's brochure for the exact same "throttle response" claim, they have a whole page on ACC.
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:08 pm
by trix
Maisbitt
I gave that link as I felt you gave reasonable points in it that explained it, & additionally the external link, & to keep this thread ON TOPIC (ie ESP)
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:51 pm
by robmx
wigit wrote:
weakspot on the roc is putting the power down coming out of low speed/gear corners imho
Fully agree, you can feel it bite/skip/bite/skip across the road.
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:27 pm
by AndyInGlasgow
My experience is that FWD cars tend to understeer and RWD cars oversteer.
Coming from a RWD car I have noticed more of a tendency for the Roc to understeer, though maybe I just need to tune out my natural compensation for my previous RWD drive car and get back to a more balanced style!
Just an observation, dunno if it's true or not!
Re: ESP and understeer
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:31 pm
by Malcolm
That's generally true. I have to say the Rocco really isn't pron to understeer anywhere near other front drive cars I've driven. Got rid of latest Type R after 4months its just awful!! Would love to see how Focus RS and Megane compare although all Hacks now seem to be on Scirooco R as their favourite.