I raced on the track, in a down-pour and DSC was AWESOME

"Like a Crane from GOD", righting my car !!!

 

That's why I got the rear fog lights!

 

One of the tweaks that the MTH ECU software mod can do is to reduce the amount of torque that DSC removes when it engages. I'm planning on having that done when I finally stop spending money on other toys (my Garmin 2610 came in the mail yesterday).

 

I've also done some very aggressive (probably considered reckless to many here) in a downpour to see how the system reacts and intrudes and it performed superbly. I could drift the car with all 4 wheels hydroplaning and the car would keep a total neutral behavior that needed only slight adjustment with the steering wheel while my right foot was all the way to the floor on the throttle. As a matter of fact, I could pitch the car sideways in a low traction condition by entering a corner too fast and jerking the wheel hardly which would induce a slide and the DSC will pull the slide back in nearly perfectly every single time.

Is the system really necessary for the experienced driver? Hell no, but if you're objective is rapid transit in the rain (about as bad as it gets here in beautiful Southern California) then it's not a bad investment.

 

Ian Cull's MINI circuits... according to his site, they are gone!

http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...yre_gone.shtml

 

I love the DSC in the rain! I turn it off when turning out of parking lots into fast-moving traffic to be sure I can get into the lane in a timely manner, without losing power. Otherwise, I use it 99% of the time. But I am most assuredly not doing burnouts (well, maybe I do them at The Dragon)!


Clover

 

I just got back from a drive in the rain and ASC worked flawlessly. I don't know what the deal is with it sometimes. Tonight it didn't cut in abrubtly and take away needed power. Othertimes it seems to cut right in and faintest hint of wheelspin and cut out pretty much all the power. Another MINI quirk I guess.

 

So far I've only had DSC cut in once - I was pulling out fast from a stop off a gravel road onto a paved road. It flashed a few times for a brief moment, and I was off (I let up on the gas a bit).

Basically, I drive pretty reasonably, and if I ever feel I'll be putting myself in a situation where I have to pull out fast, I turn it off, then eventually back on. I warn my passengers, "If you see me flick this toggle, hold onto your seats!" . They usually only have enough time to ask "Why?".

 

Too funny!

 

Bah..don't listen to anyone from California...you need some real new england weather to appreciate DSC!

ASC is basically just tries to stop wheels from slipping with independant anti-lock braking.
DSC senses accelleration in the wrong direction, and you intentions through the steering wheel angle, to make a much more educated decision on how to use the asc to correct the problem.
..but both are SAFETY traction control systems, not performance systems (which do exist!). They intend to regain traction in the name of braking and slowing down. An aftermarker performance traction computer is what you need for those quick pullouts in front of traffic while on your cellphone in your SUV in wet weather....oh sorry got away from things a bit there... :smile:

 

It uses the anti-lock braking system to correct the problem


And ASC is not a safety system. If it is then give me one examply where it increases your safety.

 

I turn off the DSC on rainy days.. which is quite contradictory..

 

When you are trying to brake to avoid an accident and the road has varying levels of traction. A puddle on one side would otherwise cause the car not only to not stop, but also spin!

 

Not sure that's traction control, which is what most people are complaining about. I'm not sure I can come up with a situation where strictly traction control is a safety benefit. The best I can come up with is start moving, pointed uphill, in the snow. Without traction control, you may spin the tires and possibly wiggle sideways into a ditch or slide backwards into the car behind you. With traction control, you'll probably just stay in one place. Marginally more safe. :D

After watching people on the highway during an ice event while I was driving towards Boston (route 3 and / or 95)... a lot of those people would have been less of a problem if they had traction control. I saw many vehicles hit the gas, spin the tires, stay on the gas, and slide sideways towards other cars or the gaurdrails / jersey barriers. With traction control, I had no problem. These other folks were having issues with a (very) icy road and the only hill around was the crown in the road. I cannot imagine them trying to drive in the mountains.

 

I have mixed feelings about ASC - I think it IS a "safety" feature because the little yellow lamp blinks to tell you when the tire(s) slip. However, I can usually "feel" the slipping (maybe due to driving old VW's for 20 years, i have developed this sensitivity LOL) and so I guess i see hotrod's point.

On the other hand, I click the doggone ASC off a lot of the time, since it interferes with my MINI's lovely "chirpy rubber" song.

My $.02
tatt

 

That is still true. A car without ABS and a good driver will stop much faster then a car with ABS. ABS is to keep the car steerable, not slow down faster.

 

That is DSC



It, may however be a safety feature in the snow. I haven't been able to try ASC out in it yet.

Other manufacturers systems would probably be conisidered a safety feature in the snow since they are programmed to not cut power like crazy. But the only way I see that being a safety feature is if someone is skidding for your car and the only way to avoid an accident is to accelerate out of the way

 

A couple of points:

First, you don't need DSC to get the toggle - I have a 2005 w/o DSC (and w/LSD), and have an ASC toggle. I actually made sure this was the case, as I did want the toggles to be filled .

Second, I have noticed, from quick starts, that my car is somewhat squirrely in a straight line when the ASC is on. When I disable ASC, the car tracks in a straight line. I have not yet pushed the limits enough with my car in other situations to realize any other issues with the ASC. As I am in Southern California with no real weather issues, I am not to worried about not having DSC on the car. I have been as fast as I could want to go on most of my local winding roads, and the car is completely stable.

 

It's the ABS that would help in the above example. ^^^ I'm glad that the ASC comes with an off switch.

Quote from British Kompressor >> A car without ABS and a good driver will stop much faster then a car with ABS. ABS is to keep the car steerable, not slow down faster.

Few people realize this fact about ABS, but it is true!!!

Chuck