JEMAN Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Well im not sure if its just me, but i drive with it on. Ive owned the car for 4 weeks and the only time i turned it off was to see why........and the back went (it was slightly wet) so back on the ESP went. Do you guys drive with it "OFF" or "ON" ? Cheers Quote
Pnthrblkzs Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I've not had mine long, I've not turned it off yet. The previous owner has fitted the cheapest possible budget tyres available on camskill (£55 a corner!!) and I have no grip as it is with ESP on. I think I'd die if I dared to turn it off, lol. Don't get me wrong I've thought about it, just to be curious. 1 Quote
brillomaster Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 The previous owner has fitted the cheapest possible budget tyres available on camskill (£55 a corner!!) and I have no grip as it is with ESP on. I think I'd die if I dared to turn it off, lol. You want to get them tyres sorted out regardless of whether you have the esp on or off! It'll be a lot more 'on' with cheapo tyres. Had my zed 9 months now, and always had the ESP on. The road is no place to be testing the limits of grip and speed in my view - however, if i ever take my zed on a track, i'll have no problem turning it off. Quote
Will370z Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Always left mine on except when going on 2 activity days on an airfield where it was compulsory to turn it off and play with the car. getting the back end out on the high speed bend was a lot of fun. Its amazing how much fun the zed can be with it off but i wouldnt turn it off on normal roads, i'd be too afraid of the back end stepping out. Quote
ddcboyle Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Off - dry and on a straight On- every corner or a slight drip of rain Quote
Ebized Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Having never had a front-engine rear wheel drive sports car prior to my first ZED 7 years ago, it was a little while before I started exploring the TC options and found the confidence to turn it off within my skill level. Nowadays it is: Normal road driving I don't bother turning it off. Spirited driving it gets turned off - nothing worse on tight corners or at junctions having the TC kicking in but if there is heavy rain or standing water it will get switched on - no point in pushing the limits in that sort of weather. When I really have no choice and have to use the car on snow it will get switched off as it will help the traction. (Brakes more or less get 'switched off' and I just use the gears/handbrake for slowing - that comes from early off-road motorsport experience.) On sheet ice I pray. 1 Quote
Clown Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Everyone drives with it either on or off. 2 Quote
AMT Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Put it this way, I put my foot half way down on the pedal ... in 3rd gear, greasy road... with the intention to see what it does...with the ESP on... and christ it showed me , kicked out no problem at all. God only knows what it could do if you turned it off, haven't been brave enough yet.... lol 1 Quote
JEMAN Posted November 4, 2012 Author Posted November 4, 2012 Just shows how beastly the Z can be ill keep it "ON" Also can you turn off the ESP while driving or do you have to cut the engine then turn the ESP off ? Sorry for the Questions, but im still finding my way around this great car Quote
NeilMH Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 On but I'm not sure it's the most interventionist ESP I've come across. Quote
AMT Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Yeah I don't see me 'relying' on it to save my bacon if it goes wrong... more a ..."watch what your doin m8"..kinda ESP lol. dunno if you can switch it off while driving...I would assume so. If you turn it off (the car) it'll come back on when you re-start the engine... or push it back on. Edited November 4, 2012 by AMT250 1 Quote
Ebized Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Just shows how beastly the Z can be ill keep it "ON" Also can you turn off the ESP while driving or do you have to cut the engine then turn the ESP off ? Sorry for the Questions, but im still finding my way around this great car You can turn it off or on when driving - when it is off you get the little warning symbol on the dash. By default it is always on when you start the car. One of the 'attractons' of having an older car or something like a TVR where you don't have TC. While it is no doubt a 'safety' feature that will benefit those who do not like to fully explore the car and/or their abilities, for those who do like the challenge and used correctly, having the TC off brings the car 'alive' and is in a ZED that is very rewarding in my experience. 1 Quote
ilogikal1 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Yes, it can be switched off/on whilst driving. Having never had a front-engine rear wheel drive sports car prior to my first ZED 7 years ago, it was a little while before I started exploring the TC options and found the confidence to turn it off within my skill level. Nowadays it is: Normal road driving I don't bother turning it off. Spirited driving it gets turned off - nothing worse on tight corners or at junctions having the TC kicking in but if there is heavy rain or standing water it will get switched on - no point in pushing the limits in that sort of weather. That. It did remain firmly on for a long time until I was confident enough in both the car and my talent though. 1 Quote
Vik54 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Just shows how beastly the Z can be ill keep it "ON" Also can you turn off the ESP while driving or do you have to cut the engine then turn the ESP off ? Sorry for the Questions, but im still finding my way around this great car You can turn it off or on when driving - when it is off you get the little warning symbol on the dash. By default it is always on when you start the car. One of the 'attractons' of having an older car or something like a TVR where you don't have TC. While it is no doubt a 'safety' feature that will benefit those who do not like to fully explore the car and/or their abilities, for those who do like the challenge and used correctly, having the TC off brings the car 'alive' and is in a ZED that is very rewarding in my experience. Its there for a reason Colin - not many of our members have 40+ yrs driving and motorsport experience! Quote
glrnet Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Having never had a front-engine rear wheel drive sports car prior to my first ZED 7 years ago, it was a little while before I started exploring the TC options and found the confidence to turn it off within my skill level. Nowadays it is: Normal road driving I don't bother turning it off. Spirited driving it gets turned off - nothing worse on tight corners or at junctions having the TC kicking in but if there is heavy rain or standing water it will get switched on - no point in pushing the limits in that sort of weather. When I really have no choice and have to use the car on snow it will get switched off as it will help the traction. (Brakes more or less get 'switched off' and I just use the gears/handbrake for slowing - that comes from early off-road motorsport experience.) On sheet ice I pray. +1 having been brought up on rear wheel drive cars it feels "normal" to me with it off but I can fully understand those who are wary of turning it off. I would certainly advise those to get themselves to an airfield day or similar and get some proper instruction. Quote
AMT Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Think mines will stay on until the spring lol... unless I find an big empty space...where I may be persuaded to learn what it does lol Having said that I've had mine out in the freezing weather here and it is (as long as your not stupid) fairly stable even on wet and icy roads. Edited November 4, 2012 by AMT250 Quote
glrnet Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Think mines will stay on until the spring lol... unless I find an big empty space...where I may be persuaded to learn what it does lol eminently sensible 1 Quote
Ekona Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 It's there because nannying powers consider it necessary despite people driving much more agricultural cars with far more power for years with no issues. You simply don't need it at all. That said, if it's activating frequently then you're not driving the car correctly. In normal use, even spirited(ish) driving, it won't interfere if you're being smooth. That comes with practice though. On track it goes off, on the road it stays on. Quote
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Just shows how beastly the Z can be ill keep it "ON" Also can you turn off the ESP while driving or do you have to cut the engine then turn the ESP off ? Sorry for the Questions, but im still finding my way around this great car You can turn it off or on when driving - when it is off you get the little warning symbol on the dash. By default it is always on when you start the car. One of the 'attractons' of having an older car or something like a TVR where you don't have TC. While it is no doubt a 'safety' feature that will benefit those who do not like to fully explore the car and/or their abilities, for those who do like the challenge and used correctly, having the TC off brings the car 'alive' and is in a ZED that is very rewarding in my experience. Its there for a reason Colin - not many of our members have 40+ yrs driving and motorsport experience! Many of our members aren't even 40+ Edited November 4, 2012 by The Bounty Bar Kid Quote
Aliensurfer Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I pick my Zed up next week and it'll be my first RWD car. Can it be confirmed that the TC is on by default everytime the car is started? It's not something I want to be unsure of, especially in this weather! Quote
Vik54 Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I pick my Zed up next week and it'll be my first RWD car. Can it be confirmed that the TC is on by default everytime the car is started? It's not something I want to be unsure of, especially in this weather! Yes it is on by default Quote
AMT Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) It'll always be on, and a little ESP light will be shown if its off. I agree with Ekona, I've gave it a bit on dry/wet and icy roads and you don't see it. You need to be a bit of a thug to get it to come on. I floored it in 2nd on wet road outside my friends for a second, light goes on... power goes off and you get nothing then it gently lets you back into the power lol Edited November 4, 2012 by AMT250 Quote
Ricey Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Always drive with TC on in every car..........turning it off once in my RX8 with RE040's pretty much sealed that mindset for life. Still trying to wash the stains out of my strides. Quote
Shawnlh Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I cant stand having it on these days, when you get used to having it turned off there is nothing worse when you turn it on If your not confident tho i would recommend leaving it well alone especially at this time of year Quote
andy james Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Yes it will come on every time you switch the car on so no worries. All of us old dudes were brought up the hard way driving things like the Ford Capri,Escort RS2000 with no ESP, leaf spring suspension and crap tyres!! Drifting was an occupational hazard. The Zed is a old school car with a modern built in safety net! Enjoy Quote
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