[leepickering16]

So I saw 2011 off with quite a bang - literally - as a day before NYE I decided to be a cocky worst and turn the TC off, chuck the Type-S into a left hander (when it was raining) and, well, you can guess the rest.

It aqua-planed and understeered like nothing I've ever had experienced before, and needless to say i couldn't correct it. Hit the curb on the right wheel, broke the wishbone and the arch above the wheel.

Seriously not impressed, but at the end of the day, I was being an idiot. Hold my hands up; I should not have been driving like that in those conditions.

So just thought I'd share my experience.

Not the best way to start 2012.

 

[crowmar kirkliss]

everyone does stuff like that mate.

just in case anyone else is thinking of turning the VSA off to see what happens

DONT

 

[leepickering16]

everyone does stuff like that mate.

just in case anyone else is thinking of turning the VSA off to see what happens

DONT

Yeah mate, I know. In five years of driving it's just my second mistake, but it's still annoying.

To be honest, I turn the VSA off regularly, and I do know how to handle my car - especially with the Eibachs and FRS - but this time, they just failed lmao. It was waaaaay too wet to be chucking it in and I've paid the price.

 

[J. Derek Riddell]

Yeah mate, I know. In five years of driving it's just my second mistake, but it's still annoying. To be honest, I turn the VSA off regularly, and I do know how to handle my car - especially with the Eibachs and FRS - but this time, they just failed lmao. It was waaaaay too wet to be chucking it in and I've paid the price.

No matter how well you think you can drive, never turn VSA off on-road (track is different)

VSA reacts in milliseconds, before you can even blink - it can save your life !

 

[jamfor]

The first time I ever drove one of the new Civics was the workshop manager's car from the local dealership. He had given me it as a courtesy car, along with the warning of never turn the VSA off. He sort of likened it to feeding Gremlins after midnight. Just don't! The dealership were also using "approved" power hikes for the 2.2 diesels, putting out close to 200bhp, and his was one of these cars. It was a warning I well heeded!

 

[leepickering16]

I think that's a bit much. At the end of the day, it's just traction control. Some EP3s weren't fitted with it, and they handle just fine. It's there as a safety net if you do **** up, but it does take away some fun of driving. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating everyone turns it off every time they drive, but I do switch mine off when I'm driving with vigour. Just should have left it one this time.

 

[robbo51]

Hope you can get it fixed asap
As JDR says..Dont turn off the TC as it will save you
Good look with repair

 

[CTR-PeteLFS]

So I saw 2011 off with quite a bang - literally - as a day before NYE I decided to be a cocky worst and turn the TC off, chuck the Type-S into a left hander (when it was raining) and, well, you can guess the rest.

It aqua-planed and understeered like nothing I've ever had experienced before, and needless to say i couldn't correct it. Hit the curb on the right wheel, broke the wishbone and the arch above the wheel.

Seriously not impressed, but at the end of the day, I was being an idiot. Hold my hands up; I should not have been driving like that in those conditions.

So just thought I'd share my experience.

Not the best way to start 2012.

Hardluck fella at least your safe and sound. Funny but JC on top gear complained that you could never get the back end to slide but you can I used to have a mini cooper s and it had runflats (which makes the handling worse. It would of handled like it was on rails on normal tyres). One day even with the traction control on I took a roundabout fairly quickly (not in the wet) and the front end just did not turn lucky I just backed off the power and applied it again when needed. I was lucky because it was a massive big roundabout and I was in the middle late at night but if it had been in the rush our I would of wrecked it. Makes you wonder tho if JC in topgear just wanted to hate our model in comparison to the EP3 because I think our model handles pretty good compared to some other front wheel drive cars. Anyway hopefully you will get your car sorted out very soon! goodluck.

 

[higham]

i only turn mine off when the road conditions are all good.

 

[leepickering16]

i only turn mine off when the road conditions are all good.

As do I... usually. This is what has made me question why I turned it off. I never turn it off in the wet, but for some reason, did this time.

 

[Staffs Deltic]

Really bad news matey.

Hope the repairs don't cost too much.

 

[leepickering16]

Looking at circa 1500 quid lol. I did the same crash two years ago with very similar damage and that's how much it was then.

 

[RickHondaR]

No matter how well you think you can drive, never turn VSA off on-road (track is different)

VSA reacts in milliseconds, before you can even blink - it can save your life !

+1 I once read a magazine article how they reckoned VSA can cut road accidents though loss of control by 200% and they reckoned this fitted to a car in the factory costs around £100more than not fitting due to using existing sensors (ABS etc) etc already fitted on most new cars so the extra cost is mainy down to a button and extra software on the ECU

 

[bobz_1986]

Perfect timing for an "R" mate

Sorry to hear about this tho, hope you get it sorted!

Surprised Ste hasn't said anything, he's normally in for "first kill" on all your posts lol

 

[tuccy29]

Well I was wondering whether to turn it off the otherday just to see what happens.
Am now glad I didn't and will never do so.

They do say the curiosity killed the cat

 

[Staffs Deltic]

Surprised Ste hasn't said anything, he's normally in for "first kill" on all your posts lol

Yes I was waiting for the first cocksure comment. lol

 

[leepickering16]

He's already done the cocksure comments on the phone.

To be honest guys, yeah, leave the VSA on. But not in a cocky way, but I know how to control a car without TC, and let's be honest, cars ten years ago didn't have TC as standard. I just shouldn't have nailed it without it on in the wet.

 

[pablolimey]

Sorry to hear about your car mate. It'll all get fixed though and at least you're safe.

What tyres are you running with if you don't mind me asking?

I have Yoko Paradas and was told they were useless in the wet when driving hard and excellent on dry roads when driving hard. I figured I just would never drive hard in the rain and wait until summer to start chucking the car around.

Really noticed the poorer handling in the wet bends with these tyres though. Hope they perform in the drier months!

Good luck with the repairs bro.

 

[R555]

Sorry to hear this, not the best start to 2012.

I've never played around with VSA on the road, I leave it on all the time. The first time I turned it off was at Spa last year. You could really feel the difference, VSA on just killed the cornering ability of the car, off was a different ball game all together and it was the first time I realised just how good the R is through the bends.

 

[ThePurifier]

That's unlucky and you have my sympathy, but VSA only rarely cuts in and just doesn't interfere with the driving experience enough to warrant turning it off. It's a very unintrusive system and you may as well have the safety net it gives