Subaru Outback AWD

[ToolmanJohn]

Re: VSC has its limits but . . .

ToolmanJohn, are you sure your VSC is working ok? I've experimented a bunch on slick parking lots (and only a little on slick roads, for obvious reasons) and can't duplicate what you mention. If I floor it from a standstill in either 2WD or 4WD and don't whip the steering wheel back and forth a bunch it just moves forward with the normal braking and dethrottling. It's just no drama at all, moving straight ahead.

Sure, accelerating in a straight line like this is no test of VSC, but the ATRAC sytem. VSC is the system designed to use the braking sytem and engine response to regain control of the direction of the truck when it starts sliding in a direction you are not steering in. Drive the speed limit on a snowy/icy covered curve, tell us the results from the body shop Once the limits of traction are broken, if there is nothing for the tires to bite, and the vehicle can't be slowed significantly and quickly, VSC can't do a thing.

 

[Thai]

Re: Re: VSC has its limits but . . .

Once the limits of traction are broken, if there is nothing for the tires to bite, and the vehicle can't be slowed significantly and quickly, VSC can't do a thing.

Yes, but the beauty of VSC is that it can detect early slippage and do corrective measures to prevent the slide. It does not alter physics nor prevent stupidity, but it does help in most other circumstances.

I doubt that, in a snowy curve and you're driving reasonably, ALL four wheels lose traction at the same time...usually, one or two start to lose traction first. VSC can detect slippage at INDIVIDUAL wheels before all four loses traction...thus, it can prevent a total loss of control.

Hitman's experience matches mine and what others have said about VSC. BTW, i had plenty of practice in winter driving when i off-roaded in Colorado last year.

 

[JB.]

I recently repeatedly tested the vsc on a near hair-pin, snowpacked turn. I was very impressed with the way it handled over-steer. Under- steer, however, was a different story. I'll assume it was doing something during under-steering, but if it was, I was unable to detect it.

Anyone else notice this?