There is a huge difference between 'insane' driving styles and quick smooth driving near the limits of traction. Insane driving is what a novice does at an AutoCross the first time he realizes he's not going to crash his car and goes out there and flogs the crap out of it, squeeling tires like mad, making lots of tire smoke, but getting the slowest time of the day. Being that I have instructed at several novice schools, I think I can speak to the fact that driving very quickly with smooth steering inputs does not equal insane driving.
As long as I don't HIT something, the 4Runner will not roll over on public roads. The tires simply don't have enough grip to allow it to roll over without hitting something like a curb, a ditch, etc.
Now, I am not talking about hanging the tail out 30+ degrees like I can do in my S2000 for fun, I am merely talking about being able to let the tail step out just a couple degrees WITHOUT the throttle being cut. I can easily steer to keep the tail in-line at the limits of traction if the vehicle would let me do it, but it won't.
Believe me, I've had enough pucker factor when my S10 Blazer has stepped the tail out unexpectedly in the rain; that thing has a lot more momentum than a car and with low traction situations and an open differential, just keeps going despite any efforts at countersteering. The 4Runner's suspension is a lot more responsive than the Blazer and should be able to do just fine given a situation like that if the driver knows how to handle it.
The reason why this bugs me is because there's this one particular turn when I am going home where the pavement is smooth and there is a wide street I am turning onto. The 4Runner cuts throttle on me EVERY TIME I go through this turn. I happen to enjoy this particular turn because you can see far enough ahead to know if somebody is there or not, and have plenty of room to hit the apex just right. Driving is something that's fun to me. I enjoy it. I just want to be able to fully enjoy it without the vehicle limiting me from doing the things I've safely done for a LONG time (even in similar vehicles with crappier suspensions).
I bought a 2WD 4Runner with the XREAS suspension for a reason; because I intended to use it as it was designed.
Ricky
Thai said:
VSC will react to prevent a slide as well as correct a slide. A momentary slip of a wheel (along with steering angle and G-sensor not matching) may cause VSC to jump to action (even if your dash light does not go off). So, VSC may act even though you're not hanging your tail out yet.
Your 4runner is NOT Honda S2000 (i am sure you realize that)...so you may need the electronic nannies. Personally, i would not treat my SUV as a sports car and hang my tail out around a corner...relative to a car, your 4runner has crappy handling, is a heavy-as-hell pig, has poor suspension design, and is a major tip-over risk.
Why would you want to drive your 4runner as a sports car even if you have cat-like reflexes and superhuman reaction time?? Physics will overcome all of that. It's a utility vehicle. If you want all that, then you surely have bought the wrong SUV!!
Aren't Porsche cars (older 911's) the twitchest thing around on the track (if you don't know what you're doing)??
Good luck in finding a solution to your insane driving styles on your 4runner.
