VSC off in the snow is more fun

[EDGE]

Went out in the snow and drove around with both VSC on and off and just let me say with it off I was able to do J-turns and slide so much easier than with it on.

On the dash it said VSC off and had a little pic of a 4x4 with the front wheels turned.

Every once in a while the dash still made a buzzing sound cause I would spin the tires

Whats your experience with the traction control, I perfer it off in the snow if you wanna have fun

 

[Swaro]

Edge:

As I'm in the market to buy an '03 and we had a couple feet of snow yesterday, I thought this is a good time to take a test drive. Unfortunately, the salesman I've been working with was not there tonight. I got an ahole that very reluctantly took me out. Anyway, in a snow covered parking lot, I nailed the throttle with VSC on and I was amazed at how the vehicle just went straight as an arrow. No fishtailing at all. I only saw the symbol of the vehicle with skid marks light up 2 times, along with a faint ticking sound from behind the dash. Didn't get the chance to try it with the center diff locked (VSC off). The salesman was really rushing me to get back as he knew I normally deal with the other rep. Imagine it would allow for a little butt end out countersteering. Oh well, at least I know that the VSC works fantastically, and without loud obnoxious noises.

Does anyone know if you can get an SR5 with the steering wheel radio controls and the STANDARD radio? I just don't need to spend 675.00 or 875.00 on the radio, and I would prefer to have those mirrors. Gotta have the leather wheel with controls though.

 

[EDGE]

In day to day driving I will leave the VSC on, but when I wanted to do donuts and J-Turns with the slightest bit of slide the brakes would step in so the truck would say in a straight path.

The only problem I had was when driving through 4 foot high snow banks left by the plow truck, with the VSC on the truck had a rendency to get stuck cause your spinning the tires to go through, once I turned it off no problem.

You will see once you get the truck that VSC is a BS option and it is only their so they can get more money for the vehicle and to prevent idiots from killing themselves, in my opinion this VSC, stuff is for the moron who can't drive on dry roads let alone wet roads, you know the people who take exit ramps just as fast in the rain as you would on a dry day, had several friends total brand new cars like that.

I drove around with the VSC on taking turns slightly fast on slushy roads and nothin so I guned it around a turn and just when I broke the rear end loose and fish tailed the VSC kicked in, if you drive like you would rather walk the VSC comes in handy.

When you took off in the parking lot you probably spun the tires making the traction control kick in, that you can't shut off but VSC vehicle skid control can be shut off, thats what keeps the truck form over steering and fishtailing, keeps you from loosing control.

Traction Control is good cause it keeps the tires from spining, keeps you in contact with the ground.

 

[jharris2]

Swaro -

I have an SR5 with the leather-wrapped steering wheel and audio controls. Base stereo only (upgrades are factory-install only).

By the way, I can't wait until Crutchfield has the 2003 models so I can upgrade the speakers -- the stock speakers with the base stereo are muddy at best. The "6 speaker" setup is two-way speakers in the bottom of the front doors, full-reange speaker in the rear doors. Almost any decent 2-, 3-, or 4-way speaker will be far superior to the base. There also appears to be a place near the top front of the front doors where you may be able to put a tweeter or small midrange speaker.

Note that the leather steering wheel may be a regional option. I'm in Arkansas, distributor is Gulf States.

By the way, I'm on a business trip to New Orleans, and tonight saw a 2003 SR5 with color-keyed mirrors. Any idea where they may have come from? Mine are black.

 

[Swaro]

Edge: Yeah, I've been looking at the Tundra too. It doesn't have all the high tech of the Runner, but with a V8, it's still within a few thousand. I think the 4Runner is a much better value. That probably was traction control that kicked in because I was going straight and I didn't hear/feel any braking. I thought I heard a noise that might have been de-throttling though. It all happening in 2-3 seconds. Hey, if your girlfriend/wife drives the 4runner home in a snowstorm, maybe the VSC will save an accident.

jh2: Thanks for that info. Maybe it is a regional thing, but once again one of my area dealerships proved to be the idiots they are. I'm not sure he was even clear what I was asking, but he blurted out, 'no way you could even order that combination'.

The appearance packages are starting to hit the lots for the SR5. Maybe that's what you saw with the colored mirrors.

 

[jharris2]

Swaro -

It couldn't have been the appearance package, because it was an SR5 (no hood scoop) with the gray cladding. That's what has me so confused!