Esp

soggydog · 10-24-2007, 11:37 AM

Hi all

I've been playing with (errr, testing

) the ESP system on my 1.6 petrol.

I was driving late last night, on a short stretch of empty dual carriageway, with a round about at each end.

It was dry, about 7 deg C, and the road is very new.

The round about is small, which makes the direction change quite tight, so there's no way to go quickly through it (like a chicane)

With ESP off I approached the roundabout in the right lane (dual carriageway) and accelerated hard in 2nd gear, aiming to exit on the right lane, after a sharp left, then right turn of the wheel.

Without fail I understeered (drifted left) and crossed into the left lane on 4 attempts. Max speed only 40 mph (64KMH) before I understeered. I made no attempt to correct it, as I just wanted the data.

With ESP on the same test kept me in the right lane, no understeer, at 42 mph (67kmh)

It wasn't the speed difference that impressed me, but exiting the roundabout in the lane I wanted, under control, was very impressive. The system is very unobtrusive too.... it didn't cut the power so much as applied slight braking to a single wheel (it felt like the the rear left) so the revs didn't drop. Compared to "safety" systems on other cars (my 2nd car is a BMW which interrupts the engine, and feels clumsy at times) this feels way better.

I can't wait to try this in wet conditions (on a deserted road of course!) as recent stats showed that 78% of accidents involving sudden direction changes are avoidable if you have ESP. It should be standard, but if you're ordering a Cee'd I'd certainly add it to the options list. It could save your life.

tim_p · 10-24-2007, 12:25 PM

Got it in mine but not had a chance to play yet

richs · 10-24-2007, 01:51 PM

Passed test at 17 and Advanced (IAM) test at 18 (long time ago). Owned 20 cars since then (now ceed sw crdi - luv it), and prefer the ones that give you a sense of your speed and therefore your responsibility on the road.

Back in the 80/90's, everyone derided Volvo and Saab for their safety measures because of the way they drove. i.e. they drove more dangerously - because they felt safe in their nice comfy environment.

ESP -fine, but does that make you more dangerous, because of the way you feel? Probably!

Agree though that any electronic measure you can afford is good, if you don't want to progress your driving skills beyond the basic dvla test.

asty · 10-24-2007, 01:52 PM

I guess it's nice to know the limits of your car, but surely this isn't the sort of car you want to be driving 'spiritedly' in? ESP is definitely a nice safety feature to have though.

tim_p · 10-24-2007, 02:14 PM

Without getting into an arguement about speed etc, asty is right, it's not the sort of car to expect sports handling from. It's not going to deliver it. The ESP might come in handy if the road conditions throw something unexpected at you. I'd much rather drive the car to my limits and not think just cos there is some sort of safety net there that it absolves you of the basic responsibility of driving safely. I drive fast where I feel safe, never abuse the 30, 40 or 50 limits but consider the NSL to be fair game when conditions and traffic allow (and only then)

sy278 · 10-24-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim_p

Without getting into an arguement about speed etc, asty is right, it's not the sort of car to expect sports handling from. It's not going to deliver it.

Well as a cee'd with almost no modifications is being used a safety car at Silverstone and Castle Combe, I don't think that statement is entirely accurate.

Could Cee'd be used as a safety car? Well, it is! | KIA-WORLD

soggydog · 10-24-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richs

Passed test at 17 and Advanced (IAM) test at 18 (long time ago). Owned 20 cars since then (now ceed sw crdi - luv it), and prefer the ones that give you a sense of your speed and therefore your responsibility on the road.

Back in the 80/90's, everyone derided Volvo and Saab for their safety measures because of the way they drove. i.e. they drove more dangerously - because they felt safe in their nice comfy environment.

ESP -fine, but does that make you more dangerous, because of the way you feel? Probably!

Agree though that any electronic measure you can afford is good, if you don't want to progress your driving skills beyond the basic dvla test.

Would you prefer your car not to have ABS, to give you better braking feel? Or perhaps no airbags, 'cos they're too safe !

I'm disagree wholeheartedly with your statements because you can be the best driver in the world but you can't mitigate for all circumstances. If a lorry drops it's load into your lane and you need to make a sudden evasive manoeuvre, with ESP you stand a better chance of avoiding an accident. Even the best cadence braking doesn't beat ABS whilst steering and braking similtaneously. I like the fact that my car has a safety cage to keep my family safe. I don't drive faster because I feel safer, and I don't think safety features makes drivers complacent. It merely keeps them alive if a tree falls down in front of them in bad weather.

I live in a rural area and the only accidents my partner and I have had in 20 years are hitting wild animals at night, from deer to wild sheep. In all cases ABS, air bags and seat belts kept us alive.

Progress is good, and I respect your right to prefer cars without modern features, as I collect classic cars. But I feel happier with my family in my Cee'd than in my 60 yr old Jaguar!

tim_p · 10-24-2007, 03:59 PM

Errm..115 BHP, handling not in the same league as a Focus... I've not driven or ridden around Silverstone but have around Castle Combe and whilst most any car could be said to be used as a safety car there is no way a standard cee'd would post anything other than an ordinary time around the track. The car is a family hatch with no pretentions to be anything else. I wouldn't take it on a track with anything other than other cee'ds.

soggydog · 10-24-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asty

I guess it's nice to know the limits of your car, but surely this isn't the sort of car you want to be driving 'spiritedly' in? ESP is definitely a nice safety feature to have though.

I'm not sure that driving at 40 mph is driving spiritedly !

I was testing to see what would happen if I needed to make a sudden direction change at normal speeds (ie a biker overtakes coming in the opposite direction)

I'm also going to guess that my petrol ceed is probably a lot "sportier" than the diesel versions. It's not a quick car, but it revs really cleanly and sounds great too... like a Honda Vtec. Less weight in the front of the car too (roughly 75kg) so might handle a touch better.

I must point out at this juncture that I prefer the diesel as an ownership prospect

I'd also say that the ceed was designed to handle well, and to be fun. It's sportier (there's that word again!) than the Hyundia i30, which has much softer damper settings (and to be honest is much better for our British roads) The Koreans designed the cars with this in mind to provide for a disparate market, and to create distinction.

I like driving the cee'd, and it responds well to being thrown about. I hope my time with it will give me a chance to take in a track day or two. I don't mind coming dog last, but if I could just overtake one car, just one, I'll be happy!

tim_p · 10-24-2007, 04:20 PM

I'd be up for a cee'd track day at Castle Combe (that or Thruxton are nearest to me!). Last time there was in my old TT, brilliant fun too. It's not really about overtaking anyone, it's about have fun, using as much of your cars performance that you feel happy with in an environment that is as safe as possible (within limits!) for the circumstances. When I got to CC the track was covered in snow and we did a few laps to clear it off!
Yeah, I'd do it again but I wouldn't want to be there with much other than more cee'ds!