VSC: very stable cornering!

[tundrasam]

I have a 2005 double cab wih VSC and have been really enjoying driving this truck in the rain watching how fast and smoothly i can drive the truck without losing control. The VSC light on the dash flickers for a few seconds while intervening in an oversteer and understeer situation.

i think Ford, GM, and Dodge simply missed the boat on this option for their trucks.

I was surprised to see how few Tundras in the south east toyota buying group are configured with this option. It is worth its weight in gold.

Sam Omar

[jgjr]

anyone have vsc on a regular cab or access cab tunra 2004 or 2005?

[DCTundraGA]

I almost bought one with VSC but when I drove it, I felt like I wasn't even driving the truck in the corners. It was braking and doing stuff that felt weird. I ordered one without the VSC just because I felt like it took away from my driving exerience.

YMMV

[tundrasam]

The domestic truck makers went to vehicle stability in their SUVs for a major reason, safety. The VSC on the tundra intervenes only after you get into a corner and the back in starts to step out or you understeer if you hit a patch of slick stuff. For the most part it is seamless and you have to look down to see the VSC light flashing.

It is clearly the best electronic safety gadget currently available in cars and trucks. Even if you are a race car driver, VSC systems can catch a vehicle in a slide when the vehicle is so out of control it is beyond the ability of a race car driver to catch.

About 8 years ago, I was driving from oregon to los angeles when i saw a young guy in a toyota pickup put one tire on the shoulder. The truck had a moderate lift and some bigg truck tires. When the front left tire hit the shoulder he jerked the vehicle back onto the road set up a spin, got sideways, skidded off the road and rolled his truck. While no electronic gadget can replace safe prudent driving it will save you when you need it most. I stopped to check on the guy and he slid out of the truck. When i asked him what happened he said he leaned over to pick up something on the floorboard and didnt realize the truck had drifted slightly towards th left shoulder.

Dont overlook the VSC option, it may save your life one day.

[bennicde]

Originally Posted by tundrasam

The domestic truck makers went to vehicle stability in their SUVs for a major reason, safety. The VSC on the tundra intervenes only after you get into a corner and the back in starts to step out or you understeer if you hit a patch of slick stuff. For the most part it is seamless and you have to look down to see the VSC light flashing.

It is clearly the best electronic safety gadget currently available in cars and trucks. Even if you are a race car driver, VSC systems can catch a vehicle in a slide when the vehicle is so out of control it is beyond the ability of a race car driver to catch.

About 8 years ago, I was driving from oregon to los angeles when i saw a young guy in a toyota pickup put one tire on the shoulder. The truck had a moderate lift and some bigg truck tires. When the front left tire hit the shoulder he jerked the vehicle back onto the road set up a spin, got sideways, skidded off the road and rolled his truck. While no electronic gadget can replace safe prudent driving it will save you when you need it most. I stopped to check on the guy and he slid out of the truck. When i asked him what happened he said he leaned over to pick up something on the floorboard and didnt realize the truck had drifted slightly towards th left shoulder.

Dont overlook the VSC option, it may save your life one day.

I got in a similar situation years ago with a chev 4x4, the back end came around and I corrected too much and it went back and forth, it ended up on it's side in the ditch.I think the VSC would have prevented it. With my kids driving my vehicles now I'm thinking my next one should have it.

[tundrasam]

Originally Posted by bennicde

I got in a similar situation years ago with a chev 4x4, the back end came around and I corrected too much and it went back and forth, it ended up on it's side in the ditch.I think the VSC would have prevented it. With my kids driving my vehicles now I'm thinking my next one should have it.

When vehicle stability debuted on the corvette it was called active handling. John Heinrichy (?spelling) was one of the head corvette engineers and also a very capable semi-professional (?) race car driver. The magazine review I read discussed how they would have John induce the corvette into a slide either under or oversteer. Without the active handling activated there were slides he was simply not able to catch or save.

Fast forward to a vehicle with baseline 10 inches of ground clearance and a relatively light back end. I dont know what the weight distribution percentages are on my tundra but definitely not race car like 50-50. The only thing that helps in our trucks is the long wheelbase but single car accidents including rollovers are more prevalent in sport utilitys.

My past is pretty telling. I drive sports cars and have owned a lightning. I do not tread lightly in the corners but do try to achieve smoothness and not induce slides. With that said there are just too many road conditions that can fool you based on surfaces, spills, dirt/gravel, and accident maneuvers.

This VSC works like a charm. Someone posted early complaining that they didnt like the traction control because it cut in when the were trying to scoot out into track by flooring it. I tested my truck on various surfaces and to my surprise the toyota engineers got it right. The system allows a small amount of wheelspin and the truck is not pointed straight the back end will even "shimmy" a few degrees before the "invisible" electronic hand straightens out the truck.

I have an audi a6 that I lease transfered to my brother who lives in Maryland/DC area. The audi has something similar called ESP. It is a front drive V6 base model. When last i spoke with him, he proclaims " this all wheel drive audi does great in the sloopy weather!" I mentioned it was front wheel drive only and suggested he try driving with ESP off. He called me back exclaiming what a huge difference the ESP made. It was basically like driving in regular road conditions as long as he drove with a modicum of care in the wet/snow.

I guess the reason I am typing all this is because this is one of the reasons I bought the Tundra. It is available on very few vehicles and toyota clearly knows it owners if many dont appreciate it BUT if they pushed their technical advantages in their ads more people than ever would be buying a tundra.

I cant wait to see all the awesome stuff on the new one.

Sam Omar

[GEE-BEE]

I Also Have This On My New Black Lmtd 05 Dc , My Acura Nsx Has A System Also( Traction Control ) That Keeps The Wheels From Spinning, It Is A 2000 Model With A Comptech Supercharger And Headers And There Exhaust..............
It' Pull 108 Mph Out Of Second ( 6 Speed) Rev's Up To 11,500
I Like Smokinn Vett's With My Little V-6