MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: mattchaps on June 22, 2011, 02:00:11 pm
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Decided I needed some fresh air for lunch, so went for a drive... Immediately got frustrated with the ongoing hesitation but that's another story (thread!). Anyhow, after about 15 minutes when she was nice and warm I thought I'd see what driving with the ESP off is like. I know this was a hot topic when I owned the R32 as a lot of owners swore it drove completely different. Still getting used to the GTI after 20 days ownership, and this is one area I wanted to test!
So, I turn ESP off and head up towards a bypass that I've driven twice a day for more than I can remember, round the roundabout 2nd gear, into the outside lane and floor it.... wow.... 3rd.... 4th.... "better slow down"!. :driver:
Now whether it's because of the hesitation when cold that made this feel completely different to me, or does it transform the car?! I don't know, but I'm going to try it again on the way home with ESP on and see how it feels.
What are other owners' experiences/thoughts?!
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Would love to know what everyone else thinks? I've not tried it yet! Make much of a difference?
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Oh yes, my remapped Ed30 goes like a scolded cat when you turn off the ESP, proberly best not to do it on the twisties incase you get "outa shape" exiting the bends etc, but control the wheel hop, you will be rewarded :signLOL:
Big difference as the ESP wont interfere with the way the power is sent to the wheels.
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I have a standard GTI and agree with the ESP off it is so much better to drive. with the esp on it feels like the car is being held back a bit even if there is plenty of grip.
Some people say they feel it can be dangerous to turn it off but i think it gives you much better control over the car with it turned off.
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Press and hold ESP to deactivate more of it but it's never fully "off". A quick press to turn off some features helps if you're wheel hopping off the start line.
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So guys... im going to drive home tonight with it off, round town, couple of dual carrage ways all urban... Will i be safe?! lol :jumping: :driver:
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Press and hold ESP to deactivate more of it but it's never fully "off". A quick press to turn off some features helps if you're wheel hopping off the start line.
Are there any audible/visual indications that show more ESP has been switched off if you hold the button down, or do you just count to 10 then assume it's done?!!
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Quite an interesting one this.
I guess you could say that if you arent happy driving with the ESP off then you shouldnt really be allowed to drive this sort of car. Be a lot better to scrap ESP and enable driving tests based on ability and thus bhp available to you, aka Grand Turismo LOL
Slightly back on topic, every car I have had has driven better with ESP off. You simply dont get the correct (honest) feedback. Ironically if my car has had ESP I always find myself feeling guilty and slight wary of turning it off no matter what :stupid: where as in my 211bhp Corrado VR6 without ESP, you just get in and get on with driving the nuts off it LOL
I also find that if you do have a major tank slapper it always feels more natural pulling yourself out of it with ESP off*
Matt
*Personal opinion and cannot be held responsible for loss of car control :laugh:
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:popcornsoda:
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since germany i have been turning off esp more and more and im beginning to prefer it not saying my out of corners and teaching me to control the car. Plus it just feels quicker
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:popcornsoda: :popcornsoda: :popcornsoda:
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Press and hold ESP to deactivate more of it but it's never fully "off". A quick press to turn off some features helps if you're wheel hopping off the start line.
It's either on or off Jaz? There isn't a gradual ESP setting :confused:
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Not that I would but can it be disabled in VCDS?
I had a Mini Cooper S once and it was horrific with it on, it went like this, get in car check, start engine check, turn ESP off check.
You could literally pull out and it would stop, took it into BMW and all they said was yes thats how should work :surprised:
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It's either on or off Jaz? There isn't a gradual ESP setting :confused:
There's something which happens if you press and hold the ESP button. I've been told it deactivates more stuff related to ESP and that's from this forum!
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It's either on or off Jaz? There isn't a gradual ESP setting :confused:
There's something which happens if you press and hold the ESP button. I've been told it deactivates more stuff related to ESP and that's from this forum!
Really??
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Im pretty sure that this is fully off :evilgrin:
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http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?;topic=7400.0
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In the manual it's says only either on or off, not a two stage setting on a mk5. :confused:
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Im pretty sure that this is fully off :evilgrin:
:party:
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:popcornsoda:
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if i want a spirited drive i always turn it off :rolleye:
it is far too sensible sometimes if you exit a corner in second gear it cuts in too easily , you still have your foot planted to the floor but it cuts all power , gets really annoying
if the weather conditions are too bad eg rain or greasy surface i leave it on.
you got to have a bit of fun sometime :jumpmove:
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The ESP is their to help people to control the car and not take it to a point were control is lost. It is easier to drive fast with the ESP off but in the same token you wont be getting as much warning if you do lose control. It can be intrusive if you know what your doing or a life saver if you dont. :driver:
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mine has been off for 9 months (dead abs pump ) and its horrible without it . got a new pump coming tomorrow thank god . with 340 hp losing traction is always gonna happen but every little helps
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Decided to see if the 10 second rule works?! Held the button down for 10 seconds, the light comes on to start with in the normal way, but after 10s the light goes back out. Seems to drive as tho ESP is off? Confused.com!
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Sometimes Ill turn if off because it can cut in far too soon IMO, especially when booting it out of corners. 98% of the time I leave it on.
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Thats interesting. the only thing i dont like about having the ESP off is that there is an orange light on the dash. if the esp is off but you can turn the light off to thats a nice touch :smiley:
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Decided to see if the 10 second rule works?! Held the button down for 10 seconds, the light comes on to start with in the normal way, but after 10s the light goes back out. Seems to drive as tho ESP is off? Confused.com!
Thats why i think its either on or off, and no progressive setting with a 10 second rule.
ESP will still try and help if youve turned off the esp to an extent, but as Topcat says, just be careful :happy2:
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When I learnt to drive, there was no ESP... blah blah blah nostalgia blah
I'd suggest in some cases, not all before you jump down my throat, but some.....if the ESP is causing you problems, then the problem is your driving. It's a really good system on the MKV and if you're smooth, it'll hardly seem like it's there.
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i personally dont use the esp at all. As soon as im in the car i turn it off. You need to feel the car and correct things for yourself. If your not comfortable driving quick or pushing the car then leave it on but im sure alot of people on here know there cars well and would have no problems driving without it on, and like said above just be carefull. I had a very sharp learning curve as before this i owned an s2000 and although my golf eats them now, that thing with no driver aids would bite your head off if you lost concentration for a minute, sooooooo much fun though. :driver:
Also didnt help me by having budget wanliii tyres on the rear
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I drive on the road with ESP On. It very very rarely interferes even when driving enthusiastically but when it has kicked in it's been due to a patch of mud or slippy white line and I've been very glad of it - You cannot possibly predict everything that is unexpectedly and suddenly thrown at you on a public road. Better safe than sorry.
I think that effective suspension/handling mods will reduce the instances of ESP kicking in.
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Have you noticed the addition of a limited slip diff changes the characteristics of the ESP system Robin?
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I'd be interested to hear from Robin on that too.
I am running a Quaife and, although I have heard others say that the Quaife kicks in before the ESP, that has not been my experience most of the time. I often switch the ESP off if planning a bit of spirited driving and the Quaife does a great job of sending the car where I point it. However, I would also agree with tony_danza that a bit of good driving technique can also stop the ESP from coming in and cutting power (still comes in a little too quick imho)...I just do it for a bit of fun :evilgrin:
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I don't see any reason to switch ESP off on public roads.
If ESP kicks in too early there's something wrong with your
suspension geometry or your driving skills.
Even on the Nordschleife I've driven with ESP on and it never
was any problem. Learn to drive smooth and 'round' and to
respect the borderline.
Only on Autocross I put it off. There acceleration does happen
in 1. and 2. gear and speeds are low.
On my 2008 GTI ESP is in 'standby' when pressing the button.
It just works when braking. Without touching the brake pedal
oversteer ist no problem (with cold rear tyres).
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Have you noticed the addition of a limited slip diff changes the characteristics of the ESP system Robin?
....Without doing fairly formalised comparitive tests it's difficult to be sure, but I can report that any instances of ESP and wheelspin seem to be dealt with noticeably quicker than before the Quaife was installed. I feel ESP act on the rear wheels more often than on the front especially if pushing on the Nordschleife but I just drive through it.
I think it's a combination of Quaife, suspension mods, and driving style which will influence ESP when on. Overall, like many others, I highly rate and enjoy the Quaife.
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Press and hold ESP to deactivate more of it but it's never fully "off". A quick press to turn off some features helps if you're wheel hopping off the start line.
I thought that feature only worked on Audi's as, I tried it with my Eddy and, it didn't work :surprised:
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I think it's a combination of Quaife, suspension mods, and driving style which will
influence ESP when on. Overall, like many others, I highly rate and enjoy the Quaife.
agree :happy2:
When playing with different suspension and geometry settings
I feel this sigificiently affects the way 'needs' to ESP work.
So it was allways my target to do the adjustments the ESP
will work as less as possible.
The same with my driving style. :wink: