JoeS wrote:I shudder to think what various magazine road-tests will have to say about the iMiEV's higher-speed obstacle-avoidance tests. On the one hand, the ASC will keep the car in check, but on the other hand it will preclude spirited driving.
No kidding! - I've driven our two cars for 6+ years and never once experienced the ASC kicking in - Had no idea what I've been missing
Now that I've put the wider wheels and tires on one of them (my car) I'm experiencing it so often I wish I there was a way to shut it off permanently
We have two curves on the road to our house which are posted at 35 mph (speed limit on the road is 40 but everybody goes 45 or 50). One curve is a left hander and the other is a right hand. In years gone by, I never felt comfortable taking either of them any faster than about 40 mph, but with the larger tires (same overall circumference, just wider tread) I now regularly take them at 45 and sometimes even 50 if some hot dog Challenger or Camaro is glued to my tail - That always gives me some breathing space
Problem is, on a bone dry road with brand new tires, the ASC really doesn't like me turning the steering wheel very far at any speed above about 40 or it cuts the power and applies the ABS to one wheel - Usually the outside front. Obviously, no tire has lost traction and the car isn't skidding at all . . . . but the damned ASC just keeps spoiling the fun!
I've experimented with different lines through the corners - If I enter near the centerline and hit the apex perfectly and then let it drift back out to the centerline, I can go a bit faster without it kicking in the ASC . . . . I think this is because I'm not turning the steering wheel as much. Less wheel in equals a higher speed before it energizes, conversely if I stay centered in my lane all the way around the curve which requires more steering wheel input, it kicks in at a lower speed. I'm tired of manually turning it off every time I get in the car and many times I forget and then I'm mad at myself when I get to the curves
I understand that one wheel rotating faster or slower than the other three will cause it to kick in . . . . but something else is doing it in my case. It's not a tire losing contact or sliding so I'm going off my line - It's just the darned system spoiling my fun!
Yes, Joe - I've sold my Miata, so now this is all the fun I have!
Thoughts?
Don