ShaneN.

I had my friends 2011 over the weekend and I was just thinking I never took it out of full traction control ON for the couple days. I left the transmission in sport mode the full time (which i assume isn't bad for anything but fuel mileage) but I was noticing at times the car didn't seem very fast and others it really did. Then I got to thinking that the traction control might have been intervening without being really that obvious. I remember with traction on in my c6 it was really noticeable when traction control was doing it's thing. I assume in sport mode it will let full tire slip and a small amount of the car getting sideways? I wish I would have set both the traction and trans to Sport to have felt the difference.

papashango

From what I understand, regular mode has full traction on at all times and gives no room for the car to slip or the tail to slip out before kicking in. Sport mode allows more room for all that happening but still doesn't let the car do a 360 by spinning and will kick in before it's too late so to speak and traction off is well quite self-explanatory.

ShaneN.

I'm thinking the traction control was doing it's job without being overly noticeable, in that the motor wasn't cutting out obviously or anything like more dated traction systems and that it was just feeling a bit slower because it was stopping the car from spinning.

I guess what would answer my question is what is fasting to leave from a stop from? Does traction do a good job keeping it on it's limit of traction or does it just hinder power and performance too much. Or is it faster to leave in sport and be more mindful of rolling on the gas.

realjones88

Full traction control will take over at the slightest hint of wheel spin (ie no burnouts or screeching tires). If you try full throttle from a stop the traction is likely to limit your acceleration.

If you want to go the fastest from the start (with some control), sport mode is better. It still only allows a little bit of traction loss and won't let you slide much, if at all. You can't do a full burnout, but the tires will squeal.

Naturally no traction control will allow you to face the other direction if that's your goal.

Gerry_M

Sport ESP lets me do 45 ft burn outs

Bigtickets

There shouldn't be much difference between any of the settings as far as fuel consumption goes. If you drive the car hard, you're gonna burn more fuel. And you guys who track these things knows they go through a tank of fuel in short order under load. That's why I honk and give a thumbs up to all the Prius out there!