Anybody here track their car?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 720
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Saab 900 SE
The ESP off button does very little with stability control still on. With ESP on I get terrible bogging whenever I smash the gas, and absolutely no wheel spin.
If I push the button and turn ESP off I can chirp the tires, any fun causes the light to blink and the stability control to step in causing the ESP light to blink at me, but not bog the car. I can get ever so slightly sideways in this mode (controlled slide). Its a good thing.
If I turn on dyno mode and drive hard, this car becomes a death trap. I have no problems doing 360's esp when I dont want to.
If I push the button and turn ESP off I can chirp the tires, any fun causes the light to blink and the stability control to step in causing the ESP light to blink at me, but not bog the car. I can get ever so slightly sideways in this mode (controlled slide). Its a good thing.
If I turn on dyno mode and drive hard, this car becomes a death trap. I have no problems doing 360's esp when I dont want to.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: NYC
2007 C280 4Matic
How would you get any wheel spin at all in a 4 matic car? I mean my cars RWD so it doesnt have to challenge of trying to turn the front 2 tires but in a C280 4matic I have a hard time thinking id would get all 360 happy or chirp the tires, My turbo legacy didnt do that and it has way more power and less weight then the C does.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 720
Likes: 0
Saab 900 SE
I'll have to take video next time. Its way too scary and completely not controlled. 4matic is 3 open diffs, without the electronics to control the brakes (wheels slip) all power will go to any one wheel. So if any one wheel slips it exponentially slips more because that is the path of least resistance. That plus AMG sway bars = things like oversteer into understeer into oversteer the other direction back to understeer skid to a stop. I fear Dyno mode.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: NYC
2007 C280 4Matic
Partial braking abs on 4wheels has its advantages over an LSD and generally leads to the same results with modern precise wheel speed sensors. Its more efficient and why I can get 31mpg on a 4matic, with full time awd. The downside is the car wont dig in and spin all 4 wheels together like cars with part time 4wheel drive.
But thats why we Do Not turn on dyno mode (were not supposed to anyway). This car needs its electronic nanny's to be drivable.
Thats enough of a thread jack. I would love to track this car, it just doesnt seem toss-able enough to be fun. It deffinetly feels like I would chew through tires like a champ. I would totally do an eibach rear sway bar to help but I fear for my daily drivability.
