If you're losing control in the rain... twice in a day, you have other problems. People that can't drive... like this guy, should get it. If you can't handle 200 hp... then get it. But if you're comfortable behind the wheel, don't spend exrta money on something you'll never need.

 

Congratulations for being the one guy who managed to be meaninglessly rude while repeating an opinion already heard several times in this thread. It's the little touch that makes all the difference.

 

It's great for Black Ice.

 

The US government agrees with you. Model year 2012 onward, all cars will be required to have this. There'll be percentage phase-ins beginning in 2009.

Ken

 

I've had DSC off maybe twice in the 6 months I've had the car. Both times were to help get out of snow from a stop. But it's saved me a lot so for me, it's a great thing.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I just got home with my '06 brilliant black RX-8 WITH DSC. Glad to say I'm officially part of the club now.

 

congrats, enjoy the ride...

and just to add to the thread for anyone else who searches for this, DEF get the dsc, the car is not the most powerful but it is enough to get a novice drive in over his/her head if they lack experience driving a rwd car.

dsc has saved me a few times...one of which i was hitting a long curve at a high speed, and coming out of the turn there was some water run off coming from the sprinklers in the median..the street was wet and i manged to downshift and ease into braking down to 30mph the dsc allowed me to come out of the curve with the rear slightly pulling out...if the dsc was off or not equiped the rear would have shot out and hit the curb of the median....there are alot of driving situations that can become unpredictable like debris or dead animals in the street and doing evasive manuvers unexpectedly at a high speed can lead to serious trouble.

 

Congrats!

Welcome to the Brilliant Black club!

 

To answer your ?, DSC is very important in this car, esp. for those unused to a fairly powerful (in low gears), balanced sports car like the RX-8. Without it an inexperienced driver (or even an experienced one) can be caught in a situation that will cause the car to become unstable and perhaps spin. DSC reacts far faster and more accrurately (adjusting the different wheel's brakes independently - something you can't do), and the throttle, to make the car stable under upsetting circumstances.

There is no good reason to NOT use the DSC under all normal driving situations. Only for autocross and track is it useful to disable it.

Those without it in their RX-8 (base model) just need to take extra precaution under bad weather, cold weather and the like.

 

get it. it's a safety feature. it's like MM said, totally useless UNTIL YOU NEED IT. Kind of like seat belts and airbags. It has nothing to do with your driving ability. Think about it, some jumping out in front of your car, that unseen wet leaf, those people who just drive crazy, etc. You could be Richard Hamilton for all I care, but your abilities won't keep you from the possibilities.

 

^ nevermind. congrats on your new 8. and leave that DSC on until you are in a controled environment like track or autocross.

turned mine off for the first time at an autox and it brought back memories of physics class.

 

I drive around without DSC, be it rain, sleet, snow, or hellfire. I find it annoying when DSC kicks in during emergencies. I don't have a choice on where I wanna go, and if you're in the middle of oversteer, DSC will cause your car to shoot the OTHER way, the path you're trying to avoid.

If you have any shred of ability to drive a car well, you don't really need it.

 

How many people have crashed specifically because of the DSC?

How many have crashed without DSC?

 

that statement is completely false. DSC has saved my *** many times. Turn it off at your peril.

 

That statement has been tested to the death by me. I drive in the a lot winter with my 8, and there is nothing I hate more when DSC kicks in during oversteer causing the car (which is ALREADY in opposite lock) to shoot the other way.

If all you do is panic and let everything go, DSC might save you. Not if you follow your natural reaction to counter-steer though.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I tested DSC again tonight, and it did not kick in when I performed an emergency lane change on wet ground (with Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50s). Turned DSC off, and the car didn't behave any differently.

Will do further testing.

 

Traction control is great! The flashing light on the dash ads +5hp.

 

The problem is: not many people know how to drive like you and me. SO the DSC will save their ****.

 

+1. If your an excellent driver, DSC is a negative. I turned my DSC off on track. But, 99% of drivers will benefit from DSC.