w00t for base 8!!!! :D

btw 25k sticker is for the base AUTOMAGIC 8, 6 speed base stickers at 27k.

 

Thats what I was going to say. We are lucky because I know in many other cars, you cant Turn it off. That would suck.....................

 

anybody looking to obtain an RX-8 for competition would want it to be the absolute minimum weight and would never use it ... low weight, low cost; win-win

 

I don't get it. If you're not pushing the car hard and you're not looking for optimal performance....why turn it off?

And yes it will help you if you hit that sudden bit of ice and start sliding all over the place.

I don't know how many of you watch the Britsh show "Top Gear" but the host did a demonstration of these technologies that everyone wants to turn off.

For the traction control he tried to go up a steep slope of ice with the the TC off....it went no where. With the TC on...right up the sheet of ice.

Then he tried an evasive manouver on an iced over lake with the DSC off...completely lost control and smashed through a fake wall and continued to skid right into a snow bank. With the DSC on, did the exact same manouver; maintained excellent control and missed the fake wall.

These systems work...there is no reason not to have them there incase the unexpected happens. Sure turn them off in a controlled environment for optimum performance...but everyday driving, why not have them?

Yes we didn't have them before, and people weren't flying of the roads, but again....if you've got it, why not use it? An added security blanket for yourself and your car is not a bad thing.

 

Without a doubt the first time I track my car I will turn the DSC off. On the track (if you a semi-experienced) you don't want the DSC cutting in. Also as opposed to driving on the street, if you get in trouble on the track you usually have a run out area or can cut a turn with no concerns of hitting anything.
Sometimes I do turn off my DSC on the street, just for ***** and giggles.

 

I totally do not understand the mentality of anyone that would shut the DSC off in normal driving. It's un-obtrusive, and it does nothing unless you are absolutely at the limit.

To the person who was wondering if it were the same as depressing the brake - no, absolutely not. It has the ability to individually pulse the brakes to each wheel while at the same time modulating the throttle. It won't save your *** if you are really stupid, but if you're driving near the limit and something unexpected happens, it can really be a lifesaver.

Case in point - in February, on a chilly, rainy night - about 33 degrees and rain - right at the edge of black ice point, I entered a corner going only 20 mph - a right turn at a busy intersection with a green light for me - I was turning right, there were cars sitting at the light waiting to go on the cross street, when my car began to slide - there WAS a bit of black ice in that corner - but instead of snap spinning out and possibly causing me to smash into all the cars waiting at the light, the "hand of God" (as someone so aptly put it) intervened and kept me from wrecking.

The myth that shutting it off saves fuel is just bunk.

So, do I shut it off, on occasion? Yes - here's when:

1) When I want to make some noise and tire smoke

2) When I am on the autocross track, although I usually leave it on for my first run while I'm getting familiar with the track.

3) When I'm on a road course, although ditto - I usually leave it on for my first lap or so.

4) In snow when I want to drift and do doughnuts in an empty parking lot.

Otherwise, it's on all the time. Hey, why not have the extra safety gear. Shutting it off in normal day to day driving is about as wise as disconnecting your airbags. Yes, we lived without it all those years, yes, you should never use it as a license to be stupid, but if you have it, why the hell shut if off unless there is a specific reason to, and if you're driving like that on public roads, you're being a menace. Take it to the track.

 

Let me add:

5) When you're stuck in deep snow and need to "rock" the car to get out. That's the only time I've ever shut it off.

 

OK, Here is a quiz for very experienced drivers.

You are having some fun and pushing the car (to a safe limit of course because you are on a public road) and you are rounding a corner on a road that you had been on before but not since fall. You round a corner into the throttle pretty good but well south of loosing control. There is a dump truck in the other lane 100’ away and a pretty good deal of sand spread over the road from the icy winter weather, unfortunately it hasn’t been warn off in that area because people usually take the corner cautiously.

Do you A) want DSC on if it is available or B) hit the sand, slid that tail of your car 2’ into the other lane just in time to have it clipped by the 20 ton truck and see how the side impact airbags function.

 

Drive over the sand and nothing happens. Why would sand make your car spin when driving straight? If that's the case then cars would be spinning out left and right.

 

I thought I said corner? Yup, I said corner.
(which is the reason you couldn't see the truck or the sand, and the reason the tail would spin)

 

sounded like past tense. I honestly think the tires are a bigger factor then dsc. seeing that your coming from a fwd to rwd, it is a night and day diff. in a turn. you just need more experience.

 

Yeah, basically, I think anyone would feel really stupid if they wrecked their car with DCS off... hey, why don't you ask one of the many people who did?

 

Sorry, "You are rounding a corner".

I've owned 5 RWD cars & trucks. My point was that there can be multiple unexpected events that lead to an accident and that DSC is a feature that by design has more control over the car than the driver. No matter how hard you try you will not be able to apply only the left front brake in 100ms.

My point wasn’t to get in a pissing contest over who has more experience. Drivers with the most experience are probably the ones advocating DSC because they know how many variables there are and that all drivers have limitations.

 

Well the experienced driver wouldn't push the car if they couldn't see more than 100' ahead and didn't know what the road surface is like.

Another scenario could be the same corner, except you get 1/3 the way into the corner and suddenly see a tree lying down across the whole road, in which case, it does not matter if you have DSC or not. Your own eyes and judgment are by far the best safety device in a car. DSC merely slightly lowers the probability you'd get in a crash. And my theory has always been that it actually might not lower the probability at all because people may get cocky and assume the car will save them if they do something stupid. When in fact, if they are determined to drive stupidly, they are eventually going to surpass the limits of the DSC as well.

 

I'll just be honest, I wish I could have had the sport package but I too think the 8 is such a great handling car and so well balanced that DSC is not a "have to" option. BUT...it does help those who push the car too much...I use the progressive push method to learn the limits of the car and mine.

Also, yes...the 8 (as I got it) for $25K is a heck of s deal. But I'm greddy, I wish they could sell it for 21K...lol

 

Brandon, I'd agree but life is full of surprises. Most accidents happen rather unexpectedly. It could be an evasive maneuver that demands the cars limits. An experienced driver shouldn’t be cocky, for that matter, an experienced driver should never see the light come on because when the tires loose traction you are too close to the edge on a public road. So I guess it is a moot point to argue whether or not an experienced driver on a public road would need it.

The question was would you rather have it or not?

 

Sure I'd like to have it. But I like that I have an extra $1200 in the bank though, hehe. I gotta make sacrifices somewhere. :p (I didn't want to spend over $25K) So it was a calculated risk to not get it. My only point is I don't think it's a cure for poor judgment.