ESP - On or Off?

[BennoGTi]

You peeps

So.. do you drive with ESP on or off?

Only reason I ask is, an S3 pulled beside me at traffic lights in a right hand turn only lane (Three lanes - ^ ^ > ), I knew them moment he pulled up he was going straight.. so light turned green and we both went for it

I won this mini "drag" race, but not by much, maybe a car length or two, we only hit around 90/100

After he stoped to ask what was in may car (don't think he was expecting it), we parted ways and I realised that my ESP was on

Now the car bogs down loads in 1st, 2nd and a bit in 3rd with the ESP on (When the wheels start to loose traction and spin), so I recon if I have have thought to rurn it off it would have been a very different story, and would have won by miles.

So, first of all, does ABS stay on when you turn ESP off or does ESP off kill TCP and ABS all together?

I wouldnt mind leaving the ESP off if the ABS stays on

Any thoughts?

Benno

[POLOZ]

Alright mate! Nice to read about you racing the S3 and take it was the 8L
I had the same experience with a golf mk gti 150 vs my standard gti. Yes! I did beat it
Now about the ESP, am sure you know the ESP is permanent on the Polo GTI which infact controls the TCP, ABS and EBA
so by turning the ESP off you will be dis-engaing all three. Trust me I tested it in the snow
There are few videos on the youtube of tuned polo gti with ESP off and from what looked like had more grunt and revved better.
I also tested the ESP off on a private road and boy you could hear the air being sucked in though the pd160 intake, better revs and the exhaust
sounded better. Now all this was tested on a standard gti, am not sure if it would be different for tuned ones.
But anyhow, this is what I experienced in mine so not neccessary everybody would have in theres

I would definately not recommend driving with the ESP off but yes when racing

[Gillen]

9 out of 10 times I drive with ESP off.

My Gti is at Stage 2 at the minute and if I leave ESP on it just holds the power off 1st, 2nd and 3rd, it's crap!

[POLOZ]

9 out of 10 times I drive with ESP off.

My Gti is at Stage 2 at the minute and if I leave ESP on it just holds the power off 1st, 2nd and 3rd, it's crap!

Oh! I guess for a Stage 2 it might be different as I still havent experience stage 1 but all in time . With ESP off
I certainly have experience my polo being more aggressive no doubt but I would prefer safety first
and put the ESP off during races

[kc]

Now about the ESP, am sure you know the ESP is permanent on the Polo GTI which infact controls the TCP, ABS and EBA
so by turning the ESP off you will be dis-engaing all three. Trust me I tested it in the snow

dude my ABS still works when i drive with the ESP off.. its a safety thing so i doubt it will be off!

it will lock up in the snow, cos when your ABS pump is working, the tyres have nothing to grip to! so it will slide!

[Turbomier]

i do alot of dragraces, so let me give you advice...
Golden rule: allways turn off your ESP when you realy want to "launch"
most people think it is their to not spin the wheels and let it make a good launch... not true.
it's their to not spin the wheel, period, it works via youre MAF sensor, so when the wheels spin, he let the power collapse.
so you wil get in a sort of stall.

ESP off, about 2500RPM and clutchdump, you'll be surprised how fast a GTI can be from 0-60 alone

[POLOZ]

i do alot of dragraces, so let me give you advice...
Golden rule: allways turn off your ESP when you realy want to "launch"
most people think it is their to not spin the wheels and let it make a good launch... not true.
it's their to not spin the wheel, period, it works via youre MAF sensor, so when the wheels spin, he let the power collapse.
so you wil get in a sort of stall.

ESP off, about 2500RPM and clutchdump, you'll be surprised how fast a GTI can be from 0-60 alone

I very much support Turbo's theorey and it makes an absolute sense during drag races
When I raced that golf gti at the traffic light with the ESP on, after from the no wheel spin
I feel a led down in power Even he lost but only by a cars length. Next time he shall be shocked

[POLOZ]

Now about the ESP, am sure you know the ESP is permanent on the Polo GTI which infact controls the TCP, ABS and EBA
so by turning the ESP off you will be dis-engaing all three. Trust me I tested it in the snow

dude my ABS still works when i drive with the ESP off.. its a safety thing so i doubt it will be off!

it will lock up in the snow, cos when your ABS pump is working, the tyres have nothing to grip to! so it will slide!

Hmm confusion!!! But somehow I agree with you. Now the question is does the EDL stay on? But it only comes in action at speeds of 50mph apparently.

I am not sure if I agree when you say 'it will lock up in the snow' My wheels never locked up in snow and certainly not when the ESP was ON......
ABS always kicked in no matter how bad the road was and if the tyre had any grip. Infact it prevented my car from going into a pole twice
When the ABS kicks in you can feel the brake pedal vibrating hard depanding upon the slip. I think ABS wasn't designed for locking up

[chris meardon]

ABS is too restrictive in the polo for my liking. they should have left it active when you turn the ABS on but let it kick in later.


Hitting a long swooping corner at speeds then when it tightens you tap the breaks and it throws the pedal up while vibrating it..... very offputting, I would rather have no ABS than that.

[JK]

Ive been driving with my ESP off everyday for the past 3 years.
I have REVO Stage 1, and the Seat intake.

I hate when ESP kicks in and tries to control the wheels and I cant do anything.
I prefer it if I control the wheels, besides, I like to do a tyre chirp every now and then.

[Jeff GTi]

off

it should never have been fitted to the car, its useless in standard form let alone tuned

stage 2 revo with forgefront mount intercooler, jr induction, milltek turbo back exhaust etc etc

my routine goes like this for every trip

start car
disable clifford
esp off,

only then its perfect

and as kc says when esp is off abs is still on

[LeMeph]

i was going to say esp off, abs is on. tried and tested many many times.

For launching ESP is absolutely fooking useless. Its not a traction control programme as i understand it its slightly different, to stop you from skidding or crashign rather then helping to keep you on the road in a racing or hard driving situation.

Admittedly its saved me once in the wet racing a gti6 306. Was kickign its arse untill i hit a sharp left and what i assume was diseasel on the floor as i skipped sideways towards the barrier. lost all power and i got overtook. Dont worry it was then a straight and turbo power rued the day

[BennoGTi]

Some interesting stuff!!

Looks like it will be ESP off all the way then, started getting into a bit of a routine doing it myself now

[chris meardon]

Only time ive found it usefull was in the snow. and to be fair it allowed me then to get up hills that other 2wd and some 4wd cars couldnt get up. the polo managed it with relative ease very impressed, the 6n2 gti was awful in snow and made funny traction/abs noises

[Harney]

Had a try of this tonight (not the best time with the rain but oh well) Definately pulls alot harder with it off and allows more of the power to be used. didnt realise how restrictive the system could be! will be remembering to hit the button for traffic light grand prix haha. Also in the wet the car will spin up in 1st with esp on but makes a horrible banging/clunking noise which doesn't happen when spinning with esp off.