Jason Chen

A couple of days ago I opened up my TT for the first time after the ESP retrofit.

It was about 6:30 Sunday morning. Highway virtually empty.

The place where the ESP turned on was a turn is a decline right turn. The light come on when I was about 120mph. I did this turn a couple of times at this kind of speed before, only this time, my tires were getting low and I now have ESP.

The thing that popped into my head was, ESP is engaging my brakes and I'm going to lose control over my car(Read: No braking in a fast turn) and fishtail into a wall or do cartwheels on the highway. None of that happened. Matter of fact, I felt nothing. The light turned off after the turn.

Did ESP saved me from a potentially killing myself? If the speeds were faster or a different turn, would the scenario be different? Who knows.

smallTTs

your decision to go that fast in that area if ESP computer detected slip which you didn't.

No offense, but the ESP may be a better at-the-limit "driver" than you are.

I would treat that ESP light as a gentle reminder.
"No braking in a fast turn" tells me you could benefit from a one-day (minimum) high performance driving school.

BTW: ESP brakes individual wheels as necessary, which is something you can't do.

My $.02.

Levent

I think ESP saved you. You know it is a very different act to break in the corner as you break all the wheels together. But ESP breaks only if you loose grip and only to the wheels needed. Hope I know correct. BesTT.

Jason Chen

You simply can not use your brakes when your at that speed and in a wide turn.
I have been on a track enough times to know you can't take your foot off the accel. in any kind of turn, let alone use your brakes.

I know at speeds at 40mph-50mph, ESP helps, but does it help at 120+?

Gnowknayme

When ESP uses the brakes, it brakes one wheel at a time...The one that needs brakes to keep you from fishtailing, etc. Now, I haven't taken any turns at 120mph, but I've gone out in the snow to learn what ESP does and how the car will react to different situations where ESP would come on. If I'm driving near the limit of traction and start to actually lose traction, ESP always brings the car back under control. If you ever have an opportunity to take your ESP-equipped car to an empty parking lot, I would highly recommend that you do it. Learn what the car is going to do in a slide so it doesn't catch you by surprise when it corrects itself.

ESP may not have "saved" you in your situation, but it certainly didn't try to kill you. Heh.

grishfish

Maybe you should redo the test at higher and higher speeds until you do cartwheel your TT. Just try and not take out anybody else in the process.
Sorry I just can't relate here because no matter how you slice it, you can't do those speeds safely on a public road (too many unknown variables).

smallTTs

in my opinion, the "judgment" part of the performance schools you attended didn't take.
I'm not trying to p*** you off, but I am concerned for your butt. Ego can be deadly.

You appear to be the reason Mk II and ESP was added by Audi.

Drive smart...stay around the forum.

NexxTT

drive smart....stick around the forum. :-)

Jason Chen

But when there is a open road and not a soul in sight.... Just couldn't resist. I wasn't testing my ESP, just stretching my legs.

jdan

This is the hazard of electronics. We can get in over your head so easily. We must still think and drive appropriate for the conditions, road and skills.

Please do stay alive!!