Does it make the car safer during unexpected or surprise conditions/happenings like a car spinning out in front of you? Absolutely yes.

Worth the money? For me' date=' yes, for someone else, maybe no - that's a choice [/quote']Sadly it's not even an option on all models - I believe that the vRS is the only Fabia where you can specify ESP, for instance.

I think that's where What Car are coming from in their campaign (if you agree ESP should be standard fitment on all cars, you can send a "vote" email from their webpage).

It's a shame you cannot get it on the non-vRS models. With time and legislation it will be(come) standard, like ABS and seatbelts for example.

The problem is cost - there are extra sensors and actuators, plus it makes things more complex again, so R&D and so forth comes into it.

Dunno about how to 'test' ESP in the same way as ABS. In the case of ABS it is a bit easier, but car handling varies so wildly how can you compare it?

Have a feeling they'll find a way

How do I know if my car has ESP?

I bought mine second hand, and the only list of options is a bunch codes on a sticker.

(by the way where can I find a translation for those codes)

Button will say 'ESP' rather than 'ASR' assuming no-one has replaced it from factory

Just watched the vids, pretty good stuff.

It's a pity VAG think Skoda drivers are expendable and make it an option, other group cars have it as standard.

Still with God knows how long to wait for my new car, I can enjoy ESP in the Passat.

Taz

ESP is great, but those drivers in the videos don't look very competent. Oversell?

not many people on the roads are competent drivers, so it is a very fair test.

ASR and ESP cannot be compared against each other.

I'd say they should sell it as standard. I paid £500 for this option on my Fabia VRS as I knew what it could do and how effective it was. People don't buy it as they don't know what it is and if they do know what it is and don't want to pay £500 then they are very naive. £500 to save your life and others in the car and other road users....i can't see how anyone would say no to it. I mean £12k for a car... whats another £500...just buy it!.

Great tests what car did and they clearly showed the eeffectivness of ESP and how people are unaware of it. I think a big campaign to help the awareness of ESP and also trying to get Manufacturers to throw it in as standard is great!

to What Car!

Have it as standard on the octavia.... on my golf theres only ABS... not even ASR!!! which i think is wrong for a 1.9TDI.... quite a fast hefty car.

I'm still to this day shocked at how rubbish the brakes were that were on my 1.2 Fabia. My opinion is yes car manufactures save money on trim etc. but please don't save money on safety features.

Should all be as standard... on all models, good brakes and the most possible safety features... be it ESP (over ASR if available), ASR or whatever they have.