It saved my life in 2004 and imo, should be standard on every car. It certainly gives you a fighting chance of keeping control of the car.

A fighting chance that could be gleaned from taking further driver and car control training?

Chris

Interesting point. Not sure if any training prepares you in the event of a crash.

When I had mine, the off side rear tyre had a blow out, threw me into the central reservation, then threw me back into the road where I was heading towards the back wheels of a lorry but along with the ESP and I guess, quick reactions, I managed to steer the car back to the right before the car skidded off the road behind the lorry.

For me, if ESP had not been on, I would have gone straight under the lorries wheels, no doubt.

And that, was at a speed of just 65 mph in the wet.

I dunno, maybe it's just me, but why pay for a safety feature and then decide not to use it (if you don't use it on public roads) as it could not only be your own life you are dicing with.

See, this is what having children does for you, makes you sensible ;-)

Unless there is a clause that says you must drive with it on at all times, then they can't refuse. Anyway they wouldn't know it was off, once you crash and the ignition is off then there's no way to tell. :P

Yeah, very valid points. Maybe the option shouldn't be there if ESP is fitted.

Interesting point. Not sure if any training prepares you in the event of a crash.

A skid pan day will teach you how to control the car in a variety of situations and they can simulate an unexpected blow out too

Chris

A skid pan day will teach you how to control the car in a variety of situations and they can simulate an unexpected blow out too

Chris

Hey I am living proof (just) that sometimes, instinct (and luck) can help!

How do you go about buying a skid pan session and training as it is something i wanted to do now for many years.

they do the whole skidpan thing at goodwood race circuit

How do you go about buying a skid pan session and training as it is something i wanted to do now for many years.

Available at most race circuits - Castle Combe has one, or just Google and find a centre near you. It may be worth running as a Briskoda event to keep costs down?

Chris

What sort of costs are you looking at approximately then?

If it was a brisky event you could do it and a bbq (in the rain of course). I'd be interested assuming i have the cash in the bank to pay my way.

I never rely on ESP to get my through a roundabout at silly speeds...... honest

Seriously though, why would you want to turn it off on the road?

So here's a question... since ASR and ABS are standard on the vRS, and ESP is an option which uses the ABS sensors and the brakes, what exactly does Skoda add (apart from a differently-labelled button)? Could ESP be activated via VAG COM, and if not, why not?

Audi spents hundreds of thousands of pounds adding ESP to TT's afetr the first few were found to be unstable at speed.

So the simple asnwer is no, you cannot retro-fit ESP.

Audi spents hundreds of thousands of pounds adding ESP to TT's afetr the first few were found to be unstable at speed.

Still cheaper than designing the car properly though! Good old electronics

Chris

Ah... google to the rescue.

Apparently ESP requires extra sensors like a steering wheel angle sensor, a low-g sensor and a yaw-rate sensor, and with some jiggery-pokery linking those to the ABS and ASP, you get ESP. So the software should already be on the ECU, but the hardware isn't on the car and so you can't retro-fit.

So Goochie, you're right.

Its got some sort of electronic limited slip diff thingy on it too!!