Is Scion serious? The tC is an otherwise an awesome car, but I'm not going to be purchasing it without some sort of traction control system. Yes -- I know the tC has ABS and airbags, but don't you all feel a bit unsafe without a traction control safety feature?

 

No, not really. I've never had it on any other car I've owned so i'm not missing anything I guess. I've had a 1986 Ford Escort, a 1992 Saturn SC and a 1999 Chrysler Sebring all with no traction control.

 

When would you be using traction control?

 

I dont know, i mean its deffinately a personal thing. I HATE traction control its gotten me into troble a few times. I like to be the one fully in conrtol of my wheels not have a computer decide if it should cut the power to them at some point. I know its not as big of a deal in a front wheel drive but if u are in the middle of a power slide in a rear wheel drive and the computer decides to cut one of your spinning tires the result can de devestating. just my 2 cents

 

First, think of how traction control works in a $50,000 car.

Sensors detect traction loss, apply opposite or single corner braking, adjust throttle.

Now, think of how traction control works in a $15,000 car.

Sensors detect traction loss, cut throttle.

What does that really do? It makes sure you don't roast your tires leaving a stoplight in the rain. If you're in danger of crashing, it'll protect you as much as having a condom in the glove box.

 

what does traction control do ?

 

i've turned it off in any car i've had that had it.

i think we're getting a little nit picky about the tC....people need to remember it's a 16k car

 

It doesn't even make enough power to warrant traction control. Your not going to be spinning the tires unless your being stupid. There is no such thing as stupidity control.

 

On a front wheel drive car, generally traction control keeps the driven wheels from spinning at wildly different speeds (like if you were accelerating in the rain or on gravel or uneven surfaces, or doing a burnout, or turning while accelerating and spinning the inside tire.) The way they do this (and the reason traction control is seen now on <$20k cars when it used to be only on much more expensive cars) is by using the ABS system sensors to detect wheelspin and then using the brakes to slow the spinning wheel. More advanced systems are tied into the throttle or ignition system (to retard spark.)

In most cases, it won't keep you from spinning your car into a ditch, but it could help if you hit standing water at highway speeds, or had to swerve onto a gravel shoulder or something.

 

That's yaw control you're describing. Toyota equipped the xB with that to keep it from flipping over.

 

seriously, this is getting pathetic

if you don't like the features in the car or how the car looks, feels, accelarates, etc.
don't come whining here, don't get the car, buy another car

there is no such thing as a perfect car
its a car under $20K i can't believe it does not have leather, tv's, floatation device and bulletproof body, what was toyota thinking

 

0wn3d

 

Traction control is more important on a RWD car than a FWD car, where you don't get into as many situations where you need it.

 

Traction control is needed when one can't drive! get a chauffeur, then you won't have to worry about it.

 

If you really need traction control on a 160HP Front Wheel Drive car... You shouldn't be driving a car in the first place.

 

I think you guys might be forgetting that we get snow in certain parts of the country...and while I love my Subaru, if I get another car I really, really want the traction control option.

Traction=control=safety=good. Unless you don't like/want any of those (which some of you apparently don't)

 

I agree... I see the benefit of traction control on a High performance RWD car but not a weak sauce four pot FWD. I was passenger in a Vette, where the driver pulled a U-turn full throttle in the rain and (thankfully) only slight wheelspin was made from one gear to another. I currently have a '01 Civic EX (haven't yet made the switch to xB) and I have never gotten into an traction problems with my crazy clutch-work and acceleration habits that would've been resolved with fancy computer techno stuff...

 

Silly me... didn't think about snow... black ice... sorry arcyallen.

 

Very true. Living in Florida I sometimes forget that people have to deal with very low traction conditions for a significant portion of the year. If you have snow, traction control is good. If you don't though, what is the point again?



Again that's true. My point was that traction control on a more expensive car is more sophisticated and less 'lead-foot relief'. More sophisticated systems will do more than just cut power. If a TC system just cuts power, well, I can lift my right foot and get the same result, right?

 

I dunno if trac contol helped me or not, but i was nearly killed when somebody decide to try and ram me on the highway, sending me carreening across the highway in a rather non-fun fashion. I consider myself rather lucky i saw the idiot in time and avoided being hit, only to nearly run into the damn median and then had to keep from slamming into other traffic as i fought for control. My panel lit up and alarms went all crazy till i got control. I love drunk drivers..... when their in handcuffs