my xb2 is the first car ive driven/owned that has had both features and i must say it has saved my butt quite a few times already this winter!!

what does everyone else thing with it being winter time???

 

from my experience, i keep the gear in 2nd during low speed rather than starting on the 1st gear. gives lesser torque so it doesnt slip that much

 

I agree, they are both awesome features to have for winter driving. Even if you are experienced with driving in ice and snow, having traction and stability control add that extra layer of safety that may just save your life or at least help you avoid an accident.

 

i dig it

 

better safe than sorry

 

I'm planning on testing out the stability control when I go up to the mountains in a week or two

 

Yeah, its like abs for the gas petal. Love em both, now when braking or accelerting, I can stomp, stay on the petal and steer.

 

ive also noticed that it takes a lot to lock up the brakes, the brake pedal isnt as touchy as the 2004 rav4 ive driven. *which is a good thing*

 

Thats something I have never tested or had to. Those 4 wheel disks are very grippie. Best featured car ever!!!

 

They are nice features to have on the car but the 2nd best feature is the ability to turn them off. There have been a number of times that I just simply turn off the trac and VSC because it just gets in the way.

I live in the middle of nowhere and there are plenty of times when spinning the tires is more helpful then bogging down the car. I've had a few instances where I've been in 2nd gear and the car has come to almost a complete stop because of traction control.

Usually when I turn it off, I'm at slow speed and just hit the button while moving. When you do that, you only turn off the trac and not the VSC. The system automaticaly turns back on once you reach 34 mph.

Sometimes I stop the car completely so that I can turn off both systems, TRAC and VSC. When you do this, the two systems don't turn back on unless you manaually turn them on or you shut the car off and when you turn it back on, the car defaults them to the on position.

Great tools to have at your disposal. Just nice tobe able to disable them once on a while.

P.S. I have a 5 speed box if that makes a difference to anyone here.

 

It's already saved my butt a couple of times; I try to keep my distance and watch my speed, but looky-loos around traffic accidents love to stomp their breaks on ice, rather than gently slowing around here. >

 

Sure makes drifting a way lot easier. The new gen needs awd and hill assent/decent assist.

 

I'm sure they work well when needed but I really don't like when I'm trying to pull out in 5:00 traffic and it cuts power. I try not to cut it too close but I estimate my chances of pulling out without causing an accident based on the full potential of the car. I think the traction control cuts way too much power way to early. I know I can turn it off but sometimes I don't think about it in advance.

 

I love it for that very reason, it cuts power and straighten the car out. I drove it like I stole it black Friday and I just stomped and steered where I wanted to go and the car did the rest. I cant see unless you need to drift that traction or anti skid could hender agressive movements. Keep in mind squealing tires in most states is considered reckless driving.

 

I'm sure that's fine on snow and ice but when the roads are clear I don't need the car cutting the power down to granny speed.

I have no interest in squeeling tires. That's a waste of expensive rubber.

 

??? I ripped through wva at 70-80 mph and not that I watch the dash board, I do not recall either light flickering meaning either system kicked in. Usually the knock system will throttle back the timing and injector pulse width if it senses a knock retarding power. When traction control does it, its from sensing wheel spin and in my experience, you chirp before it kicks in. The system allows you to drift slightly or spin, then it corrects itself.

Maybe they programmed it differently between 08 and 09?

 

newb alert

is that the button on the lower LH side with the little car skidding out in it?

what does it do? is it alway on or off?. When is it appropiate to press it?

Sorry for the Q's...I will go read the manual when my wife gets home, but in the meantime....?

 

Yes.

Until your wife gets home with the manual:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=238823
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=209957


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