Just seen a Volvo advert for the new XC60 with “Collision Warning and Auto Brake”.
Is it me or is that a step too far?
I’ve had a whinge about ESP before, and now own a car with it. For the most part, it keeps itself out of the way (but can be a right pain in the arse on snow, or even on a damp road if you’re trying to get away fast) unless you get the car well out of shape- and the same could be said for ABS. At least ESP can be turned off when it gets in the way.
But braking for you? Isn’t that the drivers job?
Up until recently I had a Honda CRV Diesel, which is capable of spinning the front wheels on a dry road without dumping the clutch, just lots of right foot and when the turbo kicked in all hell breaks loose,
Just after I got the car, the wife calls me at work, slightly worried there was something wrong with the car, as on many occasions during the day she has pulled away from a set of lights or other such junction and a yellow light kept flashing on the dash board….
Yep you’ve guessed it, the traction control /ESP warning light……
i have heard similar stories of the diesel powered honda saloons too, but without the fake wheel drive system to put some traction down elsewhere. One of my work colleagues nearly got hit when the ESP basically shut down the engine due to lose of traction while pulling out of a junction, which involved driving over a wet manhole cover.
and lets not talk about de-skilling drivers, we already have a national of 30 somethings that don’t know how to drive in snow cause we only get it once every 10 years, we will soon have a nation of tailgaters, who think the “computer” will sort it out….
Well, the Fabia had a very torquey diesel, with the feature of a massive wodge of torque coming in at 1900 rpm, like many diesels. That would trigger the ASR (no ESP on this), kill the power a bit, but not too badly- it wasn’t that intrusive.
The Leon is annoying rather than dangerous. As it’s auto (well, mostly), a damp road experience of nailing the throttle tends to result in moving, then the ESP light coming on, followed by rapid hunting between 1st & second (this is DSG, so the changes can be very quick), and eventually getting away. Trun the ESP off, and you get a bit of wheelspin, but away it goes, fast. Snow was terrible though- the car would hardly move until it was turned off. I don’t thing 225-width tyres help, especially the pikey bloody things it has on- they will be replaced soon.
And yes, the de-skilling is true. I follow a few car forums, and there’s plenty of people who, in the ice and wet of the last winter, stood on the brakes, and said ‘i just got this graunching noise and didn’t stop’ because they thing the ABS will save them. Often the same people will bend their Fabia vRS (a popular car for the young ones as it’s quite quick and cheap to insure) because they go into a corner too quick and it didn’t go around it.
Right, firstly, this is unfair! You knew if you baited me with the word “Volvo”, I would have to comment.
Secondly, I love the way both driver (loosely used title) and passenger are looking everywhere but on the road in the advert…..LIKE THIS IS A NEW FUCKING FEATURE OF VOLVO OWBERSHIP. This has been a feature of Volvo drivers (loosely used title) since the 244dl.
Thirdly, with all the GPS/phone tech about, why not get the car to send an automatic message to the local police everytime the “safety feature” is activated so that the blind fuckwit can be done for undue care and attention. Revenue generation and gets the twats off the road.
Lastly but not leastly. Stick a 300mm sharpened steel spike in the centre of the steering wheel, preferably in line with the volvo driver’s heart. That should focus their attention and stop them looking at an elephant spurting hot liquid all over their windscreen.
*rant off*