Have you set off your ESP yet?

[mdfortwoguy]

I've heard in a few of the reviews that the ESP is rather abrupt when it activates, and it really snaps the smart back into line. I've experienced the Mercedes product in the larger S class, where you can tell it is working, but it is nowhere near abrupt or violent... probably due to the sheer mass of the vehicle.

I set mine off a couple of times going over the speed humps in my old apartment complex - but it was just enough to make the light flash on the dash.

Yesterday evening, I was pulling out of my parking lot at work in the evening, and there was noone around and it was raining. I decided to see what it felt like (partly because I wanted to see how intrusive it was, and partly to see what it felt like so I could tell if it were ever coming on without looking at the dash... something I'd recommend if you have never felt it).

I pulled out of the lot, and making a right hand turn I punched the accelerator. The back end started to snap around in a fishtail, and after I got maybe 5 degrees off of my intended course, I felt a shudder, lost a bit of power, and the car snapped right back straight in the lane and then continued accelerating. It was nowhere near abrupt or violent, but it definitely got me straight in the lane and made the car behave. I'm definitely happy with how it performs... I'm curious to see what this winter looks like (although my smart will probably not see much snow as the VUE is a monster in the snow/ice).

Have any of you had it activate yet... either purposely or in an accident avoidance situation?

[EinsteinsMommy]

Originally Posted by mdfortwoguy

I've heard in a few of the reviews that the ESP is rather abrupt when it activates, and it really snaps the smart back into line. I've experienced the Mercedes product in the larger S class, where you can tell it is working, but it is nowhere near abrupt or violent... probably due to the sheer mass of the vehicle.

I set mine off a couple of times going over the speed humps in my old apartment complex - but it was just enough to make the light flash on the dash.

Yesterday evening, I was pulling out of my parking lot at work in the evening, and there was noone around and it was raining. I decided to see what it felt like (partly because I wanted to see how intrusive it was, and partly to see what it felt like so I could tell if it were ever coming on without looking at the dash... something I'd recommend if you have never felt it).

I pulled out of the lot, and making a right hand turn I punched the accelerator. The back end started to snap around in a fishtail, and after I got maybe 5 degrees off of my intended course, I felt a shudder, lost a bit of power, and the car snapped right back straight in the lane and then continued accelerating. It was nowhere near abrupt or violent, but it definitely got me straight in the lane and made the car behave. I'm definitely happy with how it performs... I'm curious to see what this winter looks like (although my smart will probably not see much snow as the VUE is a monster in the snow/ice).

Have any of you had it activate yet... either purposely or in an accident avoidance situation?

Mine activated on the day I brought him home, it was raining really hard and blowing hard and I hit a puddle and started to hydroplane and just as you described I lost a little power and he got right back in line and held tight the rest of the way home.

[MrVvrroomm]

I activated the stability program on the demo car several times. I haven't done it yet on mine.

[SuperGeek]

Yep. Rain alone isn't enough, but I've set off my ESP a couple times while launching into a gravel driveway... I barely noticed a difference but suddenly regained control. But my favorite episode was the last time...


In Mississippi they have something called Yazoo Clay. In Southwest MS there's a lot of it, especially at the in-laws house... 5 miles from the nearest paved road. After one good rainstorm, I turned the corner on this unpaved road and saw muddy ruts four inches deep from a pickup that had obviously had trouble with traction. I knew I was in trouble. I nudged the gas to get through it, and those little tires spun for about 10 seconds while the ESP light flashed and the computer ran through its defense program. I don't know how, but it found traction on wet clay and slowly went forward to dry land. I think it upshifted and reduced engine power. Nibbler conquered wet Yazoo Clay. I was so proud.