1st Test Snow driving with VDIM vs. AWD VSC
02-28-05, 11:30 AM
#16
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by Car Freak
With all this sophisticated technology how would someone know if something isn't working correctly? Now I'm not talking about the radio, that would be obvious that it wasn't working. But say a part of the VDIM, how would you really know if something was wrong or not working correctly, would you have to wait until you get into an accident? Anyone ever think that cars are becoming too advanced? I don't know maybe this doesn't make sense. 
When you turn your key on, all of those indicator lights are telling you the testing electronics is working. If VDIM doesn't test out correctly after you start the vehicle, the light would remain on and perhaps during those conditions, other systems like ABS only would take over.
As I said, it's a lot easier when electronics are involved because many routines can be written to bypass, and redundant mechanical systems are connected together electronically.
02-28-05, 11:49 AM
#17
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
No Traction Control "Sag" anymore with VDIM
Originally Posted by looknow12
Rockville,
On the GS430 w/VDIM, do you notice any difference in the abruptness of the traction control cutting power? My 2000 GS400 (even my GX470 will do this, not as bad though) would abruptly cut power when traction was lost making it very slow to accelerate. I wondered if the VDIM computer helps the traction control system as well.
In my mind, there's no reason power cannot be dynamically reduced to the slipping rear wheel and then again quickly released when traction has returned. We need faster responses from the traction control CU.
On the GS430 w/VDIM, do you notice any difference in the abruptness of the traction control cutting power? My 2000 GS400 (even my GX470 will do this, not as bad though) would abruptly cut power when traction was lost making it very slow to accelerate. I wondered if the VDIM computer helps the traction control system as well.
In my mind, there's no reason power cannot be dynamically reduced to the slipping rear wheel and then again quickly released when traction has returned. We need faster responses from the traction control CU.
Last edited by Rockville; 02-28-05 at 07:28 PM.
02-28-05, 12:16 PM
#18
Instructor
Originally Posted by Car Freak
But say a part of the VDIM, how would you really know if something was wrong or not working correctly, would you have to wait until you get into an accident? .
02-28-05, 12:40 PM
#19
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Blizzaks, Hakepelitas, Gslaveds etc.
Originally Posted by Itsuki_23
Any of you guys use snow tires? For example Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50. There is huge diffrence in grip compared to all-season tires, even with AWD.
02-28-05, 01:25 PM
#20
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by Rockville
Our dealership is on a busy six lane divided road that the posted speed is a joke. If you make a right turn on red you will have trucks and cars bearing down on you at 50MPH plus. The traction control can kick on and the power will "sag" and you are left holding the bag helplessly. The VDIM won't even let the wheel spin much if traction is a problem. It is snowing right now and I'm going to wait for it to stick and try out the VDIM some more. It is addictive. It reacts early and smoothly to abrupt inputs whether throttle or steering. I think is an equivalent safety advance as ABS which freed us from pumping our brakes manually. You don't get that out of control feeling in slick conditions that we did on the Gen. 2 GS430. This is all while comparing a 17" wheel on the Gen.2 with an 18" std. run flat on the Gen. 3. Put some studs on it and it would be fun to drive on a frozen lake....
02-28-05, 01:34 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by XeroK00L
Actually, quite the contrary. VDIM is intended to allow you to push the car to its limits at all times, limit being the boundary in which the car can perform without losing stability though.
Your complaint should be that the VDIM stops you from pushing the car beyond its limits.
Your complaint should be that the VDIM stops you from pushing the car beyond its limits.
I'm pretty sure VDIM was designed for average drivers and experienced drivers alike to drive safely under any conditions.
If Lexus does go through with their performance arm, I wonder if they will take off electronic aids like VDIM to allow for more spirited driving
, kind of what BMW does with their M cars.
02-28-05, 08:21 PM
#22
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
More Snow to Play with the VDIM
The flakes were coming down in bigger and bigger sizes. I decided it was time the take the Batmobile out of the cave one more time. I volunteered to take some mail to our Audi store down the Pike. On the way back I detoured to the local High School parking lot. It had about 3 inches of fresh pow and I decided to make fresh tracks. I delicately turned onto the lot and felt under complete control as I entered the widest section of the lot. I drove toward the end and made a full lock left turn. The GS430 turned like a figure skater and suddenly I found myself traveling the other direction. That was easy. I approached the other end and did it again and then kept it locked and I started tracing a tight 30 foot circle. It was actually a smaller circle than I could have made on dry pavement because whenever the GS was reluctant to finish the circle the VDIM would brake the rear wheels and tighten the arc. I started to get a little dizzy after a while. I let it make a few faster passes and just turned wherever and whenever I chose. For the finale I started tracing figure eights. They were nicely shaped and I almost wish there had been judges there to score them. If there had been enough space I could have signed my name at the bottom. I haven't had that much fun since doing handbrake turns in the snow with my Mini Cooper when I was a teenager. I turned off the traction control and went back for another pass and the rear wheels would spin whenever I gave it throttle but the VDIM still made the turns for me. Traction on and Traction Off the VDIM never leaves your side. On the way back I had to test the acceleration and I was taking off quickly at the Green lights and then braking and waiting for the traffic and taking off again etc. I could detect only the slightest wavering on steady acceleration but I was now used to the sensation. I turned back into the store and put her back into the cave for the night.
Last edited by Rockville; 02-28-05 at 08:28 PM.
02-28-05, 09:03 PM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Wow...sounds like VDIM is an even better solution than AWD as far as safety goes. As someone else pointed out, AWD is only useful for better traction when the throttle is applied, whereas VDIM helps not only with traction but with steering and braking as well. This technology is just groundbreaking, totally awesome.
03-01-05, 05:47 AM
#25
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by Rockville
The flakes were coming down in bigger and bigger sizes. I decided it was time the take the Batmobile out of the cave one more time. I volunteered to take some mail to our Audi store down the Pike. On the way back I detoured to the local High School parking lot. It had about 3 inches of fresh pow and I decided to make fresh tracks. I delicately turned onto the lot and felt under complete control as I entered the widest section of the lot. I drove toward the end and made a full lock left turn. The GS430 turned like a figure skater and suddenly I found myself traveling the other direction. That was easy. I approached the other end and did it again and then kept it locked and I started tracing a tight 30 foot circle. It was actually a smaller circle than I could have made on dry pavement because whenever the GS was reluctant to finish the circle the VDIM would brake the rear wheels and tighten the arc. I started to get a little dizzy after a while. I let it make a few faster passes and just turned wherever and whenever I chose. For the finale I started tracing figure eights. They were nicely shaped and I almost wish there had been judges there to score them. If there had been enough space I could have signed my name at the bottom. I haven't had that much fun since doing handbrake turns in the snow with my Mini Cooper when I was a teenager. I turned off the traction control and went back for another pass and the rear wheels would spin whenever I gave it throttle but the VDIM still made the turns for me. Traction on and Traction Off the VDIM never leaves your side. On the way back I had to test the acceleration and I was taking off quickly at the Green lights and then braking and waiting for the traffic and taking off again etc. I could detect only the slightest wavering on steady acceleration but I was now used to the sensation. I turned back into the store and put her back into the cave for the night.
03-01-05, 06:30 AM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
No more hesitation with VDIM and Trac
I understand completely what you are describing. The "drive by wire" was interupted by the Trac and it stuttered. The new VDIM is so smooth you might not perceive its intervention except for the small amber car icon at the top of the instruments that has wavy tracks under it. VDIM rules.
03-02-05, 03:06 AM
#27
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by Rockville
I understand completely what you are describing. The "drive by wire" was interupted by the Trac and it stuttered. The new VDIM is so smooth you might not perceive its intervention except for the small amber car icon at the top of the instruments that has wavy tracks under it. VDIM rules.
Coolio.
03-02-05, 09:10 AM
#28
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Rockville at your service
Ok, funning thing happened while I was watching tv with my wife. I received a phone call. It was Rockville..."I'm outside your house, want to take the GS300 AWD out to see how it does in the snow?"... I didn't have to think about it, of course I replied....
At this point, the snow was still comming down, the ground had a few inches of snow, and the roads were beginning to ice up. I drove the car around the neighborhood and out to a local school parking lot. We tried the tight circle with the pedal down and no breaking, other than what the car did by itself to keep it from slipping. Absolutely amazing. Rockville is right, the control on the AWD is not an immediate kick in, it will let you get into more trouble before it helps you out. But, in all a great drive and if your not trying to go wild, it is extremely stable.
When you grow up with a lot of snow, as I did, the hard thing to remember during this kind of test drive is NOT to react. The point is to test the car, not yourself. I found myself trying to correct for sliding in the parking lot, and had to back off and let the car show me what it knew how to do.
An excellent experience.....it's so nice when someone knows what they are talking about, takes great pride in learning their product and the competition and in addition focuses on the customer and has fun while doing it all.
At this point, the snow was still comming down, the ground had a few inches of snow, and the roads were beginning to ice up. I drove the car around the neighborhood and out to a local school parking lot. We tried the tight circle with the pedal down and no breaking, other than what the car did by itself to keep it from slipping. Absolutely amazing. Rockville is right, the control on the AWD is not an immediate kick in, it will let you get into more trouble before it helps you out. But, in all a great drive and if your not trying to go wild, it is extremely stable.
When you grow up with a lot of snow, as I did, the hard thing to remember during this kind of test drive is NOT to react. The point is to test the car, not yourself. I found myself trying to correct for sliding in the parking lot, and had to back off and let the car show me what it knew how to do.
An excellent experience.....it's so nice when someone knows what they are talking about, takes great pride in learning their product and the competition and in addition focuses on the customer and has fun while doing it all.
04-03-05, 11:16 AM
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by Fallsgrove
Ok, funning thing happened while I was watching tv with my wife. I received a phone call. It was Rockville..."I'm outside your house, want to take the GS300 AWD out to see how it does in the snow?"... I didn't have to think about it, of course I replied....
At this point, the snow was still comming down, the ground had a few inches of snow, and the roads were beginning to ice up. I drove the car around the neighborhood and out to a local school parking lot. We tried the tight circle with the pedal down and no breaking, other than what the car did by itself to keep it from slipping. Absolutely amazing. Rockville is right, the control on the AWD is not an immediate kick in, it will let you get into more trouble before it helps you out. But, in all a great drive and if your not trying to go wild, it is extremely stable.
When you grow up with a lot of snow, as I did, the hard thing to remember during this kind of test drive is NOT to react. The point is to test the car, not yourself. I found myself trying to correct for sliding in the parking lot, and had to back off and let the car show me what it knew how to do.
An excellent experience.....it's so nice when someone knows what they are talking about, takes great pride in learning their product and the competition and in addition focuses on the customer and has fun while doing it all.
At this point, the snow was still comming down, the ground had a few inches of snow, and the roads were beginning to ice up. I drove the car around the neighborhood and out to a local school parking lot. We tried the tight circle with the pedal down and no breaking, other than what the car did by itself to keep it from slipping. Absolutely amazing. Rockville is right, the control on the AWD is not an immediate kick in, it will let you get into more trouble before it helps you out. But, in all a great drive and if your not trying to go wild, it is extremely stable.
When you grow up with a lot of snow, as I did, the hard thing to remember during this kind of test drive is NOT to react. The point is to test the car, not yourself. I found myself trying to correct for sliding in the parking lot, and had to back off and let the car show me what it knew how to do.
An excellent experience.....it's so nice when someone knows what they are talking about, takes great pride in learning their product and the competition and in addition focuses on the customer and has fun while doing it all.
Great story
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