And some aren't here who might have been. More Americans have died in automobile accidents than in wars.

Not everyone needs DSC, as not everyone needs a seatbelt, or airbags, but if you do find yourself in certain cercumstances, they could save your life.

 

Yes very sad statistics. Wars are such a waste.

What we need is decent driver education. DSC is not making people better drivers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was instilling a false sense of security in some drivers. It is good for those who do not posses the skills to handle their cars. But a bit more driver training would be better IMO.

 

I agree with you on driver education. However, I believe that DSC can help any level of driver. I would bet that if you hit black ice at 70 mph you would have a better chance of recovering with DSC than without it.

I found this interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-hHWSQhKuc

 

Thanks for your insightful comments. I guess I'm not the kind of driver that'll need LSD, and I erred on the side of caution. I'm sure I'm going to love driving the MCS (especially after a 92 pick-up!).

 

that is a pretty cool video

in post 21, says understeer is safer..it is considered better to be in an understeer situation rather than in an oversteer situation because most drivers are non-expert (me) and if you are losing control in a skid the immediate reflex is to let up on the gas which if in an understeer situation will increase grip in the front which will correct some of ther understeer and help regain control, whereas letting up in an oversteer will increase loss of control.....at least this is what non-expert me thinks

 

I'll never know. My choice was to not buy it. I'll rely on my skills for now. Someday when MINI puts a higher end stability control system on than what is currently available I may buy it. Or when it's forced on me by big brother, which will happen in a few years.

 

LSD is tops for me

 

I choose beer over LSD any day...

 

Seeing as how my last fun car had no Power Steering, no Power Brakes, no ABS, and no Traction Control, I choose the LSD. No need for DSC.

 

I chose LSD, and always switch the ASC off, as I don't want the car to sacrifice my life to save its tires.

I REALLY don't like it when the truck is coming at me and the car decides to take my foot off the gas.

 

^ +1

I have an Ian Cull Auto Up Circuit with track mode. My ASC is off by default now.

 

... which begs the question: what was your last fun car?????

 

I have a MCS without LSD, I am just a daily commute driver and never thought much to do autocross. It's a good option for ppl who race, but for me I rather spend it on other options to make the car look better! maybe like a body kit or the driving lamps.

 

You think the wife really wants to become that transparent? That's fine if you're just trying to pull forward in a relatively straight line through an intersection (I turn mine off too for those situations)... but tell me...

What are you going to do when the roads are slick, you hit an unexpected patch of ice or oil, or suddenly swerve to avoid a deer or something, and the car starts spinning out of control? Are you going to start braking one wheel at a time to get back on course? Oh wait... you can't do that? Neither can I. DSC can, and all humans can't.

Sure, you can talk up how you've had much experience handling cars in slide conditions, that you're "trained", or you are better than most drivers... and that may well be true... but it still doesn't change the fact that some of DSC's capabilities exceed yours - unless you plan on installing 3 additional brake pedals (one for each wheel) and training yourself to know which one(s) to use in a split-second.

Don't pigeon-hole good DSC technology simply because there are some troublesome behaviors caused by underlying ASC technology, which comes standard on every MINI manufactured today anyhow.

It's irresponsible to recommend shunning good safety technology to would-be buyers simply because you don't appreciate or understand all of the benefits.

To me, telling everyone "don't buy DSC, it's not worth it" is as much a bad recommendation as "don't buy a car with airbags". No, I'm not kidding... I'd even go so far as to say that DSC is more important because it's active safety technology (avoid the accident altogether) instead of passive safety technology (damage control when accident is already going to occur).

You and your "superior" driving skills may be OK. Whatever. Don't go making bad recommendations for all other drivers based upon your own perception of your own abilities.

This thread asked about DSC, not ASC. Please limit your responses to relevant concerns.

 

'tis in the Sig. Ariel Atom.

For those that say you absolutely *need* DSC... well... when it's Icy, slow down. If it's snowy, slow down. Sure, technology is nice... but not mandatory for one to stay safe.

 

My response earlier in this thread did address the OP's question.

Where did I recommend the OP not get DSC?? Hmmm???


Lots of folks love DSC. That's great for them. Some even feel it is a suitable substitute for driving skills. I don't fall into that camp.

I'm guessing some folks are wondering how I haven't been killed yet. Driving DSC-less like I do. Just chalk it up to luck if you want.

Man aren't these DCS threads fun?

 

For my last car which was a RWD, the DSC saved me many times and all BMW's have that. But for a FWD, it is an option because of the obvious reasons. Like Edge said, it is like an airbag - you might or might not need it. In 18 years of driving, I have never needed an airbag but I feel better with it in my car.

 

Oops. Corrected.

Nice post.

Some folk are such skilled drivers that deer don't jump out in front of them, SUVs never cut them off, cars in front of them never get flat tires and lose control, items never fall off of trucks, black ice does not form, and they can react within a few milliseconds while normal mortals take about a second.

 

Yea, and slow down to 25 when driving through country that has deer. Don't drive on roads that have other drivers on them.

As I said earlier in this thread, you don't need DSC, as you don't need seatbelts or airbags, if you are lucky. When your luck runs out, these items can be useful.

 

Why do you insist that everyone needs what you feel you do? You like DSC & that's great for you. I do not like it & that is my great for me. Live & let live eh?.

 

My vote would be DSC.Q

 

I really appreciate reading everyone's input on this question. I didn't mean to be a trouble maker

Some decisions about the MCS were easy for me to make - mainly the aesthetics, but others were clearly related to performance and safety. I am certainly NOT a performance driver, but I do try to be an aware and conscious driver, and I wanted to be able to commune with my car

I imagined that I would want to experiment a bit with the ko-kart handling/driving, and challenge myself a bit on taking the corners. Please understand that I'm just a wee girlie, and challenge myself doesn't mean track, it just means going a bit faster and seeing what the drive is like - you know, trying the car a bit Given my lack of experience, I thought the DSC might come in handy.

I realize I have a lot to learn, and the MINI has inspired me to want more knowledge about how some of the performance options actually work, and what they do for you as a driver. (my husband's a bit shocked at this obsession!).

As I've read on, I'm coming to the opinion that having a limited budget, given the kind of driver I am, then DSC was right. But...if I had to do it over, for $500, I think I'd also get the LSD

Of course, I now have a question about torque steer - see a new post

 

starting to repeat this one: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=122668

DSC is just a personal decision. One that I will start to get annoyed with turning off all the time once the new laws take effect. I just prefer the car actually respond to my inputs all the time.

 

LSD is not just a performance item. In any condition of reduced traction; water, snow, ice, sand, paint stripes, oil, etc. etc. the LSD will help get the torque to the ground and too the wheels with traction. The factory LSD is not a "locking" differential. It can only transfer a 25% torque differential between the front wheels. This does not sound like much but it is noticable and welcome.

Any MINI owner that lives in the "snow belt" would benefit from a LSD. As Surlycat lives in southern CA, unless she drives to the mountains, I do not think she would need the LSD and has spent her money wisely on the DSC.

For myself, I do live in the "snow belt" and I chose to have both the LSD and DSC. One of the things that I learned after receiving my '06 MCS is that the DSC threshold, at least the traction control portion, has been modified with the addition of the LSD when compared with my previous '02 MCS that only had the DSC. I find that the DSC, traction control portion, activates much less frequently on my '06 MCS. The dynamic portion seems to be about the same with and without the LSD.

All I know is that if I forget to turn off the DSC before I do an Auto-X it is slow.

 

Dude, with the TC off the r56 spins front wheels like mad at track.