ESP on new VW Golf

Thomas

Lads, just wondering what your opinion is on this:

I ordered a 1.4 TSI Golf, ESP was an €800 option which I didn't go for. However, when the car arrived it has the ESP off button beside the gear lever. I assumed it was just the button had ESP written on it but it represented the normal traction control or ASR in VW terms.

The other day a friend of mine, who also bought a 140 TSI this year arrived and I looked in his car and his traction control switch does actually say ASR on it.

It's not a big deal but I can't help wondering was ESP installed by mistake by the factory or do I just have the ESP switch instead of the ASR one and the switch is hooked up to the standard traction control?

By the way, we both ordered the car at the same time (from different garages) and I haven't heard of VW making it standard across the Golf range recently.

Anybody in the know on this one and what might be the case?

colm_mcm

what's the difference bewteen ESP and ASR?

Thomas

ASR / Traction Control: stops the wheels spinning when accelerating

ESP(electronic stability programme): can reduce power to, for example the left hand rear wheel to pivot the car around a corner if the computer senses understeer towards the right.

ESP is standard on Golfs in the UK, it's meant to make a car much safer. The UK VW site has a good terms explanation page - http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars/technology_glossary

E92

ASR=Traction Control. Prevents wheel spin by cutting engine power
ESP=Electronic Stability Programme. Prevents a car from skidding when you go around a corner too fast by applying the brakes to the required wheel.

colm_mcm

If you paid for ESP, would you not get ASR with it? strange to get just one. I know on Toyotas if you get TRC, you get VSC aswell.

Thomas

Yup, ESP would include ASR(which is standard on Irish models) but I didn't pay for the ESP option.

colm_mcm

surely you'd know if it was installed just by driving it?

Thomas

Jesus I'd have to get into a bad case of understeer to do that and anway I wouldn't know the feeling of the difference between traction control and ESP. I'm just wondering if anyone knew if it's standard now or if there's something on the engine or whatever that would let me know for sure.

colm_mcm

I wonder if there's different warning lights for each one?

E92

I assume that there is, in Toyotas, there is a 'VSC' light, a light which comes on if either traction control or VSC is working, and a 'TRC OFF' light, because in a Toyota only the traction Control can be turned off. If the traction Control doesnt work, then the 'TRC OFF' light comes on and stays on AFAIK. In VAG cars there are separate lights for ASR and ESP IIRC.

colm_mcm

E92 wrote:

I assume that there is, in Toyotas, there is a 'VSC' light, a light which comes on if either traction control or VSC is working, and a 'TRC OFF' light, because in a Toyota only the traction Control can be turned off. If the traction Control doesnt work, then the 'TRC OFF' light comes on and stays on AFAIK. In VAG cars there are separate lights for ASR and ESP IIRC.

So a good way to find out if it's fitted is to drive like a lunatic and watch the dash light up.

nialler

Thomas wrote:

Jesus I'd have to get into a bad case of understeer to do that and anway I wouldn't know the feeling of the difference between traction control and ESP. I'm just wondering if anyone knew if it's standard now or if there's something on the engine or whatever that would let me know for sure.

Thomas if you live in dublin drive down to Poolbeg powerstation, along the side of it the road is all sanded up, put the foot down from a standstill on the sand, be careful though, you'll know if you have ESP as your dash will light up like a christmas tree and the car will stay nice and trim, once you've established you have it, turn it off and have some fun on the sand (be aware that the footpath is still there and expensive alloys can be clattered).

colm_mcm

that'll be the ASR working there wouldn't it? THe ESP comes on when you're going sideways

Type 17

If you have broadband, check out this page, which shows Bosch video clips about how ESP works. http://www.bosch-esperience.co.uk/uk/language1/filmclips.html

"The Falling Box" video explains it best, while "ESP is more than an option" shows how a car with only ABS & ASR could react.

I have a Golf GT TDI with ESP (personal import from the UK) and therefore it comes with ESP as standard. After seeing the difference that it makes in the videos, and the fact that it is an (€800) option in Irish Golfs, it is another example of how VRT is a regressive, pathetic tax, which means that cars sold in this country are less safe than those sold elsewhere. Don't forget to remind those who keep calling to your door in the coming weeks of this fact...