AT package: VDIM, Hill Assist, etc.

[akphs]

We've had our Limited with AT package for about 10 weeks now, and are lovin' every minute of it.

I do wish I could turn VDIM off so I could gauge its effectiveness. I think it's doing a lot: there's a ramp near my house that I used to take every day on the way home from work. In my then-new 2000 Camry I'd take it at 40-45MPH and it felt "exciting". In the Sienna I took it at 50 and it seemed like no big deal. And I sure wouldn't have dared even take it at 40 in the old Town&Country!

If this is indeed VDIM at work, it's amazing, since it's totally unobtrusive--it just makes this big vehicle handle like a much smaller vehicle!

Anyone else compared with/without VDIM enough to have a sense of it?

[AML]

If VDIM is working there will be a flashing light in the instrument cluster of a car and tire tracks swerving and it will beep at you.

[akphs]

Originally Posted by AML

If VDIM is working there will be a flashing light in the instrument cluster of a car and tire tracks swerving and it will beep at you.

Are you sure? I thought that was traction control. VDIM is supposed to integrate traction control, ABS, et al., and to work quietly and seamlessly most of the time. I'd be surprised if it flashed and beeped every time it kicked in...

[AML]

Originally Posted by akphs

Are you sure? I thought that was traction control. VDIM is supposed to integrate traction control, ABS, et al., and to work quietly and seamlessly most of the time. I'd be surprised if it flashed and beeped every time it kicked in...

Positive. The little traction icon will flash at you when traction control is activated, but if it beeps at you too then thats the full VDIM. It takes a lot more to get the full VDIM to intervene, and when it does it will alert you because you are driving beyond the limits of the vehicle. It beeps at you because you are doing something wrong (or right depending on how you drive ) and pushing it beyond what Toyota deems safe. Traction control intervention could be for something as simple as too much throttle from a dead stop. You don't need it beeping at you every time that happens.

There is nothing quiet or seamless about VDIM. You'll know when its activated - engine power is cut, throttle response is scaled back almost entirely, you can hear and feel ABS kicking in. Toyota stability programs are passive/reactive systems, they are not proactive systems like those you would find in AWD vehicles with torque-vectoring.

[akphs]

Originally Posted by AML

Positive. The little traction icon will flash at you when traction control is activated, but if it beeps at you too then thats the full VDIM. It takes a lot more to get the full VDIM to intervene, and when it does it will alert you because you are driving beyond the limits of the vehicle. It beeps at you because you are doing something wrong (or right depending on how you drive ) and pushing it beyond what Toyota deems safe. Traction control intervention could be for something as simple as too much throttle from a dead stop. You don't need it beeping at you every time that happens.

There is nothing quiet or seamless about VDIM. You'll know when its activated - engine power is cut, throttle response is scaled back almost entirely, you can hear and feel ABS kicking in. Toyota stability programs are passive/reactive systems, they are not proactive systems like those you would find in AWD vehicles with torque-vectoring.

Ah. Thanks! So the handling is just plain better than a decade-old Camry (even when that was new) -- I'm even more impressed!

[skinny2]

I'm going to have to take exception with ADL here. The VDIM is a transparent system that works with subtle inputs to help control the vehicle and PREVENT slips/slides/etc. VSC is what kicks in AFTER a slip/slide/etc and at that point it does alert you that it's operating. The VDIM can adjust steering assist & throttle inputs, and does NOT use the ABS system like VSC. VDIM is only available on the Ltd and test driving one with and one without is a good way to notice the difference. You have to drive pretty aggressive to really feel the difference though.

IMHO....even with VDIM this thing still handles sloppy. Since VDIM doesn't do much at normal driving levels....you still have a lot of slop and lousy steering feel. It's all relative though...10 year old Camrys fall into the sloppy handling bucket for me as do most Toyotas really. Our previous '05 Odyssey was much better in the handling/steering feel dept...but it was a rough/noisy ride. I vote for performance...wife votes for quiet ride (and color!!!) and you know who wins that argument.

[akphs]

Originally Posted by skinny2

I'm going to have to take exception with ADL here. The VDIM is a transparent system that works with subtle inputs to help control the vehicle and PREVENT slips/slides/etc. VSC is what kicks in AFTER a slip/slide/etc and at that point it does alert you that it's operating. The VDIM can adjust steering assist & throttle inputs, and does NOT use the ABS system like VSC. VDIM is only available on the Ltd and test driving one with and one without is a good way to notice the difference. You have to drive pretty aggressive to really feel the difference though.

IMHO....even with VDIM this thing still handles sloppy. Since VDIM doesn't do much at normal driving levels....you still have a lot of slop and lousy steering feel. It's all relative though...10 year old Camrys fall into the sloppy handling bucket for me as do most Toyotas really. Our previous '05 Odyssey was much better in the handling/steering feel dept...but it was a rough/noisy ride. I vote for performance...wife votes for quiet ride (and color!!!) and you know who wins that argument.

See, that's more how I thought VDIM worked. But since I don't claim to *know* I'll let you two duke it out!

Re the Camry: I meant when it was new. I had traded in an 87 Legend, which was more fun to drive than the Camry but not by that much, surprisingly. Neither held a candle to my 750 Seca

[skinny2]

Originally Posted by akphs

Re the Camry: I meant when it was new.

So did I

I've had '92, '94, '97, and '01 V6 Camrys and the only one that was even close to decent handling was the '94 Coupe SE that I put Eibachs and wider tires. The newer SE models aren't bad stock and I've had quite a few of those from the rental counter. The LE's are still duds. Not much from the 80's had anything going for it either but Honda has always had a reasonable driving experience. I just never cared for the wind-up 4cyl's.