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Re: Tundra VSC: Seek out or Avoid
I bought a 4X4 Tundra Limited. Had a hard time finding one with VSC.
They are usually loaded up with DVD/Sat Nav, etc. I had 4 or 5 dealers
checking for a Tundra without all the extras, but with VSC. There was
not one be be had in the entire western states, unless you wanted all
the other stuff. The VSC package also has other safety features you are
probably aware of, but if not check the brochure.
I ended up ordering one from a helpful dealer. He did a dealer trade
with a dealer in New Jersey that had an allocation for one to be built
just as I wanted. (Moonroof, Leather, heated seats, no running boards,
no DVD/Sat Nav, right color etc. I lucked out.)
I'd never had a veh with VSC, so wasn't quite sure what to expect. It
definitely takes control of things if it senses it it going to skid. I
have intentionally tried to induce skids on icy roads and I can't do it.
It reduces the rpm's and controls the brakes to reduce the skid. It DOES
NOT work in 4X4 mode. It can be annoying when starting out on an icy
road, slippery incline, etc. in 2WD. It senses slippage and will reduce
rpm and adjust brakes, even though you might just be at rolling start
speed where there is not a hazard, it just thinks there is. So you can't
give it the gas to get out of the slippery spot in the parking lot
without it making warning noises, etc. If need be, you can activate the
limited slip differential, or just push the 4WD button to get out of the
slippery spot. I don't use 4WD unless the roads are heavily snowpacked
and need the extra traction.
Because I was having such a hard time finding a Tundra with VSC, but
without DVD, etc. I had almost given up and was just going to buy a
straight 4WD Limited. I asked an automotive engineer I know what he
would do, and he said to keep looking and get one with VSC. (I had a
reliable F-250, and didn't need a replacement right away.) His comment
was, "you only need it once."
I have also recently read in the Wall Street Journal that the feds are
probably going to mandate VSC for cars in the next year or so. They have
done their studies and determined it has saved a bunch of lives.
Hope this helps.....
Grumps, in the mtns of Colorado.
p.s.--Gas mileage is not as good as hoped, but 35-50% better than my
F-250 with a V-10 gas engine. I get about 16 around town, 18+ on the hwy.
In article <1140125275.169487.294230@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
"Ron" <ronaldebuchanan@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I'm looking to buy a new Tundra (4x4 Double Cab) and I'm trying to
> decide if it's worth the trouble and expense to buy one with the VSC
> system (the price of the VSC itself is reasonable, but I can't find one
> that isn't loaded up with a bunch of stuff I don't need.)
>
> I've been driving a Tacoma 4x4 for 8 years, so I'm pretty confident in
> my ability to drive a vehicle with a high center-of-gravity,
> sub-optimal braking, poor traction in slippery conditions, and all of
> the other deficincies associated with such vehicles. However, I
> recognize that I can be distracted from driving like anyone else
> (though, I'd like to think that I'm better in that regard than most
> people on the road.)
>
> An additional concern that leads me to the VSC is for those rare
> occasions when my wife would drive the truck. Currently, she hates
> driving the Tacoma. I believe that this is primarily because she fears
> it - that fear is what allows me not to worry too much when she's
> driving it. But I'm not sure that this fear would follow her to a
> bigger truck.[/color]
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