ESP

[VWKev]

Do you drive with it on or off ?

[Rolfe]

My dealer said don't switch it off unless you want the car skidding around all over the road.  So what's it for really, I wonder.  Did somebody say transportation or towing?

How do you know it's on anyway?  I don't think the switch changes when you press it.

Rolfe.

[VWKev]

My dealer said don't switch it off unless you want the car skidding around all over the road.  So what's it for really, I wonder.  Did somebody say transportation or towing?

How do you know it's on anyway?  I don't think the switch changes when you press it.

Rolfe.

Does it not light up Rolfe ? I thought it did. Mind you my ACC button is right next to it so maybe I'm getting mixed up with that one lighting up.

[ub7rm]

Leave it on, say if you have to swerve at high speed, without ESP the back end of the car might step out and you could end up spinning or going sideways.  ESP detects this and will brake each wheel individually to keep the car pointing in the right direction.

See here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTe3s1tQA4w

There used to be a little animation on the vw website which showed how it worked a lot better but I can't find it.  Only turn it off if say you cant get any traction in the snow and the ESP keeps cutting the power (despite the american man's opinion) or you're on a track and want some drifting action.

To turn it off on the mkv you have to keep the button pressed for a second or two then the light comes up on the dash and OFF appears on the button itself - I would imagine its the same on the mkvi.  If you see the light flashing up now and again on the dash it means the ESP has kicked in and is doing something.

[AlanH]

ESP = Electronic Stabilisation Programme.

"By counteracting any tendency towards understeer or oversteer, ESP stabilises the dynamic handling response of the car. It constantly compares the actual movement of the vehicle with predetermined values and, according to the situation, reacts by braking the outer front or inner rear wheel and automatically adjusting the engine’s output. This is especially useful on wet or icy surfaces. The system works in conjunction with the existing ABS and EBD systems."

I leave it on. When turned off, a warning light appears in the instrument cluster.

[simonpolly]

The only time i`ve seen that they advice you that you may benefit from turning it off is in deep snow.

[keelaw]

if you have to swerve at high speed, without ESP the back end of the car might step out and you could .... going sideways

like you say, sounds like fun on the track   

[keelaw]

But to answer the original question, I leave it on.

[jdjd]

For a Straight line race off the lights, I turn it off, f**k Electronic interference,

[mac7]

It's an aid to safety - I leave it switched on. If I was to be out on a track having fun, then I'd switch it off (or as mentioned perhaps when starting in snow). However even if it is switch it off, it isn't completely disabled and will still try to interfere with any lift-off oversteer cornering antics.

Of course it won't over-ride the laws of physics, but it does help keep the car better balanced when the roads are a bit slippery, or you have to make a sudden steering input to avoid a collision. I'd say that a modern GTI would keep you out of trouble in the majority of unexpected 'moments' even without ESP. Having said that, in a slide every little helps - we all make mistakes after all.