Urgent Plea!!!!!!!!!!!! ESP Choice

[ianerrid]

I saw an article in a UK magazine saying that the EU want to introduce a regulation that ALL cars should be fitted with ESP - So far so good.

They then go on to say they want to remove the button to turn it off - as a safety feature. AFAIK the ESP button is a darwinian feature - if you decide to turn it off and then drive like a looney you are making an active decision.

As the R8 is developed in the EU, this means that we could be sleepwalking into a situationwhere the nanny state takes away choice (and fun!!)

Please lobby your MP to make sure this lunacy is stopped!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rit2]

I believe that Ruling comes into effect in 2012.

Certain categories of cars should be designed to accommodate the 'enthusiast', and to have that capability to turn the ESP off only if second-level protection is available to automatically activate the Stability Control when approaching the limits of extreme tolerance, as with the case of my Porsche.

However, not being able to turn the ESP off TOTALLY for certain categories of cars, e.g. family cars, is also a good thing. It did saved the life of my family TWICE!

So I hope the Ruling will be CATEGORY sensitive.

Ritz

[ianerrid]

You think the EU guys have common sense???? I agree the default shoud be on, but if I decide I want it totally off, that's what I want and am actively selecting.....

[r1lee]

Wow, this is where our Nanny state gets its ideas from.. yours!! lol

I'm sure Audi would be convinced by their enthusiasts, some sort of way to manually disabling the feature with a few button pushing sequences. But not just an ON/OFF button to please the powers at be.

[smoothy]

someone will figure out a way to disable it using VAG-COM. It would be a pain that way though, it would stay off until you plugged back in to reactivate it

[SebringSilver]

There should just be a separate licensing requirement for drivers who wish to purchase/drive supercars or high-powered (400+ hp) cars.

[rmicroys]

In Canada, they will not force the ESP to always be on - and hopefully allow the system to be turned off still. In winter, ESP equipped cars sometimes can't even get moving if the system is on, and the conditions are particularly snowy/icy. A good friend of mine works at Transport Canada and was involved in those discussions. I really hope they allow the various modes to be supported, including completely off.

[harrison]

I am having an ESP/ASR warning.Traction controll and mag ride stuck in on position. Dealer says it may be the mass air flow sensor acting up.( I recently serviced my air filters and lightly oiled them with K&N filter cleaning kit. The filters are BMC's.(Italy made). I'll get back to you guys after next Wedndays' service.24r4 and 91e3 recalls possibly to be done at same time.