Active Handling

[blackvette]

My father just bought an 05 with the automatic. I have an 02 Z06. I have driven his car in both the dry and wet conditions. I sorta scared myself the first time in the wet as I was turning left from a stop. Traction control and active handling were both on and it was NOT in competitive mode. I got on it just enough to break the rear end loose but it let me do much more. The car came close to rotating 90 degrees and I was steering in oppisite lock to try and get it under control as the front end was going over the yellow line. I honestly thought I was gonna do a 180. My Z06 would have shut me down very quickly doing the same thing in the rain. The 05 does the same thing on dry pavement, it just takes a littel more gas. My father noticed this also.

Do we have a problem or has the software been adjusted to allow alot more "fun"? It appears that if someone had never driven a vette before they could be in real trouble.

[MSiska]

Seems like the TC/AH is even less intrusive. On my C6Z06, when I hit the gas pedal hard after shifting, the TC comes on for a 1/2 second then goes away till the next shift. Don't think I'm going to drive her in the wet.

[Duke 1]

I don't want to come off as a jerk, but if you almost looped a car with AH/TC you had to have done a little more than just break it loose. Cars with big torque and high performance tires need to be driven very carefully in the wet with smooth throttle inputs. Counting on some computer program to save you is kinda lazy.

[TJason25]

Agreed..Vettes love to"float" in the rain.

[blackvette]

my point was that I was testing the TC/AH on the C6 to compare it to my Z06. Yes I was trying to make it spin in a safe place. If you don't know how it will work/intervene in a safe place, I don't want to find out with a car coming towards me. However the TC/AH steps in very quick on my Z06. I can't spin it period. But this C6 didn't step in hardly at all. I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed the same thing.

[Orangesnake]

I agree with what Mike says in his post;the A/H in my C6Z06 is much less intrusive than it was in my C5Z.This is even more pronounced in comp mode.Note that there are four modes in the C6 Z06-(1)TC and A/H ON,(2)TC OFF,A/Hfull ON(3)Comp mode-TC OFF,A/H ON with reduced intervention(4)TC & A/H OFF.The second mode(IIRC) was not available on the C5.

In the C5Z06,it was possible to do some fairly clumsy things and have the A/H rein the car in for you.In my own limited testing and per reports from others,this is most definitely NOT true in the C6Z06(and possibly not in the regular C6)The new system seems to allow much more yaw before it intervenes.It will help you correct a little mistake before it becomes a big one,but should NOT be counted on to bail you out of a major foul-up.

In the C5Z,the flash of the A/H indicator light was often the first indicator of incipient trouble-in the C6Z,chances are the slide will have already begun before the A/H engages.This is not necessarily a bad thing,IMHO,but one does need to be aware of it.My best advice is to leave it engaged ,but drive as if it did not exist,especially in less-than-ideal traction conditions.This would be a good idea in the regular C6 as well.I cannot emphasize too strongly that the presence of a "safety net"in the form of TC and A/H is not a cure-all for exceeding your personal limitations. Please keep your inputs smooth and be careful!

[proexpert]

As Newton smiles from above.

[TTRotary]

Same thing observed here. '02 Z06 shuts me down quick, but on the C6, it is as if the system is not even there. I can do whatever I want with the car, especially at low speeds. At higher speeds, the system behaves more normally, but I just have zero trust in it.

Many are reporting AH malfunctions, and some have already wrecked cars because of it. There is definitely something wrong.

[RC45]

Operator error?

[blackvette]

I've had my 02 z06 since it was new and I drag race and autocross with it so I doubt operator error. I agree with TTRotary, there is definately a software issue when the AH&TC are both on. If you want to have fun, use one of the other modes, but when both AH&TC are both on, they should cut in real quick.

[RC45]

Perhaps it is not a "software error" but simply, "the way it is" - and the car is no longer a "nanny" but a drivers car, demanding respect and attention.

*shrug*

I hear Mercedes Bnez makes a pretty conservative hardtop auto sports car

[blackvette]

Let it demand respect in Comp mode, etc.... But, for those of us who love vettes but can only afford one car, a z06 becomes our daily driver and can be a nightmare in the rain. I vote for a "nanny" in those situations.

[Orangesnake]

Originally Posted by blackvette

Let it demand respect in Comp mode, etc.... But, for those of us who love vettes but can only afford one car, a z06 becomes our daily driver and can be a nightmare in the rain. I vote for a "nanny" in those situations.

Blackvette,I've driven my C6Z in the rain with very little difficulty. The main problem is with standing water on the road;these tires do appear to have more of a tendency to hydroplaning than the ones on the C5Z.Nothing too difficult to catch and recover,in my experience,but I do get more conservative and try to give myself a bit more cushion in those conditions.I've had no problems in the rain with Vipers,either-maybe I'm just used to driving without A/H, though I think a lot of the Viper's evil reputation for getting squirrelly in the wet came from the pre-ABS cars.I really don't think the C6Z has a problem IF the driver stays focused and excercises some restraint with the right foot,but the C5 was less demanding,no doubt about that.

BTW,what part of SC are you in? It's a small state,so I'm thinking you're probably not too far from me.

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
The programming is much more forgiving on c6 vs the older c5.
This is due to massive speed changes on the communications line within the c6.
Remember, the c6, be it ZO6 or base models, carry GMLAN protocol communications. This is MUCH FASTER rate of communications then the older Class 2 system of the c5.
The PCM, TCM, ABS/TCS, BCM and F55 control module all communicate on this line with the automatic equipped versions.
The manuals dont have the TCM, and ZO6 would not have the F55.
But the communications rates are so fast, at almost 500 kilobits per second, so that the system can read real time data and not be as sensitive when interfering with an event that needs it. Class 2 communications is about 10 kilobits per second.
So, back to the point. With faster communications, it will NOT have to assume that the car is moving faster than the module can communicate. So, it can more actively monitor conditions and be less intrusive to the driver.
Allthebest, c4c5

[dwjZ06]

Very Cool Paul thanks for the info. Good to see you posting. Don