Suprising modern technologies

[Hloni]

So yesterday l got the privelege of doing the Advanced Safety Driving Course with Audi at Kyalami. FASCINATING!
What blew me away was the power the S-line 2.0T A4 has. The safety/driver assist technology very impressive.

Halfway through the day, l wondered, why don't dealerships include this course with new sales of such vehicles? I mean, how many modern car owners know what ABS feels like when activated? Seeing the ESP in operation too was convincing.

Only "sad part" of the day was discovering that my waterpumper only has HALF ABS - disc front, drums rear - thus making ABS not too effective if braking and turning.

I highly recommend a course of this nature to anyone who ownes a car worth more than R150k.

[1972]

Those courses are really something else. Ive had the privilage of going along for the drive with both Audi and Vw on the skid pan,Advanced driving, Hi-jack prevention,high performance, Vw on their 4x4 course, and a special event where 4 Rings hired the go-cart track to test a new fleet.

Out of all of them my favourite was the high performance driving course.

Halfway through the day, l wondered, why don't dealerships include this course with new sales of such vehicles?

As far as I know, the person who sells you the car (your more powerfull models) is supposed to ask you if you want a driving course added in on your deal. When family was still around at Audi and Vw, we had agreements with the dealers for special prices on the course when sold with a car.

When im big will go for that course with the R8

[fig]

I've done several advanced driving courses as a former member of the SAGMJ.

For me the most memorable part of these courses has always been the braking distance demonstration. Should be compulsory for every driver to be physically shown how, while speed increases arithmetically, energy increases exponentially. That would shut up all the wankers who believe that just because their car "is designed to do 250km/h". That doesn't mean it's safe to drive over 120km/h on a public road. The laws of physics really don't care about testosterone-fuelled agro.

[JohnHoffe]

In my opinion these courses are designed by the marketing people to demonstrate why you must buy their vehicle with it's specific features.

[JamesD]

I have done two Driver training courses in the last month and a half on both dry and Wet tracks in cars with no fancy technology to fall back on and at speeds exceding 170km/h down the straights (over 180km/h on the clock at zwartkops). The first course was even with an ex formula 1 driver as an instructor. I completely agree with John, those courses are designed by marketing people to show that if you are useless at driving then this car can save your ass or make you look good when you not really. Tuition for track days is far superior in my mind (if you can get track tuition + slalom + brake and avoid then you sorted), especially when you have a proper none computer controlled car. That way you learn how fast you can actually stop and in what distance, how your car reacts and how to catch it when it is on the edge and you over step the line as well as Brake and avoid. And there is also a massive difference in feel between cold brakes and tires and warm brakes and tires.

[Hloni]

Marketing ploy alright, but that said, how many people who spend stax of dosh doesn't even know why the buttons are there? I have witnessed many yappies driving with the seatbelt holding the seat down , why?, because the can't stand the beeping sound as they way too cool to wear a safety belt. For many okes (and okeresses), this fancy vehicles with bells and whistles are public statements, thus they fail to understand why the Germans put so much effort in reinventing the technologies each year. If many of these folks were to understand that deactivating the EPS won’t give you better fuel economy and longer tyre life!!! It might in theory, but in an emergency, you might just wish you had not tinkered with those buttons.

JD, I’d so love to do a non-electronic track day. Would be great if someone could post details online about some of the courses available for driving ‘normal’ vehicles.

I have to say though, I wouldn’t trade the experience, but rather encourage owners of vehicles with these bells and whistles to attend one of these courses. They don’t make you a better driver, but make you more aware of how to get out of trouble.

[sarel.wagner]

Ever bothered to ask any one of these people that drive these fancy cars with all the 3 letter acronyms, they don't need tuition they say, they are the clever ones! Go figure...

Rgrds

[fig]

... They don’t make you a better driver, but make you more aware of how to get out of trouble.

This is stuff we should all know about our cars. However, a proper, advanced DEFENSIVE driving course focuses more on how to avoid getting into trouble in the first place!

[Hloni]

Some troubles are unavoidable
And yes I agree, we need to learn to drive more defensively and smart on our roads.

[retrovan]

This is one of my pet itches.....

Have been saying for years, Stop teaching our young drivers to be OVER courteous, and more Proactive.
Not be doing 50 Kph, in the fast lane, and having a stroke every time someone passes him.
Every body that goes for their drivers, MUST pass a advanced drivers course.
Must have done the avoidance course, as well as the high speed, recovery course.
Then we will all be able to drive faster, AND safer
Sorry.....
Will try to control my self...... .

[JamesD]

Went to the Alfa Track day on saturday and had some fun in a friends 159. First few laps round the track were with the computer stepping in and trying to "save" me, the dash board lights were going bonkers, I found it limits your turn in and general control of the vehicle in order prevent you losing control. Turned all that rubbish off and the car was alot friendlier to drive and made controling it round fast corners much better and safer (no computer stepping in and causing the car to run wide. MAybe for a wet road surface it is a lot safer but in the dry it is just a pain. Also managed to boil the brake fluid and lost all brakes, now that is scary and the computer didn't pick it up or care, not that it could do anything anyway!

the only thing i want in a car is ABS, but a finely tuned system that doesn't cut in too soon. think i will probably remove the fuse for my ABS after a few more track days (replace it for road driving). will go play at zwartkops again this weekend, three weekends in a row now, think i'm addicted!

BTW, the Alfa Mito is actually a rather fun drive and was reasonably quick, think i was clocking a 1:25 or 1:26 round the track in it. not bad i thought.