How does the ESP behave on the S4?

[S4NORICE]

So I've been looking for a B5 S4 for a while now. Can someone please explain why the 2000 models are better without the traction control, or ESP? The only quattro that I have ever driven in the snow was a 98 A4 2.8 without traction control, and the car was completely bad-ass in the snow. I'm buying a 6spd for sure, I live in upsate NY and will be driving the car in snow.

I'm not a fan of traction control systems on any car, but I've found that some are OK, while others just flat out suck. Some cars that I've driven with traction control completely cut off power to the wheels once they start slipping. I hate this... Does the ESP on the S4 behave like this? This really sucks in situations when you need the throttle to keep from getting stuck, or when your heading toward that snowbank...

Also, If you turn off the ESP switch on the dash, does it completely turn off the traction control? Again, I've driven cars that cut power to the wheels even when the traction control is turned off (G35 coupe).

As of right now, I am only considering 01.5 model year or later. However, I really don't want to be disappointed with a quattro car with an overly-sensitive traction control system. That being said, I'd really like to hear some feedback from people that have the traction control and drive their S4's in snow.

Thanks, I appreciate any insight on this topic.

-Steve

[Klum00]

most folks with traction control turn it off the second they get in the car... which i believe completely dissables it.

[ashrafnisar]

In my Canadian 01.5 S4, the ESP hasn't kicked in much, but the few times it has it just seems to be braking the necessary wheel, and quite lightly at that. I haven't gotten far enough out of line for it to cut power or anything. Also, when I turn off the ESP, the ABS system does stay active which I find fairly useful in snow.

[S4NORICE]

^^^ Thanks, That's what I was hoping to hear.

[MacDaddy]

unless your the stig, your better off with it.

my S4 has no ESP, even with snow tires, you gotta stay alert as the car dosn't give you much feedback on whats happening.

[jlyv3845]

you're fine without ESP. and yes it completely cuts out when you disengage it and you will undoubtedly spin the wheels a little in the snow...but in my opinion it's safer to drive with it off since if you do hit a corner too fast you can at least try to power through it and basically drift. this is my third winter with mine and it's almost a better bet to try to power through (if you find yourself in such a situation) than trying to brake if you head in too fast. Since ABS will engage almost instantaneously you'll just end up sliding in the same direction of that telephone poll on the side of the road. right now i'm driving without ABS and ESP since the ABS module has gone on permanent vacation with two summer tires on the front wheels and i still feel like the car drives better than it did last winter with all those systems on. i have an 01.5 and to be fair these cars handle fairly awfully in the snow but they can get through pretty much anything, as long as you're going a reasonable speed. they have no trouble but just don't hit the throttle too hard or you'll just hopelessly spin the tires.

[ashrafnisar]

i have an 01.5 and to be fair these cars handle fairly awfully in the snow but they can get through pretty much anything, as long as you're going a reasonable speed. they have no trouble but just don't hit the throttle too hard or you'll just hopelessly spin the tires.

I thought I was being overly critical when I first started driving in the snow, but I guess it's not just me. I found it can get through anything, but it's not very precise, tends to pull either way in some snow if you're doing anything over 50km/h. Still much better than my previous car so I'm not complaining at all...

[RogueStatus]

you can still power through/drift corners with ESP on. not as well,but just enough so that when you slide sideways through a corner,it helps straighten the wheel afterwards. i keep my ESP on in the snow when im just driving somewhere. it helps because it alerts you by flashing the TC light on the dash when youre sliding a bit. when i turn esp off and slide a corner,the car will kick back the other way and you hafta rip the wheel side to side to straighten it out.

when my ESP is off,my ABS is off too (dont know if thats normal but it is) and i hate ABS.

does ESP have anything to do with fuel-cut? because on the highway today,window down,snow covered ground,i was listening to the exhaust (straight pipe,very loud) and when i put it into boost the exhaust sounded like the ESP would cut fuel delivery...could just be my imagination.

[Jung]

who says it handles awfully in the snow? i believe me being able to do donuts around people or turn corners using throttle means handling very well. i'd say it handles better than 95% of other CARS in snow.. dont compare it to trucks becuase, well, it's not a truck

[S4NORICE]

you can still power through/drift corners with ESP on. not as well,but just enough so that when you slide sideways through a corner,it helps straighten the wheel afterwards.

Nice, Maybe I should have just asked "Will I still be able to drift in the snow with the ESP on." That's kinda where I was going with this whole thing.

[RogueStatus]

Nice, Maybe I should have just asked "Will I still be able to drift in the snow with the ESP on." That's kinda where I was going with this whole thing.

if youre looking to slide corners,obviously take ESP off and enjoy.

[S4NORICE]

i'm driving without ABS and ESP since the ABS module has gone on permanent vacation with two summer tires on the front wheels and i still feel like the car drives better than it did last winter with all those systems on.

So I take it that the S4 has the same shitty ABS module as the rest of the B5 cars, huh? Damn... The module on my B5 Passat has been out to lunch for about 2 years now... I've replaced it twice over the course of 250k miles. I actually like driving without ABS, however power brakes without ABS working can be a bit touchy.

[RolledMySTi]

I can't stand the esp in these cars. When it cuts power it does so in a major way and takes a couple seconds to give it back. I pulled fuse #42 to permanently disable it. You still have abs with this. I've only driven in snow twice in my life so I can't tell you how well it works for that, but in the dry it is pure aggravation.

[nvrfollow]

I litterally just got back from some nasty driving. I drove from Utah to B.C. to Spokane, WA and then Montana and i feel like a damn ice-road trucker. I've driven many cars in the snow and here is my take on Audi's ESP.

ESP will save your ass in many snow situations especially at highway speeds. For instance if you coming into a large sweeping turn, hit ice and the tires have no grip to steer, ESP will kick and and do something no driver can do; brake on just one side of the car an hopefully get you pointed back in the right direction.

If that happens without ESP on and your in 6th your not going to be able to downshift quick enough to initiate drift and pull back into the turn. I suppose you could try grabbing the the parking brake, but I dunno I haven't done too many 6th gear drifts.

Generally I turn it off when I'm driving on snow in 3rd or lower.

Unless your passing on a strait then i turn it off in any gear, because quattro will actually keep you pointed much more strait with ESP off when your spinning all 4.




All in all if your going around icy turns in high gears leave it on.

BTW Audi's, ESP or no. fucking own every other car on the winter highways. Safe travels everyone.

[JackalS4]

ESP = good idea for daily driving, and is not annoying or constantly engaging unless you ask for it or hit a really slippery section. Manageable. Still can have limited enjoyable short slides. Won't really help OR hinder traction off the line much, just prevents the excessive wheelspin.

ESP OFF = fun/goofing around, longer slides, and more for if you know the car's limits and are comfortable with it on the street. Not a big deal really though, I find the car quite predictable overall with ESP off. ABS should still be present.

Because I find it unintrusive, and plus you just never know what kind of emergency situation you might run into, I usually have ESP on when daily driving. If I want to goof around, i'll switch it off for a bit.

All boils down to driver skill and not being stupid on busy public roads etc though.

[gointoscott]

A picture speaks a thousand words:

[tschmale]

Wow, 30MPH, straight road, watch out this guys a risk taker.

A picture speaks a thousand words:

[crosenhahn]

I live in CO and ski 40-50 days a year... Turn ESP off any time I drive in the snow. You have really Predictable driving in snow with it off. Now for the ABS - it sucks... way way way way too sensitive. But other than that this car rocks in the snow. I always am passing subis (even sti's), saabs, evos and others... Definitely would recommend the car for winter driving conditions. Just watch your braking withe the ABS

[fixn2xlr8]

Its a true pain in the ass stage 3. I just turn mine off.

[S4NORICE]

Thanks for all the replies... As long as I have the ability to turn it completely off when I want, I'll be happy.

I'm hoping (fingers crossed) to be picking up an 01.5 on Monday.

[veggiemonster]

there was a thread about this like 2-3 days ago and it was said that with esp off the adaptive braking part of it will turn back on if your sliding and hit the brakes, which is fine with me except sometimes it fights what your trying to do.
and with esp on it will still drift no prob. but you will not be able to hold it forever like with it off. i love having it off and just doing 2nd gear pulls since its still pretty fast. and people look at you funny when you just take off haha