Active Handling - Would You Miss It?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
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From: Toronto Ontario
Active Handling - Would You Miss It?
Thinking of selling my 01 C5 and buying a 97 with pretty much the same options minus HUD and the A/H. I want to use the difference in $$$ to do up the car little more than keeping the 01 will allow, such a chrome Z06 wheels, and probably a supercharger. I know I can put in a HUD in the 97 (have to find the link on how - any helpers?) but stepping down from the 2nd gen A/H to just traction control has me a little worried. Will it be good enough in the rain? What is everyones thoughts on it? I would really like some feedback from those who don't have A/H and those who have had a 97-98 C5 and a 01-04. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
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From: Swansea IL
Hell yes. It's saved my butt more times than I could have imagined. It's one of the best safety features ever developed and on high performance cars like the vette it's easy to get in over your head.
Tom
Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
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From: Waldorf MD
1998 Coupe without AH. I would miss traction control (always have it on). I do have to take it easy in the rain (yes, daily driver here). Having a 6 speed, I shift "agressively" and notice wheel spin in the rain.
Doesn't take much around corners in the rain to break loose also.
Doesn't take much around corners in the rain to break loose also.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: PA
me too, early 98, built 10/97 
I don't really know what I'm missing. Take the philosophical approach. Not everyone has it, you too can drive a C5 w/o AH.
but if I had my druthers, I'd get the AH package
I don't really know what I'm missing. Take the philosophical approach. Not everyone has it, you too can drive a C5 w/o AH.but if I had my druthers, I'd get the AH package
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Bonita Springs, Florida
Originally Posted by RPOZ4Z
mid year '98 
My '98 has AH and it is the most important option IMO as well as the deciding factor in my purchase.
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I had active handling on my '99, but do not have it on my '00. It is one of the few options that I really wish I still had. In the '99, it kept me from doing some bad things at times.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
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From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by vectorz
I don't have it, so I don't miss it. I definitely *would* miss tc though, saved me a couple times in the rain.
..And reading some of the recent posts where the system starts to fail, doing all sorts of nasty things like fully applying the brake on a single wheel while rolling down the freeway at 80 MPH, makes me miss it even less.
Take some track-day drivers ed classes; they will serve you much better than letting the car do all the hard work. (yes, I realize the AH system can do tricks impossible for a human to do..)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Livonia MI
I've driven C-5's with AH, but don't have it on mine. Really wouldn't be a deal breaker to me either way. It seems a little odd, trading down like that. Especially when you know your present car so well. Just add 4 more years of potential problems in the mix. Also, subtract $1k or so towards your mods for state sales tax on the 97'. Sounds like your present car is real sweet. I'd keep it and trim somewhere else in the budget to afford some mods.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Active Handling and Traction Control are important features, that one would be hard pressed to live without. Therefore, it might behoove you to shop around til you find the right C5 equipped with these important safety handling options. 
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 618
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From: Houston TX
On a FWD car w/o a lot of power... nah.
On a RWD car w/ in my case 460ish crank horsepower... uhmmm yeah, just a little.
I don't rely on it and it can't break the rules of physics, but its a very nice safety feature.
On a RWD car w/ in my case 460ish crank horsepower... uhmmm yeah, just a little.
I don't rely on it and it can't break the rules of physics, but its a very nice safety feature.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Plainfield, IL
My 99 does not have A/H so its hard to say from personal experience. Basically, A/H will only help you if you do something you probably shouldnt be in the first place. For the other 99.9% of your driving it would make no difference if the car has that option or not. If your one of the guys that say it has saved your butt a few times maybe you need to go sign up for one of those high performance driving courses
Ofcourse its a cool option I would would rather have it on the car than not, but thats a decision you will need to make. I actually have heard of insances where some pretty serious problems have happened in the A/H system.
Ofcourse its a cool option I would would rather have it on the car than not, but thats a decision you will need to make. I actually have heard of insances where some pretty serious problems have happened in the A/H system.
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I don't know, my '97 doesnt' have it. I'd be hesitant at this point to loose my traction control because I'm used to being able to get on it a certain way and I'm sure I'd just be spinning the tires with out the T/C but I've never driven a C5 with Active Handling so I guess my answer is no.
Paul
Paul
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Toronto Ontario
Thanks for all of the replys. I am thinking that if I do decide to trade down, I should look at the late 98's or 99's as the way to go. At least I could get one with 1st gen A/H. One last question for the 98-01 C5 folk - does the the A4 have to be in park to change modes or just at a stop?
Thanks!
Thanks!