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Does the 99 coupe have competitive driving mode?
What year was it first offered?

Thanks

 

I believe they all do as long as there is an Active Handling button on the center behind the shifter lever. Does yours have that button?

-Alex

 

Yes it does..... But as stated. You have to have Active Handling on your car. My 99 has Active Handling and I use Competitive driving mode all the time.

 

Mine has it. But it will only let me go into competive mode if I stop the car and hold the button for about 5-10 seconds. I can turn it all off or on anytime though.

 

I think the interface sucks, but give it a try. you must he standing still and hold the button for what feels like 10 minutes (actually a few seconds)

 

I think you can only engage the mode while stopped for certain year cars. I think the 2001 ups you can activate it while moving. I know in my 2001 coupe I can activate it at anytime, moving or stopped.

-Alex

 

My car does not have competitive mode. All it has if traction control on or off. I very rarely turn it off unless I am purposely wanting to spin the tires.

 

Active handling, which the competitive driving mode is a part of, was first offered late in the 1998 production cycle. The '98 pace cars were the first to have it. Active handling was a stand alone option for I believe 2-3 years. Then it was incorporated into packages. Then finally became standard toward the end of the C5 model run. Because my '98 order was put on hold for the pace car production, I was able to have that option added to my car. It really is an amazing feeling when the active handling kicks in. It can save your skin when something takes you by surprise.

 

exactly !

 

Brother-in-law can't get his into competitive mode. We tried everything we could think of, stopping, hand brake on and off, every gear (6sp),etc...He held the button down for three full minutes, nothing.
Could it be he doesn't have it?

 

He doesnt have it. You only need to hold it down for about 8 seconds and it will pop on the dash. I have it and enjoy using it. It has save me one or twie but I like to think I can drive better than a computer. LOL

 

Active Handling was first introduced in late 1998. It was an option from that time, through 2000. Beginning in 2001 through 2004, Active Handling was standard equipment on all C5s. The 1998-2000 cars had Generation I, Active Handling. The 2001-2004 cars had Generation II Active Handling.
Generation I Active Handling can only be engaged while the car is stopped...although you can begin the 5 second countdown while the car is moving, the car must be stopped at the point of timeout. So, you can hold the button down while coasting up to a light, for example, for approximately 4 seconds, but at that 5th second when it times out for Competitive Driving to engage, the car must be stopped or it will not go into Competitive Driving mode.
Generation II Active Handling can be engaged while the car is moving.
With Generation I, you cannot powerbrake with Active Handling engaged, either with Traction Control activated, or in Competitive Driving. The further you depress the accelerator, while attempting to powerbrake, the more the engine will downpower (torque management). In order to powerbrake, you will have to turn off both Traction Control and Active Handling.
This is not true with Generation II Active Handling. That system will allow you to powerbrake in Competitive Driving.
There are some other differences, also, such as Generation II Active Handling is also a little less intrusive than Generation I.
Generation II consists of different components and programming than Generation I. A Generation I car cannot be converted to a Generation system (at least for anything near a reasonable price).
Maybe more than you wanted to know, but there it is.
Ed

 

WTH! well that make sense now :-) During the first year or so I was "experimenting with the envelope" in my C5. I often felt it had a ton of power and great acceleration from standing but was always a little displeased by the amount of (lack of) wheelspin when I wanted to spin them a little from stopped. I did try all modes, and powerbraking, but dont remember if I tried the powerbraking in all off mode.

Well at any rate, I replaced the rears so I dont think Ill be doing any extensive testing anymore, but its nice to know why it wasnt working as I felt it should based on the power available and the seat of pants acceleration.

Thanks for that info

 

From Corvette Action Center. Seems in competition mode A/H is on.

Competitive Driving ModeThe Corvette Active Handling system will be the first of its type to offer dual mode operation. In addition to an "OFF" mode, in which Active Handling is disabled, the system also allows the driver to select a "COMPETITIVE DRIVING" mode for autocross or gymkhana competitions. In this mode, the Active Handling system remains fully-functional -- measuring steering, yaw rate and lateral acceleration inputs as well as applying individual wheel brakes as required -- but the traction control system is disabled, allowing for some wheelspin and oversteer that skilled drivers often find beneficial in competitive driving.

Summary of Active Handling System Modes

ON - Active Handling is automatically enabled when the car is started. This is also true of the ABS brake and traction control systems.


OFF - Like traction control, the Active Handling system may be manually turned off if the driver so desires. This is not true of the ABS brake system which is always enabled.


COMPETITIVE DRIVING - In this mode, Active Handling and ABS are both enabled, but traction control is shut off.
The "OFF" and "COMPETITIVE DRIVING" modes are important features on a high-performance sports car like the Corvette. As mentioned earlier, skilled drivers may find that some wheelspin and oversteer can be beneficial to their lap times in competitive events, and the Corvette system allows them to operate the car in this fashion when appropriate. Chevrolet recommends against selecting these modes for street use.

 

Readers Digest version:

*In order to have the Competitive Driving mode, your C5 must also have the Active Handling System.

*AH was first offered as an option ... mid year in the 1998 production run.

*AH was optional from 1998 thru year 2000. So not every C5 between those years has AH.

* AH became standard equipment starting 2001. Than also means all 2001-2004 C5's have the Competitive Driving mode.

*selection of the Comp Driv mode is different on the pre 2001 years.... to where the car must be stopped to enter the mode. 2001 and newer C5's did not require the car be stopped to enter the mode.

*on the 1998-2000 C5's with the AH option, you can request the Comp Driv mode while the car is in motion; though it will wait until you 've come to a complete stop before it actuates.

 

Thinks for the info guys, I'll let him know...

 

If the button does not say active handling/traction control you don't have active handling. No active handling, no competitive driving mode.

 

Mike, all accurate, except to clarify a little on the final bullet:
You must request Competitive Driving within the approximately 5 second window. If not, the car will not enter the Competitive Driving mode. For example, if you're rolling up to a stop sign and request Competitive Driving about 4 seconds before you come to a complete stop, it will enter the Competitive Driving mode when the car comes to a complete stop. If you request it 6 seconds prior to a complete stop, it will not engage.
Ed

 

If the options list in the glove compartment doesn't have RPO JL4 listed on it you don't have Active Handling.

Bill