Can anyone sense the difference between competitive driving mode and the other driving mode options? What exactly is "competitive driving mode" in terms of active handling and traction control? Does that mode dissengage those features and make the car "Viper like" in terms of performance i.e. no AH/TC? Just looking for deeper perspective then the little blurb in the owners manual. Thanks!

 

I'd suggest you go out and get a "real world" answer. Go around a corner with TC & AH completely off... floor it and come back and let us know your thoughts after the wrecker pulls you out of the ditch!!!

p.s. I'm just joking. Hopefully someone will provide real feedback.

 

Yes...very noticeable. The comp mode takes all the parameters for the trac and active handling modes to maximum levels meaning systems will not 'intrude' ('kick- in' if you like) until extreme but recoverable limits are reached....normal mode you can feel fairly routinely in semi hard acceleration. Today I was really trying out differences... this morning was 26 deg and the OEM Z51 tires do NOT like temps like this...become 'slick'..so did several runs with standard trac/active handling on and noticed constant engagement..change to comp mode and engagments were less frequent and also allowed for induced power oversteer and much more agressive acceleration. As long as you know how to drive more to the limits the comp mode is very cool...but if you don't know how to correctly handle induced power oversteer and oversteer in general suggest caution. For straight acceleration the comp mode or full off trac control is you optimum...just expect and thus modulate for 'fish tailing'
Michael

 

RTY2005, I was definitely just joking with my post above. I did so in jest because about one month ago a new C6 owner did exactly what you mentioned and lost control of his car and did a few thousand worth of damage. I don't have mine yet (due in a couple of days), but insightful commentary as Michael provided above is the norm, and my attempt at humor tends to happen frequently as well. This is a serious question, and hopefully you will learn the limits safely. Hopefully you have a sense of humor though and will enjoy the occasional barbs from time to time.

 

Ah no problem -- and appreciate both responses. Thanks

 

I got my "real world exp." yesterday afternoon. I was checking out the differences between the options mentioned, and after a couple of stops I had forgotten that the damned thing was in Competitive Drive.
I was cruising along when a couple of twenty something guys pulled up on my left in a black Mustang Cobra. No big deal at first, but the driver kept "razzing" me with his throttle. We finally hit a straight section of road w/ no traffic ahead and when I looked over at the little snot he grinned... and it was on. We were probably doing about 40-50 & I really don't recall what gear I was in, but I double clutched to get the revs up a little and all I remember was the tires throwing smoke, the wheel getting squirrelly (very), and the sight of the Mustang in my rearview mirror.
The point I'm trying to make is... MAN that scared the crap out of me because I wasn't expecting THAT much response from the car. WHEW!
At the next stop, however, the driver of the Mustang pulled up with a BIG grin and yelled over to me...
"man I love those cars, the new Corvettes are really sick" (that means cool nowadays). I returned the compliment, we did the and went on our ways. 10 minutes later my pulse had slowed & my palms dried off.
Moral to the story: I've got renewed respect for the AH & TC. DO NOT forget that you have turned it off! :o

 

I did have the real world experience with oversteer, but did not need a tow truck to pull me out. Both Trac and AH were on. However, I did have $3k in damage. The car is being worked on now and hopefully I will get it back sometime next week. Learned my lesson the hard way.

 

Great story!! My car should be here in a few days. I have never driven anything this powerful, so i will make sure to carefully learn how to deal with it. Glad to hear you got a little scared, but nonetheless handled your business at hand - waxing mr mustang!!

 

You have shut down your traction control active handling which will offer you less safety if the road all of a sudden get hazardeous to your health. It is something you might want to keep on when driving on public roads with better traction and control handling.

 

Traction control, how to, on a '67 427 Convertible:
I lift my right foot slightly!

 

Clarification - the owner's manual says while in Competitive Driving Mode, the Traction Control System is not operating at all, although the Active Handling System is still on. See page 4-11.

 

That's right - was just about to post something like this. Don't have my manual in front of me, but isn't there yet a third option of turning this off altogether (i.e., both AH and TC)? Something Street, Competition and off? The reason I don't know is that i'm not willing to try whatever 'off' is called until I can get to a big, flat, empty, no-poles, parking lot.

 

It doesn't have a name in the owner's manual. The book just says you can turn off both Traction COntrol and Active Handling by pressing & holding the Active Handling button for 5 seconds.

 

Had a talk with the manager of the local Safeway a couple days ago and that evening I preceded to lose a few thousand miles of tire real quick. Law enforcement made the show and my lack of a front plate had me worried but he didnt say a word about it. He checked to make sure I wasnt drunk and had permission. Once he got a rundown on the hardware and the usual tour (open hood to look at engine, explain keyless entry, etc.) he was on his way. At any rate it was good practice and gave me a bit of insight into the cars handling at low speed/lots of throttle type conditions. I did learn that in competitive the car gives you more than enough to hang yourself. I wont be turning it completly off out on the road. Perhaps if I take it out for the open night at the strip but that will be about it.

 

Just 173 miles on the odo tonight after 24 hours of ownership and decided to turn the trac all the way off at a stoplight and do a U-turn.

For the record, it was ~30 degrees out and bone dry. I cut the wheel, and at the apex quickly applied what seemed to be a little more than 1/4 throttle. COMPLETELY SIDEWAYS !!!

I can't wait till this thing is broken in. I will be raping the local parking lots @ 1 AM...


...

 

Bondurant performance class costs about $3k, money very well spent, and you learn about oversteer and understeer the right way!!