Is Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control only offer in the 09 Fit Sport with navigation? I have a 09 Fit Sport and I don't believe I have VSA. Well at least I cannot find the button to disable VSA.

Never mind I did a search and found my answer.

 

you have to buy navigation with the VSA. You can not separate them from the factory

 

the chief is right.

vsa was a huge selling point for me. but you had to buy the navi. i needed both cause my wife needs the vsa and navi.

 

You know, appreciating things like VSA (or ABS) doesn't make you any less of a man. I kid, I kid! Seriously, not pickin' on ya, but reading what you said stirred up some thoughts

Hanging out on various internet car forums for almost 15 years, I've noticed a consistent theme whereby guys go out of their way to assert that their car's safety systems, and stability control in particular, are there strictly for the sake of the woman in their life.

I think this attitude is born from reading too many magazine track tests in which the reviewers either mention turning the systems off, or lamenting the inability to do so. Any real car guy knows why you'd want to do this when setting out to flog a car for optimum performance. I also know that some cars have extremely intrusive systems (Lexus) that don't allow you turn them off, which at times could suck (autocrossing, track days.) But in the real world, in everday driving, having some safety features isn't a bad thing, and I seriously doubt these systems truly get in the way of most people's (perceived) mad driving skills.

I welcome any thoughts.

 

It took a generation just to get people to buckle up. "What's the matter, do you think I'm going to have a wreck?"

The auto manufacturers fought every safety advance from belts to air bags to ABS. To some extent, every one of these advances, while not perfect, has improved safety. The nice thing about VSA is that it is always awake, concentrating, and ready to react--much faster than I can. It straightens a slide before I even know what's happening. Frankly, I think it makes me a better driver. When the fishtailing starts on the black ice late at night...

Even if I swerve suddenly on dry pavement, the VSA makes sure that the back of the car keeps following the front end down the road. It makes me feel more confident when I drive. So far I haven't gotten the sense that it takes over the driving--it's not very dramatic at all. The car just goes where you point it.

When I talk to her about it, my wife will say, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't feel anything at all."

 

Barams,

following up on that other thread re: hwy handling, have you noticed the VSA making a difference stability-wise? I'd hate to think Honda would limit such an important safety option to the top model when it can make such a difference in a car such as the Fit.

 

Imho, I actually like not having any vsa or traction control, I have complete control of my car when it slides and skids. As long as you pay attention, have fast reactions, and drive sensibly to all weather and traffic condition, I don't think you really need it that bad...

 

this was from a post on friday. i like how the car handles w vsa

edit- i have an 09 with navi and vsa
last week. driving on the 101 north bound. 4 lanes. (left lane is the fast lane=lane 1. right most lane is lane 4). i'm in lane 2 and there is a big rig in lane 3.
speed 70 mph, weather sunny and 65.
about a 1/4 of a mile ahead of me is a 2 seat love sofa in between lane 2 and 3. i speed up and look to my left, all clear, i zoom up, signal left and cruise right by the sofa. scary. i looked back and i think a car brushed up the sofa.

no sense of worry or nervousness.

that's the epitome of highway handling.

i called 911 after that. i'm sure someone plowed the sofa.
Last edited by barams; Yesterday at 04:26 PM. Reason: adding my trim level

 

Traction control is a nice safety feature to have. I wasn't sold on it until after I have driven an E46 M3 on a wet skid pad at the BMW Performance Delivery Center. With traction control enable I was able to steer at full throttle without spinning out the car. But once traction control was disabled it was a different story. Unless you are quick and able to recover the spin, you are along just for the ride.

 

I can see that they are desirable things to have but not a need. There is a difference between a need and a want.

 

I think it's unfortunate that Honda bundled a "want"--navi--with a "need"--VSA. Every bit of research on this subject points to dramatic improvements in safe handling with VSA. Marketing ahead of safety--lessons learned from US automakers years ago.