Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com
 
Vararam
Go Back   Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com > General Camaro Forums > 5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions


View Poll Results: Which of the following TCS options do you use when you need more speed/power?
You Prefer Competitive Mode(hitting the TCS button twice) 42 46.15%
You Prefer Disabling TC completely (hitting the TCS button once) 49 53.85%
Voters: 91. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 09-22-2011, 10:34 PM   #1
mrosa
 
Drives: 2012 SS2 Camaro
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Danver's MA
Posts: 9
Competitive mode Vs. Disabling TC completely: For Speed/Power

It seems like there are still many people that think there is more power/speed with Competitive Mode in comparison to turning off TC completely. So I'd like to get some verification/opinions/feedback on the below on-going experiment i'm doing in comparing the power and speed of "Competitive Mode"(hitting TCS button twice) to the power and speed you get when disabling TC completely(hitting TCS button once):

When I picked up my new 2012 2SS Camaro(Automatic V8) the other day the dealer described the difference like this: "If you hit the TCS/Stabilitrak button twice you will be in Competitive Mode which will provide you more power and speed while also maintaining some control. However if you hit the button once then BE CAREFUL because you will turn off TractionControl and Stabilitrak completely and the car will be ridiculously fast but you may kill yourself". So obviously the first thing I did after pulling out of the lot was to hit that TCS button once to turn off TC completely... and I was pretty impressed, the car was MUCH faster and I actually went sideways thru the intersection. I then tested out the competitive mode and hit the button twice and noticed a loss in speed and power in comparison.

And furthermore I read on a few forum posts that the more experienced racers prefer to have the most control and power, and thus prefer turning off TC completely(hitting the button once), as opposed to the more novice racers that say they rely on competitve mode as something similiar to "training wheels" so they won't lose control and fly off the track. So that being said you would think that the Chevy marketing folks would advertise the option of disabling TC completely(hitting the button once) as "Competitive Mode(since it is faster)" instead and then perhaps document the current "competitive Mode"(hitting the button twice) option as a "training mode" or something.

I'd like to hear back on what other folks think(and YES ive read the manual cover to cover in regard to the sections on "Competitive Mode", Stabilitrak and TCS). I'm most interested in finding out what other people's experiences have been and if there are possibly any performance tests that have been done that show exactly how much speed/power is associated with driving with TC disabled(one button push) verse competitive mode(2 button pushes). NOTE: I also added a POLL at the top of this thread that you can use to vote for which option you personally use most often when you have the need for more speed/power.

P.S. And there is still one other option I have not looked into yet, which is buying a Tuner to boost speed and performance.. however I'll save that for a seperate thread/discussion since those can be pricey and I'd like to investigate these current options that come with the vehicle first.

Last edited by mrosa; 09-22-2011 at 10:55 PM.
mrosa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 10:44 PM   #2
SS_Matt
permagrin
 
SS_Matt's Avatar
 
Drives: 2012 LS3 SS/RS
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,050
__________________
2012 Black on black SS RS LS3
SS_Matt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 11:12 PM   #3
RED DEMON SS
OFF THE CHAIN
 
RED DEMON SS's Avatar
 
Drives: PSHHH UWISH
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: This Side Of Hell
Posts: 8,406
+1
__________________
RED DEMON SS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 11:14 PM   #4
The Stig
knows 2 facts about ducks
 
The Stig's Avatar
 
Drives: ...and they're both wrong
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The HMS Invincible
Posts: 25,072
The OP is full of misinterpreted information.
Quote:
When I picked up my new 2012 2SS Camaro(Automatic V8) the other day the dealer described the difference like this: "If you hit the TCS/Stabilitrak button twice you will be in Competitive Mode which will provide you more power and speed while also maintaining some control. However if you hit the button once then BE CAREFUL because you will turn off TractionControl and Stabilitrak completely and the car will be ridiculously fast but you may kill yourself"

Quote:
And furthermore I read on a few forum posts that the more experienced racers prefer to have the most control and power, and thus prefer turning off TC completely(hitting the button once), as opposed to the more novice racers that say they rely on competitve mode as something similiar to "training wheels" so they won't lose control and fly off the track.
I have never once read or heard of any drivers referring to competitive mode as "training wheels". While yes, in turning TC off you do increase your chances of gong sideways and possibly wrecking the car. That does NOT mean that turning TC off gives you more power. As nothing engine nor tune wise in the car is changing. All that changes is that your car's computer stops controlling how much power each wheel gets.

I realize that I use the phrase "how much power each wheel gets" while stating that you're not actually getting more power. Let me explain. TC works through a computer sensing how much traction your wheel has (each wheel has TC), and when the computer senses that a wheel is losing traction it automatically decreases the amount of power that goes to that wheel. The purpose of this is that the computer is trying to stop you from spinning your tires. This is why if you're ever stuck in the snow/ice you want to turn off traction control so that both wheels are getting the same amount of power.

So now, moving on to "competitive mode". It is in no way a "training" mode. It uses the same concept as turning off TC, but instead of turining off the computer completely you are dampening the power decrease. This is done to give you that "extra power" while still maintaining traction.

If you really were interested in comparing the TC off versus "competitive mode" you can put your car on a dynograph and run some tests. Do one pull with the car as "normal", one pull with TC off, and one pull in "competitive mode". I'd be willing to be money that you will not see any significant differences between the three pulls. As the car is not actually putting out any more power.

Quote:
P.S. And there is still one other option I have not looked into yet, which is buying a Tuner to boost speed and performance.. however I'll save that for a seperate thread/discussion since those can be pricey and I'd like to investigate these current options that come with the vehicle first.
Now your "third option" of getting a handheld tuner. That is a COMPLETELY different ballgame than just hitting the TC button. When you use a handheld tuner, or get any tune in general, you are physically changing values within the cars computer. You are adjusting timing, air/fuel ratios, etc. In doing this you can make more power, literally increasing the cars horsepower.
__________________
Click to view my build thread
The Stig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 11:29 PM   #5
Rip
 
Drives: 2011 SS/RS
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: location, location
Posts: 574
Pretty sure hitting the button once only turns off traction control. You have to hold it down for 7 or 8 seconds to turn both off. In competitive mode, I believe traction control is on but the stabilitrac system is disabled.
__________________
Rip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 11:49 PM   #6
Heaven_is_inferno_orange
Savage Setsuna
 
Heaven_is_inferno_orange's Avatar
 
Drives: 16' 2SS, 12 ZL1, RIP Sasuke
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Fort Knox KY
Posts: 1,379
Send a message via MSN to Heaven_is_inferno_orange Send a message via Yahoo to Heaven_is_inferno_orange
I was just wondering about this earlier today when low and behold I accidently discovered the stabilitrac setting.
Heaven_is_inferno_orange is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 12:02 AM   #7
bud miller
 
bud miller's Avatar
 
Drives: 2015 flash green edition
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: escondido
Posts: 59
hit once..sorry T/C off , hit 2nd time (in quick succession) T/C off, active handlling on (comp mode ).. and with our 6speeds "launch control" available.
as far as car being 'quicker", that depends on driver ability, good tires to provide traction, etc.etc.

Last edited by bud miller; 09-23-2011 at 09:59 AM.
bud miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 12:12 AM   #8
GEEo
OKCamaros
 
GEEo's Avatar
 
Drives: 4 banger Diesel
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Philippines
Posts: 4,572
I like it better when everything is off. its a guaranteed smile like this
GEEo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 04:51 AM   #9
CAPT D
 
CAPT D's Avatar
 
Drives: 1SS Black w/ White Strips M6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 735
Quote:
Originally Posted by GEEo View Post
I like it better when everything is off. its a guaranteed smile like this
Yeah I for one like turning them all off.
CAPT D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 06:44 AM   #10
mhood
Orange Camaros Rule!
 
mhood's Avatar
 
Drives: 2010 1SS LS3 RS IOM
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,559
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rip View Post
Pretty sure hitting the button once only turns off traction control. You have to hold it down for 7 or 8 seconds to turn both off. In competitive mode, I believe traction control is on but the stabilitrac system is disabled.
This. When you say "hit the button once" are you holding it down for 7 seconds to really turn everything off?
__________________

Mary - Orange Camaros Rule!
mhood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 06:46 AM   #11
faSSt
**Sold n' Sad**
 
faSSt's Avatar
 
Drives: 11 F150 Supercrew FX4 5.0
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cabot AR.
Posts: 279
"Hitting the button once" does not turn off everything...
its only TC off - not as aggressive as competitive mode(hit button twice)

Now if you "HOLD" the button one time for 5-7seconds you will turn off TC and active handling....this is when you have full control as the driver without any driving aids
__________________
2011 Camaro 2SS, SIM, 6M, HUD, 10% tint, black out lenses, SS emblems, TSP 304 LT's, Roto-Fab, MGW shifter, gto res, 8K BFXENON, HP Tuners, Redline Fluids. ***Sold*** Now in an 11' F150 supercrew FX4.
Still addicted to the this forum
faSSt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 06:47 AM   #12
faSSt
**Sold n' Sad**
 
faSSt's Avatar
 
Drives: 11 F150 Supercrew FX4 5.0
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cabot AR.
Posts: 279
Mhood, my bad...looks like we we're typing at the same time Lol....you beat me

OP- to answer your original question, I'm always in competitive mode unless I want to have fun going a little sideways; then I turn everything off.
__________________
2011 Camaro 2SS, SIM, 6M, HUD, 10% tint, black out lenses, SS emblems, TSP 304 LT's, Roto-Fab, MGW shifter, gto res, 8K BFXENON, HP Tuners, Redline Fluids. ***Sold*** Now in an 11' F150 supercrew FX4.
Still addicted to the this forum
faSSt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 07:39 AM   #13
mhood
Orange Camaros Rule!
 
mhood's Avatar
 
Drives: 2010 1SS LS3 RS IOM
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,559
The OP needs to clear this up so the poll has some validity. If he's actually talking about hitting the button once, then the poll needs three options.
__________________

Mary - Orange Camaros Rule!
mhood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 08:03 AM   #14
The Stig
knows 2 facts about ducks
 
The Stig's Avatar
 
Drives: ...and they're both wrong
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The HMS Invincible
Posts: 25,072
I don't think the OP is aware of launch control, but I could be wrong. To me it seems like option A is press the button once and option B is pressing the option twice.
__________________
Click to view my build thread
The Stig is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Who has been successful at completely disabling DRLs? Callaway Chris Cosmetics and Lighting Modification Discussions 7 03-07-2011 10:41 AM
L99 launch, no one using comp mode? general23cmp Dragstrip and Launch Techniques Discussion 81 11-16-2010 07:45 PM
TRACTION CONTROL COMPETITIVE MODE? Ukd73 5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions 1 04-09-2010 05:33 PM
Competitive Mode DevilKnightFalcon Camaro V6 LLT Engine, Exhaust, and Bolt-Ons 20 11-02-2009 04:51 PM
COMPETITIVE MODE AND LAUNCH CONTROL (V8) DIRECTIONS CamaroScotty 5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions 80 05-02-2009 12:20 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.