After skidding and sliding this past winter storm, I wonder if VSC really works as advertised.

We had some big snow in Colorado. As usual, the plow crew was busy eating yellow snow so we got lots of snow and ice on our roads. The rear end of my RX300 slid out several times. Once it went 45 degree sideways, though I was able to correct it easily every time.

What bothered me was that the skid warning light never came on. The skid warning light (not the VSC light) was supposed to come on with warning beeps according to the manual. I got absolutely nothing, though it was quite obviously that the RX was sliding - like a Subaru in a rally race.

Yes, I know the Goodyear Integrity has the tenacious grip of a pizza cutter, but shouldn't the VSC at least warn me?

Your comment please.

 

You can test VSC well in a parking garage with the 180 degree sweep turn/incline. Just gradually accellerate and hold control of the turn.As the computer senses the slippage, the VSC alert will beep at you and combination of the ABS and ECU will retard engine acceleration. VSC is there to help you maneuver the car in accident avoiding maneuvers. VSC will beep at you in hard turns or sudden pitch in weight distribution...not if the rear end just happens to gradually slide out as you are moving forward i.e from snow or black ice.

Works very well in the Lexus cars equipped w/VSC and especially the Toyota & Lexus SUV's. This feature worked very well in an 04 4Runner SR5 V6 4wd I rented from Hertz earlier this year.