V12VS: DSC Normal/Track or Off?

[CSK1]

V12VS owners: When I went to Millbrook PDC, the instructor told me to leave DSC in Normal mode as the driving aids won't come into action untill really needed, the system being very permissive, instructor said when there's DSC intervention, even in Normal mode it means you've gone too far and did something wrong. So I did the entire PDC with DSC in Normal mode.
Now when I did a Track day organised by my Aston Martin dealer, the instructor told me to put DSC into Track mode as in Normal mode it will constantly use the rear brakes and unnecessarily wear the rear brake pads so I did a full day with DSC in Track mode.
On the road, even a winding road near my house which I often use for a spirited drive, I always leave DSC in Normal mode but I'm wondering if I should use Track mode instead.
In the rain (and on Corsa's), even in Normal mode I managed to take the car VERY sideways on a motorway, I thought I would spin but fortunately managed to get it straight again (I'd like to think due to my driving skills but probably with a lot of help from DSC) and I was thinking what my Millbrook instructor told me was right after all, Normal mode is very permissive and allows for quite some slip.
So what do you V12VS owners think? Do you select Normal.Track or switch DSC completely off?

[quench]

Road driving: everything on; anything else I believe is irresponsible in most situations.

Circuit driving: TRAC mode.

I am always skeptical of people who claim that the reason they turn of stability control completely is that they find it too intrusive. Unless you are a professional driver, I would suggest that the activation of stability control is a warning that you have f*@ked things up, not that the car is prematurely putting an end to your fun.

Then again, I am not a fan of showboating, powersliding etc. My goal on a circuit is to drive as tidily as possible, with the understanding that TRAC mode allows a little more movement of the car in a controlled (i.e. not on the street) environment.

[B4rnst4ble]

Sport button for me everything else normal
I am not a driving god so need as much help as possible

[northernmedia]

All 'on' unless I'm on a track or a runway with old tyres

[12pack]

V12V, mind you. Dry day, warmer than 22C =>track mode even on the road as Normal seems way too aggressive especially with the rear brakes. On a test drive with the 7 speed car, indeed Normal seemed more progressive. Perhaps your Millbrook instructor had the old V12V in mind.

On a cold,wet day - Tesla P100D...

[Zod]

The DSC is much less interventionist than in most cars. I'd say normal mode is like MDM mode on my old M5 (normal mode on that was a PITA and would cut fuel if you tried anything other than a very polite departure from a junction).

[CSK1]

12pack said:

Perhaps your Millbrook instructor had the old V12V in mind.

No, I was doing the Millbrook PDC with a V12 Vantage S and my car being the Roadster version of the same car we were going through the various settings of this particular model.
Yes I think on a warm and dry day, I could be tempted to use the Track setting of the DSC, especially on a twisty road where there will be less intervention on the rear brakes.

[roughrider]

CSK1 said:

No, I was doing the Millbrook PDC with a V12 Vantage S and my car being the Roadster version of the same car we were going through the various settings of this particular model.
Yes I think on a warm and dry day, I could be tempted to use the Track setting of the DSC, especially on a twisty road where there will be less intervention on the rear brakes.

If the rear brakes are wearing out quickly, it is due to the DSC counteracting understeer. Understeer is caused by turning in to corners too early, or, accelerating too early [before reducing steering angle], or turning in at too high a speed. If you avoid the above, the DSC should not have to intervene. All cars are designed to understeer, to protect drivers from their own inexperience. With high horsepower, rear wheel drive, and limited slip diff, you can induce power oversteer, at your peril, especially on a wet surface.............................. Basically, its advisable to turn in to corners a little later and slower than your instincts tell you to do, on a balanced throttle, and only apply more power as you are reducing steering angle from the clipping point [late apex].

[CSK1]

That is exactly what my PDC instructor told me.
I think there's a DSC light flashing when it intervenes, the only times it lights up is under hard acceleration in a straight line so I must be doing OK in the twisty stuff.

[roughrider]

CSK1 said:

That is exactly what my PDC instructor told me.
I think there's a DSC light flashing when it intervenes, the only times it lights up is under hard acceleration in a straight line so I must be doing OK in the twisty stuff.

Maybe it was me?

[CSK1]

Well no, it was Steve, can't remember his last name. Although you may have been instructing my friend Trevor who was doing the PDC in a Vanquish at the same time, I was in a V12VS, we did it on 17th May 2016.
Great day out and fantastic instructors.
Having read your comments, so do you think I should just leave DSC in normal mode for road use and Track mode only for er... track use?
Thanks for your valuable input.

[roughrider]

Well, if there was ever an incident, it would be a case of "why the heck did i do that" ? There are plenty of Youtube videos of very expensive cars being written off because people pressed the button they were told never to press!! Sorry!

[CSK1]

Yes like this one:
https://youtu.be/BvHxqYDWe6M

[CSK1]

So basically you're saying that instructors tell people to leave DSC alone so as to avoid lawsuits?

[northernmedia]

CSK1 said:

Yes like this one:
https://youtu.be/BvHxqYDWe6M

He just understeered straight into the barrier.
I don't think any traction control control could've helped!
Tool.