As OP of this thread, I find all the comments interesting.
To-day, I found myself on a freshly gravelled road, just packed with a roller by the looks of it, nice loose stuff.
Come to a stop, trans in "D", push the pedal right down. A very short
wheel spin, the engine sounds like it's bogging, but the car accelerated smoothly and straight. I could hear a little bit of gravel coming off the rear tires. A little disappointing but safe.
Come to a stop, trans in "D", turned the ESC off. Push the pedal right down. The tires immediately broke free, spinning and throwing gravel like a good thing, tach was up around 5000 rpm. The rear end started to come around and I had to correct for it with steering before I did the sensible thing and took my foot out of it.
I tried both ways, ESC on and ESC off a couple of times with the same results. Even the wife commented on the difference.
My conclusion, on the 2013 3.8 Genny, the ESC will eliminate traction control and of course eliminate the Stability control when you push the button in and ESC OFF is lit up on your dash. From what I experienced, with 333HP and rear
wheel drive, the ESC is essential to a safe drive, especially under poor traction conditions.
I had my Corvette at a road track for hot lapping once, I asked an instructor if I should turn the stability control off (called COMPETITIVE MODE) or leave it on. He suggested for my safety and the sake of the car, leave it on. I think I'll apply his suggestion to my new Genesis too!!
RonJ