With the key, rather than it perhaps having got wet, could it actually have been flat? With it at the bottom of the bag it might inadvertently been activating every step you went - after plugging back in it would have recharged on your drive home and thus worked fine the next day. Just a thought.
Performance control alters the speed of the four driving wheels to tighten steering - a little like a tank track.
There is no option to turn it on or off as far as I know. Equally no idea how to tell if it's really there. I have it on mine, however the only proof I have is the print-out from the delivery where it is stated.
Ive not driven one without so no idea how much difference it actually makes!
