Quote:
Originally Posted by SeattleLion
I think this all comes back to the same argument the manual transmission people have against the automatics. VDC is similar. I always had manual transmissions (till I got the Prius -- another story). I've had stability control systems (VDC on Nissan) since 2000.
The VDC *prevents* a bad situation from developing when you are on the edge of one. It can't save you if you do something stupid. Having said that, the VDC makes decisions based on an outcome Nissan determined was on the boundary of "safe" operation on a highway. Nissan is a hell of a lot better about this than Toyota. The Toyota VDC takes over in situations that have no chance of causing an accident. I find that the Nissan VDC lets me do pretty much what I want on the road.
As AK said, it is great fun to learn to operate the Z to drift in corners and to possibly spin out. You can't do that with the VDC on. So, in the rare (for most of us) situation when it is safe to risk a spin out or worse, then turning off the VDC is great. I am signed up to take a performance driving course where I will start to learn how to manage the Z on the track both with and without VDC.
I think it is important for people to start to understand that computers and computer programs are a lot smarter than they used to be. That's why the 370's auto transmission has a better 0-60 time than the manual. Yes, there are some amazing drivers that can equal or even slightly better the auto times, but isn't it cool that an automatic transmission is better at shifting than a person in some situations? Similarly, it's truly cool that the VDC will let me make some mistakes on the road that it will correct and prevent an accident? Look at all the crash reports on the forum. Most of them have comments "VDC was off".
There are all sorts of people here. Some believe that real men and women don't drive automatics with VDC. Some choose to take advantage of the advanced technology in the Z and let the computers do some of the work.
Who's right? Neither! As long as the decision to turn the VDC off is informed; you know what can happen if you make a mistake in controlling the car, then turn it off when you want to play. Turn it on when you don't. That's why there is a switch.
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Most of those accidents are due to careless driving and/or lack of driving skills. Last 3 accidents i read on the forums were all people that made dumb decisions...ie, the guy that thought someone was going to hit him so he turned into on-coming traffic and hit a elderly women. That being said, you take the number of accidents due to careless driving of the Z owner or other vehical owner, the number of accidents will be the same as people that had their VDC on.
I'm not saying VDC wont save you from getting in a accident, because im sure it has in some cases. But i dont consider having VDC off, the cause of accidents. Even though i only had my 370z for a short time before i decided to sell it. I unhooked the harness for the system so it was always off. I drove in rain, hail, winter with -59*C weather and a city that does not plow until 5 weeks after it snows. I have been in bad situations but i have never once lost control of my car to a point where i get in accidents, not once, not even close to a accident. Does that make me the best driver? no, but it sure as hell makes me a good driver because i dont rely on a computer to get me out of a situation if it happens. I keep my VDC off and when the time and place permits, ie the track or a empty parking lot, i get my car to spin out or do other things to see how the car and myself react.