Has VDC made you a worse Z driver?

nismolife · 08-12-2010, 03:31 PM

If you are like me, you enjoy driving your Z pretty hard at times, often with the traction control disabled. Last weekend I was driving my Nismo with VTC off. There had been one of those misty first rains after a period of hot weather. My Nismo came around on me so fast all I could do was go two-feet-in and wait for the crunch!

I'm 40 and have been driving since I was 16. I had a 07 350z & other sports cars prior to this and rode streetbikes for years in all weather. I've tracked my Z and driven numerous other high powered cars. This was my *first* accident. Fortunately it was a low speed bounce over the curb backwards, which did in the wheel, tie rod & who knows what else under there. Passenger side airbags went off also (though I was alone in the car).

So I was thinking - what the hell happened?

I came to the realization that lately I've been just mashing the pedal and letting the Nizzy's very capable traction control save me. I never intended to lose my "feel" for the edge of traction & feedback from the car, but this change in my driving style has just happened slowly over time.

So has VTC allowed me to become a worse sports car driver?

This isn't a question about safety - obviously had I left VTC on, my car wouldn't be in the shop right now and I wouldn't have endangered myself and others, but is the safety of the throttle-dump experience worth the trade-off in driving experience and actual driving skill?

m4a1mustang · 08-12-2010, 03:34 PM

More likely a lapse in judgement than getting too used to driving with VDC... it happens.

kenchan · 08-12-2010, 03:42 PM

im not sure how i can test driving skill on the streets other than for smooth shifting so the VDC is usually turned on unless i know im going to be driving in this hump/dip area where the VDC over-reacts and slows the car down.

Cmike2780 · 08-12-2010, 04:12 PM

On the contrary, I think its made me a better driver. It lets you know where the limits are and it leaves it up to you to decide when you want to push it. Imagine how many more wrecked Z's there would be without the VDC. It was much easier to drive with driving aids when cars were heavy or underpowered. Most people can't handle a 200hp car properly without driving aids, let alone one with 332hp or more.

Nitex · 08-12-2010, 04:16 PM

I turn it off first thing when i get in my car.

johnnydrama · 08-13-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitex

I turn it off first thing when i get in my car.

ditto. since the first day i picked it up the first thing i do after the car is started is press the VDC button then put my seatbelt on. i dont even think about it anymore

Philipp · 08-13-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

ditto. since the first day i picked it up the first thing i do after the car is started is press the VDC button then put my seatbelt on. i dont even think about it anymore

ditto. I have the same reflex..

That said, the car will ALWAYS keep some VDC functions alive even if it is turned Off... Try it on a circuit and you will feel the VDC kicking in at the limit (meanly on uneven pavement).

Modshack · 08-13-2010, 11:34 AM

Seems an unfortunate trend for people to treat the throttle like an On/Off switch. Learn and practice driving smoothly (doesn't mean you can't be aggressive) and VDC is just along for the ride. It won't trigger if your car control skills are good and your technique is smooth. I never took mine off, and never felt it was intrusive even playing hard in the mountains, but I don't drive like an a$$ everyday on the street either..

KusoSama · 08-17-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitex

I turn it off first thing when i get in my car.

There's a fuse... Remove it and it's always off.

Nitex · 08-17-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KusoSama

There's a fuse... Remove it and it's always off.

I thought i read something about that. Ill do some quick research, figure out location. Thanks for the tip.

nismolife · 08-17-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitex

I thought i read something about that. Ill do some quick research, figure out location. Thanks for the tip.

Look under the ebrake I think...

6spd · 08-12-2010, 04:17 PM

im not trying to be some street racer by any stretch of the imagination, so giving up the safety of the vdc just to say i can drive with it off doesnt make much sense to me. if i ever attempt real race driving, like starting auto-x and working my way up, then yes vdc will come off. but on city streets... nah, im a better driver when im not wrecking my car.

Cmike2780 · 08-12-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spd

im not trying to be some street racer by any stretch of the imagination, so giving up the safety of the vdc just to say i can drive with it off doesnt make much sense to me. if i ever attempt real race driving, like starting auto-x and working my way up, then yes vdc will come off. but on city streets... nah, im a better driver when im not wrecking my car.

wrecked car=worst driver!

shabarivas · 08-12-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

wrecked car=worst driver!

I bet you anything some of the worlds best drivers have walked away from some bad crashes... It teaches you to respect your car. And if you respect your car - it will respect you back. Plain and simple.

6spd · 08-12-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabarivas

I bet you anything some of the worlds best drivers have walked away from some bad crashes... It teaches you to respect your car. And if you respect your car - it will respect you back. Plain and simple.

agreed. but accidents happen, as evident by the overwhelming number of wrecked Z threads!

08-12-2010, 03:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
nismolife Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Everett Posts: 24 Drives: 09 Nismo 370Z Rep Power: 16	Has VDC made you a worse Z driver? If you are like me, you enjoy driving your Z pretty hard at times, often with the traction control disabled. Last weekend I was driving my Nismo with VTC off. There had been one of those misty first rains after a period of hot weather. My Nismo came around on me so fast all I could do was go two-feet-in and wait for the crunch! I'm 40 and have been driving since I was 16. I had a 07 350z & other sports cars prior to this and rode streetbikes for years in all weather. I've tracked my Z and driven numerous other high powered cars. This was my first accident. Fortunately it was a low speed bounce over the curb backwards, which did in the wheel, tie rod & who knows what else under there. Passenger side airbags went off also (though I was alone in the car). So I was thinking - what the hell happened? I came to the realization that lately I've been just mashing the pedal and letting the Nizzy's very capable traction control save me. I never intended to lose my "feel" for the edge of traction & feedback from the car, but this change in my driving style has just happened slowly over time. So has VTC allowed me to become a worse sports car driver? This isn't a question about safety - obviously had I left VTC on, my car wouldn't be in the shop right now and I wouldn't have endangered myself and others, but is the safety of the throttle-dump experience worth the trade-off in driving experience and actual driving skill?

08-12-2010, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	More likely a lapse in judgement than getting too used to driving with VDC... it happens. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

08-12-2010, 04:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	On the contrary, I think its made me a better driver. It lets you know where the limits are and it leaves it up to you to decide when you want to push it. Imagine how many more wrecked Z's there would be without the VDC. It was much easier to drive with driving aids when cars were heavy or underpowered. Most people can't handle a 200hp car properly without driving aids, let alone one with 332hp or more. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

08-12-2010, 04:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 17	I turn it off first thing when i get in my car. __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

08-13-2010, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Seems an unfortunate trend for people to treat the throttle like an On/Off switch. Learn and practice driving smoothly (doesn't mean you can't be aggressive) and VDC is just along for the ride. It won't trigger if your car control skills are good and your technique is smooth. I never took mine off, and never felt it was intrusive even playing hard in the mountains, but I don't drive like an a$$ everyday on the street either.. __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here! Last edited by Modshack; 08-13-2010 at 12:21 PM.

08-12-2010, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	im not sure how i can test driving skill on the streets other than for smooth shifting so the VDC is usually turned on unless i know im going to be driving in this hump/dip area where the VDC over-reacts and slows the car down.

08-12-2010, 04:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	im not trying to be some street racer by any stretch of the imagination, so giving up the safety of the vdc just to say i can drive with it off doesnt make much sense to me. if i ever attempt real race driving, like starting auto-x and working my way up, then yes vdc will come off. but on city streets... nah, im a better driver when im not wrecking my car. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

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