VDC...off?

Pharmacist · 10-05-2010, 07:03 PM

the one thing i don't like about vdc is how intrusive it is when accelerating in a straight line with low traction. for example a dusty road or when it's snowing. in these situations a bit of wheel spin is ok for the sake of acceleration. the vdc however becomes VERY intrusive and almost cuts off all throttle and you end up standing there going nowhere quickly. i actually prefer to turn off vdc and modulate the throttle a bit until i build up some speed and then turn it back on again.

m4a1mustang · 10-05-2010, 07:05 PM

There should be three modes: On, sport, and off.

Let's just say I was shocked when I found out how advanced the Ford stability and traction control systems are when compared to the Z.

ninous26 · 10-05-2010, 07:30 PM

If you've driven RWD before and have spun out. You can handle it without VDC.. All VDC is, is just traction control and a little bit of stability control.

It has saved my life one time and nearly killed me a couple times.. I rarely drive with it on.. The time it saved my life was when I forgot to turn it off, I lost traction and nearly slid off a cliff but VDC kicked in and corrected things with fuel cut and braking.

It nearly killed me when I was trying to make a left turn on a busy street after it had rained a couple hours before.. The pavement was wet, and there was cars coming non stop both ways.. I had been sitting there for a couple minutes and I came to the conclusion that I'd have to take off quick and edge between oncoming cars onto the yellow lane.. I gave it 3/4 throttle on a bone stock car with brand new goodyear tires.. Car takes off but due to the wet pavement there was little slippage and VDC kicked in and bogged down the car completely.. I got stopped right in the middle of the road with cars very close and oncoming.. I then floored it then finally the car kicked back in and took off.. People were honking like crazy at me.. This happened twice on different occasions.

Me personally, I never ever drive with VDC on unless I forget.. Sometimes I looked at my guage cluster and I see the "VDC off" light and I don't even remember shutting it off or how fast I turned it off.. Its just automatic for me, as soon as the car starts I hit that button.

RCZ · 10-05-2010, 07:43 PM

eh, I've actually made it into a little bit of a game..l. I'm trying to go as fast as possible around corners without it kicking in. You get a feel for the "step" nature of it. If you're good to it, it will reward you with only slight intervention to keep things tidy. If you hoon with it, it will shut you down real quick.

sonic370 · 10-05-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZedZed

I really don't understand why one would want to turn VDC off other than racing on a track, it really baffles me.

Anyway, please post some pix of your crashed Z with VDC off (that's if you survived the crash of course), we sure love seeing those.

sonic370 · 10-05-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

If you feel the need to turn off VDC because its interfering with your daily driving by kicking in all the time, then you are driving like an ass, and your idea of 'daily driving' is dangerous. You shouldn't be losing traction very often if you are driving safely and are conscious of other people on the road. If you have VDC off because you like to drift while you're driving to the grocery store, then you are a hazard to everyone on the road.

If you're finding yourself turning VDC off whilst daily driving, then get your cheap ass to the track or an autocross event and get it out of your system. Thats what it really comes down to. Its not like you don't want to take your car to a track. It's that you don't want to spend the money, so your cheap ass decides to be a hooligan on public roadways. the funny thing is, the fine you'd wind up with if you were to get pulled over is less than a track day would cost. However, if you kill someone, you're probably gonna wind up going to jail for vehicular manslaughter/negligence.

sonic370 · 10-05-2010, 08:28 PM

i don't need to turn it off to know the car can get crappy on me in a heartbeat. just like i don't need to fire my pistol to prove it's loaded.

spearfish25 · 10-05-2010, 09:39 PM

Agree with RCZ. The very early stages of VDC engagement are hardly noticeable. I've come out of plenty of turns on the track where it felt perfect, and then I realize that the VDC light is blinking. We joke that the little Japanese men helped with the turn. The times when I've really screwed up on track, VDC shuts the Z down with authority and keeps her pointed straight. It's intrusive feeling if 1) you're really being a hooligan or 2) the outside temps are low and the tires are still cold.

cossie1600 · 10-05-2010, 10:59 PM

Yeah, VDC is great, great at sucking.

Here is a map of the same car/driver with VDC on and off. 5 sec slower give or take.

You can see the stupid VDC going nutty despite driving at a relatively slow pace.

YouTube - 0810 VIR 370Z chasing C5Z06 GTR.AVI Stupid VDC
YouTube - 0810 VIR 370z hotlap 217.AVI Without VDC

A good VDC system doesn't intrude under normal driving, which is something the 370 can't do. My Prius has a much nice unit, it truly doesn't kick in until the car is sliding hard.

Auston · 10-05-2010, 11:06 PM

I leave VDC off unless it's raining or wet

UNKNOWN_370 · 10-06-2010, 12:44 AM

My advice is... go to the most isolated, open place you can find. Turn off the vdc. And burn a tank of gas doin power slides and sharp 90 degree turns at the highest mph u can. Do this as often as it takes for you to feel like you have full control of the car no matter what you do. That way you never feel like if the vdc is off, you will crash in a tree or somethin. You will also have the pride and dignity of knowing that you are not just driving a sports car for show,bragging rights and chics. You will have the skills to back yo sh1t up so to speak.

sonic370 · 10-06-2010, 08:33 AM

So let me understand you. Buy a tank of gas.Then kick the xxit out of your car for around two hours. to prove to yourself you can drive.

then go buy a new set of tires and hope the newbies don't burn up thier engines and transmission's.

I know what the car will do if you turn off vdc. I don't need the car to show me.

cossie1600 · 10-06-2010, 08:40 AM

might as well buy a prius

flashburn · 10-06-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

might as well buy a prius

You should probably just stop now.

m4a1mustang · 10-06-2010, 08:55 AM

10-05-2010, 07:03 PM	#31 (permalink)
Pharmacist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,249 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 18	the one thing i don't like about vdc is how intrusive it is when accelerating in a straight line with low traction. for example a dusty road or when it's snowing. in these situations a bit of wheel spin is ok for the sake of acceleration. the vdc however becomes VERY intrusive and almost cuts off all throttle and you end up standing there going nowhere quickly. i actually prefer to turn off vdc and modulate the throttle a bit until i build up some speed and then turn it back on again. __________________ 2009 370z Sport Touring/Nismo shift Knob/Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler

10-05-2010, 07:05 PM	#32 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	There should be three modes: On, sport, and off. Let's just say I was shocked when I found out how advanced the Ford stability and traction control systems are when compared to the Z. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-05-2010, 09:39 PM	#38 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Agree with RCZ. The very early stages of VDC engagement are hardly noticeable. I've come out of plenty of turns on the track where it felt perfect, and then I realize that the VDC light is blinking. We joke that the little Japanese men helped with the turn. The times when I've really screwed up on track, VDC shuts the Z down with authority and keeps her pointed straight. It's intrusive feeling if 1) you're really being a hooligan or 2) the outside temps are low and the tires are still cold. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-06-2010, 08:55 AM	#45 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	__________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-05-2010, 07:30 PM	#33 (permalink)
ninous26 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 112 Drives: 03 G35 black 5AT Rep Power: 16	If you've driven RWD before and have spun out. You can handle it without VDC.. All VDC is, is just traction control and a little bit of stability control. It has saved my life one time and nearly killed me a couple times.. I rarely drive with it on.. The time it saved my life was when I forgot to turn it off, I lost traction and nearly slid off a cliff but VDC kicked in and corrected things with fuel cut and braking. It nearly killed me when I was trying to make a left turn on a busy street after it had rained a couple hours before.. The pavement was wet, and there was cars coming non stop both ways.. I had been sitting there for a couple minutes and I came to the conclusion that I'd have to take off quick and edge between oncoming cars onto the yellow lane.. I gave it 3/4 throttle on a bone stock car with brand new goodyear tires.. Car takes off but due to the wet pavement there was little slippage and VDC kicked in and bogged down the car completely.. I got stopped right in the middle of the road with cars very close and oncoming.. I then floored it then finally the car kicked back in and took off.. People were honking like crazy at me.. This happened twice on different occasions. Me personally, I never ever drive with VDC on unless I forget.. Sometimes I looked at my guage cluster and I see the "VDC off" light and I don't even remember shutting it off or how fast I turned it off.. Its just automatic for me, as soon as the car starts I hit that button.

10-05-2010, 07:43 PM	#34 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	eh, I've actually made it into a little bit of a game..l. I'm trying to go as fast as possible around corners without it kicking in. You get a feel for the "step" nature of it. If you're good to it, it will reward you with only slight intervention to keep things tidy. If you hoon with it, it will shut you down real quick.

10-05-2010, 08:28 PM	#37 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 18	i don't need to turn it off to know the car can get crappy on me in a heartbeat. just like i don't need to fire my pistol to prove it's loaded.

10-05-2010, 10:59 PM	#39 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Yeah, VDC is great, great at sucking. Here is a map of the same car/driver with VDC on and off. 5 sec slower give or take. You can see the stupid VDC going nutty despite driving at a relatively slow pace. YouTube - 0810 VIR 370Z chasing C5Z06 GTR.AVI Stupid VDC YouTube - 0810 VIR 370z hotlap 217.AVI Without VDC A good VDC system doesn't intrude under normal driving, which is something the 370 can't do. My Prius has a much nice unit, it truly doesn't kick in until the car is sliding hard.

10-05-2010, 11:06 PM	#40 (permalink)
Auston Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 764 Drives: 2009 Z34 T+S RAE Rep Power: 17	I leave VDC off unless it's raining or wet

10-06-2010, 12:44 AM	#41 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14858	My advice is... go to the most isolated, open place you can find. Turn off the vdc. And burn a tank of gas doin power slides and sharp 90 degree turns at the highest mph u can. Do this as often as it takes for you to feel like you have full control of the car no matter what you do. That way you never feel like if the vdc is off, you will crash in a tree or somethin. You will also have the pride and dignity of knowing that you are not just driving a sports car for show,bragging rights and chics. You will have the skills to back yo sh1t up so to speak.

10-06-2010, 08:33 AM	#42 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 18	So let me understand you. Buy a tank of gas.Then kick the xxit out of your car for around two hours. to prove to yourself you can drive. then go buy a new set of tires and hope the newbies don't burn up thier engines and transmission's. I know what the car will do if you turn off vdc. I don't need the car to show me.

10-06-2010, 08:40 AM	#43 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	might as well buy a prius