VDC...off?

ninous26 · 10-05-2010, 06:30 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, 06:43 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.

spearfish25 · 10-05-2010, 08:39 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, 09:59 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, 10:06 PM

I leave VDC off unless it's raining or wet

UNKNOWN_370 · 10-05-2010, 11:44 PM

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, 07:33 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, 07:40 AM

might as well buy a prius

flashburn · 10-06-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

might as well buy a prius

You should probably just stop now.

AtomicRob · 10-06-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

You should probably just stop now.

cossie1600 · 10-06-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

You should probably just stop now.

I know my Prius won't cut power in tight corners or when I need to go WOT. The VDC on the Z cars love to cut throttle or apply brakes in random moments. It's easy for me to activate the VDC doing a 5mph tight turn into my private road. A good system should only intrude when you need it, not at random moments. I know a lot of people have never driven other cars with VDC, but do give them a shot before you talk about how good the Nissan system is.

Why do you buy your car to cruise at 55mph? You can get a Prius and get 2x the gas mileage and 2/3 the cost. What a waste. Also going by your view, Miami Heat shouldn't even play a game and they will win a championship.

flashburn · 10-06-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I know my Prius won't cut power in tight corners or when I need to go WOT. The VDC on the Z cars love to cut throttle or apply brakes in random moments. It's easy for me to activate the VDC doing a 5mph tight turn into my private road. A good system should only intrude when you need it, not at random moments. I know a lot of people have never driven other cars with VDC, but do give them a shot before you talk about how good the Nissan system is.

Why do you buy your car to cruise at 55mph? You can get a Prius and get 2x the gas mileage and 2/3 the cost. What a waste. Also going by your view, Miami Heat shouldn't even play a game and they will win a championship.

My view? Please, show me where you can see my view on this subject. Except for the fact that I think it's ridiculous to say that if we drive with VDC on then we might as well just drive a Prius. Actually, it isn't ridiculous, just ******* stupid.

LunaZ · 10-06-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I know my Prius won't cut power in tight corners or when I need to go WOT. The VDC on the Z cars love to cut throttle or apply brakes in random moments. It's easy for me to activate the VDC doing a 5mph tight turn into my private road. A good system should only intrude when you need it, not at random moments.

I'm not saying the Z's VDC system is as good as some of the other sports cars out there with better programming, but I don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be.
I've never experienced "random" engagement of the VDC system like you describe. In fact, any time I've experienced a harsh or abrupt VDC engagement, it was a result of deliberately tool-like throttle application on my part. When driving smoothly, I might notice the VDC light blinking, but I don't experience any abrupt throttle cut or brake application.
I'm not a fanboy who thinks that everything about the 370Z is the best ever, but I also don't have the vehement hatred for the the VDC system that you do. I think it's just fine for a street driven $30K sports car.

I agree to disagree.

m4a1mustang · 10-06-2010, 07:55 AM

kenchan · 10-06-2010, 09:58 AM

if it wasn't for these dumbarses , nissan would've put the right front offset wheels on our cars imho. wth's with +47?! lol still kids crash into things.

this car should have came out of the box +27/+15.

10-05-2010, 08:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	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, 07:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	__________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-05-2010, 06:30 PM	#1 (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, 06:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	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, 09:59 PM	#4 (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, 10:06 PM	#5 (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

10-05-2010, 11:44 PM	#6 (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, 07:33 AM	#7 (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, 07:40 AM	#8 (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

10-06-2010, 09:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	if it wasn't for these dumbarses , nissan would've put the right front offset wheels on our cars imho. wth's with +47?! lol still kids crash into things. this car should have came out of the box +27/+15.