Faster with VCD off?

ChrisSlicks · 04-17-2009, 05:06 PM

It did save my *** one time in my G35.

It was a nice sunny winter day, snow was mostly melted. I was throwing the car through some back country roads at a good clip when I hit a small patch of ice mid corner. The VDC acted instantly, reacting quicker than I possibly could of and kept the car straight and level. I have quick reactions but I really don't know how well I would have faired on that one.

spearfish25 · 04-17-2009, 05:27 PM

Yep, I've had similar 'saves' in my Audi A4. I swerved off the highway as I was about to miss an offramp and hit gravel on the shoulder. The tail started to spin out despite quattro, and the stability control saved my a$$. I'm working under the assumption that the 370Z VDC works as well as the Audi system. I surely would have wrecked the car if I didn't have the slip protection enabled.

If the car is fishtailing with VDC on, I'd argue you didn't have a prayer with it off. Since it cuts power and modulates the brakes on all four wheels, it would have to malfunction to make the situation worse.

wstar · 04-17-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

If the car is fishtailing with VDC on, I'd argue you didn't have a prayer with it off. Since it cuts power and modulates the brakes on all four wheels, it would have to malfunction to make the situation worse.

One situation (I don't know if that's what was being referenced) where it can make things worse is where you know what's going on and you're trying to push through a slide to get out of the way of whatever, and the VDC will opt for stability and cut your throttle and/or tap your brakes and prevent what you're trying to accomplish.

spearfish25 · 04-17-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

One situation (I don't know if that's what was being referenced) where it can make things worse is where you know what's going on and you're trying to push through a slide to get out of the way of whatever, and the VDC will opt for stability and cut your throttle and/or tap your brakes and prevent what you're trying to accomplish.

This is true. I drove an Audi RS4 on a wet racetrack and was continuously annoyed when the skid protection would stop me from applying throttle to slide gracefully out of a turn. However, during daily driving I'd imagine VDC would do a much better job of controlling an inadvertent skid than I would.

rackley · 04-18-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

One situation (I don't know if that's what was being referenced) where it can make things worse is where you know what's going on and you're trying to push through a slide to get out of the way of whatever, and the VDC will opt for stability and cut your throttle and/or tap your brakes and prevent what you're trying to accomplish.

Like an aggressive merge into tight traffic - something I do multiple times every day during rush hour.

shabarivas · 04-17-2009, 05:35 PM

This happens to depend on what kind of setup you have... the more oversteer.. the more you will have VDC save your *** if you F up... if you have understeer... and VDC kicks in prematurely - which it will.. you will steer clear into the lanes closest to the merge lane = very bad

Pushing_Tin · 04-18-2009, 12:13 PM

This car really needs a sport or track setting for the VDC. It's way too intrusive on the normal setting. A few times I have tried to hit a gap in traffic and instead of rapid acceleration I get a bogged down engine.

Now a few times I have had it off during periods of "spirited driving" I have nearly spun the car out. The wheelbase is so short it has been difficult to control the oversteer without it snapping around like a bullwhip. You have to really watch it if you're driving hard with the VDC off imo.

wstar · 04-18-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

The wheelbase is so short it has been difficult to control the oversteer without it snapping around like a bullwhip. You have to really watch it if you're driving hard with the VDC off imo.

This is just something you have to get used to in a rear-wheel-drive car with a good HP/Weight ratio. Find somewhere (without cars or curbs) to practice, and you'll learn to modulate the throttle to control the oversteer - either avoid it completely, or do a 180 if the situation calls for it (makes for much tigher U-turns

), or anything in between. Once you have a feel for that oversteer, it makes it much easier to ride the edge of it when going through curves, too.

Pushing_Tin · 04-18-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

This is just something you have to get used to in a rear-wheel-drive car with a good HP/Weight ratio. Find somewhere (without cars or curbs) to practice, and you'll learn to modulate the throttle to control the oversteer - either avoid it completely, or do a 180 if the situation calls for it (makes for much tigher U-turns

), or anything in between. Once you have a feel for that oversteer, it makes it much easier to ride the edge of it when going through curves, too.

All of my cars (15-20) except two have been RWD, so I know a lot about oversteer. My impression of this car is due to its very short wheelbase and light weight its difficult to drive it right up to the edge of a spin out like most RWD cars I've had. My other cars had a very large sweet spot that was fairly predictable the Z on the other hand will surprise you due to the sweet spot being very small before loss of control. I have not been to the track in this car yet, and I'm sure that will help.

How a track or sport setting was left off of this car is beyond me.

355890 · 04-18-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

My other cars had a very large sweet spot that was fairly predictable the Z on the other hand will surprise you due to the sweet spot being very small before loss of control.

However that so called sweet spot will take a lot longer coming than the other vehicles you describe.

cossie1600 · 10-08-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

This car really needs a sport or track setting for the VDC. It's way too intrusive on the normal setting. A few times I have tried to hit a gap in traffic and instead of rapid acceleration I get a bogged down engine.

Now a few times I have had it off during periods of "spirited driving" I have nearly spun the car out. The wheelbase is so short it has been difficult to control the oversteer without it snapping around like a bullwhip. You have to really watch it if you're driving hard with the VDC off imo.

try driving a corvette or s2000, the Z is nothing. Heck, the 350 was more prone to spins than the 370...

Pharmacist · 10-08-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

try driving a corvette or s2000, the Z is nothing. Heck, the 350 was more prone to spins than the 370...

True. Actually the z seems to have too much understeer from the factory. And my aftermarket tires seem to have made it worse. I'd like to modify the suspension and dial out some of that irritating understeer.

cossie1600 · 10-09-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

True. Actually the z seems to have too much understeer from the factory. And my aftermarket tires seem to have made it worse. I'd like to modify the suspension and dial out some of that irritating understeer.

you can get a lot of it out by getting the same size front and rear tires, no need for suspension unless you really want to take it to the next level or you just want to spend the money. also the diff most of the time will do a one wheel spin a lot of time instead of getting into drift mode

Mt Tam I am · 10-09-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

you can get a lot of it out by getting the same size front and rear tires, no need for suspension unless you really want to take it to the next level or you just want to spend the money. also the diff most of the time will do a one wheel spin a lot of time instead of getting into drift mode

RE: you can get a lot of it out by getting the same size front and rear tires,...

Really! Do I get wider fronts or more narrow rears? I already played with my suspension so maybe it is too late, the understeer is gone already.

355890 · 04-18-2009, 04:19 PM

VDC - when ignited will Freak you out to the point you almost feel like you are loosing control.

Weird feeling.

If you have never felt the effects, take a moment and try driving one side of the car thru ankle deep standing water and the other side on dry running at about 50mph. You will then get a taste of what to expect from the VDC in a safe environment.

I drive with it off except in bad weather, where it becomes "an aide: not a "do it all for me" device.

04-18-2009, 04:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
355890 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 416 Drives: GP Z Base+Sport (6m) Rep Power: 542	VDC - when ignited will Freak you out to the point you almost feel like you are loosing control. Weird feeling. If you have never felt the effects, take a moment and try driving one side of the car thru ankle deep standing water and the other side on dry running at about 50mph. You will then get a taste of what to expect from the VDC in a safe environment. I drive with it off except in bad weather, where it becomes "an aide: not a "do it all for me" device. __________________ *"Burnley Football Club supporter" ENGLAND...ENGLAND...ENGLAND*

04-17-2009, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 654	It did save my *** one time in my G35. It was a nice sunny winter day, snow was mostly melted. I was throwing the car through some back country roads at a good clip when I hit a small patch of ice mid corner. The VDC acted instantly, reacting quicker than I possibly could of and kept the car straight and level. I have quick reactions but I really don't know how well I would have faired on that one.

04-17-2009, 05:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	Yep, I've had similar 'saves' in my Audi A4. I swerved off the highway as I was about to miss an offramp and hit gravel on the shoulder. The tail started to spin out despite quattro, and the stability control saved my a$$. I'm working under the assumption that the 370Z VDC works as well as the Audi system. I surely would have wrecked the car if I didn't have the slip protection enabled. If the car is fishtailing with VDC on, I'd argue you didn't have a prayer with it off. Since it cuts power and modulates the brakes on all four wheels, it would have to malfunction to make the situation worse.

04-17-2009, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
shabarivas A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,188 Drives: 370z MB 6mt Rep Power: 914	This happens to depend on what kind of setup you have... the more oversteer.. the more you will have VDC save your *** if you F up... if you have understeer... and VDC kicks in prematurely - which it will.. you will steer clear into the lanes closest to the merge lane = very bad

04-18-2009, 12:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 228	This car really needs a sport or track setting for the VDC. It's way too intrusive on the normal setting. A few times I have tried to hit a gap in traffic and instead of rapid acceleration I get a bogged down engine. Now a few times I have had it off during periods of "spirited driving" I have nearly spun the car out. The wheelbase is so short it has been difficult to control the oversteer without it snapping around like a bullwhip. You have to really watch it if you're driving hard with the VDC off imo.