So my dad spun out my Z today!

Spikuh

Most 18 year olds don't have a lot of bills, so if he has been working a job consistently since 15 or so and saving all his money it is well within the realm of possibility. A part time job at minimum wage would still net someone around $20k which can just about pay for an '09 model these days.

Shamu

People typically run out of capability/talent far before a sports car like a Z does that why there is VCD.

Next time have dad take the car to an autocross or drift session. Much cheaper than sprining car and hitting hard stuff .

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Grant

wdkwang

sorry to see this happen

i will disagree with the others about keeping the VDC on. this car really isn't that powerful and vdc kills the fun. it's a sports car, drive it like it's meant to be. vdc stays off unless it's snowing/raining hard for me

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wilsonp

I've had mid-engine cars bite me before, fortunately I've always regained control in time - I think any sports car can surprise you when there is a sudden loss of traction. Experience driving in slippery conditions can help

I would make sure to have under the bumper cover checked in case any crush items are there that need replacing.

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2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
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brucelidat

Stories like this make me worry about turning VDC off when I go to the track since I am a newbie. Does it make that much of a difference?

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icormba

note to you: that sucks!
note to me: keep the VDC on!
note to your Dad: Awesome!

cossie1600

It all depends on how you drive. You drive poorly, VDC will kick on a lot. You drive perfect, it will still kick on way too much. If you feel comfortable without it, then you can skip it. Only you can determine if you need it or not. Please don't say how great the VDC is because you will be faster with the VDC off.

brucelidat

I haven't driven without it yet so I can't really say and these stories make me worried about trying it out since it is my DD and I am usually driving with a lot of other cars on the road. Wonder if the track would be a good time to give it a shot. I'm a noob and do not have any delusions about my skills so I've kept it on so far.

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Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

awkwardturtle

Facepalm at me

KingZee

His post doesn't say a year anywhere actually

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Focus ST

awkwardturtle

^ Good point, I didn't notice that. Faceplam at myself

scottIN

Once you get accustomed to a car, you'll know the limits. If you're on the track, you have to decide if you want to run at 90% of the limit or 100% of it. If I'm out practicing in my kart, I'll run at 95% of the limit. In a race, it's 100%.

The interesting thing you learn (and anyone who has spent much time on a track knows it) is that you'll eventually know when to correct before you lose it. You get a sense of when it's going to slide, how it's going to slide and if you need to correct it before it does (sliding is not a bad thing - it's actually faster). It's hard to explain, but when you're driving at the limit you just know what's going to happen before it happens and you fix it so it doesn't happen (usually by a minute amount of steering input). But it takes time to learn.

Here's a good example. I'd say that I'm 'loose' in this photo, but chances are I just went into the corner too hot and the back end started to come around. I'm counter steering to correct it (and that's a TON of counter steer). I actually went past the limit, but was able to bring it back without spinning. When I had to correct it, it did slow me down and I wasn't able to use the whole width of the track, but it's better than spinning or driving it off. That's about a 70mph left-hander I'm in.

cossie1600

The Z is a fairly predictable car when it comes to driving. It usually doesn't do anything stupid unless you stab the gas or jerk the wheel. If you have any sense of driving the car and know you have to drive home after, you should be able to adopt accordingly. While I personally I can't stand the VDC, there have been people I instructed where I had to make sure it is staying on because they just didn't have the sense of driving fast. You make the decision based on how comfortable you are.

Btw, don't blame the Z or the VDC when you have $hitty tires and crappy suspension setup. Your only contact with the road are the 4 pieces of rubber

clintfocus

just curious, outta everyone here giving driving advice, how many of you have actually driven your Z to and past its limits in a controlled, legal environment on a road course or auto-X? (Just trying to separate the good advice from the BS )

Btw ScottIN, nice kart

RiCharlie

On second thought I am sure he feels just as bad maybe even worse than you do...
I am a dad and I know how I would feel if I did that...on the other hand if my son did it to my car I would wring his neck!!