VDC not so bad, actually darn good

spearfish25 · 06-01-2009, 03:34 PM

I had the pleasure of partaking in the TrackDaze event (HPDE course) in Joliet this weekend and it was an absolute blast. While I was the only privately owned 370Z there, a local dealer brought a few over for test drives on the track. They had a professional race driver taking people for hot laps throughout the day. Prior to my ride-along, I did three sessions and found that VDC was not overly intrusive at all. The smoother you are with your driving, the less it would butt in. The times it did come on, it really kept the car stable and didn't kill the forward momentum at all.

Then came the hot laps with the pro. He kept VDC activated and drove the living $hit out of the car. I never thought the 370Z could do the things he was doing with it...utterly incredible. Despite being a the outer limits of tire grip and traction, the car really didn't cut power or apply VDC braking. I was truly impressed with the VDC yesterday.

just figured I'd weigh in because most people think it's overly intrusive.

Modshack · 06-01-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

just figured I'd weigh in because most people think it's overly intrusive.

Most who find it intrusive are not a smooth as you and your Demo driver! SMOOTH and Fast wins the race.

ChrisSlicks · 06-01-2009, 04:04 PM

That is often true on the track where everything is about being smooth to be quick. There are different driving scenarios that require much more aggressive car control such as auto-cross, the traction control doesn't work at all in that environment.

Pushing_Tin · 06-01-2009, 04:14 PM

I am one that finds it overly intrusive. Has it saved me, yes. Has it almost killed me, yes. I find it most intrusive when trying to hit a gap in traffic where a quick burst is required. Too many times the nanny has kicked in right as I was crossing fast moving traffic. So now I have gotten used to turing it off before I need to hit a gap.

Many cars are coming with a sport setting these days and that's what this car really needs. Somewhere between full off and full on.

Modshack · 06-01-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

I am one that finds it overly intrusive. Has it saved me, yes. Has it almost killed me, yes. I find it most intrusive when trying to hit a gap in traffic where a quick burst is required. Too many times the nanny has kicked in right as I was crossing fast moving traffic. So now I have gotten used to turing it off before I need to hit a gap.

.

Ummmmm.....No offense Tin, but you might want to reconsider your personal driving style. "Aggressive driving" will get you tickets in most parts of the country...

semtex · 06-01-2009, 05:33 PM

Aggressive driving is why we bought this car!

Modshack · 06-01-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Aggressive driving is why we bought this car!

Yeah, but........

If you're triggering VDC during your "Normal" street driving in traffic you're a hazard that I'd prefer to stay far away from...
When I come across A$$holes driving aggressively on the street, I get out of the picture as quickly as I can..

NotmyGTR · 06-01-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

I am one that finds it overly intrusive. Has it saved me, yes. Has it almost killed me, yes. I find it most intrusive when trying to hit a gap in traffic where a quick burst is required. Too many times the nanny has kicked in right as I was crossing fast moving traffic. So now I have gotten used to turing it off before I need to hit a gap.

Many cars are coming with a sport setting these days and that's what this car really needs. Somewhere between full off and full on.

A downshift in traffic to 4th or 5th depending on speed isnt enough to break traction on the 275's with a stock motor. Unless you are above 6K and the road is wet.......or your whipping into a lane at break neck speed which is rediculous on public roads.
I personally drive aggressive, but not overly aggresive on public roads and have not had a problem myself.

semtex · 06-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Yeah, but........

If you're triggering VDC during your "Normal" street driving in traffic you're a hazard that I'd prefer to stay far away from...

I'm just teasing, guys. But in all seriousness, I think you can read Tin's post in at least two different ways. He references hitting gaps in traffic and crossing fast moving traffic. If you read that to mean situations like changing lanes, or maybe merging onto a highway, then yeah, it sounds kinda nuts that he'd be breaking his rears loose. But he might also be referring to pulling into traffic from a stop sign, or maybe scooting across an intersection from a stop sign against cross-traffic. He does say "crossing fast moving traffic" after all. Now, in those circumstances, I can see breaking the rears loose, and I can also see how VDC kicking in could be dangerous. Picture yourself at a stop sign. Cars are zipping across in front of you from both directions. You're going straight through to the other side. You see a gap. It's not huge, but it's a definite gap and you nail it, only for VDC to kick in and bog you down in the middle of the intersection. Not good.

NotmyGTR · 06-01-2009, 06:01 PM

True enough, but there are more gears than 1st. Just because your threading the needle at an intersection means you have to optest your rev limiter.

Pushing_Tin · 06-01-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Yeah, but........

If you're triggering VDC during your "Normal" street driving in traffic you're a hazard that I'd prefer to stay far away from...
When I come across A$$holes driving aggressively on the street, I get out of the picture as quickly as I can..

First off, if I wanted to drive 45mph all the time I would have bought a used Ford Escort. I haven't had a ticket since 1994, so I guess I drive agressively only at appropriate times.

My commute to work is 15 miles each way along twisty roads with a few nice straight aways. Further there are a few places where you have to come to a complete stop in order to make a turn, and cross that highway traffic moving at 60+mph, add a little gravel that never gets swept up and you get VSC lighting up.

Pushing_Tin · 06-01-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I'm just teasing, guys. But in all seriousness, I think you can read Tin's post in at least two different ways. He references hitting gaps in traffic and crossing fast moving traffic. If you read that to mean situations like changing lanes, or maybe merging onto a highway, then yeah, it sounds kinda nuts that he'd be breaking his rears loose. But he might also be referring to pulling into traffic from a stop sign, or maybe scooting across an intersection from a stop sign against cross-traffic. He does say "crossing fast moving traffic" after all. Now, in those circumstances, I can see breaking the rears loose, and I can also see how VDC kicking in could be dangerous. Picture yourself at a stop sign. Cars are zipping across in front of you from both directions. You're going straight through to the other side. You see a gap. It's not huge, but it's a definite gap and you nail it, only for VDC to kick in and bog you down in the middle of the intersection. Not good.

Thank you. That's exactly what happens, and it is dangerous. What ever did we do without the electronic nannies watching over us?

Modshack · 06-01-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I'm just teasing, guys. Picture yourself at a stop sign. Cars are zipping across in front of you from both directions. You're going straight through to the other side. You see a gap. It's not huge, but it's a definite gap and you nail it, only for VDC to kick in and bog you down in the middle of the intersection. Not good.

I prefer my T-Bones in steak form thanks!..

Musashi · 06-01-2009, 07:45 PM

The scenario Semtex pointed out has happened to me many time and let me tell you it's scary! Also, spearfish you have to realize you're a neophyte when it comes to the track. I know someone took you around the track with it on, but when you're not driving everything seems so fast. I have done laps with it on but it is horrible, it will not let you accelerate hard coming out of a curve, will not accept hard shifts, will not allow you to consistently pull the G's coming out of a lightbulb like curve, and will not let you have any fun!!! THE VDC SUCKS. I bet my if I had timed laps with it on and then off, I'd be at least 3 seconds faster!!

It is the worst traction control system I have ever experienced in any car. I'm sorry It's the truth and I'm being honest not confrontational because I like ya. THE VDC BLOWS. The only time it ever was good was when I was driving in a monsoon a couple weeks ago to pick up a super hot chick, or else I wouldn't of been driving.

semtex · 06-01-2009, 08:00 PM

Do you guys think maybe we just need better tires? Because VDC kicks in when our rear tires lose traction, right? So it stands to reason that if we have better grip, VDC would be less of an issue. I had a set of Michelin PS2s on my 350, and I loved those tires. My TC hardly ever came on. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I had those tires on my 370, it'd make a world of difference with the VDC. I've never thought much of Bridgestone, to be honest. Those PS2s are pricey though.

06-01-2009, 03:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	VDC not so bad, actually darn good I had the pleasure of partaking in the TrackDaze event (HPDE course) in Joliet this weekend and it was an absolute blast. While I was the only privately owned 370Z there, a local dealer brought a few over for test drives on the track. They had a professional race driver taking people for hot laps throughout the day. Prior to my ride-along, I did three sessions and found that VDC was not overly intrusive at all. The smoother you are with your driving, the less it would butt in. The times it did come on, it really kept the car stable and didn't kill the forward momentum at all. Then came the hot laps with the pro. He kept VDC activated and drove the living $hit out of the car. I never thought the 370Z could do the things he was doing with it...utterly incredible. Despite being a the outer limits of tire grip and traction, the car really didn't cut power or apply VDC braking. I was truly impressed with the VDC yesterday. just figured I'd weigh in because most people think it's overly intrusive.

06-01-2009, 05:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Aggressive driving is why we bought this car! __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

06-01-2009, 06:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
NotmyGTR Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: TX Posts: 177 Drives: 09 370Z/Pearl 6speed Rep Power: 16	There are more gears than 1st True enough, but there are more gears than 1st. Just because your threading the needle at an intersection means you have to optest your rev limiter. __________________ 1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

06-01-2009, 08:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Do you guys think maybe we just need better tires? Because VDC kicks in when our rear tires lose traction, right? So it stands to reason that if we have better grip, VDC would be less of an issue. I had a set of Michelin PS2s on my 350, and I loved those tires. My TC hardly ever came on. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I had those tires on my 370, it'd make a world of difference with the VDC. I've never thought much of Bridgestone, to be honest. Those PS2s are pricey though. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

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06-01-2009, 04:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	That is often true on the track where everything is about being smooth to be quick. There are different driving scenarios that require much more aggressive car control such as auto-cross, the traction control doesn't work at all in that environment.

06-01-2009, 04:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 228	I am one that finds it overly intrusive. Has it saved me, yes. Has it almost killed me, yes. I find it most intrusive when trying to hit a gap in traffic where a quick burst is required. Too many times the nanny has kicked in right as I was crossing fast moving traffic. So now I have gotten used to turing it off before I need to hit a gap. Many cars are coming with a sport setting these days and that's what this car really needs. Somewhere between full off and full on.

06-01-2009, 07:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 606	The scenario Semtex pointed out has happened to me many time and let me tell you it's scary! Also, spearfish you have to realize you're a neophyte when it comes to the track. I know someone took you around the track with it on, but when you're not driving everything seems so fast. I have done laps with it on but it is horrible, it will not let you accelerate hard coming out of a curve, will not accept hard shifts, will not allow you to consistently pull the G's coming out of a lightbulb like curve, and will not let you have any fun!!! THE VDC SUCKS. I bet my if I had timed laps with it on and then off, I'd be at least 3 seconds faster!! It is the worst traction control system I have ever experienced in any car. I'm sorry It's the truth and I'm being honest not confrontational because I like ya. THE VDC BLOWS. The only time it ever was good was when I was driving in a monsoon a couple weeks ago to pick up a super hot chick, or else I wouldn't of been driving.