Questions about VDC..

Chteelers

VDC is a relatively new thing. Its a nice safety net for 90% of regular driving, but if you want to have a spirited drive, you should know how to handle the car without it on.

That said, I really wish that it were two mode. All-on >> stability-on / throttle-off >> All-off. The throttle cut is the most intrusive, it'd be nice to be able to turn that off, while leaving the stability control on. In other words, I feel comfortable controlling the rotation of the car with the throttle, but would still like the stability safety net if I hit a oil patch or wet leaves mid corner.

Augustus

IMHO, the lack of a "Sport" setting on the traction/stability control system is one of the few legitimate disappointments of the Z.

KERMIT

Those who can't drive, don't know vehicle dynamics or have driven FWD their whole life should leave it on.

Especially those that think they are the best driver in the world... Leave it on. I have been a performance driving instructor and as a result have little faith in the general publics driving ability. I nearly died in a CTS-V with a guy who assured me he could drive because he owns a corvette.

I hope in the near future that stability control systems will help us improve lap times.

Mt Tam I am

Why turn off VDC:

Certain turns will always set off my VDC. One on the way home, the other, Turn 2 at Sears Point. it feels like fuel starvation.

Last night coming home I turned it off, down shifted into first (which I do not recommend normally at 10 MPH) did a climbing 180 degree turn and got ready to pass the car ahead. I was ready for anything and I tried a little too much gas thru the turn, and wiggled ever so slightly. No big deal if you know what you are doing. I was all set to make the pass but the CHP officer gave me second thoughts.

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luigi90210

i havent noticed VDC being intrusive when doing a spirited canyon run or something

can you please describe what you are talking about? i know the back end doesnt slide out as much but that isnt much of a problem imo
wrong, wrong, and even more wrong

one day you will crash because the roads are wet due to leaking sprinklers or something and you will think otherwise

for day to day road driving, VDC is there to help you in case you get in a situation where you start to spin out, ect.

even if you know how to control the vehicle, there are more factors that contribute to a crash, what if someone was next to you when you started spinning out and your car hit theirs and now you killed some innocent child all because you thought you knew how to drive your car....

im not saying you dont know how to drive, in fact you are probably a better driver than i am, what i am saying is your mentality needs to change, when someone crashes a car, its not always their fault, but by disabling their vehicle's safety features, it may make the crash worse than it would have been or it would have prevented it at all
i cant agree with this more, i really wish there was a sport mode like there is on the FRS/BRZ

i couldnt agree more

RonRizz

I agree with most of those statements. I believe driving "skills" go far beyond the hands, eyes, and feet. I think the majority of it is knowing your vehicle, and also knowing the conditions that you are driving in, and how that vehicle is going to react to them, given your input, whether it be hard braking, or hard acceleration. Some are more "skilled" at this than others.
Will I ever say that a "skilled" driver will never wreck? Hell no. We are always pushing the limits to see how far we can take things. Its in your nature when you get behind the wheel of that car, that adrenaline rush, the reason you bought it, right?
After all, they do call them "accidents"
That being said, lets try not to get in any out there!

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my2004Z

Let's all be reminded that the Z is a passenger car designed for the street. It also happens to be a fairly high performance sports car. Unless you are on a closed road and on your second pass of a section of road, you can never know what variables will change in the driving environment. I personally keep VDC on even in spirited driving. High speed blind turns with elevation changes post-apex will make you rethink how good you really are. Sliding tires are never faster than tires that are gripping. If VDC trips then it tells me that I made some sort of mistake. Better to go into slo-mo mode then to hit a pole, tree, or innocent commuter.

cossie1600

They do, except it is not on the 370z. I have said this before. The stability control on my Prius is less intrusive than the piece of crap system in my z.

elmz

I can't think of too many reasons to turn off VDC on public roads except when you need to make a quick burst e.g. get ahead of the person next to you to make the freeway on ramp or when exiting a driveway and you need to cut across multiple lanes. Having VDC on in these situations can cause it to bog. But then again, you could just be more patient or take the long way.

Lug

VDC will stop you from wrecking......

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kenchan

VDC is for people who can't handle RWD cars... why buy a RWD car if you cant handle wiggling your butt.

it's like buying a roll of aluminum foil wrap, but you only eat microwavable dinners.

TheGreatOne

I used to be scared to turn it off after reading stories, after I had my first taste of it off, to be honest it is always off unless its raining.

I really have to "try" to get the back loose enough where I might sweat/be worried.

I would like to think I have mastered control but I'm sure I have a lot to learn, so makes me wonder how much these guys are pushing it when they are wrapping themselves around a pole...maybe I truly drive like a granny lol.

Car hydroplanes bad in heavy rain...so I keep it on for rain or crazy turns I'm not familiar with.

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kenchan

i drove my G35C with LM60's in snow last winter with VDC off the entire time.

unless one's going excessive speed beyond their ability, the car will not suddenly just spin out of control.... unless you got nitto (nishitto)/falken crap or driving in cold wet condition. in that case, driver's tire selection is also the root cause (along with poor driving), not the car or VDC turned off.

FlawlessZ

Insane sounding nissan 370z in the rain HD - YouTube

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