Do you drive with Vehicle Dynamic Control(VDC) off or on?

VCuomo · 02-19-2010, 07:25 PM

I turn it off unless the streets are wet.

6spd · 02-19-2010, 08:02 PM

Does the VDC being off make the car more inclined to loose grip at higher speeds, like excessively? I am curious to feel the difference between it being on and off, but I dare not try on public roads, and I am often tempted to turn it off. This is my first RWD with this kind of power. Low power RWD cars are lots of fun and hardly dangerous, but I am hesitant to test pushing the car a bit with the VDC off. I suppose the best way to learn is to turn it off and feel the car out at lower speeds, and then gradually working upward.

m4a1mustang · 02-19-2010, 08:10 PM

You can light the tires up very easily in this car, so be very careful if you are playing around with VDC off.

If you don't have much experience with powerful RWD cars, I'd suggest formal high performance driving courses. Or, you could always find a deserted lot somewhere and play around with the car. Start off by driving some tight circles at low speed with VDC on and experiment with varying levels of throttle just to get a feel for where the car loses grip and get a feel for what VDC does. Then turn it off and have at it.

Whatever you do try to do it as safely as possible... inexperience + powerful RWD is a good way to get yourself (and possibly others) seriously hurt or killed.

6spd · 02-19-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

You can light the tires up very easily in this car, so be very careful if you are playing around with VDC off.

If you don't have much experience with powerful RWD cars, I'd suggest formal high performance driving courses. Or, you could always find a deserted lot somewhere and play around with the car. Start off by driving some tight circles at low speed with VDC on and experiment with varying levels of throttle just to get a feel for where the car loses grip and get a feel for what VDC does. Then turn it off and have at it.

Whatever you do try to do it as safely as possible... inexperience + powerful RWD is a good way to get yourself (and possibly others) seriously hurt or killed.

I'm going to start auto-x very soon, so I'll get a chance there to test it out. I appreciate the advice

m4a1mustang · 02-19-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spd

I'm going to start auto-x very soon, so I'll get a chance there to test it out. I appreciate the advice

Ah, yes... that will be a great place for you to get a good feel for everything! Pretty safe environment so 99% of spins will be harmless.

CrownR426 · 02-19-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Ah, yes... that will be a great place for you to get a good feel for everything! Pretty safe environment so 99% of spins will be harmless.

He can still crash into things!

m4a1mustang · 02-19-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrownR426

He can still crash into things!

Indeed, but it's still going to be safer than losing it at an HPDE or something.

shadow2k · 02-19-2010, 09:36 PM

I turn it off every time I start up the car. I've had my Z since July, and you could count on one hand the number of times I've smoked the tires intentionally, so it's not like I drive around like an ***. I just don't enjoy the computer jumping in and assuming that I need help. To me, the way I learned to drive RWD sports cars, having it on is actually more dangerous. Robbing me of both power and control when I most need it.

Just remember to turn it back on when mom is taking your Z to the grocery store...

6spd · 02-19-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrownR426

He can still crash into things!

since im getting a new front bumper after my hit and run, im gonna use the old one so i can eat cones with it rather than the good one!

Bauran · 06-12-2014, 07:53 AM

Mine is on 99.9% of the time, out of laziness to turn it off. When I want to raise hell I turn it off, decade and a half of driving from the 70's era (not me, the cars) to current has given me at least a tentative grasp of what I as well as a broken in car can handle.

Going from old classic cars with 450-600hp and skinny *** tires (by comparison to today) to this is apples and oranges, if you can cage the beast from the old days you can handle these newer cars...WITH PROPER PRACTICE.

If you get scared at any time in a car you are pushing either it, our yourself beyond the limits; you, it or both.

You don't jump in and gun the hell out of anything with a motor without a lengthy getting to know you phase...and even then it doesn't mean you are ready for a full foot to the floor stage.

MY personal experience is that I have a lot of open roads where I live and "I" have a lot of time to play. My current and previous Z never scared me.

The previous one WAS wrecked but hell VDC was on then, but rain can be a fickle bitch.

*edit - a good rule of thumb is that if you can not launch with it off without spinning the tires and still get up to spead in a hurry you are not ready to turn it off, period.

Wolfenstein · 06-12-2014, 08:15 AM

The first thing I do after I start my car is turn it off, unless it is raining. I like to fishtail corners and break traction going into 2nd and 3rd. The wife hates it when the rear end breaks loose so I tend to do it more when she is in the car

CrownR426 · 02-19-2010, 09:00 PM

In my opionion!
Turn it off and feel the true z!

370zproject · 02-20-2010, 12:15 AM

on unless i want to have some fun

OMGWTFBBQ · 02-20-2010, 12:31 AM

Always on for me haha. I'm no fun.

Xan · 02-20-2010, 12:52 AM

Bought my 350 without VDC, now that is no longer an option, I will most likely buy that electronic gadget that turns it off every time I start the 370...

02-19-2010, 08:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 26	Does the VDC being off make the car more inclined to loose grip at higher speeds, like excessively? I am curious to feel the difference between it being on and off, but I dare not try on public roads, and I am often tempted to turn it off. This is my first RWD with this kind of power. Low power RWD cars are lots of fun and hardly dangerous, but I am hesitant to test pushing the car a bit with the VDC off. I suppose the best way to learn is to turn it off and feel the car out at lower speeds, and then gradually working upward. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-19-2010, 08:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	You can light the tires up very easily in this car, so be very careful if you are playing around with VDC off. If you don't have much experience with powerful RWD cars, I'd suggest formal high performance driving courses. Or, you could always find a deserted lot somewhere and play around with the car. Start off by driving some tight circles at low speed with VDC on and experiment with varying levels of throttle just to get a feel for where the car loses grip and get a feel for what VDC does. Then turn it off and have at it. Whatever you do try to do it as safely as possible... inexperience + powerful RWD is a good way to get yourself (and possibly others) seriously hurt or killed. Ghostvette likes this. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

06-12-2014, 07:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bauran Base Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NC Posts: 117 Drives: 12 370Z Nismo M6 Rep Power: 13	Mine is on 99.9% of the time, out of laziness to turn it off. When I want to raise hell I turn it off, decade and a half of driving from the 70's era (not me, the cars) to current has given me at least a tentative grasp of what I as well as a broken in car can handle. Going from old classic cars with 450-600hp and skinny *** tires (by comparison to today) to this is apples and oranges, if you can cage the beast from the old days you can handle these newer cars...WITH PROPER PRACTICE. If you get scared at any time in a car you are pushing either it, our yourself beyond the limits; you, it or both. You don't jump in and gun the hell out of anything with a motor without a lengthy getting to know you phase...and even then it doesn't mean you are ready for a full foot to the floor stage. MY personal experience is that I have a lot of open roads where I live and "I" have a lot of time to play. My current and previous Z never scared me. The previous one WAS wrecked but hell VDC was on then, but rain can be a fickle bitch. edit - a good rule of thumb is that if you can not launch with it off without spinning the tires and still get up to spead in a hurry you are not ready to turn it off, period. RoadsterST likes this. Last edited by Bauran; 06-12-2014 at 07:56 AM.*

02-19-2010, 09:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
CrownR426 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,676 Drives: Manual Rep Power: 848	In my opionion! Turn it off and feel the true z! __________________ Love + Hardwork + Passion RIP SVTRacer

02-20-2010, 12:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
370zproject A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Memphis Age: 35 Posts: 16,104 Drives: 09 A/T 370z blue Rep Power: 54	on unless i want to have some fun __________________ Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

02-19-2010, 07:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
VCuomo Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 887 Drives: BMW 335i Sport Rep Power: 18	I turn it off unless the streets are wet.

02-19-2010, 09:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
shadow2k Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 143 Drives: 09 PG 370z 6MT Rep Power: 17	I turn it off every time I start up the car. I've had my Z since July, and you could count on one hand the number of times I've smoked the tires intentionally, so it's not like I drive around like an ***. I just don't enjoy the computer jumping in and assuming that I need help. To me, the way I learned to drive RWD sports cars, having it on is actually more dangerous. Robbing me of both power and control when I most need it. Just remember to turn it back on when mom is taking your Z to the grocery store...

06-12-2014, 08:15 AM	#11 (permalink)
Wolfenstein Base Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Cleveland Posts: 221 Drives: '13 Nismo \| '14 WRX Rep Power: 13	The first thing I do after I start my car is turn it off, unless it is raining. I like to fishtail corners and break traction going into 2nd and 3rd. The wife hates it when the rear end breaks loose so I tend to do it more when she is in the car

02-20-2010, 12:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
OMGWTFBBQ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: the OC Posts: 1,886 Drives: 08 SGM IS350 Rep Power: 4550	Always on for me haha. I'm no fun. __________________ Zele Performance \| Varis \| Powerhouse Amuse \| Craftsquare \| Tommy Kaira \| Top Secret \| HKS \| Defi \| Volk Racing \| Cusco \| SPL \| Never ending build thread.. PM me if you have rare JDM parts for sale!

02-20-2010, 12:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
Xan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts:99999999999999 Posts: 3,301 Drives: 370Z 40th Aniversary Rep Power: 25	Bought my 350 without VDC, now that is no longer an option, I will most likely buy that electronic gadget that turns it off every time I start the 370... __________________

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