Vdc

Mt Tam I am · 07-04-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

And there is the problem. With a car like a corvette, camaro SS, etc., this is not their first real sports car. Guys who move up through the HP ranks have an awesome traction control ... their right foot.
But what I see from this board is that many of the people move up from mommy-mobiles straight to the Z. While it's not a beast of a car, it's definitely enough to get in trouble to inexperienced drivers. I've been a member of a lot of car boards in the last 8-ish years, and I've never seen another car where so many people totaled them in such a quick time.

Another Quote: Originally Posted by semtex
Personally, I learned to drive way before traction control, stability control, even ABS, were commonly available on cars. So I don't think it's dumb to turn off VDC. Rather, not learning basic car control and vehicle dynamics is what's dumb. But I think that says more about the sad state of driver education in this country than anything else. Truth be told, it's a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, if one is a relatively new driver and doesn't have experience with controlling powerful rwd cars, then one should probably leave VDC on. But on the other hand, if one doesn't turn it off from time to time, how is one to learn from the experience of having to apply opposite lock to tuck the tail back in, etc.? The best way to learn how to do something is by doing it, right?

Thank you all for commentary. I did find an older thread and read through it. This subject seems like a technology issue. Just as some can not imagine a life without cell phones, internet and now driving without VDC. I grew up driving rwd cars, Z cars for 30 years and reckon similar to Frost and Semtex (others too). The VDC may work best for me in wet conditions. The rest of the time I hate to have a computer try and outthink my intentions.
Day one driving home from the dealership, I triggered the VDC when I tried to throw the rear end out. I immediately looked, unsuccessfully, for a button that read "Traction controll" or "Stability" something intuitive. I thought I had just wasted my money on this new car. Thankfully I found the manuel. VDC is not intuitive to me, but can be turned off.

LunaZ · 07-04-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

Another Quote: Originally Posted by semtex
Personally, I learned to drive way before traction control, stability control, even ABS, were commonly available on cars. So I don't think it's dumb to turn off VDC. Rather, not learning basic car control and vehicle dynamics is what's dumb. But I think that says more about the sad state of driver education in this country than anything else. Truth be told, it's a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, if one is a relatively new driver and doesn't have experience with controlling powerful rwd cars, then one should probably leave VDC on. But on the other hand, if one doesn't turn it off from time to time, how is one to learn from the experience of having to apply opposite lock to tuck the tail back in, etc.? The best way to learn how to do something is by doing it, right?

Thank you all for commentary. I did find an older thread and read through it. This subject seems like a technology issue. Just as some can not imagine a life without cell phones, internet and now driving without VDC. I grew up driving rwd cars, Z cars for 30 years and reckon similar to Frost and Semtex (others too). The VDC may work best for me in wet conditions. The rest of the time I hate to have a computer try and outthink my intentions.
Day one driving home from the dealership, I triggered the VDC when I tried to throw the rear end out. I immediately looked, unsuccessfully, for a button that read "Traction controll" or "Stability" something intuitive. I thought I had just wasted my money on this new car. Thankfully I found the manuel. VDC is not intuitive to me, but can be turned off.

I too am an "old guy" who cut his teeth driving and racing cars and bikes that lacked technological aids like ABS, VDC and SRM.
I love SRM and personally, I'm a fan of the VDC.
When you're smooth, you know the system is working, but you don't feel that it's interfering; it actually feels like it's helping you go faster by aiding in car control.
Just this morning, I was raving about how nice the system was as I trail braked to set the nose into a left-right series and started applying the power slightly before the apex as I got the car pointed towards the next turn.
VDC FTW!