How does the vdc work

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

I think this all comes back to the same argument the manual transmission people have against the automatics. VDC is similar. I always had manual transmissions (till I got the Prius -- another story). I've had stability control systems (VDC on Nissan) since 2000.

The VDC *prevents* a bad situation from developing when you are on the edge of one. It can't save you if you do something stupid. Having said that, the VDC makes decisions based on an outcome Nissan determined was on the boundary of "safe" operation on a highway. Nissan is a hell of a lot better about this than Toyota. The Toyota VDC takes over in situations that have no chance of causing an accident. I find that the Nissan VDC lets me do pretty much what I want on the road.

As AK said, it is great fun to learn to operate the Z to drift in corners and to possibly spin out. You can't do that with the VDC on. So, in the rare (for most of us) situation when it is safe to risk a spin out or worse, then turning off the VDC is great. I am signed up to take a performance driving course where I will start to learn how to manage the Z on the track both with and without VDC.

I think it is important for people to start to understand that computers and computer programs are a lot smarter than they used to be. That's why the 370's auto transmission has a better 0-60 time than the manual. Yes, there are some amazing drivers that can equal or even slightly better the auto times, but isn't it cool that an automatic transmission is better at shifting than a person in some situations? Similarly, it's truly cool that the VDC will let me make some mistakes on the road that it will correct and prevent an accident? Look at all the crash reports on the forum. Most of them have comments "VDC was off".
There are all sorts of people here. Some believe that real men and women don't drive automatics with VDC. Some choose to take advantage of the advanced technology in the Z and let the computers do some of the work.

Who's right? Neither! As long as the decision to turn the VDC off is informed; you know what can happen if you make a mistake in controlling the car, then turn it off when you want to play. Turn it on when you don't. That's why there is a switch.