Like an aggressive merge into tight traffic - something I do multiple times every day during rush hour. ;)

This car really needs a sport or track setting for the VDC. It's way too intrusive on the normal setting. A few times I have tried to hit a gap in traffic and instead of rapid acceleration I get a bogged down engine.

Now a few times I have had it off during periods of "spirited driving" I have nearly spun the car out. The wheelbase is so short it has been difficult to control the oversteer without it snapping around like a bullwhip. You have to really watch it if you're driving hard with the VDC off imo.

Leave the VDC on at all times in your case... unless you want to do something that it prevents, such as doing a burn-out, getting the tail end out, etc. (you know, crazy bad stuff... FUN stuff)

Electronic stability control has been PROVEN to save lives. On every type of car that has had a version with VDC/ESC and one without, the number of fatal accidents is 50% less in the VDC version of the car. This has been proven time and time again.

If you are an average driver, going about your business...leave the VDC on. Of this there is no doubt. None.

This is just something you have to get used to in a rear-wheel-drive car with a good HP/Weight ratio. Find somewhere (without cars or curbs) to practice, and you'll learn to modulate the throttle to control the oversteer - either avoid it completely, or do a 180 if the situation calls for it (makes for much tigher U-turns :)), or anything in between. Once you have a feel for that oversteer, it makes it much easier to ride the edge of it when going through curves, too.

VDC - when ignited will Freak you out to the point you almost feel like you are loosing control.

Weird feeling.

If you have never felt the effects, take a moment and try driving one side of the car thru ankle deep standing water and the other side on dry running at about 50mph. You will then get a taste of what to expect from the VDC in a safe environment.

I drive with it off except in bad weather, where it becomes "an aide: not a "do it all for me" device.

Which leads inevitably to the question, "How many of you bought a 370Z because you aspire to being 'an average driver, going about your business...'?". A poll is probably not required.

Anyone who owns a Z wants to be able to drive it without VDC 'saving their life' - or maybe they should have bought a Volvo instead.

Anyone sensible person who is new to RWD will gradually get to know the character of their car over a period of time and train themselves to enjoy the possibilities it offers them - without nanny VDC sitting beside them all the time. I did.

All of my cars (15-20) except two have been RWD, so I know a lot about oversteer. My impression of this car is due to its very short wheelbase and light weight its difficult to drive it right up to the edge of a spin out like most RWD cars I've had. My other cars had a very large sweet spot that was fairly predictable the Z on the other hand will surprise you due to the sweet spot being very small before loss of control. I have not been to the track in this car yet, and I'm sure that will help.

How a track or sport setting was left off of this car is beyond me.

However that so called sweet spot will take a lot longer coming than the other vehicles you describe.

I see what your saying. But none of my previous cars that I had including the one i drive right now (98 saturn) doesn't have the VDC. But Then again I don't drive aggressive or fast with that car. And that may change when I get the 370z. I may want drive it a little harder then usual.

Anyone who owns a Z wants to be able to drive it without VDC 'saving their life' - or maybe they should have bought a Volvo instead.

hey dont hate on volvos:tiphat: its a great first care to learn on. Also my
S60-R with all the computer aids off is a ball to drive especially in the wet and snow:tup: but i know what you mean thats why im hopefully getting my soon to be 18yearold *** in the z and taking sum more advanced driving schools beacuse safty first lmao

When I had my f-bods equipped with traction control, there were companies who sold "reverse modules" that made it so the car turned on with the TC off, and you actually had to press the button to turn it on. That was VERY handy. They ever make anything like that for the Zs?

I was getting so annoyed that when I would accelerate it felt like my car was not engaging the gear :mad: I turned VDC off and it feels like I'm driving a different car, it's now doing what it's "supposed" to do

try driving a corvette or s2000, the Z is nothing. Heck, the 350 was more prone to spins than the 370...

True. Actually the z seems to have too much understeer from the factory. And my aftermarket tires seem to have made it worse. I'd like to modify the suspension and dial out some of that irritating understeer.

Unfortunately a large percentage of drivers are bad drivers and unfortunately the average drive will fall into the large percentage of bad drivers.

With that being said, that is why VDC has saved so many lives...

you can get a lot of it out by getting the same size front and rear tires, no need for suspension unless you really want to take it to the next level or you just want to spend the money. also the diff most of the time will do a one wheel spin a lot of time instead of getting into drift mode

holy bump from the depths...this is an old *** thread.

wrt dialing out understeer, going square and tossing on a rear sway will help a lot.

RE: you can get a lot of it out by getting the same size front and rear tires,...

Really! Do I get wider fronts or more narrow rears? I already played with my suspension so maybe it is too late, the understeer is gone already.

Wider fronts / narrower rears.

You want to increase the amount of front grip relative to the rear

Not sure what everyone else said since im not really every post.

Yes the car has more power with it fully off. If you dont want it on and you want the power increase (mainly the low end) pull off the center piece where your E-brake is and you will see the harness for the VDC. Disconnect the wire and it will be 100% off...unlike remaining on by 15-25% when you push the button) You will feel the difference in the low/mid range of the power band.

VDC OFF are you crazy!!!!!!! You are being unsafe wreckless-recluse A-holes.

Hahaha... just kidding. :icon18:

7at is not a burnout god. Lol. 6mt will be your baby if you are trying to be a show queen. But I don't know what I'm doin right or wrong with my Z but that vdc is only holding back some acceleration on me. I fishtail the hell out of my car even with vdc on... maybe its the 50mph 90degree turns??? Lol... But vdc won't keep the car in. It just slows down my acceleration out of the turn. Good weather days, off is best. :) :driving:

i dont use vdc unless it's raining or driving on loose surface.

thats where the Evo would come in handy. When i first bought my Evo the techs told me to get "evo tech qualified" they had to do a driving portion of the course and they had to get up to 90kmh and crank the wheel fully to the right or left (depending what the instructor said). If they let off the gas or touched the brake they failed. I was curious if it is actually possible. So i got permission from the guys that were running a auto-x event on the runway on the base i work at. I got up to 90kmh and ripped the damn wheel over....thing took the turn nicely. Took me 4 times to do it cuz i kept letting off the gas...was freaking myself out :happydance:

As for the VDC in the Z. I couldnt stand the damn thing. Especially in the winter. Wasnt able to get going from a stop, had issues getting out of my parking lot. Taking turns was a nightmare because one of the wheels would spin and the VDC would cut power and cause me to go all over the place. I know how to control the rear end coming out if it does, i know how to take turns on snow/ice. What i dont know is when that damn system is going to take over and what its going to do. I feel more in control and more safe with it off. But thats just me.

DO NOT RUN WIDER FRONT THAN THE REAR. I tried it on a stock 350 , almost $hit my pants and crashed my car.

Whatever you run in the back, shove the same ones to the front. The car can take 295 in the front if not 305.

I believe I might still have a video of the car with the VDC on and off around the same track, the difference was 5+ sec. I still love the VDC light kicking on at 120mph because a crosswind hit the car.....