VDC not so bad, actually darn good

KillerBee370 · 06-01-2009, 07:00 PM

I only get the VDC babysitter to where I can feel it when I'm really on it. What's funny is, it's usually in a straight line of all things! HUH? Maybe it's my 54 extra whp over stock but when I am in WOT in 3rd and jam into 4th, the little wavy lines light starts blinking and it feels as though I hit about 4 inches of water for a second.

semtex · 06-01-2009, 07:01 PM

^What kind of tires are you running on those Axis Super Hiros, KB?

spearfish25 · 06-01-2009, 07:22 PM

Musashi,

Yes, I'm new to the track, but the demo driver was a pro and he certainly was not. He was smoking past cars that had at least a 100hp advantage over the Z he was driving...the man knows how to handle a sportscar.

That being said, I think Semtex has hit it on the head. The Z the pro was driving had Hoosiers on it. Comparing my track experience to those I've had with VDC on the street, it seems that VDC is very intolerant of rear wheel spin but extremely tolerant of sideways slip. Thus, the pro could aggressively throw the Z into a corner and rotate the car around without any VDC limitation. I don't think the stock Z had enough power to spin the Hoosiers coming out of a corner in 3rd or 4th gear given that the demo driver was a seasoned veteran and applied the power appropriately as he unwound the wheel.

The times I noticed VDC on the track were when I jumped on the throttle coming out of a corner. I was probably already near the limits of my traction with regard to the turn and didn't have the grip to then be applying heavy throttle. When you complain that VDC is limiting your power coming out of a corner, the alternative would be you spinning your tires. I'm not sure how spinning the rears as you exit a corner is going to make you go any faster.

I do understand the street scenario of jumping across traffic. VDC seems to behave differently depending on how abruptly you engage it. Thus, hammering the throttle from stop on the street, it cuts power severely. Getting on the throttle to hard coming out of a corner on the track, the VDC only adjusts the throttle slightly.

jpit · 06-01-2009, 07:27 PM

The traction control on the MINI Cooper S was very similar. Trying to cross traffic from a stop sign was very dangerous - as soon as the tires lost a little traction, the power was cut and left you very exposed. I also turned it off going up snow covered hills.

KillerBee370 · 06-01-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

^What kind of tires are you running on those Axis Super Hiros, KB?

Same as stock..

Bridgestone Potenza's 245 front - 275 rears.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Same as stock..

Bridgestone Potenza's 245 front - 375 rears.

375?!!

I like the VDC a lot of the time (which is not track time). I just wish there was a way to tell it not to over-react. It seems to go into "oh **** cut the throttle" mode when it could've done a better job just backing you off 10% or so.

KillerBee370 · 06-01-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

375?!!

I like the VDC a lot of the time (which is not track time). I just wish there was a way to tell it not to over-react. It seems to go into "oh **** cut the throttle" mode when it could've done a better job just backing you off 10% or so.

LOL... I meant 275
I don't think I would have to worry about spin with a 375 haha

KillerBee370 · 06-01-2009, 08:10 PM

No VDC...

AARC51 · 06-01-2009, 08:13 PM

To each his own I guess... But "VDC Off" is the second button I hit in my car every day.

edeeZee · 06-01-2009, 08:13 PM

I remember as a salesman when I worked for Penske Chevrolet several years back.And I pulled out the Z06 for a customer(the salesman always pulls the car off the lot

) who wanted to test drive it. The Vette has a similar feature called ASR, anti-slip regulator or whatevers.

But dayamm, the Z06 is fast as f&ck. I took it to the freeway onramp, stabbed the pedal, and that thing broke the tires loose in flash...but when ASR kicked in, fun was over. I told the customer while smiling

, "I don't want to work here for years to pay for this thing." He smiled back and I pulled off the freeway and into a parking lot to let him take over.

Musashi · 06-01-2009, 10:10 PM

spearfish, once I got rid of the bridgestone's traction was dramatically improved.
I am a very experienced driver, wheel spin is not an issue on the track for me.

It's a shame you live so far away, I would invite you to the track and help you continue learning. It's very difficult to discuss these types of things without experiencing them while being in the same car. Some corners I come out of flat footing the throttle, some squeezing as I pull through.

And yes I can pass cars that have a lot more power on me. It's all about getting laps under your belt and the proper instruction. Oh and of course your car not overheating.

-EAD- · 06-01-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

I am one that finds it overly intrusive. Has it saved me, yes. Has it almost killed me, yes. I find it most intrusive when trying to hit a gap in traffic where a quick burst is required. Too many times the nanny has kicked in right as I was crossing fast moving traffic. So now I have gotten used to turing it off before I need to hit a gap.

Many cars are coming with a sport setting these days and that's what this car really needs. Somewhere between full off and full on.

Didn't ya'll see he's from Oregon... Have any of you ever driven there?

Just going the speed limit and not ten miles under it, is the equivilant of aggressive driving there!

chibbell · 06-02-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -EAD-

Didn't ya'll see he's from Oregon... Have any of you ever driven there?

Just going the speed limit and not ten miles under it, is the equivilant of aggressive driving there!

Hah! Isn't that the truth. Been here 5 years now and it still drives me bonkers. Got to take the Z up to Rainier over the weekend though. Got to enjoy real speed limits.

Of course I may have possibly, just possibly, hit 130 at one point on a desolate straight...maybe.

Pushing_Tin · 06-02-2009, 04:42 PM

We are also too dumb to pump our own gas FWIW. That drives me more crazy than anything else.

06-01-2009, 07:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 55 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 33	^What kind of tires are you running on those Axis Super Hiros, KB? __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

06-01-2009, 08:13 PM	#25 (permalink)
edeeZee Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: s. cali, los angeles Posts: 627 Drives: 09 370z plat 6 speed Rep Power: 267	I remember as a salesman when I worked for Penske Chevrolet several years back.And I pulled out the Z06 for a customer(the salesman always pulls the car off the lot) who wanted to test drive it. The Vette has a similar feature called ASR, anti-slip regulator or whatevers. But dayamm, the Z06 is fast as f&ck. I took it to the freeway onramp, stabbed the pedal, and that thing broke the tires loose in flash...but when ASR kicked in, fun was over. I told the customer while smiling , "I don't want to work here for years to pay for this thing." He smiled back and I pulled off the freeway and into a parking lot to let him take over.

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06-01-2009, 07:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 52 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 322	I only get the VDC babysitter to where I can feel it when I'm really on it. What's funny is, it's usually in a straight line of all things! HUH? Maybe it's my 54 extra whp over stock but when I am in WOT in 3rd and jam into 4th, the little wavy lines light starts blinking and it feels as though I hit about 4 inches of water for a second.

06-01-2009, 07:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	Musashi, Yes, I'm new to the track, but the demo driver was a pro and he certainly was not. He was smoking past cars that had at least a 100hp advantage over the Z he was driving...the man knows how to handle a sportscar. That being said, I think Semtex has hit it on the head. The Z the pro was driving had Hoosiers on it. Comparing my track experience to those I've had with VDC on the street, it seems that VDC is very intolerant of rear wheel spin but extremely tolerant of sideways slip. Thus, the pro could aggressively throw the Z into a corner and rotate the car around without any VDC limitation. I don't think the stock Z had enough power to spin the Hoosiers coming out of a corner in 3rd or 4th gear given that the demo driver was a seasoned veteran and applied the power appropriately as he unwound the wheel. The times I noticed VDC on the track were when I jumped on the throttle coming out of a corner. I was probably already near the limits of my traction with regard to the turn and didn't have the grip to then be applying heavy throttle. When you complain that VDC is limiting your power coming out of a corner, the alternative would be you spinning your tires. I'm not sure how spinning the rears as you exit a corner is going to make you go any faster. I do understand the street scenario of jumping across traffic. VDC seems to behave differently depending on how abruptly you engage it. Thus, hammering the throttle from stop on the street, it cuts power severely. Getting on the throttle to hard coming out of a corner on the track, the VDC only adjusts the throttle slightly.

06-01-2009, 07:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
jpit Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 440 Drives: 370Z Tour MT w/Spt Rep Power: 17	The traction control on the MINI Cooper S was very similar. Trying to cross traffic from a stop sign was very dangerous - as soon as the tires lost a little traction, the power was cut and left you very exposed. I also turned it off going up snow covered hills.

06-01-2009, 08:10 PM	#23 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 52 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 322	No VDC...

06-01-2009, 10:10 PM	#26 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 607	spearfish, once I got rid of the bridgestone's traction was dramatically improved. I am a very experienced driver, wheel spin is not an issue on the track for me. It's a shame you live so far away, I would invite you to the track and help you continue learning. It's very difficult to discuss these types of things without experiencing them while being in the same car. Some corners I come out of flat footing the throttle, some squeezing as I pull through. And yes I can pass cars that have a lot more power on me. It's all about getting laps under your belt and the proper instruction. Oh and of course your car not overheating.

06-02-2009, 04:42 PM	#29 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 228	We are also too dumb to pump our own gas FWIW. That drives me more crazy than anything else.