Mine is on when im sucidal-- which is my monday morning commute to school... and whenever I have to call on expo design centers... always puts a smile on the face

 

I keep mine on, but I do hate how it kills the power at the smallest chirp. It was actually dangerous today as I was trying to quickly pull out into traffic. I let the clutch out fairly quickly and got a tiny chirp and it took me down to about 1/3 throttle for a full second with cars flying up behind me. In these types of situations, it's pretty annoying. But for what it can do in a worst case scenario, I leave it on.

 

Im drug free without VDC.

 

It certainly is very intrusive when trying to drive a bit aggressively.

The other side is that for someone who is not a highly skilled driver it can save you from a big mistake.

 

VDC is on, unless of course I know I'm going to break the tires loose a little on purpose.

 

I spun out in the rain going about 50 - VDC didn't do a thing for me. My wife and I wound up about 8 feet away from oncoming traffic with our back to them. It was very scary.

Now, I understand VDC helps. However I also understand that it's not going to prevent every incident from happening. I'm like most others on here. VDC is off when I want to have some fun but for the most part I'll leave it on. VDC in this car is intrusive and slow to react, but I'm not gonna give up the extra little help it'd give me in evasive maneuvers for anything.

Audi's ESP system is much more elegant and FUN than VDC, but I still wouldn't give it up.

 

From driving at auto-x (VDC off), I think I have learned a lot about how the car handles at speeds <30-35 mph. But I'm not sure how quick steering input at 50 or 60 mph so I leave VDC on while driving on the streets. I don't want to crash and inure my car or other people on the streets.

Just imagine the GS430 and IS350 forums and their complaints about the Lexus Big Brother stability control. It can't be turned off!

 

and the IS350 showed so much promise!!

 

I have an 05 AT Sedan that I am racing an auto-X this week end. I heard in another thread that turning the VDC off by the switch only turns off the traction control. They went on to say that you should pull the fuse to completly disable the VDC for auto-x. Is there any truth to this?

 

how come you turn vdc off in the rain again?

 

FYI, the stats show that stability control (VDC) is the single most important safety feature since the introduction of the safety belt. Niether ABS or airbags have shown significant positive data; however, stability control has proven time and again to save lives and avoid wrecks. VDC, while annoying at times, really can save you from getting in over your head. I wish we had a "variable" VDC switch like the Corvette so that we can still have some tail wagging fun even with VDC.

 

I leave mine on unless I know I need to race onto a highway from a stop, first to second gear hard shifting with vdc isn't fun.

Otherwise I think it works well. In the rain I can go around corners and not have to think about losing it.

 

.

Where's this info.? NHTSA?

It can try to correct mistakes, but there's still no beating common-sense and restraint for the given situation. Those will keep you from getting yourself in over your head in the first place, without relying on a safety net to tell you when you've gone too far. A better system would be... ...better.

I probably wouldn't have issues with the system if that were the case. Maybe a revision to the software can bring a better system to future G buyers. And perhaps such a revision could be retrofitted.

 

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/...e_20041028.htm


While I agree stability control puts damper on all out fun, the truth is these systems work and work well. I consider myself a really good driver, but when you're driving on public roadways there are times when you get in over your head even when you might be a pro on a track. On the track you don't deal with things like black ice, oil slicks, people pulling out from a blind alley, deer/animals, kids, etc.

 

Think about the knuckleheads we share the road with. Most of them can't handle a Pinto, much less something with a little power. And most have no clue what to do when the car starts to slide. We see this here in N. Texas during the ice storms. Idiots slam on their brakes when they're on the icy bridge, not before. So VDC for most people is definitely a necessity. Since we're in the minority, we have to live with it. But fortunately Inifiti understands that cars are made to DRIVEN, so they don't "big brother" us like Lexus or Mercedes. At least they give us the options.