Registered User
There are two forms of drifting. One is the fastest way through a corner in a rally. The other is the exhibitionary driving you're referring to.
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
Registered User
One thing you should all know when drifting. Should you be pushing too hard and get a little loose, even with the VDC off it will kick back in and cause you to take a little more of a ride than you expected. I speak from first hand experience. I believe it has much to do with the Sedans body roll as well. I was doing about 45-50mph around a turn when the rear kicked back on me. Immediately the VDC turned back on causing my car to kick back yet again, by this time I had compesated the steering to correct the first kick and it was all too late. I was turning into my spin now, and around I went. Fortunately I was on a wide enough road that I didn't hit anything. I always wondered why people suggested removing the VDC fuse before trying to drift... now I know.
P.S.
For those who care. I drive a Silver Sedan 6MT CA license plate "KRZ HAYN" = "Krazy Hawaiian". A "Shaka" is always welcome.
P.S.
For those who care. I drive a Silver Sedan 6MT CA license plate "KRZ HAYN" = "Krazy Hawaiian". A "Shaka" is always welcome.
Registered User
Tsuchiya...where are you? Come explain what "drifting" really is to these kids...lol! j/k
For me...I won't even bother trying to drift or burnout. Just gonna wear out the tire fast and spend more cash...kind of a silly act.
For me...I won't even bother trying to drift or burnout. Just gonna wear out the tire fast and spend more cash...kind of a silly act.
Registered User
Yup you are right.... letting of the gas will cause "Lift Throttle Oversteer" which will kick the back out even more... For smooth exits out of the drift you actually give it even more gas and correct it with the steering wheel, it looks easy when some1 does it but it takes a hell lot of experience to learn... Don't do these on public roads, IMO the best way to learn is go out to an open parking EMPTY lot with no poles or curbs and no pedestrians around on a rainy day, and try it there, its easier to get the back loose on wet ground, and you are at slower speeds when you are doing it so its easier then trying it on dry conditions. Once you get the hang of it, its so much fun 
Registered User
drifting is really cool, but be careful. as devilonwheelz said, dont do this too often on public roads, and its always good to practice on wet, open parking lots. a guy i know has done some wild stuff with his m3 around town while i was driving behind him, and even though i do admit it was really cool and looked awesome, it was EXTREMELY dangerous.
i think driving schools have stuff for this. they usually dub it "car control", but basically its a class to go and drift all over the place (and you still learn some car control basics while you are doing it). if you are doin this, i recommend a different set of rear tires (get some cheaper used tires for your stock wheels).
anyways, have fun, and be safe, ive had a bad accident with drifting so im gracing my knowledge onto you for a reason.
good luck =)
i think driving schools have stuff for this. they usually dub it "car control", but basically its a class to go and drift all over the place (and you still learn some car control basics while you are doing it). if you are doin this, i recommend a different set of rear tires (get some cheaper used tires for your stock wheels).
anyways, have fun, and be safe, ive had a bad accident with drifting so im gracing my knowledge onto you for a reason.
good luck =)
Registered User
Interesting thread...
I've had my G35c for 3 weeks now. I'm having a hard time getting a feel for it. I used to drive a '99 Miata, and I knew exactly what it's limits were and what it could do. I could toss that car around all day long and feel safe doing it.
In the G35, I guess I'm too paranoid about totally losing control to let it approach it's limit. It doesn't help that I'm trying to learn the car on public roads, so that makes me even more cautious.
Is it true that if you turn VDC off, the car will sense a loss of control and turn it back on? What's the point of having the switch then?
I've had my G35c for 3 weeks now. I'm having a hard time getting a feel for it. I used to drive a '99 Miata, and I knew exactly what it's limits were and what it could do. I could toss that car around all day long and feel safe doing it.
In the G35, I guess I'm too paranoid about totally losing control to let it approach it's limit. It doesn't help that I'm trying to learn the car on public roads, so that makes me even more cautious.
Is it true that if you turn VDC off, the car will sense a loss of control and turn it back on? What's the point of having the switch then?
Registered User
No, the car won't turn it back on. We've got a couple of forum members that have posted pics of the damage caused by skidding into a curb to prove it.
There's a piece of the system, called the Brake LSD, that doesn't get turned off.
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
There's a piece of the system, called the Brake LSD, that doesn't get turned off.
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
Guest
I too came out of a Miata. I had a 2000 Sport that was set up for autocrossing. I had 3 different front sway bars to tune from. While you can drift in a Miata, you can only do so lightly. It isn't a car where you can hang the tail out and keep it out controlably or it will break away quickly. Before that, I had an 89' Saleen Mustang which you could hang the back end out and leave it out there all day long. They are very different cars.
I've had 2 G35 sedan loaner cars from Infiniti. Both were base leather cars without sports suspensions or LSDs. I tried to push both of them with the VDC off and both got very loose. They definitely weren't controllable once they broke loose. The limits seemed to be fairly low making this worse. I have a feeling the big reasons were the lack of an LSD and the narrow tires for little grip.
My G coupe on the other hand is the opposite of these sedans. I have concentrated since I bought my car of getting a neutral balance. Out of the factory, all this car does is push. In this form you have to really push it hard to get the back to do anything. I now run 245 tires on the front and Eibach sway bars with the front full soft and the rear medium. The car is beautifully neutral. The hardest part of trying to drift is getting to the limits because they are very high. In the current level of tuning, this car has close to the same grip on street tires as my Miata had on R compounds. On low speed corners I can punch the throttle and push out or slide the back end controllably, just like I could in my old Saleen. On bigger corners I have to use throttle fluxuations to shift the weight balance of the car around to get it to break loose. Once it does, it is done slowly and very easy to control. It is really hard to get it to do a 4-wheel drift, but once I can get it there I don't have to counter steer to control it. It holds the same line and as soon as I lift, it is back in grip again. To be honest, I think this car is incredibly stable.
04' G35 Coupe(finally in the garage)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium
I've had 2 G35 sedan loaner cars from Infiniti. Both were base leather cars without sports suspensions or LSDs. I tried to push both of them with the VDC off and both got very loose. They definitely weren't controllable once they broke loose. The limits seemed to be fairly low making this worse. I have a feeling the big reasons were the lack of an LSD and the narrow tires for little grip.
My G coupe on the other hand is the opposite of these sedans. I have concentrated since I bought my car of getting a neutral balance. Out of the factory, all this car does is push. In this form you have to really push it hard to get the back to do anything. I now run 245 tires on the front and Eibach sway bars with the front full soft and the rear medium. The car is beautifully neutral. The hardest part of trying to drift is getting to the limits because they are very high. In the current level of tuning, this car has close to the same grip on street tires as my Miata had on R compounds. On low speed corners I can punch the throttle and push out or slide the back end controllably, just like I could in my old Saleen. On bigger corners I have to use throttle fluxuations to shift the weight balance of the car around to get it to break loose. Once it does, it is done slowly and very easy to control. It is really hard to get it to do a 4-wheel drift, but once I can get it there I don't have to counter steer to control it. It holds the same line and as soon as I lift, it is back in grip again. To be honest, I think this car is incredibly stable.
04' G35 Coupe(finally in the garage)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium