I have had the car for almost 6 months now but have never dared to turn the VDC off. I saw posts on this forum saying that if you turn it off, you will loose control or crash.
However, I also saw posts that people always drive with the VDC off.
What does it exactly do and should I experiment with it?
I would appreciate any suggestions.

04 Black G 35 Coupe 6 MT

 

Yea elussive is right! Me personally, i have always turned off VDC on my car even fromt he first day i got it and tested it out in a parking lot to get familiar with throttle control around a turn and when it would give out, now and for the past year except for in the winter i alwasy drive with it off, its like a reaction now and the first thing i do in my car without me knowing, its a habit and sometimes a bad habit and it has gotten me into trouble once when coming around the turn after it was raining and it was a slick road, my tires were almost completely bald though so that had a lot to do with it and did a 360 and thank god just went up ont he grass median! Now i have to keep it on int he rain and tried it out and if i punch it with VDC on or off my wheels will spin from top of first or second because of extra power going to the wheels with my car, if you mod your car just test it out in a safe place or even do it now while your stock to get familiar with it. Martin


Martin
2003.5 BS G35
Nismo Aero/Sport Package
0-60 5.4 - 1/4 Mile 14.16 *GTech* and on 19's!!

 

VDC works in three modes:

1) VDC on: It will kick in pretty aggressively whenever you oversteer/understeer/spin tires. It is nearly impossible to lose control of the car with VDC on unless you REALLY want to hit a wall. (like making a 90 degree turn at 60mph)

2) VDC off: The activity and sensitivity is greatly reduced. The car will now allow alittle bit of tail slide, understeer and some minor spins. You can tell with VDC off the car is more fun to toss around. Yet when your car lose traction over a certain threashold, VDC will still activate, modulating the throttle and individual brakes to slow the car down.

3) VDC Completely off: In a raining day, find a wet empty parking lot and spin the car 2-3 times. (VDC off, steering lock, accelerate mildly to induce oversteer) When you see the SLIP light turned on permanently, the VDC is completely off. Now try to oversteer the car and it's much easier, and drifts can be maintained better.

The proclaimer: Do not turn off VDC on public roads unless you know how to handle a nearly out of control car. Even during spirited drives, if VDC kicks in, that means you are not driving smoothly. A driving instructor once told me, it's not difficult to evaluate your ability to handle a modern RWD car - if VDC kicks in once awhile when you are not expecting it...... then leave VDC on.


CPV35 G35C Maliblue

 

Wow i never knew that when the slip light comes on it means its totally off, i alwasy thought i broke my car when that happened haha.. I mean i do have an advange over stock sedans and coupes being lowerd and with WIDE wheels for turning hard and fast but i have no slippage with VDC off and am beyond the limits of this car, thats why im in constant need of more power its sickening lol..


Martin
2003.5 BS G35
Nismo Aero/Sport Package
0-60 5.4 - 1/4 Mile 14.16 *GTech* and on 19's!!

 

this reminds me i turned off the VDC once when i was learning how to drive my car.
geez imagine i spun out from a rough shift w/paper plates?

 

When I turn my VDC off I'm able to spin around ad infinitum. In other words, when you turn it off, it's all the way off. The rev limiter still works, and the ABS works, but it will not in the slightest way, apply the variable wheel braking.

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5/Crawford Cats

 

I wouldn't worry about turning it on or off. The best way to learn about your car is just to drive it. Just do it safely, and gradually until you learn how your car feels when the rear breaks out, or when you start to push your front tires, or even if you have all 4 wheels drifting.

After driving rear wheel drive cars all my life, without the aide of any VDC or traction control, or whatever eletronic gizmos, it was always a learning curve. I've spun my cars out dozens of times in the winter or in the rain driving swiftly, and each time you spin out, you will learn something new.

It seems to be you are a cautious person, which is a great quality trait, since I am sure you've done less stupid things in life then I have, but if you really want to learn, just go to an empty parking lot in an industrial area, after it rained, and go play with your car. You will realize, its not that scary.

If you realize thats not fun to slide your car around, then keep VDC always on. If you realize you enjoy it, then I'd recommend you take a high performance driving course. Its well worth the money, and the skills you learn from the course will make you a better driver on the road anyways.



link91
04 G35 Coupe -- Ivory Pearl
97 Lincoln Continental 4.6 DOHC (retired)
93 Ford Crown Victora, Police Interceptor (retired)

 

agreed..........................................ma rty nice sig mo'

 

Thank you for your input. I agree it is best for me to try things and see what fits me better. In fact I have done already some silly things such as doing 130 miles on the 134 FRW. The VDC function was what I feared the most since I heard all the stories about people crashing. I will try it now, though.

04 Black G 35 Coupe 6 MT

 

I finally had the opportunity to really wring out my G.
In the mountain twisties, I felt more comfy with the VDC on, as it did not hinder but helped inspire confidence. I tried a few hard corners with it off, and the car got really tail happy, like it wanted to swap ends.
I think if you need to go fast in a straight line or need max driver control on a closed race track, turn it off. But if you are carving curves, it works to keep you out of trouble. Leave it on.

"I like you.....You remind me of myself when I was young and foolish"