Another reason to drive with VDC on unless you're at the track or need the speed...

Why would you turn off the VDC in rain anyways? Trying to drift? =/

Hope you make out with the accident.. you know what they say.. take advantage of it!! The oem front and all other G fronts are known to fall apart very easily.

 

Sorry to hear that. From the pictures, look like your engine didn't get damage. It should be fine. You can get a new bumper!

 

ahh. that sucks man... sorry to see that

 

Gotta be careful with RWD in the rain, snow, or even the dry with a lot of HP. The throttle can be as much of a steering input as the steering wheel.

Anyone coming from a FWD or AWD car to a RWD car like the G35 will probably be surprised what happens when the car gets into an oversteer condition like this.

VDC can be a life saver, and you should definitely keep it on in any kind of questionable road conditions (rain, snow, etc.). However, I hear many of you relying on it 100%, like drive as fast as you want with VDC on, and it will always save you. That's a big mistake, IMO. VDC can't defy the laws of physics, and there are many situations where it can't do anything for you at all. And if you rely on VDC to keep you in control, it means you're driving poorly, and beyond your limits, relying on a computer to correct all of your mistakes. It's kind of like never learning how to add 2+2 in your head, because you have a calculator to do it for you.

The best policy is learn how to drive as if VDC wasn't there. Keep it on to catch your mistakes and save you, but pretend its not there to save you.

In the meantime, if you want to push your car hard, don't do it on the street, and NEVER push it hard in the rain. Take it to your local autocross or high speed track. There, if you spin it, you probably won't hit anything. And when you feel how quickly the car can come around and spin if you make a mistake with the gas pedal in a turn, you'll learn a lot from that feel and drive better on the street. A lot of times you can't understand what its like until you've experienced it. And you definitely don't want to experience a spin on the street.

 

ill be sure to be more careful the next time i drive in LA

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, you obviously had VDC turned off which was stupid in the first place especially in the rain. I autox and have autox in the rain. VDC will no matter what keep the car under control even in the rain. I have even tried to FORCE the car to loose control with VDC on, no can do.

You live and learn. At least you are ok. And next time don't turn VDC off. There is no reason to do that.

 

You haven't tried hard enough. Again, VDC can't defy the laws of physics. The system can only work with what traction is available.

I'm not talking about traction control. I agree that the system will not let the rear tires spin when it is turned on no matter how hard you mash the gas, or how slippery the roads are.

But I can guarantee you I can get the car to lose control and spin with VDC on on a wet road. Especially understeering - its pretty easy to get it to understeer with VDC on. I've done it unintentionally with snow tires on a dry road, and the VDC could barely recover it.

 

Excuse me, but I RACE. I have TRIED very hard. There is only one way to make it loose control and if its in a full spin VDC will do nothing. But taking a turn your VDC will kick in before its too late.

VDC uses the ABS system to control all the tires from slip. If the tail end gets loose it activates the front brakes depending the side and the direction you are sliding to regain control. It is obvious you have never experienced this yourself.

VDC isn't only the traction control for the rear tires.

 

I have had my car slide from one lane 1/2 way into another in rain with VDC on....it shocked the **** out of me...thank god there wasn't a car in the other lane or else i would have hit it....i was accelerating moderately and there must have been some slick spot in the road (it was at night)....it was a close call....so YES the car can go out of control even with VDC on....like i said, thank god no one was there next to me....

 

That is right...going FAST enough or careless enough once the car slides like a mad man..it can't do anything for you....its gona go until it stops, ehehheeh

 

I think what Z06 is trying to say is that, if you do something foolish and break a law of physics there is nothing that will save you. Although, both of you guys are right in part I tend to agree with Z06. If you've cooked an entry there's nothing in the world that will get you back on line.

This is not intended towards anyone in particular, but why is it that because some people have autox'd or run some track time they feel that they are now expert drivers. Again, this is not intended to anyone in particular, I'm just wondering out loud here. Back when I was in high school and parts of college I used to race 600cc motorcylces in an amature league and spent lots of time in 150cc kart racers. I had my amature race license and won a few back in my day (ahh.. the good ol days). But I have never, then or now, considered myself an "expert" driver/rider. I'm sure I can keep up with the best of them on a track, as I'm sure many of you on this forum can, but I wonder what makes "these" individuals consider themselves an expert. Just thinking out loud. Sorry if I went off on a tangent.

 

don't blame the G for not handling well, the G handles fine...
the problem is the driver

the driver coundn't handle the G

 

ok ok ok... enough with the negatives...

many of us have been in situations like this and know none of this crap needs to be heard over and over. it was a mistake.. we've all been there man. Just learn from it and I hope you and your ride get back on the road.

 

haha I agree - this happens to me all the time and still does. Its just one of those things, I just have to learn when its okay to press/tap on the gas and I have learned what corners and turns not to do them at in the rain. I am very glad to hear that you are okay and at least she (the car) wasnt totaled Good luck to you in the rain in the future

 

Because we have raced the car and have pushed the car to its limits and over. We know what the car can do more than anyone else here does. Doing 45-60 top of 2nd gear and doing a 180 with VDC on in the rain and it catching, is a good enough test for me. I have done it many times. I usually have VDC off when its dry, but when its raining, its fun, but most of the time in the rain I will always leave it on. It does work. People loosing it with it on, just beats me what the hell they are doing, especially if your just taking a turn.

You may have done Cart racing, but you never learned how to drive to the limits in your OWN car. That is the key to Autox/Road racing.