This has happened two days straight now. I'm sitting in the left turn lane at the intersection when the light turns green. As I've been feeling pretty good about my G35, I decide to launch this baby as I head into the left turn. As the car completes the turn and begins to straighten out, I shove into 2nd gear and step hard on the accelerator. Suddenly it feels like the engine just quits and my body lurches forward. I notice the "SLIP" light on the control panel starts to blink. Somewhere in the back of my head I'm thinking this is probably how the VDC works. I let off the gas pedal, pop into neutral and the SLIP light disappears. I re-engage 2nd gear and all is well.

Is this what it feels like when the VDC kicks in? It's a very strange sensation, one I honestly have never experienced before.

2003.5 G35 Sedan 6MT / Brilliant Silver / Graphite / Premium / Sport Tuned Suspension

 

It can be, if it cuts in hard. Throwing it in second and going full-throttle in a turn is probably trying to break the rear end loose and fishtail the car... VDC likes to nip that in the bud. If the car does manage to start to rotate sideways, you'll feel it jerk back into a straight line, as well, when the brakes are applied. Sometimes it's subtle.. such as full-throttle from a puddle of water, the car will just seem sluggish on the takeoff. If you hadn't released the clutch, and instead kept your foot on the gas for about another second or so, the car would have finished regaining traction on it's own and taken off.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

You should feel traction control in a Cobra. It feels like you are "hitting a wall of air." Thank god you can turn it off for track racing. It is so much more intrusive than the G. But, yeah, that is normal.

'03.5 Brilliant Silver Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum Pedals

 

Nissan's VDC system is intrusive but is also one of the best out there...I always had to turn it off when I was giving customers a test-drive in the 350Zs...Otherwise, launching one was never quite as impressive as the customer hoped...

"All the Power in the World resides in the Eyes..."

 

What bothers me is the slip light goes on way after VDC kicks in, and off too fast. The first couple of times I though I hit a pothole it hits the brakes so hard. Feels weird. I'm trying to find the limit of the rear tires on my G (been driving fwd too long), and the VDC appears to be masking my efforts. I think sometimes it kicks in and the slip light doesn't come on or goes off before you can see it. I gotta try running more with VDC off and compare the two. The other day in the rain I got the car to slide quite a bit in the rear, had to steer correct, and the slip light never came on. Left me wondering if I caught it or the VDC did ?

 

Turn it off and you will experience the limits of the car! I just leave it on when the roads are wet.

2003.5 G35 6MT Black/Graphite Prem/Aero/Winter
1987 GN Intercooled SFI Turbo (22K original miles)
1970 GS 455 Stage 1 4-Speed (#'s matching)