Slight wheel spin will always accelerate faster then absolutely ZERO throttle!

 

Come down to Riverside and I'll show you what it can do.

VDC does not just KILL power; it is capable of partial throttle, functioning as an electronic LSD, and functioning like AYC/SH-AWD, albeit with braking instead of power transfer.

Those of you who think you are faster with VDC off are probably fooling yourselves. Yes, there are SOME situations, where no VDC would have been better, but in the vast majority of situations, VDC will save your ***.


I get tons and tons of customers who think they can drive. I feel confident during the test drive that I won't die, because the VDC is there. THey'll blast through corners at full throttle, thinking they're God, while I'm sitting next to them just watching the SLIP light blinking the whole time, automatically slowing the car down in turns to keep them in control.

Then they tell me afterwards "wow... the rear end never swung out on me... this car is so easy to control... my (insert non-VSA/VDC/DSC/etc car here) would never have been able to do that"

Leave it on unless you're in a controlled environment. There is a reason many OTHER systems out there are not fully defeatable.

 

Thats the reel truth.

 

My VDC has only ever comes on when I'm on the throttle. It's only invasive when there is steady traffic and I need to turn left across a highway. The streets where I moved too also seem to be really dusty and it's easy to make the rears spin.

I've never had it kick in around a corner (unless I'm driving like a moron), but still on throttle.

Now that I've progressed my high performance driving skills a bit I keep the VDC off while on the track. There is defiantly a HUGE performance benefit there, mainly handling because without any modifications to the engine I don't have the power to make the wheels spin while driving a straight line at any RMP in second gear (I've never had to shift down to first on any track I've been on, yet).

While I don't drive at my (and the car's) peak while on public roads, It's best to drive as close as you would on the track to develop better habits.

There, thats my *SOB* story.

 

Took the coupe out with a handful of S2000s on a Palomar Mountain/Idyllwild run over the weekend... never could have kept up with VDC on...

 

I generally leave my VDC on, unless I'm cornering hard (or having fun), I hate that lag feeling as it cuts power. This was my first winter in my G and realized quickly that the VDC was great until I was heading up hill (i'm talking major grades) I always had to turn it off and just power through the snow with a little surf action otherwise I eventually lost all power to the wheels and would start to slide backwards. That's a scary feeling.

 

Just purchased an 03 G35 Sedan AT, love it so far...all this talk about the VDC (which can be turned on and off), what about when it's off and the traction control light comes on? Is there any way to disable this? Can I just take the traction control relay (fuse) out? (K that last question is a stretch...I know)

 

This might be true on newer models... I drove an '07G35S sedan 6MT, and its VDC was awesome. Hardly obtrusive, and definitely cut wheelspin in a beneficial way.

My '04 coupe's VDC is an ENTIRELY different story...

 

I think of my VDC button as a "quick fun" button.

 

I've yet to have my 05 coupe's VDC seriously kill any fun... and yes, I do drive hard when the opportunity to do so safely is there.

Aftermarket wheels, non-oem tires, aftermarket suspension all mess with the VD; VDC works best on a ***STOCK*** car.

 

ahhaa, i remember first time that happened too be, i was worried something was wrong with my car since it didnt accelerate... lol, first thing i do after i start it is turn it off, even in the rain. even in the snow, i tried to accelerate iwhen makin ga turn, i began to fishtail a lil but then my X kicked in and straighten it out, so in an X VDC off only helps you =)

 

I generally keep the VDC on for most situations; but under a controlled environment I have it off.

I have found that the G35 is relatively an easy vehicle to control when you are driving under full awareness. The car is very predictable when you have the rear swing out and a drop in throttle and countersteer will bring it right back. I have had to turn it off many times in winter when I had no acceleration due to VDC and found it is generally easier to drive around. I would get honked at redlights because VDC would limit my throttle to the point I could not move. I have also had a situation similar to what other people have said where the vehicle locks up.

Although I must admit; VDC has saved me a couple times. I usually do not drive with 100% focus on the road and sometimes the rear snaps out when I don't expect it and VDC has saved me from losing control.

 

I installed a KPtechnologies controller to automatically set my VDC to the previous state (i.e. "Off", normally.) I still found that whenever I pushed it hard through corners, even with VDC "Off", it steps in, tapping the brakes and reducing throttle and generally spoiling my fun. I searched various forums and the web many times looking for a solution but NOooo, all I found was a lot of banter, no solid answers. Well, NO MORE!! HA!! I found a post that indicated that by unplugging the harness from the "G-sensor" the VDC could be entirely disabled without disabling the ABS or brake lights! I tried it and it WORKS! The SLIP light remains on though. I plan to identify the power lead to the sensor and install a switch on it. The service manual has instructions for removing the G-Sensor in the BRC section. Just be aware that the harness plug can be frustrating. I broke off the locking clips before I figured it out. Unbolt the sensor, then with the harness plugged fully in, pull out the locking clips on the sides of the harness plug before pulling the plug out. Time will tell if I really want the VDC fully off permanently. I suspect that I will indeed want to put in an on/off switch, even if just so when I take the car in for service, or let someone else drive the car I can return it to "Normal".

Here's the link to the post I found:

http://www.southfloridaracing.com/fo...ad.php?t=34456

 

I have read conflicting data: can the VDC be turned off for the entire drive (until shutting the car off), or does it come back on after 30 seconds?

I don't have my 35 yet, but I'm buying an 04 coupe.

 

It stays off until you shut off the car. When you start it up again it'll be on.