Can you honestly tell that much of a difference? For the price difference between the Enthusiast and the Performance, is this feature worth it? I'm in Indianapolis where it snows a little, but I take frequent trips back to Michigan (Go Blue!). I'm just wondering if this feature is worth it. Also, the Performance doesn't offer leather, does it?

 

The first time it saved my a$$ it was worth it... I was driving "quickly" in an area I'm familiar with at night... except I forgot about one curve in the road. The car was relatively new to me, I panicked and touched the brakes... VDC kept it together and me off of the curb.

Even now that I know the limits of the car, I leave the VDC on unless I'm on the track. It's there for when you get in over your head... by your doing, the road's doing, or someone else's doing...

Plus it'll probably add to the resale value if money's the issue.

 

This is my current dilemma as well. I would like to get VDC and TCS, but not sure if the additional $2K is justified. And once I look at the Performance, it's only another 1K for the Touring with the leather seat, but don't want the crappy Bose... and once I got to the top model, I start from the Enthusiast again... I'm leaning toward the Performance as you can't really put a price on safety.

 

I've got the Touring with the VDC. I turn the VDC off to race and when I goto the track. What is better the VDC ir the TCS? And what Model has TCS?

 

i thought VDC n TCS was the same thing

 

they are a little different, but I don't know how different... tcs has saved me a few times too... I would make sure you got one or the other.

 

VDC and TCS are *VERY* different. Run a search, there are several good threads in which the function of each is clearly defined and the difference is distinct. At a very high level, the advantage of VDC is that is has Yaw sensing and can attempt to correct a condition in which the car isn't pointed in the direction in which it's traveling. TCS is limited to correcting a lost-traction condition. The advantage of VDC over TCS is huge in cornering situations.

 

The difference is that the TCS just basically stops the tires from spinning/slipping. The VDC actually senses and responds to each tire independantly to break them at the right moments during cornering. The prices I've heard on most cars are around $750 upgrade for the VDC, so for the Performance it isn't worth it. I'm going with an enthusiast with all the airbags.

 

The way I see it, if you're going to pay the extra money for the airbags that will protect you *during* the accident, you might as well spend the money on the technology that might prevent the accident in the first place.

I've pushed my car quite hard with the VDC on, and I can't seem to get it to rotate on the vertical axis at all. As soon as it breaks loose, the throttle goes to idle and the car starts braking for me. Pretty damn smart. It's nice to know that it's there for daily driving, especially for cars with so little body roll that they apply lateral load at a near perfect horizontal plane to the ground.

 

Excellent points. I say spring for the VDC as well. Plus you get the 18" wheels w/ the Performance.

 

Damn you...those are really good points and if I'm going to be driving this thing in Michigan during the winters at all I should probably invest in it....daaaamn you!!!!!

 

If you ever run into a problem later on down the road and it saves your ***, you will be thanking us.

 

I drive the car yr round in MI and I can tell you that the VDC has paid for itself. It has saved some accidents that would have been more than $2K in damage.

 

I think you're making the right choice. VDC is one of things that if it does its' job just once, it's paid for. Twice, and it's saving you money (not to mention possibly your life).

 

Agreed. A bit more for VDC is a great thing if it can avoid costly hospital bills.

 

Can VDC be added later as an option. Similar to the Nismo LSD? Or does it have to come from factory.

 

Unfortunately, no. I've never heard of anyone adding this system after the fact. When you think about the other systems that it is integrated into, it's really quite complex. ABS, TCS, Throttle control, etc. The LSD is all mechanics, the VDC system is all electronics.

 

If you get one (or both), drive dangerously because you think it will save you, then get into an accident, it's not worth it.

 

Wow, what constructive input!! Nobody ever said that VDC was a guaranteed accident preventer or that it gives you free license to go out and be a wack-job behind the wheel with the expectation that you're invincible. But it does provide one more layer of safety that's there when you need it. It's no different than ABS, Air-bags, crumple zones, etc.

Using your analogy, we should all drive around on bald tires in the rain. That whole tread thing is just a scam. A *real* driver doesn't need stupid gimmicks like that!! Tread blocks and rain-grooves don't really help you keep control of your car.

I've read at least two posts here from people who were powering through a turn at an intersection and lost control of the car, causing some pretty serious suspension damage to their cars by striking the curb on the far side of the intersection with a rear tire/wheel. I can almost guarantee that if they had VDC (and it was turned on), these accidents would have been avoided. Now apply that same corrective function to any of the dozens of possible other conditions where throttle manipulation and independent wheel braking would be beneficial to regaining control of the car in a panic situation. Not even the best driver can take the place of a system like that.

 

Aight, you guys sold me on it. I just talked to my dealer and told him instead of the Enthusiast with all the tricks on it, I wanted a Performance for about the same price. I'm hoping to get it at right around $31k OTD. We shall see though. Thanks for everyone's help...hopefully I'll have pictures to show in the next week or so!