just curious bc i never had VDC before and i did a search and some people said they drive with VDC off for more power. Is there a big difference between it on and off? If i was to race someone is it better to have it on or off? If it is off and i take a turn hard will i lose control? i know the base model doesnt have VDC

 

I'm assuming you meant VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) correct?

This may help (look towards the bottom):
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....95#post1640795

 

yep, thanx, edited

 

ya i think you can really feel the diference try going 0 to 60 with it on and off


and ull see the diference

 

You do notice that VDC holds your car back a bit. You can't really chirp the tires with it on whereas with it off you can.

I leave mine on unless I really need to accelerate.

 

Hitting a pothole while accelerating with VDC on can cause your engine to bog... even a simple downshift or somewhat quick launch can cut the power...it gets annoying. But you better believe I'll have it on in the rain.

 

VDC is fine for normal driving, but if you are going to race, or hit some turns turn it off for sure......it can even make you loose control when you brake around a corner if you are being aggresive....this option use to be on cop cars(under a diffent name , but still same thing) but has been removed because of so many accidents, the cops would forget to turn it off everytime they got in the car.

 

Hard shifts with the VDC on feel like turbo lag, sucks when you forget to turn it off and look like an idiot that cant shift properly. Im sure some of you have been their before!

+1 RAIN=VDC ON, I would of lost it a couple of times just normal driving if it wasnt for it. DANG potenza's

 

And I thought hitting the rev limiter on a bike was bad...this VDC thing cuts power like nothing I could ever imagine in my wildest dreams.

I've heard some bad stories here about people that have had the front and rear swap ends in the rain, so I always leave it on in the wet. In fact, I've not really driven the car much without it at all. I guess I'll have to give it a shot and see how it goes.

 

...because my SLIP light would never turn off if I left VDC on.

 

I don't have VDC on my enthus., but my *** tells me that I get faster runs with traction control on. When it is off, it almost seems like there is a timing retard in 1st gear which keeps it from reving up as quickly. Maybe this was done to prevent the rear end from washing out?? Maybe I'm wrong. Can anyone verify?

 

Not true, i chirp like nextel with VDC on.

Fun stuff happens when you turn it off.

 

 

I shut it off most of the time. I have to. I changed the tires last year. Went up one size on the rear and put the same on the front to move the handling to more neutral. Got rid of most of the push at the limit. This set up works well but you have to shut off all that computer crap when driving above 4/10.

 

The debate about VDC on or off will go on forever. Including the idea “I’m a better driver than VDC.” One thing I can assure you is that VDC is “faster” than you are. If it takes a driver a second or two to recognize and correct a problem (oversteering), it takes VDC several milliseconds.

Another advantage of VDC is that it can brake the wheels at different rates. You cant.

 

Agree 100%. Computers are faster than people, period. The "individual corner braking" is something you as a driver can't do, so even if you were mysteriously faster than the system at recognizing slip/yaw conditions, you would not be able to apply the same corrective actions. Not unless your car has 4 brake pedals and you have some seriously talented feet!

 

Well said.

VDC is certainly usefull and will get many overzealous drivers out of a tight situation.

I found that it's pretty permissive in most cases. Allowing some limited wheel spin and power oversteer. You still get that RWD feeling.

I keep it on for most daily commute or when driving in the rain. Turn it off for more spirited driving.

 

I have a base without vdc or limited slip. This car really doesnt need the vdc in the rain. If you know how to drive this car will keep you safe. The suspension is very well designed and self correcting. Once I threw wider rims and better tires on teh Z the limited slip has become a non-issue as well (for street driving). Car grips great, you dont need all that stuff. Just extra weight imo (still going to get a quaife lsd for track though )

 

yeah u may not notice the diffrence w/o LSD in normal driving or in afew hard turns but ur only one tire fire... so if u lose grip in that one tire ur screwed. as for VDC. VDC is in no way a performance part. VDC it a safty part. it applys brakes and decresses power to the wheels and applys power to other wheels in order to keep ur car in a strait line. me being a drifter it does me 100% no good in driving. i know how to handle my car properly. some people do know have to knowledge of good driving so the are better off with it on so they do not harm themself or others. so if u have VDC on and ur try and drag ur car. lauching it at high RPMs then ur just gonna lose all ur power because it prevents tire spin. o and ROLLING UR CAR... lol not that its easy to do in a Z.

 

The most important reason to have it in case you ever have to let your woman, or friend drive the car, particularly in bad weather. Someone not familiar with the car wont know to turn VDC off, and therefore will be less likely to get in an accident!

VDC willnot however prevent you woman from doing a 3rd > 2nd downshift when she meant to hit 4th.....don't ask me about that one...