I'm considering trading in my 06 Touring Roadster for an 07 Grand Touring Roadster. And no... I don't mind the hood. Driving my car in snow is okay, and I have good snow tires, but there is some appeal to having additional control with VDC. The traction control works well, but doesn't do anything once you get a little bit sideways. I live in Minnesota, so snow in the winter is a reality. I don't drive the Z if there's more than 3 or 4" on the ground.

I've been looking at the new Audi TT Roadster, but the Quattro model starts at $45k (over $50k with options) and I'm sure they won't be doing any discounting. I can buy an 07 ZR at dealer invoice, which is about $37.8k for the GT.

In won't be tracking or racing this car... ever... so I would leave VDC switched on at all times. Does anyone have any experience driving the Z with VDC in the snow?

 

i live in NY.. Driving in snow with vdc is a life saver... but sometime u have to turn is off for a min if u get stuck 8) and sometime i want to leave it off all the time 8)

 

For the 3,000,000th time...

350Z + SNOW = PWNED

Do a search and "enjoy" the "OH ****" threads.

 

Here's a pic I took today of my Z in the snow

 

If you had some snow driving skills you should be able to get out of there and on the road.

 

You know me too well...

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I've been driving in snow for 32 years and the few problems I had were due to inappropriate tires or someone else hitting me. My question was not whether the Z could be driven in snow, but specifically regarding the effectiveness of VDC in snow. I run dedicated snow tires in the winter, unlike many of the "Oh ****" threads where the limits of summer tires were unfortunately discovered, turning many Zs into many Ns.

More comments and feedback welcome!

 

Before I put it away for winter we had a freak snow storm in October that gave us 15 inches of snow. I had an hour drive home from work with summer tires. Honestly it was quite predictable in the snow. I never felt like I had a close call with it. The VDC worked great. Just be very careful of slush. It handles surprisingly well on snow, but in the slush have your insurance company on speed dial.

 

Normally i'd take that as a challenge, i just don't want to get frostbite taking it off the jack stands. In fact, I know myself so well, that I put it on stands just so I wouldn't be tempted to take it out early.

 

I don't know. I just wasted 4 seconds of your life. Please forgive me.

 

VDC rocks!
I’ve driven two different Z’s in the winter (an Enthusiast with TCS and a Performance with VDC). VDC on icy roads is a great add. Since you’re already driving your TCS equipped Z in winter, you know that it is occasionally necessary to turn TCS off to overcome inertia when the driving wheel starts to spin. Same goes for VDC since it’s tied to TCS on VDC equipped vehicles. Once I get moving, I always turn VDC back on. It works.

--Spike

PS I read the message from another poster that this has been discussed to death, but your question (TCS vs. VDC) is different from the others I located when searching. Good thread.

 

I've driven my Z in the snow several times this year. VDC helps but isn't neccesary. Snow tires, however, are a must.

 

Not really. Maybe you should do some research yourself before making such asinine statements.

 

u will be loseing money if u traded in but i guess if u want and have $$$

 

Sorry to say it but buy the TT Quattro. The Z isnt in the same class.... The VDC is nice but it isnt a AWD car. I finally gave up trying to drive the car in snow and shipped it down to florida to drive when I am their.

TOO bad it was a nice car!!!!!

 

3 OR 4 INCHES! I can't take the car in anything more then 1 inch tops! Its not all that bad once you get going but stopping is near impossible. Ive only had the Z going on 3 weeks and got caught up in some snow twice, its a nerve racking experience to say the least! VDC does help, I did get stuck on hill a couple times without the VDC I would have never made it up the hill (BTW, the car inched its way up).

 

VDC is a safety net. In snow and especially on ice, I see mine working often. TC will keep your wheels from spinning, but VDC help you keep from losing control is surprise situations. Quite often you need to turn the TC off to get going(as others have posted), but then turn it back on so your VDC is operating. Winter tires VERY important.

 

ya my stories in the snow havent been all that grt either, almost fell of a dam cliff coz of it

 

what tires were you using?

 

If you have a Touring Edition...you already have TCS and VDC. Why trade it in? Am I missing something here?

 

Touring Roadster doesn't have VDC, just TC. The Touring Coupe has both.

Edit: The GT Roadster has both, as well.