My 2007 350z Roadster is having trouble enabling the VDC. The VDC Off light is always on. For those that dont have VDC, what speeds do you feed comfortable driving on the US Freeways in rain/slippery conditions?

I have brand new Hankook V12 Evos on my car and I am honestly scared to go over 50 MPH. It could be due to a car accident I was involved with in my Z on the highway in rainy conditions (with different tires) but I dont 100% control over 50 MPH.

Chi

 

I'd get that fixed ASAP. Did you change wheels or do something to your suspension? No reason to risk a mishap.

 

I have 19" wheels on my car. The tires are within spec for VDC:

front: 255/19/35
rear: 385/19/35

I do have Eibach Pro Springs on my car. Other than suspension is stock. Car went through alignment and that is all good.

Just cant figure out why VDC wouldnt work and the SLIP light is always on. taking it to a mechanic this weekend so that they can put a consult system to it and confirm that all my sensors are providing data. I went to nissan but they were charging an arm and leg to just hook up a consult II system. I hate dealing with dealerships and service shop managers (95% of them dont know what to do).

Luckily I live in san diego were it rarely rains, but I just want to be 110% safe in my car. It has caused me to rethink my Z and possibly selling it.

Chi

 

I track my (modified)Base Z a lot. (even in the rain.) However that doesn't mean the car is "good" in the wet.

With my wide summer tires and tight(er) suspension, it's a handful when it rains.

If you feel unsafe at any speed, slow down. It doesn't matter how fast others are willing to go at a given place and time. You have to make the call based on the conditions you are faced with at the time, and the feedback (or lack thereof) you are getting from your car.

*Going as fast as I can in the rain. (which is not all that fast)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAFXE60mrng

 

Awesome Video! I am not a speed demon by all means. If I dont feel comfortable on the highway I will slow done to a speed that I feel better at or I will get off highway and find an alternative means to where I need to go. At that point, time isnt important to me..

Chi

 

Mine is a base and I've gone a comfortable 65 MPH. Just keep both hands on the wheel and pay attention. I hate driving in the rain after all the horror stories on this forum.

 

No set speed in the rain, i have been in heavy downpour at 80 and been in heavy downpour at 50. Just depends.

 

base Z owner here and it all depends on the conditions, I hydroplanned and did a 720 in the middle of the freeway but my tires were bald doin 70mph. Tires do make a difference tho when it comes to driving in the rain

 

Dude if they are brand new tires they will at first suck.You have to give them a couple hundred miles to wear off the mold release agents and then they will stick like glue.

 

I have a Base model and don't give driving in the rain a second thought. The car is perfectly stable in all conditions. You just need to know how to drive the car and don't really need the computer controlling your car for you. Having said that, my Dodge Grand Caravan has traction control and electronic stability control (esp) and I have not had either feature kick in two years and 25,000 miles of driving.

 

Depends on the grip of the road surface i'm on... which changes all the time. You learn to be able to kind of get an idea of the grip visually but looking at the road surface. Also a little throttle and brake testing to feel where the limit is helps.

Having said that though you should definitely increase your following distance, and while you should be paying attention at all times, pay more attention when you are on slick road surfaces.

I think everyone should autocross their car and learn how to control it, how to make it slide and how to stop it sliding... so if that situation occurs on the roads you are better equipped to respond.

BTW nice vid Z1NONLY. You were taking it pretty easy though... and that is a very open course with not much cornering. The autocross courses setup here in Boise are in much smaller parking lots so the course is tight with lots of corners. Gives me plenty of opportunity to step the tail out and have a little fun. I've never had a chance to auto-x in the rain though.

 

How about some pics???

 

^^thought i was the only one thinking about this
385s?!!??!? I think you meant 285....

 

Thanks.

I was going as fast as I could without spinning and/or hitting cones. Every time the car stepped out, it was because I was going beyond the available grip. (which was like a box of chocolates as I went around the course)

The car is awesome when the tires are warm and the surface is dry. However the combination of Kumho XS tires and a tighter suspension make the car an absolute dog in the wet.

After those two runs, I borrowed a stock-class RX8 on star-specs for my 3rd run, and was 10 seconds faster. (-in a car I just met.)

The test and tune day (the day before) was wet too and I scored my first FTD on the test and tune course.......in a student's bone-stock Mini. (all season tires and all) But my wet times in the Z were among the slower times.

My mods mate wet performance worse, but it was never good to begin with.

 

^^ I guess what i'm getting at is since you couldnt put down good times in those conditions I would of just had some fun. Do a little sliding... but then again autox officials who run the courses hate that stuff. Always telling me "this isn't a drift course you know". I don't know why they make such a big deal out of it. If I was going crazy and spinning all the time and making a dangerous situation I would understand telling me to stop, but if i'm not and am just having a little fun then leave me to it.

 

Last fall I was barely getting above 50 in heavy rain before I started to feel the front end lift. I don't ever think twice about not having VDC or TCS; I personally don't see a reason to have them(or ABS), but to each his own.

I saw the 385 and was like "whoa", haha.

 

I have an '05 base and I give zero thought to speeding in the rain. I drive 80-85 in the rain on I95 with no problems running Hankooks. 245/18 front, 275/18 rear.

 

The front end doesn't lift... try again...

 

You're so awesome it hurts....

OP - If you're nervous while driving, slow down. It's really that easy. VDC shouldn't have to kick on for you to realize you're driving dangerously. Good luck!