This is a recurring question and I want to share this for future searches.

In preparation for a canyon run meet that we have scheduled for later this month, on Sunday, April 4, 2004, a buddy and I did approximately 2 to 3 hours of pure canyon driving. My bud has a 600 hp twin-turbo 300 ZX. He led of course and I did my best to keep up. He has years of auto-cross experience and had a passenger. Running on R compound tires and with all that twin turbo power and more serious driving experience, he could pretty much leave me at will through the twisties. It was simply amazing how quick that heavy Z32 could go through the curves.

In short work, he would be gone by 10+ car lengths and I had to push my car and my driving skills to the limits just to keep up a reasonable distance. I've done springs, and have Toyos which give me some advantage over a stock Z in handling. Sways would have been nice. Through all of the tight/hairpin turns, and as best as I could to either downshift and/or brake in advance of the turn, touch the apex and accelerate out of the turn, there were several instances when VDC kicked in. A large part of this canyon run I've never previously experienced. This was clearly a difficult, intimidating (cliff drops), and advanced run. I can't tell you how much more peace of mind I had from the throttle lifting and brakes being applied to the individual wheels when my driver inabilities allowed slip.

If you're a intermediate driver with no track skills and you're taking your car and your driving skills to the limits, or if you do a lot of driving in the rain, the safety and peace of mind of having VDC is so worth it.

Nissan did a helluva job with this VDC system and if you're deciding upon whether or not to drop the extra couple grand between an enthusiast or a performance model, the VDC system is so good that in my opinion, this is not a question that needs much consideration. Get the VDC and the performance model.

 

HFM- agreed. This is the very reason I went with the performance model. I was going to go with the track but knew I would end up adding new rims and brakes. Even though I now drive with VDC off most of the time, it was extremely helpful in learning when you get near the cars limits.

 

what is the diff between vdc and tcs???

 

Good post! I agree completely!

 

TCS is somethign that is humanly possible. Basically TCS cuts the throttle when it senses the rear wheels slipping, same thing as taking your foot off the gas.

VDC is not humanly posible to do. VDC "takes the foot off the gas" and it applies independent braking to each of the four wheels depending on the yaw angle of the car. By doing this it corrects a car from going sideways much better.

 

Traction will controll your tire spin and Vehicle Dynamic Controll will keep you from loosing control in a skid. Anti-drift system

 

I dislike the VDC when pavement is dry but it has saved me on a wet road going around a curve a bit too fast.

It's amazing to feel the wheels independently braking and the car hold onto the curve.

 

Unfotunately VDC is still subject to the laws of physics, and wasn't able to save me when I hit a puddle at the track (and then hit the wall).

My feeling before then (but even stronger since), is that if you are driving fast enough to engage VDC on the street consistently, you are far too close to the limit. You are basically leaving yourself zero room for maneuvering since you have used all your grip for your current line. Hitting gravel, a puddle, or needing to brake or change your line suddenly will cause you to loose control even with VDC on (or cause you to simply keep plowing ahead on the line you were taking).

I think VDC is very good when the entire road is wet, since you don't have any sudden changes in friction and your breakaway is much more consistent. However, once again, if you are that close to the edge you will just have to ride out whatever line you have chosen and hope that nothing gets in the way.

So, I agree that VDC is a good feature, but don't feel that it can be used it as a peformcance gauge on the street. If you start to engage more than a once (or maybe a couple) times in a day, it is probably time to slow things down a bit and hit the track (and hopefully not the wall).

Have fun!

-D'oh!

 

the vdc concept sounds like a good thing...why would you turn it off if you are getting the best possible traction per wheel via the computer...i believe this is used in racing...i turn my tcs off because it slows the car down too much and i can do a better job without it...however, when its raining i use it

 

My opinion is your $2000 to get the VDC is better spent on driving lessons and practice time. Knowledge and practice will save your butt better than any VDC.

Just my opinion.

Asterix

 

unfortunately, 2 grand doesn't go very far toward race style driving lessons.

winter driving is where you learn to control your car at the limit.

black ice has made me a pretty damn good driver (amazing what adrenaline will do to hone your instincts.)

 

Which models have the VDC...is it only the performance

 

Performance, Touring, and Track.

 

Performance, Touring (only with manny tranny), Track.

 

Well I guess ignorance is bliss, I have had the car 19 months and have not had one instance where I had wished I had VDC and I drive it hard and fast.