At this point "human skill" at a high level is still superior to nearly all of today's stability control systems.

With a few exceptions ESC turned on will without a doubt inhibit a spirited driving experience. period. The one exception is with a Corvette Z06 but it is a far more potent machine than the G37..

 

LOL

The VDC *ALWAYS* reacts a split second AFTER I do. Anytime my car starts to slide.. due to rain, gravel, spirited driving, whatever, even unexpectedly, I pick up on it and pretty much have it under control and THEN the VDC *JERKS* the car back into line.

Don't get wrong -- I'm sure if you do not have the skill, it will be faster than you. But, just because it is faster than you does not mean it is faster than any "human."

The VDC in my 06 G coupe is nowhere near as fast as I am. And while I am glad it is there in case I am THAT out of it (tired, distracted by a screaming kid, etc), it is silly to assume that it is superior to all humans. In dry conditions, on a well known roads with little traffic, VDC is always off for me any time I'm doing spirited driving. If I leave it on, it actually endangers me with it's sudden and jerky reactions a split second too late since I am already well into correcting it myself. And if you're never doing spirited driving in your sports coupe, I don't understand why you bought it.

11lbs per one horsepower is far from "so much power" that a moderately skilled human driver should have any problem controlling.

 

One more point.. and it's a fairly important one. Infiniti vehicles ignore your VDC preference if you are on the brake.

So... you can drive with the VDC off if you are comfortable and want to explore the last 20%-30% of the car's handling limits (VDC will not let you enter that territory). If you get into trouble, go to the brake pedal. VDC will be allowed to intervene, and if it's not too late, will probably save you from losing control.

Hopefully you are somewhere safe, like a race track, if this sort of thing is at all likely to happen to you.