Clearly the OP doesn't know how to control a powerful rear wheel drive car in a low traction/oversteer situation. This is what VDC is designed to counter. It will save you from yourself if you get in over your head. Turning it off does not make you "cool" or a better driver, it just means you've decided to put everything in your own hands. That's fine, people have been doing that since the car was invented.

BUT, if you own a car with a useful safety feature such as VDC, AND you don't know how to control a sliding RWD car, AND the conditions are such that the odds of your car sliding are much higher, you should leave VDC on. It's safer for you, and it's safer for everyone else on the road.

I would suggest joining your local autocross club if you want to gain confidence in handling your car in adverse conditions. You'll learn what oversteer is like and how to deal with it in a safe and controlled environment. I still don't recommend driving around in the rain with VDC off (especially on the stock potenza's), but at least you'll be in better shape to get yourself out of trouble if you get yourself into it.

 

Thrillhouse hit the nail on the head! If you do not know how to handle a car without VDC you should go learn. Learn to drive in adverse conditions. Learn vehicle and skid control. VDC is not the end all to car control. It is a great help but, Don't rely on it to get you out of trouble if you can not handle a car in adverse conditions to begin with. If you enter a turn to fast, You are going to lose control with or without traction control! Its just like learning to handle a gun before you fire the bullet. Once you pull the trigger you cant take the shot back.

 

You are right, but it does sound like he saved it.

My earlier post may have been a little harsher than I wanted but I was a little peeved at the time by a very rude post I had just read from someone that doesn't have anything to contribute to this forum.

 

Don't worry about it Void man. Some times you just got to vent. Besides I would have been in line right behind you. While most of the group is dead on, Some of the peeps in here could use a foot to the crack to learn'em som'thin once in a while.

 

Yeah, those damn internet ninjas strike again. I feel better now knowing others were thinking the same thing.

 

To the OP , I am also in the Sa Town area. Its really NOT are tires that are the issue you just have to realize what they are made for ( high performance Summer tires ) but I know what the real issue is, here in SA we have been getting this misty crap that doesnt even count as rain to me and what happens is that it mixes with the dust , oil and grime on the road because the is NOT enough precipitation to wash it off the road!
and trust me that sometimes can be as bad as ice.

Also as many people here have already stated, if you are not used to driving a rear wheel drive car on these roads ( some just concrete) and conditions then please drive with VDC on! I think our cars do a great job on recovering from a slide and a LSD sure helps a lot. I do drive with it off from time to time in slick conditions but in a safe place (no traffic) and I am also quite familiar with my car and how its going to react so I am ready to catch it when it steps out. Bottom line be safe and turn on that VDC.

 

I always leave my VDC on. I used to have a 944 turbo that my dad had given me (he bought it brand new in 1986 or 87) Well I was just merging onto a 2 lane (in each direction) highway and this was on the hills. So the part where I was getting on was like between hills so there was sitting water. Well I hit the sitting water (probably about 3 inches of sitting water, I clearly heard the splash as i hit it) and my car just went sideways.

I tried countersteering but by the time the car regained traction i was in the far left lane and hit the center divide straight on. the car was totaled. Summer tires and rwd do not mix.

 

Well I am definitely not an F1 Driver , but I have several hours on track with shifter karts since I was like 12 and have been in the track a few times with previous cars that i have owned like mustangs, miatas and a TT, I can control a RWD car very well if circumstances need to thats why I always drive with the VDC off... (I kinda like to accelerate quickly and VDC kicks in and I hate that).

Whatever happened that day was NOT normal, it was like driving on ICE or worst, I have never seen a car behave like that in the rain (I am pretty familiar with dirty roads,first rain this wasn't it), and I do drive a lot in lots of conditions.

What gets me the most is that if that happened to me, a more or less educated driver... I cant believe what happens to people driving rwd cars and worst TRUCKS without some traction assist... but then... they are probably more used to this dangerous roads as I am clearly NOT.

 

lmao i acually just got my car out the shop BUT i drive with my tc on all time maybe jus wen i wonna spin my tires a lil lol......i was getting off an exit on a highway exit went more into a u turn this all happened in brooklyn snow was Just melting n a concrete wall all around the exit next thing u kno im drifting the whole exit and a truck at the end of the round waiting to get on the other highway......pop my car into tip-tronic threw my gears down... my tires grip n slam my whole left side into the wall

Had to change

Front light, front fender, front bumper, driver door, front rim, back rim, back bumper, back light, n got my back fender fixed.