I have never seen any posts referencing the VDC. Maybe it is not a popular option. I have VDC on my SE and find that it eliminates most of the torque steer. Off the line acceleration is better with the VDC switched off, and is fun to switch off occassionally, but for normal default use, it "tames the beast" a little especially on wet roads, but is undetectable at higher speed levels where wheel spin is less prevalent. I have yet to try it out on ice or snow.
Anyone else have comments about the VDC?

 

sorry dude, my SE doesn't have VDC. I wish it did, just as a safty device during a hard rain/snow. Dry I would never use it. I love the drive of this car without VDC.

 

I understood the Traction Control Sysyem (TCS) was more related to wet/frozen roads than Vehicle Direction Control (VDC).

Traction Control has to do with the onboard computer checking for slipping/spinning wheel(s) and transferring more power to the wheels that are not slipping. It has been around for decades. Many drivers prefer to have it turned off except in inclement weather conditions.

I understood VDC to be a fairly new sophisticated onboard computer software package that is constantly (like a thousand times a second) comparing the direction the car is going with where the front wheels are pointed and making adjustments via power and braking to help the vehicle go in the intended direction without spinning out or being overcorrected in the other direction (fishtailing) as human control is prone to do. I understood that VDC only comes into play in fairly extreme situations where loss of control is imminent.

On the '04 Maxima, unless special ordered otherwise, both Traction Control and Vehicle Direction Control come as a $900 package that also includes a full size spare tire on an alloy wheel.

I have seen this package on less than five percent of the '04 Maximas arriving at the local thirty-eight dealers whose inventory I monitor. That probably reflects the true percentage of buyers that are interested in shelling out almost another thousand dollars for something they don't really understand.

I personally feel this is a most worthwhile package, offered at a reasonable price.

 

I lucked out and snagged an Elite with VDC. I got plenty of good use out of it this past winter here in Chicago. I don't know why it doesn't come standard... *shrug*

 

Agreed!
Unfortunately the VDC option was virtually nowhere to be found when I got my '04 Max SE back in April '03

 

it has been discussed few times, here is one of the threads:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=302848

 

Although there are some weather-related advantages with VDC, I consider it to be at its best on a dry road when emergency situations require drastic maneuvering. I can recall several times over the last fifty-five years when I had great difficulty stopping the rear of the car from fishtailing in crisis situations when maneuvering at high speeds. VDC eliminates fishtailing completely.

Even something as simple as the right wheels dropping off the edge of the pavement may create a situation where the car is difficult to control. In such situations, VDC can sometimes enable you to keep the car under control by preventing overcorrecting.

VDC has no connection to getting unstuck or getting started in snow or ice. That is strictly a Traction Control (TCS) area.

 

Excellent! It's what I stated in one of the threads:

 

Why can't one order the Traction Control Package and 6-speed? This makes no sense to me...

At first you may think that the manual tranny might not allow for the VDC to operate properly but BMW's have been doing this for years. I am interested in a Max SE 6 Speed but really would like the VDC Traction Control Package. ANy ideas guys or can this be ordered but not configured through the Nissan web site? Thanks.

-Evangelo2

 

With the manual transmission you can order this for $350:
Helical Limited-slip Differential
This available feature improves tire traction both off the line as well as in the corners. It senses when one of the drive wheels begins to slip and immediately and automatically transfers torque to the wheel with the better grip. And since it's gear-driven - instead of viscous (liquid) sensitive - it goes into action more quickly when you need it.

Includes full-size spare with alloy wheel.

I'm sure it does differ from VDC, but could someone explain in what ways?

This is what it says for VDC:
Vehicle Dynamic Control
Also called VDC, this available sophisticated system including Traction Control can actually sense when the Maxima is losing its intended line of trajectory through a turn and help get it back on course by applying brake force or adjusting engine power to individual wheels Includes full size spare with alloy wheel.

 

Instead of posting, May I suggest this website and do searches: HowStuffworks.com