VDC
10-23-2007, 02:50 PM
#7
10-23-2007, 05:10 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
Kryogen - VDC was important enough for me that I deferred my purchase of my '04 for one year until I could get the exact car I wanted WITH VDC.
I had been checking the shipping inventory on the Nissan site almost every night, and when I saw that the exact car I was wanting WITH VDC was on its way from Smyrna to my dealer, I immediately began negotiations with my dealer's internet manager. I actually watched the car being unloaded on the dealer's back lot, and I owned it (conditional on my approval after a test drive) before the shipping material had been removed.
Having found out the hard way over fifty-eight years of driving just how difficult it can be to control a fish-tailing vehicle, and having read test reports of how well the 6th gen Maxima's VDC worked, I absolutely had to have it on my car.
In over thee years of driving my '04, I have never once turned the VDC off. Some here have suggested the VDC may be one reason I have never had torque steer, but I'm not sure those two things are related.
There was one additional reason I had to have the VDC package: it includes a full-size matching alloy wheel and tire; no space-saver spare for me.
I had been checking the shipping inventory on the Nissan site almost every night, and when I saw that the exact car I was wanting WITH VDC was on its way from Smyrna to my dealer, I immediately began negotiations with my dealer's internet manager. I actually watched the car being unloaded on the dealer's back lot, and I owned it (conditional on my approval after a test drive) before the shipping material had been removed.
Having found out the hard way over fifty-eight years of driving just how difficult it can be to control a fish-tailing vehicle, and having read test reports of how well the 6th gen Maxima's VDC worked, I absolutely had to have it on my car.
In over thee years of driving my '04, I have never once turned the VDC off. Some here have suggested the VDC may be one reason I have never had torque steer, but I'm not sure those two things are related.
There was one additional reason I had to have the VDC package: it includes a full-size matching alloy wheel and tire; no space-saver spare for me.
Last edited by lightonthehill; 10-23-2007 at 05:11 PM. Reason: Additional note: only around 5 to 10% of '04s have VDC.
10-23-2007, 06:30 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 607
Do not want to go off-topic but thought this is something useful to know here.
A max with VDC comes with a full size spare because a different size spare will not let the VDC operate. I have a question:
When we do tire rotations (i.e. every 6 months or so), do we need to include the spare in the rotation? That is, put away one of the tires being used as spare and use the spare tire in its place.
If the answer to the above is "no", then the spare tire will continue to remain new while the other four will be used up. At some point of time, when the used tires need to be replaced by new tires, they will be different from the spare unless exactly the same tires as the stock are purchased again (which might be difficult to get) or the spare tire which is already in new condition is also replaced.
What is the best way to handle this?
A max with VDC comes with a full size spare because a different size spare will not let the VDC operate. I have a question:
When we do tire rotations (i.e. every 6 months or so), do we need to include the spare in the rotation? That is, put away one of the tires being used as spare and use the spare tire in its place.
If the answer to the above is "no", then the spare tire will continue to remain new while the other four will be used up. At some point of time, when the used tires need to be replaced by new tires, they will be different from the spare unless exactly the same tires as the stock are purchased again (which might be difficult to get) or the spare tire which is already in new condition is also replaced.
What is the best way to handle this?
10-23-2007, 07:15 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bay area, CA
Posts: 621
Just wanted to know, has anyone ever fishtailed their maxima? It just seems like its really hard to do unless you're being really stupid. In my old corolla I used to have to be very careful when taking a turn fast, you could feel the tail on that thing wanting to go.
10-23-2007, 07:22 PM
#14
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 1,101
I'm sorry. I just had to laugh at that one when I was imagining your scenario. I'm planning on getting an 6th gen, but also hoping they unveil the 7th gen at the Tokyo Motor Show currently underway.
10-24-2007, 06:34 PM
#16
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 628
Fewer than 5% of 04's had VDC. Unless you've already found one, you may have to search for a while...
Last edited by NismoMax80; 10-24-2007 at 06:48 PM. Reason: weird double post, yet different words...
10-24-2007, 06:41 PM
#17
Fishtailing a Max is easy. Get large rear sway bar and end links, tighten the end links, and then drive really fast into a turn and in the middle of the turn, hit the brakes and see what happens. DISCLAIMER: I dont advise you to do this. So dont do this. But this is how to get a Maxima to fishtail or spin out.
10-24-2007, 06:45 PM
#18
Do not want to go off-topic but thought this is something useful to know here.
A max with VDC comes with a full size spare because a different size spare will not let the VDC operate. I have a question:
When we do tire rotations (i.e. every 6 months or so), do we need to include the spare in the rotation?
A max with VDC comes with a full size spare because a different size spare will not let the VDC operate. I have a question:
When we do tire rotations (i.e. every 6 months or so), do we need to include the spare in the rotation?
u only "rotate" front to back, staying on the same side. do not X them.
10-25-2007, 12:20 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
Just in case there may be a few here that think stability systems such as VDC are primarily intended to prevent 'fishtailing', they do much more than that. In ANY situation in which the VDC sensors detect a that the vehicle is approaching an out-of-control situation (even a simple case of oversteer in a turn), it will take over, and has the ability to apply the brake to whatever individual wheel or wheels it needs to in order to bring the car back into a stable position.
By contrast, under driver-only control (no VDC), individual wheels cannot be braked, and braking in a case where the car is becoming unstable in a turn may only worsen the situation.
If a car without VDC is fishtailing, even expert drivers have trouble bringing it under control because there is a tiny delay in the power steering system when trying to quickly reverse the steering wheel at speed. Those who have been in this situation may remember the tiny fraction of a second when even brute force applied in an attempt to reverse the steering wheel at speed met an immovable resistance, and by the time that resistance lessened a fraction of a second later, the car was already swinging to the other side again. VDC overcomes that delay via individualized wheel braking.
By contrast, under driver-only control (no VDC), individual wheels cannot be braked, and braking in a case where the car is becoming unstable in a turn may only worsen the situation.
If a car without VDC is fishtailing, even expert drivers have trouble bringing it under control because there is a tiny delay in the power steering system when trying to quickly reverse the steering wheel at speed. Those who have been in this situation may remember the tiny fraction of a second when even brute force applied in an attempt to reverse the steering wheel at speed met an immovable resistance, and by the time that resistance lessened a fraction of a second later, the car was already swinging to the other side again. VDC overcomes that delay via individualized wheel braking.
10-25-2007, 02:38 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 152
Hi Everyone,
I am new to the forum I just bought my Maxima 3.5 SE Platinum Edition on Monday night and I guess I would have to say I got the deal of the century on it so I can't complain. What originally happened was someone special ordered this car made a large down payment drove it for a few months and then figured out they couldn't afford it so they sold it back to the dealer to pay off the debt and the used car manager drove it some plus test drives. But the car listed between $36,000 & $37,000 and it's black with light gray leather interior. It only has about 8,000 miles on it and still has that new car smell. It was one of those deals that drop in your lap and you just can't pass it up.
I guess they call this version of the Maxima their Flagship since it has everything they offer in it and I just love it way to much.
I traded in a 1993 Camaro I bought brand new and had 261,000 miles on it. She was a great car but the 100 degree temps this summer took their toll and she started having some problems. So now I have bought my first import and I probably will never go back.
Thanks for listening to my rambling.
CK
I am new to the forum I just bought my Maxima 3.5 SE Platinum Edition on Monday night and I guess I would have to say I got the deal of the century on it so I can't complain. What originally happened was someone special ordered this car made a large down payment drove it for a few months and then figured out they couldn't afford it so they sold it back to the dealer to pay off the debt and the used car manager drove it some plus test drives. But the car listed between $36,000 & $37,000 and it's black with light gray leather interior. It only has about 8,000 miles on it and still has that new car smell. It was one of those deals that drop in your lap and you just can't pass it up.
I guess they call this version of the Maxima their Flagship since it has everything they offer in it and I just love it way to much.
I traded in a 1993 Camaro I bought brand new and had 261,000 miles on it. She was a great car but the 100 degree temps this summer took their toll and she started having some problems. So now I have bought my first import and I probably will never go back.
Thanks for listening to my rambling.
CK
10-25-2007, 03:40 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
cklamer - You have purchased a fine automobile. By opting for a vehicle made in the 5th year of the generation, most of the design bugs are long since gone, and you should have a very dependable car.
We will be interested in hearing of any experiences (good or bad) you have with your new wheels, especially with the CVT tranny.
Welcome to the forum!
We will be interested in hearing of any experiences (good or bad) you have with your new wheels, especially with the CVT tranny.
Welcome to the forum!
10-25-2007, 05:53 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bay area, CA
Posts: 621
Fishtailing a Max is easy. Get large rear sway bar and end links, tighten the end links, and then drive really fast into a turn and in the middle of the turn, hit the brakes and see what happens. DISCLAIMER: I dont advise you to do this. So dont do this. But this is how to get a Maxima to fishtail or spin out.
10-25-2007, 07:56 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 152
No I actually found the original sticker that was never stuck to the window of the car in with the manuals. Since it was a special order they never stuck it to window. But the "FLAGSHIP"
10-25-2007, 08:03 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 152
I actually discovered the original factory sticker that was never stuck to the window of the car in with the manuals. Since it was a special order they never stuck it to window. But the "FLAGSHIP" part was at the top of the sticker. Probably because this Maxima has everything they can possibly put in one.
Look forward to enjoying the forum and asking questions.
So what kind of cool after market products do they have for Maxima's.
CK
10-25-2007, 08:13 PM
#30
I piss on Civics.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
flagship of maximas.. lmfao. a dealer tried selling me on that in regards to the elite package. He goes "yeah man don't you wanna be the cool brother in the flagship of maximas??" I was fkin dieing. I told the guy straight out that he was 1. gay and 2. not getting my business 3. obviously knew nothing about the car, pride it comes with, nor the history of the car itself. It was the shadiest of dealers anyway so meh. BTW DONT GO TO LYNNES NISSAN IN BLOOMFIELD NJ!
10-25-2007, 08:27 PM
#32
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
Yeah I understand that part and no the salesman never used that phrase on me. They were actually extremely great to deal with and as a matter of fact they used an out dated form so they drove to my office today so they could get me to sign a new one and tear up the old one.
I actually discovered the original factory sticker that was never stuck to the window of the car in with the manuals. Since it was a special order they never stuck it to window. But the "FLAGSHIP" part was at the top of the sticker. Probably because this Maxima has everything they can possibly put in one.
Look forward to enjoying the forum and asking questions.
So what kind of cool after market products do they have for Maxima's.
CK
I actually discovered the original factory sticker that was never stuck to the window of the car in with the manuals. Since it was a special order they never stuck it to window. But the "FLAGSHIP" part was at the top of the sticker. Probably because this Maxima has everything they can possibly put in one.
Look forward to enjoying the forum and asking questions.
So what kind of cool after market products do they have for Maxima's.
CK
10-26-2007, 09:29 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 388
flagship of maximas.. lmfao. a dealer tried selling me on that in regards to the elite package. He goes "yeah man don't you wanna be the cool brother in the flagship of maximas??" I was fkin dieing. I told the guy straight out that he was 1. gay and 2. not getting my business 3. obviously knew nothing about the car, pride it comes with, nor the history of the car itself. It was the shadiest of dealers anyway so meh. BTW DONT GO TO LYNNES NISSAN IN BLOOMFIELD NJ!
I agree with you, i tried buying a car from them about 2years ago, they really suck
05-23-2009, 12:54 PM
#34
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 24
05-23-2009, 05:56 PM
#35
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
Most performabce tires now are directional and have arrows which indicate direction of rotation, which means a Front/Rear or Rear/Front from the same side is OK, a left to right swap would mean you now have the arrows facing backwards hense your tire will work, but not to optimum grimp if channeling water.
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