Last night I had my first VDIM experience! I had only 'heard' people mention the beep before, but I was always convinced there was no such sound in my car. I've made the traction control light go on hundreds of times before, but this was much different.

Basically, I was at a stop sign, waiting to turn left onto a busy street in a busy area near UCLA. There was some water in the middle of the street (from sprinklers). I had to floor it once there was a gap because the oncoming traffic was going 40+ so I had to catch up to speed quickly. So, I floor it as I'm turning, then hit the water, then the car completely fishtails, and in an instant (as I continue to floor it), the orange skid light turns on and then "BEEP" (in a pretty feminine sound). The car not only turned all power off, but it must have braked a bunch, because it took control much faster than if I simply took my foot off the gas. It was awesome! It makes it virtually impossible to lose control of the car no matter how hard you try!

Now I can tell the difference between traction control (use it every day) and stability control (first time it has activated and my car is an 06!).

Anyone else try out the VDIM before? Pretty fun!

 

The VDIM went off like 20 times last time I brought mine to the track...

 

hmm i do it when i drift inside the car wash area when i go vaccuum my car at lexus.. hahaha

 

i hate this safety feature... cutting all aceleration power and boggling the car is not a good thing in my book

 

Its both SAFE and INSANE in traffic :P

 

yeah I could definitely see why this could be bad for the track, but it saved me from hitting parked cars on a relatively narrow street, so it saved my insurance from one claim... cost/benefit I guess, but at least it can be defeated if need be.

I had an S2000 that had no traction control whatsoever (2005) and after one bad fishtail that shook me up, I never felt I could push the car around corners without risking crashing the car...

 

Get used to it...after 2010 all car mfg(new cars built) must have this safety feature as standard. And its a good thing in my book...it can correct stability mistakes faster than you can react.

 

My day isn't complete until I hear that VDIM beep

 

Try this: take a corner too fast (on purpose) in the snow and do not countersteer when the car starts to skid.

You can actually feel a jolt in the steering wheel as VDIM causes the electric power steering to give you an "incentive" to countersteer! Pretty cool. It doesn't really take the steering from you, but gives you a jolt. Impressive.

I find that VDIM is a good way to explore the limits of the car without risking bent metal. Then you're ready to turn it off and have fun!

 

lol I baby my car so I never experience vdim or traction control

 

VDIM is only on the IS350 so its impossible to have it go off in the awd is250

 

250s will be getting VDIM for 09 though supposedly

 

It doesn't have VDIM (until '09), but it does have stability control. So you can still experience what the OP did.

 

Famous last words...

VDIM is an amazing system, capable of doing things that even an expert driver would be unable to do (such as braking a single wheel), but it can't repeal the laws of physics. Good judgment and common sense are required even with VDIM backing you up.

 

lol


VDIM saved my life.