• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Kinda Off Topic, but....... How important is ABS in a car?

D

duritz

Senior member
Hey guys & gals

My g/f is purchasing a '02 Eclipse sometime next week and had an important question...

She only needs the GS model to get her to and from school and the GS model doesn't come with ABS as an option.

So it's ending up making her think about buying the car or not since it doesn't have ABS

So my question is how important is ABS? What does it do really? In what situations would it make a difference to have ABS? Isn't the eclipse one of the safest cars they make? Would ABS really make a difference?

Thanks
 
ABS keeps the brakes from locking up the wheels (anti-lock braking system...). It is usually the most useful in panic stops because it helps you stop quicker and with more control than if you just mash the pedal, lock up, and slide. To a good driver panic stops are less of an issue since you're not as likely to push the pedal straight to the floor. They also help to keep from locking up on stops on slick stuff, etc too.

Personally I don't find them at all necessary and consider them a nice extra feature, but it wouldnt keep me from getting the car
 
If they were THAT necessary, they'd be standard equipment like seatbelts and airbags. And they'd at least offer them as an option on most all models.
And they wouldn't pull crap scams like Mazda: You want ABS? Well, you'll have to buy the power moonroof, too. That's right. The ABS doesn't work without the moonroof.

They can also give you a longer stopping distance depending on the conditions, so you should really understand how they work.

But I definitely wouldn't skip a good deal just because it doesn't have ABS.
 
I would consider it an absolute necessity in a new vehicle. I would not consider a car that did not have ABS. It is a vital and integral part of active automotive safety, and it helps you stop shorter in nearly all situations. As far as the marketing situation is concerned, (where you have to buy certain options to get ABS) thats up to the manufacturer. They have to balance their target market with equipment offered.

Airbags are the biggest joke within the automotive industry. Basically they came about as some sort of passive safety measure mandated by the government. Nobody could quite figure out how to deploy them in a safe, predictable manner. However, its a big selling point. In reality, you're better off with a padded interior and a five point harness.

Small driving tip....if you can't stop (and don't have abs)....lock the tires and slide. It makes your direction of travel much more predictable. Also, unless you have had practice with threshhold braking, skidding will slow you down faster than pumping the pedal. Edit-this only applies to dry conditions...on wet/slippery roads without abs, pump pedal.

 
If you live in an area with alot of snow and ice and have driven both, you'll definitely choose ABS.
 
first, why did you post an off-topic question to OFF TOPIC dept.😀

I would get an ABS too. even if its just an added feature, this one may save your GF's life (and yours also).
 


<< It is a good idea, but you can prevent lockups if you pump the pedal yourself. >>



It easier to say than done when the car starts skidding on wet pavement. It's better off just to get one equipped with ABS.
 


<< It is a good idea, but you can prevent lockups if you pump the pedal yourself. >>



When you're skidding down the wrong way of a street, how likely is it that you'll be thinking of pumping the pedal? Please get ABS. On speedvision, they were doing some studies about cars with and without ABS. With ABS, braking suddenly on a wet road, the car jerks left and right (like overcorrecting). WITHOUT ABS, the car TAILSPINS UNCONTROLLABLY, because most cars are front-wheel drive, and if you brake, your front wheels stop, but the momentum of your back wheels are still going, especially if you're going fast and on slippery roads. Get ABS, regardless of where you live; north or south. You'll be doing yourself a big favor. The sales guy might tell you ABS is not that big of a deal if you have front and rear disc brakes; this means nothing. Your brakes will still lock up if you jam the pedal in.

Good luck and drive safely!
 
Its effective if you use it right. The problem is most people don't, they either forget to steer the car and just slams the brake hoping the car will go autopilot or they'll not press the brake hard enough fearing it would lock thus the system doesn't activate. Its the driver not the system.
 
Some unclear statements here. If you don't have ABS and skid, you will go in a straight line parallel to the direction you were previously travelling. There will be no fishtailing, uncontrollable movements, etc. This will happen provided you lock up all 4 wheels and were going fairly straight prior towards the skid.

The uncontrolled movements results from not braking hard enough (so that some wheels are still moving), and/or excessive steering prior towards locking all wheels.
 


<< Small driving tip....if you can't stop (and don't have abs)....lock the tires and slide. It makes your direction of travel much more predictable. Also, unless you have had practice with threshhold braking, skidding will slow you down faster than pumping the pedal. >>

Strange, I had always heard the opposite, that locking up your wheels was the last thing you wanted to do.
 
Right on Sahka! It's hard for me to understand how anyone in their right mind can decide to blow hundreds on dollars on an upgraded sound system, leather seats, or gold trim rather than on ABS and traction control.

Theoretically it is true that a really good professional driver can brake slightly better with non-ABS brakes. But let's face it...none of us are in their league! For the rest of us, ABS is undoubtedly better. (And if we can't learn to use ABS correctly by applying maximum force to the brake pedal and steering, then we aren't competent enough to have a driver's license!)

Garfang -- while I agree with you (below), that some ABS systems are definitely better than others, I doubt you are better off without any ABS system. After all, ABS only comes into play under extreme (and hopefully unusual) driving conditions when we normal drivers have a right to panic. 🙂 And the "I don't need it because I know how to drive without it" argument has been offered up against every auto safety improvement in the last half century, including seat belts, ABS, and air bags. Anyway, good luck to you in the frozen North (and I hope you have traction control!) 😀
 
I don't need it. I know how to drive without it, so it?s not important to me. But it can possibly save a panicky (bad) driver in a situation where they want to simultaneously brake and steer to avoid an accident on wet or dry pavement.

In my experience, most systems are a hindrance on snow or ice however, and since between late October and mid April, there?s a good amount of that stuff up here, I?ll take my car without and be perfectly happy with my choice.

Here?s something to consider too. Every ABS system is different between different manufacturers and models, so some do a much better job than others in many situations. The only ABS systems that I have really, truly been impressed with when I tested them were on Volvos.
 
I would get ABS. As far as I am concern a safety device just like seat belts & Airbags. Assuming that
ABS system would cost $800-1000, and you do get into a accident, the ABS system will be cost effective
prevent the accident than to have one. (Eg parts, labor and insurnace cost, time, loss wages)

Don't listen to salesmen talking you that ABS are not worth it, they just trying to sell you a car

 
I see you're in 'Nawlins. Down there, I wouln't think of it as a big deal. But, in the midwest, or in areas that get a decent amount of snow and/or Ice I more or less consider ABS an necessity. I've had cars with them, and cars without them. I'll never own another car without.
 


<< Theoretically it is true that a really good professional driver can brake slightly better with non-ABS brakes. But let's face it...none of us are in their league! >>


No "theoretical" about it. ABS will really mess up a professional (or very good driver). When I rent a car with ABS I have to restrain my "training" and just lock-up the brakes. If you pump the ABS brake pedal - as is very natural for me in a car with stgandard brakes - the computer gets confused and the car skids.

What I doin't understand is that people will spend many thousands of dollars on a new car but will neglect advanced safety lessons for just a few hundreds of dollars more that is far more likely to save their life than any built-in "safety features".
 
<<Right on Sahka! It's hard for me to understand how anyone in their right mind can decide to blow hundreds on dollars on an upgraded sound system, leather seats, or gold trim rather than on ABS and traction control.>>

Because some of us know how to drive and don't need expesive frilly "aids" like traction control and ABS. I personally prefer straight-up non-power assist brakes and steering, you know what the car is doing that way. In four winters of driving through upper Ohio/lower Michigan winters I have only once locked my brakes unintentionally, and even then I was able to maintain control. If a driver knows his (or her) car and does not distract himself by showing off, programming his cell phone, or running the stereo loud enough to be heard 5 blocks away, then the driver should not need ABS. Granted, for a lot of people ABS is better (not necessarily shorter, only shorter on dry pavement) because it allows directional control while only slightly increasing total stopping distance. It is far from a reason to buy or not buy a car though. And anyone who puts gold trim on a car needs to be shot.

ZV

<-- Knows he's going to get flamed for this, but is leaving for home and Easter so he doesn't care. In fact, I'll add one more piece of info; I hate airbags and daytime running lights too, but that's a whole other rant.
 
PowerEngineer,

I just noticed your reply up there. Yes, in a way, I do have traction control: if I give it too much trottle, the tires start to spin, so I back off.

It's funny, because with my manual transmission, front wheel drive, and my steady right foot (and the aid of some decent tires) I pull right away from just about everyone else, especially those poor suckers in their bling bling "look at me, I'm a big spender" RWD luxury cars that have standard traction control.
 
You can have mine if you want, I pulled the fuse on it... the bigger your tires the more danger it is.

On my Civic it was fine, though it is annoying when the ABS kicks in when your slightly braking and you hit a small bump in the road, that is much more dangerous to me... over 50% of my vehicles didn't have ABS and I still retain a Perfect driving record down to not even being given a parking ticket...

Make sure you know that ABS isn't for stopping faster, it actually has been proven to increase stopping distance in some conditions... it's purpose is to be able to steer while in full brake.... since no one has a fuggin clue about this we get wrecks like on I-25 with 68 cars like we did in 1997, over 80% of the cars in that had ABS, but guess what everyone does in panic mode, the hit the brakes as hard as they can and clench the wheel, no manuvering.

ABS can be a "Tool" for the road when used properly.... percent of people who know how to use it my guess is single digits.

But then again percent of people that should even be aloud on the road is getting close to single digits also 😉
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top