ABS brakes / Would you buy a Yaris without them?

[Yaristeve]

Originally Posted by carnageehw

Fact is, in normal road conditions (re: no loose surfaces) studies have shown ABS to be a faster way of stopping your car than trying to not lock the brakes yourself.

Based on my experience, I just cannot agree with this "fact". On a dry, clean surface, the ABS in my Lexus kicked in as soon as it sensed some slipping. Threshold braking requires slight slippage to take maximum advantage of both rolling and sliding friction. That is the nature of rubber tires.

At the time, my tires were NOT locked up and screeching and sliding; they were, however, still turning and "singing". Yet, the ABS kicked in (I felt the buzzing in the brake pedal) and the car suddenly felt like it was actually accelerating and the front end came up.

If you ride motorcycles, you learn that you don't just grab a handful of brakes. Hard braking requires you to gradually but very quickly build pressure. The same applies for cars. Yes, if you all you know how to do is stomp on the brakes, you will lock up your wheels and ABS is for you. But if you gradually (but quickly) build pressure, weight transfer to the front will increase your front tire traction and you will stop faster than an ABS equipped car on a dry clean surface. And this takes practice, practice, practice.

Originally Posted by carnageehw

And in an emergency, why the hell would you even want to THINK about how to manipulate your foot? .

I think you're missing PK198105's point: if you approach driving the way you should be, you shouldn't find yourself in "an emergency". And in the event you get sucked into an emergency, practicing proper driving technique makes avoidance almost second-nature. As others have said, all these nanny tools have made it too easy for people to become lazy and not think about what they are doing and have become a hindrance to people who actually enjoy driving well...