The safety mod: Adding ABS and traction control?

[giuanz]

Well I love my '96 GPX and I like the pre-facelift style more than the facelift one - feels a bit retro but it looks classier to me. Anyone has his own taste

I've got around driving without a rear wiper now (originarily I wanted to add one but I have to agree the rear wiper does not look great on a FTO) but I'm really missing these two features: ABS and traction control. Well I would not need the latter if the shift was a manual one, but with the tiptronic and the torque converter I kinda miss the control I had with the manual shift, particularly when starting on slippery roads.

How crazy and expensive would it be to add ABS? And traction control?

Regards, G

[colm_mcm]

Absolute waste of time. no FTO is worth the effort of completely changing the braking system, ECU, wiring loom etc. Especially not a tiptronic (no offence intended)

If you like the classic bumper, and want ABS, Traction, airbags etc. just buy a facelift GPX manual and offer a swap of the front bumper to a pre-facelift owner.

The traction control is way overrated IMO.

[d_dan]

iv been looking this up you could look at up to 2k for traction controle alone,


To be honest bigger breaks, a good LSD and keeping my head screw on should be enough to keep me in between the ditches

[Myfeckin FTO]

ABS is overrated fullstop. And a car like the FTO does not need traction control.

As per Dan - money way better spent on better brakes and an LSD (on a manual).

[Wildhound]

You could also just buy a pre-facelift with traction control and ABS. Mine has it. Taction contol is a bit gay though. Although it's probably saved me a few times driving like a tool.

[optical illusion]

I didn't think any fto's came with traction control.

You'd want to be driving like a complete lunatic constantly or using it as a track car to justify traction control.

I can see why you'd want abs though, for the cost though, you'd be probably better of buying an fto with it...

[d_dan]

iv plugged out my ABS. (took out the fuse)

Think it will kill me some day

[colm_mcm]

iv plugged out my ABS. (took out the fuse)

Think it will kill me some day

That or the extra bhp

[TopCat]

Personally I don't like ABS, don't feel in control of the car, hate that ...thud thud thud.. on your foot. Maybe that's just older cars though, or is it the same with newer ones?

[CJ]

Personally I don't like ABS, don't feel in control of the car

Have you ever had to throw out the anchor behind a stationary car with room to maneouver? If you think you've less control with ABS, try jumping on the brakes and steering out of the slide!

giuanz, as per the other comments, it would be cheaper to sell your car and buy one with the features in place. You only miss the rear wiper if you've had the luxury of one for some time, you quickly get used to not having one (unless of course you have access to a car that does have a rear wiper!)

CJ

[TopCat]

Have you ever had to throw out the anchor behind a stationary car with room to maneouver?

I'm sorry, but I don't get that?

If you think you've less control with ABS, try jumping on the brakes and steering out of the slide!

I do get your point, and I'm certainly not trying to knock ABS, I have no doubt it has saved countless lives. But my point would be that you shouldn't jump on the brakes and try to sheer out of a skid. I'm not claiming to be a great driver, but I was lucky enough to be able to do a lot of messin about with cars in a field when I was young. You start off jumping on the brakes, and realise you have no control, but after a few goes, you get more relaxed, and realise if you let off the brakes a touch then reapply, the steering magically works again.
I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that the irish driving learning system is inadequate IMHO. I think people need to find out, in a safe environment, what it really feels like to loose control of a car. That way, maybe they'll learn there is a limit to their driving ability, and that when they are in a tricky situation, not to panic and just plant the brake to the floor.

[CJ]

Have you ever had to throw out the anchor behind a stationary car with room to maneouver?

I'm sorry, but I don't get that?

Let me reword - have you ever had to brake hard behind a non-moving car (i.e. in traffic) whereby there was room either side to avoid the collision.

If you think you've less control with ABS, try jumping on the brakes and steering out of the slide!

I do get your point, and I'm certainly not trying to knock ABS, I have no doubt it has saved countless lives. But my point would be that you shouldn't jump on the brakes and try to sheer out of a skid.

I was in a situation a couple of years ago whereby I had to brake hard and late where a car had stopped suddenly on front of me, stopping distance was minimal. I had to jam on and attempt to turn out of the skid, I turned the wheel to no avail, you can guess the outcome.

2 weeks ago, a very similar incident occured whereby a kid ran out in front of the car in front on a main road. The driver jammed on, as did I in turn (if I'm honest, I was distracted by the climate control and I wasn't paying enough attention), speed was in and around 100kph. The ground was wet and the VR-4 went into a skid, the ABS kicked in and I managed into steer into the bus lane with relative ease and avoid the car in front. If the VR-4 was bereft of ABS, my insurance co would have been paying out a heafty repair bill - I ended up 10 feet past the car in front. You get the idea....

Moral of the story with regard to short distance reactive braking - keep your distance and slow down. If you have no control over these variables, hope that ABS will help you out if the conditions are right (help being the operative word).

CJ

[Uncle B]

Moral of the story with regard to short distance reactive braking - keep your distance and slow down.

And don't let the aircon distract you!

[CJ]

Moral of the story with regard to short distance reactive braking - keep your distance and slow down.

And don't let the aircon distract you!

Agreed! Theres so many distractions in cars theres days - instrument panels, stereos, handsfree kits etc, enough to draw your attention away from the road long enough to have to throw out the anchor....

CJ

[Uncle B]

Ya, I dont what people do wth those in car DVD players!?

[Baldrick]

Ya, I dont what people do wth those in car DVD players!?

I've got one. Was in it when I got it (so not guilty). Never used it except for last week. Run to Belfast with my son. Family Guy Series 7 all the way up. Brilliant! 'Course wasn't watching much but dialogue made time fly.

[optical illusion]

from the road long enough to have to throw out the anchor....

Having that anchor in the boot must knock a few BHP off the aul VR4...

Sorry, back on topic now!