Traction Control

[Wildhound]

My ABS never activates during normal braking. I only get a foot massage if I hammer it on at high speed.

[colm_mcm]

do you switch the traction control off all the time?

[optical illusion]

I only get a foot massage if I hammer it on at high speed.

LMAO

[Wildhound]

do you switch the traction control off all the time?

Almost always if it's dry. Still I've never noticed the brakes behaving differently with it on or off. As far as I can tell my ABS only actually does anything when the wheels would have locked without it. If it's doing anything the rest of the time it's very subtle.

[colm_mcm]

As far as I can tell my ABS only actually does anything when the wheels would have locked without it.

That's all ABS will do.

[Wildhound]

Which was exactly my point!

[colm_mcm]

I just got the impression you were expecting them to do something extra!

[Myfeckin FTO]

Having driven both versions I would be willing to bet that a non ABS GPX/GPvR would outbrake an ABS version in the dry in a straight line. In the wet it would depend on the driver. I think thats the point that Kev was also trying to get across.

The one thing I prefer about my last FTO over my current Zed is that my FTO was a more rewarding drive when pushing on due to it not having Traction Control, ABS, EBD, 6 airbags, Climate Control (I removed it from the FTO) and a variety of other features mostly in the name of Marketing -sorry - I mean Safety - which added up would certainly have contributed at least another 150kgs to the weight of the car.

[Wildhound]

I honestly don't see how it non-ABS could beat ABS on dry tarmac/concrete since it's supposed to be able to reduce braking distances on high-taction surfaces. Still there could be a gap in my knowledge or the ABS on the FTO could be crap.

Fortunately it's good enough for me. I'd probably kill myself without it since I'm still not quite used to having that kind of power at my feet, having driven a Punto before.

[colm_mcm]

It depends on the driver, for most people it would improve their braking distances, but for drivers with good skill and a sensitive right foot ABS can be more of a hinderance.

[Myfeckin FTO]

I honestly don't see how it non-ABS could beat ABS on dry tarmac/concrete since it's supposed to be able to reduce braking distances on high-taction surfaces.....

Without wanting to get into the technicalities of it - systems like ABS and Traction Control (particular early systems as on the FTO) can have quite a "Nannying" effect on your driving. ABS and TC can kick in too early and not give optimum grip or power where most needed. It is for this reason why the vast majority of track cars do without either - if you want better brakes - then upgrade your calipers, disks and pads - adding ABS or TC will only hinder your progress when pushing on. The fastest lap times on TC equiped cars are always done with the TC turned off. ABS and TC are safety features on a car - not performance features. I'm not trying to knock either ABS or TC - I have both on my Zed and they are usefull for day to day driving particularly when wet and it is generally safer to leave these systems on.