I wouldn't call those nannies. Nannies are things that equalize skills between drivers.

 

If not ABS what the hell are "power brakes" ?

 

He's probably never driven a car with a really good ABS in it.
I used to think they were crap because all I had ever experienced was the systems in the early 90's Japanese cars and some GM stuff (which is still crap). Then about 5 years I bought an E36 BMW and my eyes were opened, my current E46's system modulates even better.

 

I HIGHLY doubt in an emergency situation if someone pulls out in front of you and you are about to T-bone them... you are going to remember to NOT just slam on your brakes... and modulate them better than a good ABS system would to avoid locking your tires up. Get off your high horse and be honest with yourself.

ABS is to all 4 wheels. Most systems are a 3-channel setup with the each front wheel on its own channel and the both rears on a single channel.


A brake cylinder with no vacuum hookup, hence "non powered". A car with non-power brakes will still stop well, but you must apply a significant amount of pedal pressure compared to a power brake car.


ABS has saved my ass a couple times in the rain.

 

Ill admit that I will laugh at someone that tries to sell me a car with no ABS. Maybe in chucks race viper, or pdisme's radical or something but if that car is hitting the street, I want abs.. Now all the other nannies I can do without and turn them off 99% of the time. I love having abs, eventhough I know the correct "method" to not skidding, it doesnt mean that I want to use it

 

I would say power steering, power brakes, and headlights equalize driver skill. They seem like a given nowadays, but it's certainly possible for a driver to be better than another driver without having those helpers.


Anyone else see last night's Top Gear? The Stig took a Caterham around the track and locked up the wheels (No ABS) with PLENTY of tire smoke 2 or 3 times. It's a shame The Stig isn't a real pro driver like everyone on TR, right?

 

Edit: Read below.

 

ABS will save you from fender benders but if you or the other car is going fast enough to kill you ABS is not going to save anybody.

 

Yeah, but I think everybody should take safety where they can get it.
It's not foolproof, but it definitely helps.
How about when a pedestrian is crossing the road and nearby sprinklers have coated the road? Im sure all it would take is one second of lockup and he/she's dead.
I'm just saying, there's driving confidence, then there's ignorance.

 

Yes, because it allows quicker stopping distances than normally possible without ABS. If you're admitting this, then you're negating what you said in your first post (which you should be).
I don't think anyone is arguing that ABS makes you invincible, but it can and does save lives. If not locking up the brakes is the difference between a fender bender and a close call, then it could also be the difference between an undriveable wreck and a fender bender, or a totalled car and just being undriveable, or in this case, a fatal injury or a critical injury.

Even if it does make for faster laps, I could see a lack of ABS making for more exciting racing (as long as the drivers aren't flat-spotting themselves into the pits), by adding that extra degree of skill. That being said, I think it would be interesting to see how many weekend racers at any skill level really prefer one or the other. I certainly appreciate the challenge of infinitely trimming time off of laps, but I don't think that the challenge of not having ABS would make things any more fun or exciting, but more of just a pain in the ass that gets in the way of the real fun and challenge that I would look for in racing. I know one thing road racers don't go for is a car that's powerful enough that they're constantly pedaling the throttle to get it to hook and go straight, like a single digit drag car. I think that extra challenge of pedal modulating is along the same lines.