Miata Mailing List: July 1993, Message #118
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   From: buck@granite.ma30.bull.com (Kenneth J. Buck)
Subject: to ABS or not...
   Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1993 13:42:46 -0400


> Ronnie B Kon writes:
> "I would have got ABS if I could for this.  I've been in a situation
> where I stopped hard and skidded 90 degrees (ended up at a perfect
> right angle to the freeway, right in front of a cop).  [...] $800
> or whatever isn't that much to pay.

> From: Al Jenab 
> Another option would be to spend the $800 on driver's schools to learn
> threshold braking.  In effect, you learn how to become a human ABS
> machine.  Upgrade the old cpu between the ears.  Of course, if someone
> else drives the car, this doesn't work.  As I understand it, ABS adds
> weight and considerable complexity to the car's electronics/hydraulics
> systems.

i write:
i'm all for educated drivers, but there are still limits to how good
a job the old human foot (and brain) can do in emergency situations
on variable driving surfaces.  ABS may well save your day.

my gripe is that (unless they've changed the rules lately)
you have to get Pkg. B to get the ABS.

personally, i don't have ABS, haven't missed it, and am not sure
whether i'd buy it next time around regardless of price, but
it shouldn't be treated by Mazda as a "luxury item" that you can
only get if you also buy the cruise control and power windows.
partly my complaint is the requirement that you spend the extra $$,
but mostly it's because i don't want to have to get those EVIL
accessories on my car, just so i can get a safety feature.

[gripe mode OFF]