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Stability Control, are you ready for it? - READ ONLY

588 messages,  Last post on Sep 09, 2009 at 12:57 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety

Messages Page 58 of 59

#569 of 588 Finding a good new car with stability control and bluetooth under $25K by jaxs1

May 06, 2007 (8:34 pm)

I want my next car to have auxillary input, side curtain airbags, bluetooth, good fuel economy, good crash test results, good reliability, reasonable price and stability control.
  
It's difficult to find something like that. The Altima Hybrid might have been the one, but you have to buy the $5000 option package to get bluetooth and then you have a $30K plus vehicle. You can't get VDC on the 2.5 non-hybrid at all. The 3.5 is pricey and a gas guzzler.
  
No VDC on Sentra and Versa.
  
Does any vehicle like this exist now?
  
I think I can cherry pick that combination of options on the 2007 base model Mini Cooper, but it would fail my reliability requirement. I also have heard rumors than the 2008 Ford Focus might have this stuff available, but reliability might be subpar and resale value will definately be poor. I have also thought of a Dodge Caliber SXT, but reliability and MPG reports have been poor.
  
I think the current best choice is the Camry Hybrid or 4 cylinder Camry XLE with optional VSC unless the 2008 Accord has VSA and bluetooth standard on LX or EX 4 cylinder models this fall. I think the next most likely vehicle will be the next generation Honda Fit or Corolla (2009??) unless Nissan has any plans on making VDC available on Sentras and/or Versas in the next year or so.
  
Sounds like I might have to wait until stability control is mandated in 2012 to get this combo in features in sub $25K cars. I don't want a Prius and I don't want a bluetooth headset.
I'd actually prefer to go down to sub $20K economy cars, but I'll look at cars in the 20-25K range if necessary.
 
Any suggestions?

#570 of 588 uncommon requirement? by steve_ HOST

May 07, 2007 (6:19 am)

"I was going to consider the Freestyle. Then I learned that, even though it was based on Volvo S80 architecture and it is marketed as a family-safe vehicle, the Freestyle does not offer stability control...not even as an option. I had just assumed that it would be available. Since that was a mandatory feature for me, the Freestyle was crossed off the list and I eventually got a Nissan Murano (which I had to special order with stability control). For the life of me, I don't understand how Ford can market a vehicle for families, offer airbags, ABS and traction control, yet leave out perhaps the most important safety feature since the seatbelt?"
 
Missing Features Pt. 2 (Strategies for Smart Car Buyers)
 
Note Joepublic's comment - "But in Ford's defense, stability control probably barely registers on the average buyer's radar. Nobody knows what it is! (Okay, not nobody, but probably less than 10% of the general public)."

#571 of 588 Re: Finding a good new car with stability control and bluetooth under $25K [jaxs1] by 210delray

May 07, 2007 (1:29 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (May 06, 2007 8:34 pm)
Camry now, or wait to see what's offered on the '08 Accord.

#572 of 588 Well, latests news items with ESC ref's ... by starrow68

Jul 09, 2007 (8:42 am)

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680197183,00.html
 
Ref's to safety data including ratings with some ESC cars.
 
http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6451550.html?industryid=43655
 
Discussion of new mandate, I thought it was in place but
some items seem to say it isn't final yet. Also a little
discussion of differences in systems like the Ford Roll
Stability Control which has roll measurement in addition to
Yaw measurement which all systems have.
Randy

#573 of 588 News Item by starrow68

Nov 14, 2007 (9:35 pm)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/1115biz-safecars1115.- html
 
As expected the list of what has ESC is growing.

#574 of 588 Latest in the news by starrow68

Jan 20, 2008 (9:19 pm)

http://www.autospectator.com/cars/auto-safety/0036939-fia-president-urges-more-a- ction-esc
 
Seems the FIA is pushing the stability control system too.

#575 of 588 Re: Latest in the news [starrow68] by boaz47

Feb 03, 2008 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: starrow68 (Jan 20, 2008 9:19 pm)
It does seem like the hand writing is on the wall. But I think we all knew deep down inside that some of these things were coming. Soon driving will simply be a matter of getting in and pointing the vehicle where you want it to go. ABS was only the beginning. ESC will be easier to convert to I believe and I am looking forward to the new Cruise control devices that will maintain your distance when you come up behind a slower moving vehicle on the highway.

#576 of 588 Stability Control Vendors? by jaxs1

Mar 03, 2008 (3:24 pm)

Which companies produce these units for the automakers?
 
It seems like their profits should start rising as more and more automakers put it on more cars as the date where stability control becomes mandatory gets closer.

#577 of 588 Any new studies? by jipster

Mar 03, 2008 (4:06 pm)

With more and more vehicle coming equipped with VSC, haven't seen much of a reduction in accidents. Though according to initial reports on VSC they were to reduce accidents by 40-50%

#578 of 588 Re: Any new studies? [jipster] by jaxs1

Mar 03, 2008 (4:17 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Mar 03, 2008 4:06 pm)
There still aren't very many cars with stability control compared to the total population of cars, so the total accident rate is probably unaffected.
The studies had shown that the reduction of accidents was with those few cars that had stability control.

Messages Page 58 of 59

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