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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

48040 messages,  Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 9:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying


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#37598 of 48040
Re: No Call Back [jmonroe] by cdnpinhead
Jan 04, 2009 (4:04 pm)
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Replying to: jmonroe (Jan 04, 2009 2:01 pm)

. . .when I say a cow is going to lay an egg…it’s time to go fetch a skillet.
 
Excellent phrase! Line of the week.
#37599 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [roadburner] by houdini1
Jan 04, 2009 (4:16 pm)
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Replying to: roadburner (Jan 04, 2009 3:14 pm)

Here is my story about traction/stability control. I was going up an icy hill a few days ago, 2006 Lexus LS. Deserted road, thank goodness. The car kept going slower and slower and finally stopped...then started rolling backwards.
 
Apparently the t/s killed the engine when the car started rolling backwards so I had very little control. When I would try to apply the brakes I would start to slew sideways so just had to steer to a stop after about 150 to 200 yards, restart the engine and turn around. No harm done but it could have been a disaster if there had been traffic behind me.
#37600 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [houdini1] by jipster
Jan 04, 2009 (5:40 pm)
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Replying to: houdini1 (Jan 04, 2009 4:16 pm)

Houdini's are famous for escaping danger ... glad you were okay.
 
I'm a bit leary of turning over control of my car to stability control, for the very
reasons you wrote about. Seems like there would be a kill switch for the certain instances which you discribed. I'm sure the positive of s/c far outweigh the negatives though..
#37601 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [jipster] by houdini1
Jan 04, 2009 (5:53 pm)
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Replying to: jipster (Jan 04, 2009 5:40 pm)

You can turn it off in my car so it was at least partly my fault. The car is so quiet that I did not even realize the engine had stalled...until I had stopped rolling. I always just leave it on and just did not think about it. Even if I had I would have thought it would be better to have it on.
 
I agree that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I am mainly telling my tale as a public service in case anyone else finds themselves in this situation.
#37602 of 48040
Re: No Call Back [snakeweasel] by jmonroe
Jan 04, 2009 (6:22 pm)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Jan 04, 2009 2:32 pm)

Also the Versa is just one of nine on my short list.
 
Wow, and what do you call a "long list"?
 
I don't think I have to tell you that when you're at the negotiating table, I wouldn't mention your "short list". I'd be willing to bet the biz guys here would walk you when they heard that.
 
jmonroe
#37603 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [jipster] by roadburner
Jan 04, 2009 (6:25 pm)
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Replying to: jipster (Jan 04, 2009 5:40 pm)

If I want an involving drive I take my 318ti Club Sport. No electronic safety nanny to pull the plug when things get interesting. It does have ABS but I find that it rarely kicks in on the track, never mind the street. For really nasty winter weather I like to take my old Wrangler; the only thing managed by the computer is the ignition and fuel injection. Blessed simplicity. With Dunlop Rover RVXT all-season/winter tires I find that I don't need 4WD unless the snow is very deep.
#37604 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [houdini1] by driver100
Jan 04, 2009 (6:51 pm)
Reply

Replying to: houdini1 (Jan 04, 2009 4:16 pm)

Here is my story about traction/stability control. I was going up an icy hill a few days ago, 2006 Lexus LS. Deserted road, thank goodness. The car kept going slower and slower and finally stopped...then started rolling backwards.
 
I am not technologically knowledgeable but I don't think you would have done better if you didn't have traction control. The road might have been so icy that both rear wheels couldn't get traction......and probably no vehicle could have gone up the hill.
 
Also, keep in mind I am technologically challenged, but I don't think stability control would help too much in this situation either. The wheels have to be able to grip onto something for it to work - they can't defy physics and magically go up a sheet of ice.
 
You did state it was better to have TC and SC so I know this doesn't apply to you or most, but saying you would be better off without these features is like saying you are better off without seatbelts because one person in 500,000 is saved because he wasn't wearing his seatbelt...he got thrown clear.
#37605 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [houdini1] by jmonroe
Jan 04, 2009 (7:02 pm)
Reply

Replying to: houdini1 (Jan 04, 2009 5:53 pm)

I am mainly telling my tale as a public service in case anyone else finds themselves in this situation.
 
OK, now my tale.
 
Just this past summer I was driving Mrs. jmonroe’s 06’ Sonata LX (V6 with full fledged Stability Control not just Traction Control like my 05’ XG 350). I noticed that the car needed gas, so as the nice guy that I am; I pulled in and filled it up. It was raining and the exit I used was about 30 yards from the corner light which I noticed had changed just as I was pulling out. So, I floored it and it almost died (me too) because it sensed slipping on the wet road. Then as I was bracing myself it must have caught onto what I wanted it to do and the hesitation stopped and the car gained speed, just in time to avoid someone climbing up my her tail pipe.
 
I’ve been driving for a couple years now and I don’t like the idea of something taking control of the car I’m driving. I’ve done just fine when left to my own ability. I’ve actually thought of turning that system off under those situations but so far I’ve successfully resisted that urge.
 
I guess it’s hard to teach an old driver new tricks.
 
jmonroe
#37606 of 48040
Re: Traction Control/Stability Control [jmonroe] by roadburner
Jan 04, 2009 (7:31 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jmonroe (Jan 04, 2009 7:02 pm)

OK, now my tale.
 
Here's mine, which took place while co-driving a BMW X5 in the 2000 Alcan Winter Rally. Think: Duel meets Ice Station Zebra...
 
It happened on a transit stage between Coldfoot and Fairbanks when my co-driver Russ decided to pass a trucker who was apparently well and truly ticked off by the hoards of rally cars buzzing south sporting 100w driving lights. As Russ pulled out to pass, the trucker crowded us onto the snow covered shoulder. Russ completed the pass and cranked the wheel hard right to get the left wheels out of the snow. The X5 got quite a bit sideways and the DSC, apparently flustered by the speed, steering angle, and yaw rate, ramped the throttle way back. As in OFF. Fortunately, the X5 decided to relinquish control to Russ before we became a hood ornament on the front grill of the annoyed trucker.
#37607 of 48040
Re: No Call Back [jmonroe] by snakeweasel
Jan 04, 2009 (7:34 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jmonroe (Jan 04, 2009 6:22 pm)

Wow, and what do you call a "long list"?
 
Well I would call the long list all the cars that would fit my budget.
 
I am not expecting to go replace my car anytime soon so I am not really working on eliminating cars to quickly. However since we have one car thats 11 years old with 140K miles on it and another thats 9 years old with 160K miles on it I am keeping my eyes open just in case. Trust me when I go into negotiations I will have a short list of one, with an alternate or two just in case.

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