03-17-2010, 11:49 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Des Moines,
IA
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my beloved Shelby CSX 4068, Gessford 427 Ford
Posts: 756
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Not Ranked
Traction control is dangerous
My wife has had two cars with traction control - a 2003 Mustang and a 2008 Caddy CTS.
I live in Iowa where we regularly have to deal with snow and ice. I'll never forget the first time I encountered the TC. I was sitting in her Mustang at a stop light on a slight incline. When the light turned green, I stepped on the go pedal and nothing happened. I pushed a little harder - still nothing. It seems the car was sitting on a patch of ice, and when I applied the throttle, the wheels started to slip. So the TC cut the throttle. Completely. I'd still be sitting there if I hadn't shut the damned TC off. The guy behind me in traffic was not amused.
The second time was in the CTS. Great car, but it, too, has TC. I was attempting to pull out into rush hour traffic from a side street. I saw a gap in the traffic, so I gunned it to merge. As soon as I entered the main street, I drove over a patch of ice. The TC completely cut power for a couple of seconds. I've got to tell you that it's a strange feeling, watching the oncoming traffic bearing down on me, while I have my foot firmy planted on the firewall as I helplessly pushed and pushed the throttle down. No one hit me, but it was close. I easily could have caused a major traffic accident because the damned TC decided I could not handle the situation.
In my opinion, any device that takes control (or eliminates your ability to control) of a car is a potential disaster waiting to happen. Mercedes has a car that will brake for you when you follow too closely. Nissan or Toyota or one of those jelly-bean brands has a car that will park itself. My feeling is that we need to encourage at least a passing level of proficiency amongst our drivers here in the US. These devices do nothing to achieve that goal.
Hell, I'm still mad at whomever invented air bags. The people who thinned themselves from the gene pool through their stupid acts behind the wheel now live to drive another day. And procreate. So there will be more.
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CSX4068, '69 Bronco, '70 BOSS 302, '87 Mustang GT, '08 Roush Trak Pak
Last edited by DougD; 03-17-2010 at 11:51 AM..
Reason: typo
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