anti lock brakes..

[morrises]

Hi everyone!
This is my first posting.
We are in the market for our first PT cruiser.. we are really excited! My car just got in an accident on Tuesday (luckily no one was hurt) so we figured we might as well hurry the process on buying a PT (we originally were going to buy in the fall). So my question is, we have two small kids so I want the safest PT I can get. I've never drove a vehicle without ABS so I really am looking for some info if ABS is important or not. I've noticed some PTs have them and some don't so I'm guessing it was/is an option?

Thanks for the info!!!

[CREWZIN]

Welcome to the forum.

Anti-lock brakes are a good choice in any vehicle. They help in all kinds of braking situations weather it be dry, rain or snow/ice. They are an option on the PT (at least in the earlier years) and I believe you can only get them on the Touring and Limited, not the Base model which means you'll have to have some other options on the PT in order to have the ABS.

Someone correct me if that's changed on the newer models.

[morrises]

That's what it is seeming to us too. My top two cars in the running so far one has ABS the other I'm not sure about.. so that may end up being the deciding factor..

[Cartman]

ABS definately not standard on 06 touring...... kinda pissed at the dealer for that one, long story.

[ucantcme]

I got an 01' Limited - No ABS at all.

Found that out the hard way

I guess I'll tell you all, lol, anyways...I was driving about 45mph down HWY11 in Louisiana when some idiot decided to go without looking. Soon did he find out, I was maybe 50ft from him and I locked em' up! I swerved around him with a big ploom of smoke behind me. Scary indeed.

[Hooligan]

I bought a 2006 Limited new, no ABS on it either, I guess it must be a add-on. I assumed that for that much $$$$'s it should have been standard.

[quicksilverdon]

ABS is an option (except on the GT).
I had ABS on my '02 and have it on my '05. It VERY rarely comes on. At least from '05 on, there are 2 "flavors" of ABS - one with rear drums, the other with rear disks. I have the 4-wheel disks, because disks are easier to work on, and there have been some noise complaints with the rear drums.
Hope that helps.

[cleverklutz]

My car doesn't have ABS and I think that's one of it's better features. I was very happy when I found that out!

If you learn how to drive without ABS it is a bit better. All ABS does is let you steer when braking, it does NOT make you stop faster, actually it increases stopping distance. I've been in emergency situations where I had to steer around cars and it's no problem as long as you let the brake off when you want to turn. You can actually lock the wheels up, turn the wheel, the car keeps going in a straight line, and then let the brake off when you want to turn. That's a technique I've found handy in winter when coming up to a corner too fast. In winter driving no ABS really helps with good tires as it lets you stop even if not all the wheels have traction. I often lock my wheels fully in winter doing a fast stop, the car tends to go crooked, but it stops very fast.

I would go with the car you like the best. If it doesn't have ABS just drive it until you are used to it. My only recommendation would be run a good quality tire.

That's just my opinion, gained mostly from driving through very crappy Canadian winters. Feel free to disagree.

Ben

[ucantcme]

Originally Posted by cleverklutz

My car doesn't have ABS and I think that's one of it's better features. I was very happy when I found that out!

If you learn how to drive without ABS it is a bit better. All ABS does is let you steer when braking, it does NOT make you stop faster, actually it increases stopping distance. I've been in emergency situations where I had to steer around cars and it's no problem as long as you let the brake off when you want to turn. You can actually lock the wheels up, turn the wheel, the car keeps going in a straight line, and then let the brake off when you want to turn. That's a technique I've found handy in winter when coming up to a corner too fast. In winter driving no ABS really helps with good tires as it lets you stop even if not all the wheels have traction. I often lock my wheels fully in winter doing a fast stop, the car tends to go crooked, but it stops very fast.

I would go with the car you like the best. If it doesn't have ABS just drive it until you are used to it. My only recommendation would be run a good quality tire.

That's just my opinion, gained mostly from driving through very crappy Canadian winters. Feel free to disagree.

Ben

Agreeeeeeeeeed! 110%!

Driving in the snow with no ABS is a shock to people, but if you learn to drive without ABS it's a huge advantage. Kind of like learning how to drive a stick shift. If you can drive a stick - you can drive anything!

Snow + Nice tires = No problems. Unless your going 80 and have to stop quickly. Compared to my work vans (With ABS) and my car (No ABS) my car does stop A LOT shorter than the vans. Using that hand-brake is awesome as well