Stanleysteamer · Jul 15, 2019

MJI said:
Actually he was just an idiot.

ABS is great on shitty road surfaces, but it is not a performance aid but a safety aid.

Actually, I am not quite sure we can say that in all circumstances, He was an especial type of idiot. You and I both know that ABS has its limits, but when people are led to believe that ABS can enable you to steer your way out a skid, who is telling them that no, actually, not always?
So are they idiots to trust it? It is there to help people who overcook things SLIGHTLY when not driving with due attention to driving conditions, but I disagree it is "great on sh1tty road surfaces". Its ability to get you out of trouble is quickly gone past if you are, quite simply, going too fast for the circumstances.
I agree it is a safety AID but the clue is in the last word, and too many people seem to think it can work miracles. Another good friend of mine also managed to put his company car through a hedge, on a bend, on a dry road he knew well, through simply going too fast and getting onto the "marbles" on the edge or the tarmac. ABS didn't help him one jot.
I honestly think skid control and avoiding skids in the first place should be a proper part of the driving test. Not just "knowing about it" but proving you can physically retain control of a vehicle in slippery conditions, like London bus drivers used to have to be able to do.

MJI · Jul 15, 2019

I find you drive differently with ABS, on ice it is bad, so have to be slightly more careful, but when the grip is mixed you can be more confident braking, not harder, not later, just more confident, on grease or wet, if you have had a bike you would know what I mean.

It is to me obvious it is not stability control.Just a means to keep control if you are not a great driver.

I occasionally trigger left side when on dirty roads when braking down hill for a junction, I know it would do it, or a little skid if 3 amigos, the right side is fine, ABS just means don't need to cadence brake.

I only tend to get full ABS when I find someone on my side coming towards me and I slam brakes on HARD to avoid them crashing into me.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 17, 2019

Have you ever done a skid pan course? Best fun you can have with your clothes on! Gives you soooo much more confidence. The best bit was hammering towards a cone representing a person, brakes full on, wheel fully turned to one side, skidding straight toward the cone. Totally out of control. (Clutch down obviously.) Then at the last split second, release the brake. The car flies in the direction you were trying to steer towards and you miss the cone. Brilliant.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 17, 2019

MJI said:
I find you drive differently with ABS, on ice it is bad, so have to be slightly more careful, but when the grip is mixed you can be more confident braking, not harder, not later, just more confident, on grease or wet, if you have had a bike you would know what I mean.

It is to me obvious it is not stability control.Just a means to keep control if you are not a great driver.

I occasionally trigger left side when on dirty roads when braking down hill for a junction, I know it would do it, or a little skid if 3 amigos, the right side is fine, ABS just means don't need to cadence brake.

I only tend to get full ABS when I find someone on my side coming towards me and I slam brakes on HARD to avoid them crashing into me.

I agree totally with all you say, but with ABS on a dry road I know I could stop in a shorter distance than ABS allows. Luckily, or not, I always leave plenty of room and drive expecting idiots.

MJI · Jul 17, 2019

Stanleysteamer said:
I agree totally with all you say, but with ABS on a dry road I know I could stop in a shorter distance than ABS allows. Luckily, or not, I always leave plenty of room and drive expecting idiots.

Most good drivers can, but it is poor road conditions which make it worthwhile

Gazbo · Jul 19, 2019

Buy the best and latest model, (1998) base spec D1 you can find, your bank balance will thank you, super-less complicated and more practical/functional than the later offerings.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 19, 2019

Gazbo said:
Buy the best and latest model, (1998) base spec D1 you can find, your bank balance will thank you, super-less complicated and more practical/functional than the later offerings.

ABSO-BALLY-LUTELY! (Speaking as an owner of a 1998 anniversary model!)

discool · Jul 20, 2019

Stanleysteamer said:
ABSO-BALLY-LUTELY! (Speaking as an owner of a 1998 anniversary model!)

You would be very lucky to find an anniversary model in an other year

AdamD1 · Jul 20, 2019

I had a 1998 D1. You’re spot on in that it cost virtually nothing to run unless you want to spoil it as I did mine. The D2 is a better more practical car in every way but many many more times more complicated so you will spend a lot more looking after it. Depends what you want, of the two I kept the D2.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 21, 2019

discool said:
You would be very lucky to find an anniversary model in an other year

Just making the point that, as someone else said, buy the latest you can BUT pointing out, that although I have one of these, it isn't a base model, so maybe isn't a best comparison. That said, I have never had any trouble with it at all except for rust, obviously, (and the need to replace the A/c compressor, which the OP wouldn't have if he bought a base model.) If he could find one, I'd say go for it.

Gazbo · Jul 22, 2019

Stanleysteamer said:
Just making the point that, as someone else said, buy the latest you can BUT pointing out, that although I have one of these, it isn't a base model, so maybe isn't a best comparison. That said, I have never had any trouble with it at all except for rust, obviously, (and the need to replace the A/c compressor, which the OP wouldn't have if he bought a base model.) If he could find one, I'd say go for it.

Here in Australia the basic model "S" had a/c and power windows, central locking, but by key in drivers door only, no ABS and no airbags, mine even has absolutely no rust, and for the past 8 years been totally reliable, but the sun has stuffed a lot of the interior trim. It's a "keeper" it'll do me until I shuffle off this mortal coil, does everything that is asked of it and does it in fine style.

Stanleysteamer · Jul 22, 2019

Gazbo said:
Here in Australia the basic model "S" had a/c and power windows, central locking, but by key in drivers door only, no ABS and no airbags, mine even has absolutely no rust, and for the past 8 years been totally reliable, but the sun has stuffed a lot of the interior trim. It's a "keeper" it'll do me until I shuffle off this mortal coil, does everything that is asked of it and does it in fine style.

In Oz, a reputedly hot country, I expect a base model was seen as needing a/c, but the Brit ones didn't, I don't think, I'll be corrected on that superfast if I'm wrong. All had power windows and central locking, off a fob. Mine also has no ABS and only driver's airbag. Base model may well have had no airbag. There was a post on here where someone put a link to equipment levels on discos but it may have only been D2s. So Oz ones seem a bit different. Interior trim is a pain to do unless you have the material and a suitable curved upholster's needle, as well as the funny pliers for those clever rings. My other D1 has had the roof lining and tray eaten partially by what looks like a dog, just over the driver's door! you are so lucky not having rust in the bodywork. Possibly the biggest pain with them over here!

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