I kind of hate to do this but you guys need to drive cars with real ABS
systems before you trash the whole idea. Try a BMW - just a test drive. A
couple of years ago I was at BMW's annual meeting (for all the dealers) and
one of the guys from BMWNA grabbed me and said "Let's go for a ride". We
snagged a 740iL which is twice the size of anything I drive and tried to go
for a spin, literally, in the slushy parking lot. With the traction control
on Paul said to turn the wheel to the lock and hammer the throttle. I did.
I could not get the car to do a donut. It was scary. I had to back out of
the throttle (because it was so disconcerting) long before the car even
started to want to come around on me. Anything else I'd driven would have
been traveling backwards at that point. The system on that car is so good
that you have to do something really stupid to lose it. It uses the ABS to
pulse the brakes at individual corners to prevent spins. If it needs to
further reduce driver stupidity it starts by backing off the ignition timing
to decrease power and as a last resort will take over control of the
throttle (fly by wire throttle).
I don't know the GM line nearly as well but if you are getting the ABS
activating in more or less normal conditions, I'd let the dealer know about
it. It might not be functioning properly.
Brian
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