Yflyer

RE: ABS -- a trained driver can still post the best stopping distances, wet or dry, with ABS disabled. But the other 99.9% of us cannot, especially in an unexpected situation. We all "love ABS" because we have had 15 years to get used to it and to see its advantages. VSA is new, and criticized, just as ABS was when it came out. When R&T did their big sports car comparison in 2005 (where the lowly S2000 beat wome pretty mighty iron), their driver, a professional racer, concluded that his best lap times in the C6 Vette were with a VSA mode engaged. VSA lerts you explore the limits -- safely.

Traction control is an important item for the S, because once the rear wheels breaks loose, there is nothing to stop a spin -- the often mentioned "snap oversteer." VSA adds the yaw axis sensor to integrate both ABS and TCS.

I have not yet turned off the VSA on my 06, and I still enjoy the car. It very much limits wheelspoin, but sitll lets me get the rear en out a bit with my rigth foot. That said, I can't wait to autocross it with VSA off to see just how it really handles.

I just prefer to enjoy that learning cuve somewhere other than the public roads. Like you said, Ks320, safey and responibility are foremost. That helps us all with lower insurance rates --- much more than an ABS discount (BTW State Farm had never given me $.01 for ABS on my cars).

mikegarrison

Since all S2000s have ABS, the effect of ABS is automatically factored in to your rates.

Yflyer

Good point, perhaps that's why my 06 S has a better safety classification than the 99 Passat it replaced. Both have ABS, the S has TCS+VSA

Ks320

[QUOTE=Yflyer,Jun 1 2006, 07:38 PM] RE: ABS -- a trained driver can still post the best stopping distances, wet or dry, with ABS disabled.

Yflyer

I hope I did not get you wrong, if so, sorry. I agree about overconfidence. Here in the Carolinas we get ice storms in winter and many AWD vehicles end up the ditch when they find out that AWD gets you going, helps you steer, but cannot stop you.

I did not mean to imply that the 06 is better because of VSA. Improved, yes. I bought an 06 because I wanted the VSA. But also I passed up a leftover 05 because the $2500 lower price offerred in January 06 did not offset the depreciation I would have had to eat.

Ks320

Hehe no worries, I was more referring to the fact that don't get me wrong about what I was about to say after that.

And you made a good point about depreciation too. I kinda thought about that too, but I figured I won't get selling the car within next 4 years or so (at least I don't plan to yet), so by then the diff would probably be relatively small.

Nevertheless ... have fun with your car! Happy motoring ... wait no, happy VTECing!