How important is it to have ABS? Should it be a deal breaker?

Question

I am planning to buy the new Nissan Altima 2007 2.5 S model but i found out that ABS is not standard but optional on the car. So that got me into thinking whether ABS is a must have or a good to have option. I had a honda civic before and i have roughed it a lot but never lost control, it didn't have ABS on it.

Let me know your answers keeping in mind the Altima.
Thanks

Answer 1

To some drivers the abs in a panic situation becomes distracting and they end up letting up off the brakes and getting hurt or hurting others, ABS has a strange feel to it , but very affective if used right! I would say if you have never had them and you decide to buy the Altima with them then take it to an empty parking lot when it's empty of course,in the rain will even be better, and get moving around 40mph and mash down on the brakes and then steer the car to the left or right and then get into a car without ABS and do the same, that will make your mind up real quick!

Answer 2

i would have to say abs is very important....if you have a car without it you have to be very careful about how hard you apply the brakes in non-ideal conditions like rain, snow, ice etc. with abs you don't have to worry so much because the car is doing the work for you. basically abs systems pullsate the brakes so that they dont lock up in case the car starts to slide whereas with non-abs cars the brakes are being applied constantly so if the car were sliding the wheels would lock up and you could potentially lose control of the car....so yes abs should be a deal breaker, definately worth the few extra bucks to keep you safe

Answer 3

Anti-lock braking system makes your cars safer...studies have shown that it reduces the chance of accidents.
It basically prevents you from under or oversteering and prevents your car from skidding off the road, doing a 360 spin, or sometimes even rolling over.

Wikipedia:
"On high-traction surfaces such as bitumen, whether wet or dry, most ABS-equipped cars are able to attain braking distances better (i.e. shorter) than those that would be easily possible without the benefit of ABS. An alert skilled driver without ABS should be able, through the use of techniques like threshold braking, to match or improve on the performance of a typical driver with an ABS-equipped vehicle. However, for a majority of drivers, in most conditions, in typical states of alertness, ABS will reduce their chances of crashing, and/or the severity of impact. The recommended technique for non-expert drivers in an ABS-equipped car, in a typical full-braking emergency, is to press the brake pedal as firmly as possible and, where appropriate, to steer around obstructions. In such situations, ABS will significantly reduce the chances of a skid and subsequent loss of control."

Answer 4

ABS won't help you stop quicker, it only allows you to steer during a hard stop preventing a skid. I have it on my 2-year old car- it buzzes when it's in use which is normal according to the manual. It came standard on my car; I didn't on my old car I had for 10 years. I would want it for the control which, like any safety feature, you may or may never use. Also, you might check with your car insurance to see if there is any discount for having it. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Listen ABS was not invented until about 15 years ago. All it does is prevent your brakes from locking when you slam them. You get a lot less slide if you have ABS. Sure they are a great safety feature but like airbags, their are many of cars that don't have the safety features. If you like the car that much, get it.

Answer 6

As stated above, ABS makes the car safer. Buy yourself a Hyundai, they are good cars, have a great warranty, and on the Elantra /Sonata/Tiburon..(and others) ABS AND TCS (traction control ) are standard equipment. And it'll cost you less.

Answer 7

Well, there are millions of us that are still alive and kicking. We all drove cars long before there was ABS. We also drove in the snow and ice with rear wheel cars.
But if this concerns you. Don't buy it. You will always be paranoid driving that car.

Answer 8

buy one with the ABS option

Answer 9

That depends on your ability to drive. Personally, I hate abs.