Re: Augered in my 5000s wagon!

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Fri Dec  9 15:16:42 1994
> From: Stulen James <JSTULEN@dcm.dofasco.ca>
> To: Quattro Posting <quattro@swiss.ans.net>

<snip>

> ABS is excellent on wet 
> roads, which have less traction than dry, obviously.  But ABS, as I 
> understand it, and as indicated by the Audi Manuals, is not so good in NO 
> tractions siturations, such as packed snow covered, or ice covered roads. 

Cmon, if you have NO traction, you can't do anything.  Barring the new
Congress repealing the law of gravity, be assured you will always have
*some* traction, however if you react to "pumping" the brake pedal it
may indeed feel like you have none.  Pumping is a very stupid idea and
results in a car that is unstoppable and unsteerable on ice.  It didn't
work well on my 1963 Ford Galaxie and it doesn't work now either.

>  No matter how fast you pump in these conditions, the wheel will still stop 
> everytime and you still will have no directional control. IMHO ABS  on 
> passenger cars is primarily for idoits who don't know how to brake properly. 
>  i.e. let up if the wheels lock.
> 

All of your statements are false and based on hearsay.  ABS works
exceptionally well on glare ice (we certainly had enough of it for a
good test last year here up North!).  While ABS can apply pressure so
slight that the wheel can stay stuck to even glare ice, the unfortunate
soul who "pumps" will find that all four wheels will lock and probably
not get back up to speed for some time, during which he/she will have
NO CONTROL whatsoever.

Haven't you ever noticed that it's easier to start off on ice or snow
with slow application of power, so the limit of "sticktion" is
maintained?  Strangely enough, that same principle applies to
deceleration!  Pumping the brakes is analogous to stabbing the gas
pedal repeatedly!  Does that work for anyone?

No wonder I see so many cars in ditches during winter's first storms.
Speaking of which, is everyone ready for the inevitable carnage which
will be caused when this year's new crop of SUV drivers go out on slick
roads to "see how she handles in the snow".  Yikes.  (The big three have
sold 5.6 million light trucks up to December, with half-a-million more
expected to be sold this month!)

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990     1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi  -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80      90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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