I\’m sure the IIHS is looking forward to the day that private vehicles will be guided along the road by electronic devices that exclude any human input into the operation of the car. We can drop drivers ed (even though it is a joke)and let the nanny computers steer us to our destinations. Of course if these robot nannies break and the car crashes because the human sitting in the driver\’s seat has no clue how to recover from a skid or some other simple problem, the driver\’s beneficiaries can sue the manufacturer and the IIHS for endorsing these stupid devices like ESC.
How can you be against safety developments in vehicles? It\’s called risk management or loss control which is a GOOD thing. ESC offers superior handling when confronted with a sudden event that forces the driver to make a dramatic maneuver (such as swerving to avoid another car coming into one\’s lane). I suppose you are against the Anti-Lock Braking systems, too, and prefer to pump your brakes when in a skid.
Good drivers are good, but if they can be assisted by computers, we are all much safer. (And losses go down!)
In typical fashion, Ford can\’t even go out and blow their horns over this latest award.
What the article does not say is that the 2008 Taurus and Sable are only available to commercial fleets, and that the 500 was supposed to have fully replaced the Taurus even though rental companies love them.
No wonder why The Family even wants out of the controlling interest in Ford. Hey Bill, make a car we want AND can afford and that will not depreciate faster than a falling lug nut. Maybe THEN your relatives will want to remain in The Biz.
But probably only after The Union agrees to reduce the ridiculous pension programs. I cannot wait to see what the venture capital folks will do to another loser in Chrysler.
Either commit to the right product line or get out of the business. Same holds true for goods as it does for services.
My husband is a commercial fleet manager for a Ford dealership. The 2008 Taurus will be available to anyone. The 2006 and 2007 Taurus (old style) was only available to large fleets, such as rental companies.
Ford did blow it by abandoning the Taurus name, so they are bringing it back.
Hey bud, the 500 is being renamed the \”Taurus\” for \’08, and they\’re doing the same with its Mercury equivalent, calling it the \”Sable\” again. This has been in the auto news for a couple weeks now.
Sorry Lauren, you\’re dead wrong. In the course of getting my competition license and taking oursuit training way back when, it became obvious that a TRAINED driver can stop more quickly with the ABS turned off and ESC is only needed in stupid SUV\’s and other lumbering monstrosities being piloted by soccer moms herding their larvae around while chatting on their cell phones and making sandwiches at 85 mph in the high speed lane totally oblivious to the traffic around them. Soccer dads are just as guilty.
Driving is a privelege and there should be meaningful training like how to control your vehicle youself. What happens when the ESC computer fails? The driver is toast because he/she has no clue what to do. Most drivers don\’t lose control, they voluntarily give it up. Some put their hands over their faces and simply crash into the nearest convenient object.
Sorry- didn\’t mean to get carried away but if you are going to drive a car, truck, SUV, dirigible,or ocean freighter you the driver are responsible to know the limitations of that vehicle and to keep it in good working order. No nanny-bots in my car thank you very much.
Thank you Lauren for setting me straight. I am actually glad that I was wrong; it shows a responsiveness I hadn\’t expected, even if it was a reactive response to a bad move.
After having owned several Fords, though, I do not think I would go back to the Oval. Took a look at the Freestyle and bought a Highlander instead, and I think I made the right choice.
\”ESC is only needed in stupid SUV\’s and other lumbering monstrosities being piloted by soccer moms herding their larvae around while chatting on their cell phones and making sandwiches at 85 mph in the high speed lane totally oblivious to the traffic around them.\”-El Squid
We meet again. :)
Well put… but as you said it is only needed in situations as you described above (and similar situations)… it\’s unfortunate these \”features\” are needed at all. I am all for safety but as I recall, you dirve some kind of funny car that requires concentration to operate. So, I am counting on you to know what you are talking about regarding safety features.
But I did laugh my *** off reading that part of your post. I didn\’t know there were portable panini presses for sale. ;)
And what is this you say about traffic? When I am driving there is no one else on the road! I own the road, don\’t you know? If I signal, you had better let me in even if I am about to run you off the road!
I want people to be protected on the highway even if they are being protected from their own lack of driving skills.I just happen to be a believer in preventing the accident that necessitates the exploding balloon in my steering wheel from trying to tear my head off when I drive my grown-up car.
You and Lauren are right- these are safety features that we would not need if only people learned how to drive.
My Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite (all 1350 pounds of it)is my preferred mode of transport. Being 50 years old it is devoid of any annoying technology.
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I\’m sure the IIHS is looking forward to the day that private vehicles will be guided along the road by electronic devices that exclude any human input into the operation of the car. We can drop drivers ed (even though it is a joke)and let the nanny computers steer us to our destinations. Of course if these robot nannies break and the car crashes because the human sitting in the driver\’s seat has no clue how to recover from a skid or some other simple problem, the driver\’s beneficiaries can sue the manufacturer and the IIHS for endorsing these stupid devices like ESC.
How can you be against safety developments in vehicles? It\’s called risk management or loss control which is a GOOD thing. ESC offers superior handling when confronted with a sudden event that forces the driver to make a dramatic maneuver (such as swerving to avoid another car coming into one\’s lane). I suppose you are against the Anti-Lock Braking systems, too, and prefer to pump your brakes when in a skid.
Good drivers are good, but if they can be assisted by computers, we are all much safer. (And losses go down!)
In typical fashion, Ford can\’t even go out and blow their horns over this latest award.
What the article does not say is that the 2008 Taurus and Sable are only available to commercial fleets, and that the 500 was supposed to have fully replaced the Taurus even though rental companies love them.
No wonder why The Family even wants out of the controlling interest in Ford. Hey Bill, make a car we want AND can afford and that will not depreciate faster than a falling lug nut. Maybe THEN your relatives will want to remain in The Biz.
But probably only after The Union agrees to reduce the ridiculous pension programs. I cannot wait to see what the venture capital folks will do to another loser in Chrysler.
Either commit to the right product line or get out of the business. Same holds true for goods as it does for services.
My husband is a commercial fleet manager for a Ford dealership. The 2008 Taurus will be available to anyone. The 2006 and 2007 Taurus (old style) was only available to large fleets, such as rental companies.
Ford did blow it by abandoning the Taurus name, so they are bringing it back.
Hey bud, the 500 is being renamed the \”Taurus\” for \’08, and they\’re doing the same with its Mercury equivalent, calling it the \”Sable\” again. This has been in the auto news for a couple weeks now.
Sorry Lauren, you\’re dead wrong. In the course of getting my competition license and taking oursuit training way back when, it became obvious that a TRAINED driver can stop more quickly with the ABS turned off and ESC is only needed in stupid SUV\’s and other lumbering monstrosities being piloted by soccer moms herding their larvae around while chatting on their cell phones and making sandwiches at 85 mph in the high speed lane totally oblivious to the traffic around them. Soccer dads are just as guilty.
Driving is a privelege and there should be meaningful training like how to control your vehicle youself. What happens when the ESC computer fails? The driver is toast because he/she has no clue what to do. Most drivers don\’t lose control, they voluntarily give it up. Some put their hands over their faces and simply crash into the nearest convenient object.
Sorry- didn\’t mean to get carried away but if you are going to drive a car, truck, SUV, dirigible,or ocean freighter you the driver are responsible to know the limitations of that vehicle and to keep it in good working order. No nanny-bots in my car thank you very much.
Thank you Lauren for setting me straight. I am actually glad that I was wrong; it shows a responsiveness I hadn\’t expected, even if it was a reactive response to a bad move.
After having owned several Fords, though, I do not think I would go back to the Oval. Took a look at the Freestyle and bought a Highlander instead, and I think I made the right choice.
\”ESC is only needed in stupid SUV\’s and other lumbering monstrosities being piloted by soccer moms herding their larvae around while chatting on their cell phones and making sandwiches at 85 mph in the high speed lane totally oblivious to the traffic around them.\”-El Squid
We meet again. :)
Well put… but as you said it is only needed in situations as you described above (and similar situations)… it\’s unfortunate these \”features\” are needed at all. I am all for safety but as I recall, you dirve some kind of funny car that requires concentration to operate. So, I am counting on you to know what you are talking about regarding safety features.
But I did laugh my *** off reading that part of your post. I didn\’t know there were portable panini presses for sale. ;)
And what is this you say about traffic? When I am driving there is no one else on the road! I own the road, don\’t you know? If I signal, you had better let me in even if I am about to run you off the road!
Hi Jewel,
I\’m pretty sure I overstated my case (as usual).
I want people to be protected on the highway even if they are being protected from their own lack of driving skills.I just happen to be a believer in preventing the accident that necessitates the exploding balloon in my steering wheel from trying to tear my head off when I drive my grown-up car.
You and Lauren are right- these are safety features that we would not need if only people learned how to drive.
My Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite (all 1350 pounds of it)is my preferred mode of transport. Being 50 years old it is devoid of any annoying technology.