Yes Ford own Mazda (since the mid '70's [1]), but AIUI it was the Japanese design people behind what became the Mondeo 'floor pan', remember that the Mondeo was one of the first designs that used Fords company wide linked CAD system and that the car was designed from scratch in about a month.
[1] Ford bought something like a 51 percent share when Mazda nearly went belly up due to the rotor tip seals fiasco of the RX3 rotary engine.
Wasn't the Ford Probe a rebodied Mazda?
Alex
Actually, IMO, it's safe to drive no more than 2 feet behind, or keep a very sensible gap. Anything in between is the problem. Think it through - At 2 foot, the speed differential between you and the car in front isn't going to be all that high if he hits the anchors :)
Although I far prefer to hang back quite some distance, so I can see when/ if it's clear to overtake, and also prepare the overtake by having a bit of a run up, instead of pulling out and then trying to boot it, like most pillocks I see do..
Well, with 145 width 10" tyres, only three of them at that, 2/3 of which are in the wrong place for the weight transfer, etc, I'm not overly surprised a modern car could outbrake it!
ABS is a great invention for people who don't understand cars, but still like to endanger those around them by driving one, IMO. I have had to hit the brakes hard and swerve at the same time in the past, and because I've got a clue about how brakes tyres etc work, as well as a feel for my car, I've never come close to having the sort of smash portrayed in adverts and that sort of thing.
If you've got plenty of grip, good feedback through the controls, and good brakes, then you shouldn't really need ABS so long as you focus on what you're doing. IMO of course :)
Modern braking systems tend to have greater swept area, more pressure, and generally just more efficient systems, which is why they are generally better. ABS is an add on to that, but not the reason for it. F1 cars don't have ABS, yet they stop better now than they did even 5 or 6 years ago :)
Tyre size? Disc size/ drum size? I'm not saying modern cars don't have better brakes, I just hate the ABS is the be all and end all belief :)
If you can, might it be worth you looking at uprating your camper's brakes? You don't need fancy computers telling you howe to stop, just fitting better parts and optimising what you've got (like checking/ replacing suspension bushes) wold prbably make the world of difference. Same advice goes to the OP :)
One of my clients has recently been given his first ABS-equipped car. So far he's pranged it four times by running into the back of someone. He claims it's the fault of the ABS, as it prevents him from braking hard enough. Ho hum....
Geoff MacK
TVR?
Geoff MacK
Geoff Mackenzie ( snipped-for-privacy@acsysindia.freeserve.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
I'd like to have a crack in a TVR supermini hatch...
I think you could count VAG's range as about the nearest - from Lupo/Arosa to A8/Phaeton then up to Bentley & Lambo.
OK, so the Sharan's just a rebadged Galaxy - or is the Galaxy a Ford-badged VW? It's built by Seat, after all.
VW have got both mini and full-size mpvs, as well as van-with-windows and big 4x4. Even a full range of commercials from Polo van to MAN 38-tonners. I s'pose the only gap is a small soft-roader 4x4.
[ re ABS and bob ABS fitted braking systems ]
There is a panel van marketed by two different manufactures, one manufacturer does not fit ABS and one rarely has front end body repairs to do on them, the other manufacturer does fit ABS and it is quite common for front ends to be repaired due to collision damage....
Specialist small volume manufacturers dont count :-))
Martin
Already done it, just using the two vehicles as a comparison. Plus it got something to discuss over weekend. :-))
Martin P
Oh, pooh! But if you take out the repmobiles bought by fleet persons and the surburban rice burners, I wonder how TVR figures in terms of sales? Set against other niche market machines such as Morgan, Royce, Marcos (assuming they are alive yet again) etc. I suspect, without any knowledge of the figures, they will be quite high up. And certainly more Brit and "pure" in terms of own engines and chassis than any of the above.
Geoff MacK
did you not spot the smiley then :-))
I believe it has been found that people tend to come off the brakes when they feel the ABS working, which is not the right thing to do and probably the reason they run into things. Which is why there are devices now that are supposed to detect emergency braking and keep the pedal down or something like that. The makers say I have one on my normal transport, but I have no great ambition to see what it does - not on a public road anyway. I'd probably get run into by some fool with unassisted ABS :-(
Ron Robinson
ABS good idea but emergency brake assist bad dangerous should be banned, a cynical marketing ploy much like 4 wheel steering was a few years ack --- I suspect may even be illegal under long standing road traffic legislation. Now what about building a car with big spikes that dig into the road surface --- what will we call it ah Spyker !
It seems big manufacturers can do what they want and no single country can stop them --- good example is the placing of front flashers inside the headlamp glass.
No - elderley eyes don't take in such things.....
Geoff MacK ("O" level English, Lang and Lit, 1959)
And elderly fingers can't use the delete key either it seems ?.. :~(
Minor point - all Magnums are 1800 or 2300 - the 1256 was still the Viva even at the end of production.
The Droopsnoot Firenza had thicker discs, from the FD 3.3 Ventora I believe. I don't know if it needed them, or if they were just for homologation on Gerrys behalf.
I have a Sportshatch which a previous owner upgraded to vented discs, I believe he said they were from a Ralt Formula 3000 racing car. Do they make any difference? Don't know, I've never needed the brakes badly enough to find out luckily.
Mike.
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