ABS vs. No ABS

[POS Racing]

Well I am starting my search for the next POS Racer. I am leaning towards the '99 & '00 Miata no thanks to Sammm's recent purchase of a '99, but this isn't set in stone yet.

I like the ideal of an ABS equipped car for AX it seems to work OK for Senor Wagner. What do you kids think. I know it will require hauling around a bit more weight, but it could also save me from squaring off my tires.

[Titus]

Doesn't Vivid have ABS? Have you tried it on the AutoX course?

[POS Racing]

Doesn't Vivid have ABS? Have you tried it on the AutoX course?

Not on an official AX course but I have tested the brakes a time or two. But the brakes on a '02 are larger than the '99 & '00 used, so not sure that would be a valid comparison.

[Treibenschnell]

...the brakes on a '02 are larger than the '99 & '00 used, so not sure that would be a valid comparison.

What's a little more surface area between friends?!

[altiain]

Two thoughts - First, I really like the ABS brakes on lugnutjon's 10AE. They've got good feel and good balance, and seem to have a higher intervention threshold than some cars out there. On some cars ABS gets freaked out by autocrossing and goes into "ice mode" or does other weird things (that's the problem with cars that have more brains than the driver ). Neither Jon's 10AE nor Mike Watson's '96M, which are the only two ABS-equipped Miatas I've driven, had any problems, and they both had amazing brakes.

Second, the '01+ non-ABS "big" brakes are an improvement over the '99-'00 non-ABS brakes, imho. When I drove JRW's car, I felt that the brake bias was much more neutral (the '99-'00 non-ABS cars have a very heavy natural front bias), and the car felt easier to trailbrake.

Still, that's not to say that the non-ABS '99-'00 cars are horrible - the General certainly seems to be able to make his work pretty well.

I tell you what - if I were shopping for a "new" C Stock car today (especially if I had POS's garage full of 14" BBS wheels ), here's what I would be looking for - a '99-'00 Touring (or PEP, I can never remember which Package had the 14" wheels and the Torsen), with ABS. Slap some 225/50-14 V710s, a big front bar, and some shocks on it, and go have some fun. I don't know if it would be "the car to have" at Topeka, but based on my driving style I think I'd likely benefit more from the ABS than from the marginally stiffer springs and rear swaybar of a Sport Package car. Besides, the 14" cars can run a wider V710 without gearing losses than the 15" cars can this coming year, and you've already got oodles of lightweight wheels in the proper size.

[sammm]

I would be looking for - a '99-'00 Touring (or PEP, I can never remember which Package had the 14" wheels and the Torsen), with ABS.

I already have my Azenis mounted on my BBS's. Is it March yet? I can't wait to AX my '99!

The PEP package (or any leather package) has the Torsen on the '99-'00 models. Torsen is on my wish list and is a 'simple' swap out mod.

[general default]

Well I am starting my search for the next POS Racer. I am leaning towards the '99 & '00 Miata no thanks to ...

99' Hard "S" 37,000 miles
http://www.sccaforums.com/ubb/ultima...p/topic/46/787

1999 10th Anniversary Edition Mazda Miata, ABS
http://www.sccaforums.com/ubb/ultima...p/topic/46/815

FOR SALE 1999 MIATA SPORT, Koni 30 Series shocks. National Level car.
http://www.sccaforums.com/ubb/ultima...p/topic/46/745

Not saying any of these cars are "cheap" but it does show there are some cars out there.

It is so easy to spend someone else's money.

[TurboDuane]

Man, I think ABS is the way to go for Auto Crossing. It's a definate plus. I wish I had it on one of my Miata's. Hey the Trailblazers got'm, maybe I should autox it this year

Two thoughts - First, I really like the ABS brakes on lugnutjon's 10AE. They've got good feel and good balance, and seem to have a higher intervention threshold than some cars out there. On some cars ABS gets freaked out by autocrossing and goes into "ice mode" or does other weird things (that's the problem with cars that have more brains than the driver ). Neither Jon's 10AE nor Mike Watson's '96M, which are the only two ABS-equipped Miatas I've driven, had any problems, and they both had amazing brakes.

So basicly Altiain thinks it might be a good thing, or possibly a bad thing :P

[altiain]

So basicly Altiain thinks it might be a good thing, or possibly a bad thing :P

I think it's a good thing on a Miata. On some other cars I've driven, it's not always a good thing for autocrossing.

Still, apparently you don't need it to go fast. I don't think a single one of the C Stcok Miatas in the trophies at Nationals had it... in fact, I don't think any of the Miatas in any class that trophied had ABS.

Besides, I'm hardly the best one to be dispensing Stock class advice - I've got the wrong front bar and the wrong shocks on my car, along with 50 lbs of tubular steel dead weight. I don't think you could intentionally set a C Stock car up worse than I have. :P

[POS Racing]

I think it's a good thing on a Miata. On some other cars I've driven, it's not always a good thing for autocrossing. :P

I was a passenger in a C4 Corvette at Pennington when it's ABS went into ice mode it was scary!

Appreciate the links General!

[SPEEDRACER]

I don't know about you guys but I don't like something electrical telling me when or how to stop. Just my 2cents.