Thousands (millions?) of living, breathing, healthy americans that drove SUVs for years for millions of miles before such a feature was even possible would attest to the fact that its not an ESSENTIAL feature. Does it reduce the chances of a skid and rollover in certain situations and make you safer? sure, but the media paints any SUV as a deathtrap without it. The truth, as usual, is a little less sensationalistic.

I did buy mine with side airbags and curtains in the slight chance it might happen... yes. But with that and by not driving like an idiot on ice... I feel pretty safe.

 

Actually, I believe the Mazda Tribute has always been wider than the Escape and Mariner. It is just a matter of its body being slightly different. It is a little wider "through the hips". Even the body of the Mariner and Escape are slightly different. In 2008, the lengths of the 3 versions are 174.7", 174.9" and 175.2".

 

I agree. I have side air bags/curtains also, but the lack of SC certainly is not of great importance to me (the lack of it certainly wouldn't influence my decision on what vehicle to buy).

I have managed to drive since the late 60's & never have an accident (even though I was a crazy driver in my younger years) without SC, I am not about to worry about it now............

~John

 

I agree. It's not quite a "deal breaker" to me. I'll bet that if none of the Escapes had RSCl, that we wouldn't even be talking about it.

However, I would prefer RSC. We've had lotsa ice&snow lately and the FEH is squirelly on it. Crank the wheel when moving on a slick parking area and it plows ahead. You have to have your wits and remember to brake, using ABS to stop the skid and get your line back.

On a slick corner if the fronts slip, the rear engages and the back wants to come out really quickly if you have any power on. It's not subtle. I can imagine how it would be with limited slip! Every corner would be an exercise in drifting. It seems like it does not divide power between wheels like a Subaru, but rather just seems to turn the rear diff on and off.

I'm tempted to rent a gas one with RSC to see if it would mititgate the plow/fishtail. I admit I'm comparing it with one of the established leaders in AWD, which isn't really fair.

 

The differences are only in the trim pieces. The bodies (sheet metal) are all made in the same body shop from the same pieces.

 

[quote=RonRizzardi;159116]My research shows me that the Hybrid Tribute has stability control whereas the Hybrid Escape and Hybrid Mariner do not.

I first read about this on the CR web site

quote]


The Mazda Hybrid Tribute does not have electronic stability control. You can go this site (mazda) http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ehicleCode=TRB

and see the hybrid does not have stability control. Just like the Escape and Mariner.

As for Consumer Report, this is another example of inaccurate reporting. I get the on-line edition and value the owners reports more than the "experts" report.

 

I thought RSC was intended to prevent rollovers, not skids. I wouldn't help with snowplowing and such would it?

 

Is it really true that avoiding a hybrid for safety concerns results in losing your green tree hugger card and getting kicked in the nuts??


I'm pissed that I got stuck with side airbags on my Fusion...

 

Please read this press release: http://media.ford.com/newsroom/relea...?release=27548

Looks like the 2009 models will get AdvanceTrac with RSC and Sync with "911 Assist". Does that help with your safety feature concerns?

 

I read that RSC simply allows each of the 4 wheels to brake individually.
That's it. That's all it does.

I agree that for over 100 years, good drivers have been doing fine with all 4 tires braking in unison with each other.
No human could ever apply brakes one at a time. This can only be done by computer.

Now,
A) do some of you really feel better putting your life into the hands of a computer?
B) are some of you such poor drivers, that you feel you need the 'help' of a computer?

Now, don't yell at me about "well my car has air bags and ABS".

Yes, it has ABS, but I could pump the brakes myself. Just some people, in a panic, forget to do that. A computer won't forget.

And airbags don't solve any problem you get yourself into.
They just 'soften the blow' after you already get yourself into trouble.

RSC will not prevent your car from rolling over.
Now, who's going to be the first to prove me right?