"Don" <engguy58@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:508bb6e7.0312010412.29546ccc@posting.google.c om...
> "Sean Donaher" <nospam@nospam.ca> wrote in message
news:<0Gyyb.1635$IF6.85433@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca>...
> > "Don" <engguy58@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:508bb6e7.0311301703.3e6e7bae@posting.google.c om...
> > > "Sean Donaher" <nospam@nospam.ca> wrote in message
> > news:<i_ayb.662$IF6.46731@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca>...
> > > > Don't drive like a retard during the winter and you won't need
traction
> > > > control. Take the money you saved by not buying the V6 and take
some
> > > > driving lessons. I've never talked to anyone who had traction
control
> > and
> > > > liked it. All it does is trigger the rev limiter when the front
wheels
> > slip
> > > > so you lose power. Christ, you can do that yourself, just take your
> > foot
> > > > off the gas a bit. There I just saved you a couple thousand bucks.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > I drive a Saturn with traction control and it works well in snow.
> > > Sean is wrong about "All it does is trigger the rev limiter when the
> > > front wheels slip
> > > so you lose power." Traction control also applies the brakes to the
> > > slipping wheel so that the opposite wheel gains torque. You get
> > > 2-wheel drive rather than one-wheel drive and that IS helpful in snow!
> > >
> > > Most Americans are ignorant about traction control. Front wheel drive
> > > with traction control is almost as effective as 4 wheel drive, but
> > > without the high center of gravity and the weight of another drive
> > > train. And yes, some of us think that even a small improvement in gas
> > > mileage is important. So traction control isn't just for "retards."
> >
> > When I did I ever say I was an American? I'm Canadian, so I know what
I'm
> > talking about when it comes to snow. Also, why do you think that almost
> > every car with traction control has a button to turn it off? Maybe
because
> > the car companies realize that there are many situations where traction
> > control is detrimental? Traction control is in the same league as ABS.
> > Learn to drive properly, and you'll never need it.
>
> My statement that most Americans are ignorant about traction control
> still stands. It was not a reflection on Sean. I'm sure Canadians,
> in general, are more informed than Americans on this issue.
>
> Imagine the right side of a car is stuck in a snow bank and the left
> side is on bare pavement. Most cars will just spin the wheel in the
> snow. A car with traction control will apply the brakes to the
> spinning wheel. The other wheel gets the torque and you get the car
> moving. How is that a bad thing?
>
> As for the turn off switch, if both wheels are stuck, you can turn off
> the traction control to achieve a "rocking" action to help get your
> car free. Also, perhaps some people like to spin their tires. But
> overall, traction control and ABS are worth the extra cost.

It's worth considering there are three types of traction control.

With a front wheel drive car, like the Accord, the traction control usually
take the form of a limited slip differential, or LSD. This system does
nothing more than lock the differential when one of the drive wheels grossly
outspeeds the other. When activated on tarmac, it produces an odd, twitchy
feeling to the cars handling. But in a low traction environment, it
effectively creates a solid axle.
Don is describing a different system where tractive power and braking power
is applied intelligently to different drives wheels. I'm in the U.K. so I
don't know about the drive axle layout of a Saturn, but I'm guessing it's
rear wheel drive.
The third version which has been touch on already does nothing but cut the
engine power. In Formula 1 for example, traction control does nothing more
elegant than cutting the spark to one or two cylinders.

Now, my Accord, a 2 litre Executive doesn't have traction control. It is
useful, it's one of those things you never know about until you use and
frankly, one can't have enough safety weapons in ones armoury.

Paul