Agreed. This is much ado about nothing, especially when that nothing is the discussion of 1-2 mpg in a Mustang. If you're that concerned about MPG, you probably bought the wrong car to begin with; buy a prius and quit whining. If you don't want the systems on, turn them off; that's why the designers put the little buttons in the car that perform that function.

 

The beauty of these systems is they make the day to day driving easier without risking it. I understand there was a time when we didn't have TCS and other computer aided systems, but when they can outperform the majority of drivers, why not use them?

Personally, I'd love to see a competitor to the PTM system used on Corvette and the ZL1 come to Mustang. I think you'd be amazed at what it can do. It makes an average driver good and a good driver great.

 

explain this as I'm curious. I've only owned "family" cars in the past, only now that my kids are older can I get a mustang, never have I experienced the other TCS's on the market.

 

Everyone seems focused on the systems applying the brakes, but it can also reduce engine power. Just because you feel the car "bog down" doesn't mean the engine is fighting the brakes. It could just be reduced power and no brakes.

 

Funny this subject came up. We just returned from a trip to Estes Park, CO., in my wife's Passat 2.0T wagon. Twice, while in a downhill situation, with a left hand curve, the right front brake started pulsing/dragging and pulling the car to the right (only a 10,000 foot drop). It did this again while in a sweeping downhill, right hand turn, only this time it was the left front brake that reacted, and pulled the car left, toward oncoming traffic! This is a safety feature?

I was driving 30-35 mph and in complete control of the car. The dash light only came on during the third incident. We have had the car for over two years, 40,000 Miles, and this is the first time the system activated. I just had the 40,000 mile check completed before the trip, so I am going to have VW look at the car again.