CD Article: 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback 1.8SL

[sailor723]

FWD cars can oversteer like no tomorrow in the snow.  It's called trailing-throttle oversteer.  The driver overcooks the corner, chops the gas in order to slow down.  The weight transfers quickly off the rear tires, and the back end swings around.  This is one place where ESP might be beneficial.

Exactly.....hence the reputation FWD cars got early on for being liable to spin in slippery conditions.....and the reason why it's so important on FWD cars to install 4 and NOT 2 winter tires

[Schmengie]

FWD cars can oversteer like no tomorrow in the snow.  It's called trailing-throttle oversteer.  The driver overcooks the corner, chops the gas in order to slow down.  The weight transfers quickly off the rear tires, and the back end swings around.  This is one place where ESP might be beneficial.

Exactly.....hence the reputation FWD cars got early on for being liable to spin in slippery conditions.....and the reason why it's so important on FWD cars to install 4 and NOT 2 winter tires

  ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

[sailor723]

FWD cars can oversteer like no tomorrow in the snow.  It's called trailing-throttle oversteer.  The driver overcooks the corner, chops the gas in order to slow down.  The weight transfers quickly off the rear tires, and the back end swings around.  This is one place where ESP might be beneficial.

Exactly.....hence the reputation FWD cars got early on for being liable to spin in slippery conditions.....and the reason why it's so important on FWD cars to install 4 and NOT 2 winter tires

  ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

Well,as I said,to each his own.... but to my mind ESP only has to keep you on the road (or maybe out of the path of that oncoming tractor-trailer) once during the years you have the car to be well worth the 400-500 bucks.

[mmret]

ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

ESP Upside: Keeps you alive.
Expected Value = chance of dying per trip * trips taken in the car's lifetime * value of your life * marginal increase in survival odds with ESP compared to not having ESP.
(not exactly, but a decent enough approximation for illustration)



ESP Downside: Costs money, potentially less fun factor if it can't be turned off. In a Versa, I'm going to ignore point #2.
Expected Value = $500 over the car's life.



Net value =

[sailor723]

ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

ESP Upside: Keeps you alive.
Expected Value = chance of dying per trip * trips taken in the car's lifetime * value of your life * marginal increase in survival odds with ESP compared to not having ESP.
(not exactly, but a decent enough approximation for illustration)



ESP Downside: Costs money, potentially less fun factor if it can't be turned off. In a Versa, I'm going to ignore point #2.
Expected Value = $500 over the car's life.



Net value =

Yep...It's sort of like fire insurance on your house...complete waste of money unless you're in the 0.00something % of the population who's house burns down

[tpl]

I think I'll stick with ESP AND four best quality winter tires AND prudent driving in slippery weather.

ESP was not available on the FIT at any cost, if it had been we would have bought it. The FIT has 4 Blizzak WS60 for winter
 ESP is standard on the GTI and has a defeat switch. The GTI will have 4 HR rated Winters, Maybe Blizzak maybe Conti.

[mmret]

ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

ESP Upside: Keeps you alive.
Expected Value = chance of dying per trip * trips taken in the car's lifetime * value of your life * marginal increase in survival odds with ESP compared to not having ESP.
(not exactly, but a decent enough approximation for illustration)



ESP Downside: Costs money, potentially less fun factor if it can't be turned off. In a Versa, I'm going to ignore point #2.
Expected Value = $500 over the car's life.



Net value =

Yep...It's sort of like fire insurance on your house...complete waste of money unless you're in the 0.00something % of the population who's house burns down

Its only a waste of money if the risk was incorrectly priced

For fire insurance I would think that they have some decent models / data to work from.

[sailor723]

I think I'll stick with ESP AND four best quality winter tires AND prudent driving in slippery weather.

My feelings exactly...every little bit helps

[Wolfe]

ESP is no replacement for 4 GOOD winter tires. I've never had a problem on snowy or slippery roads with any of my FWD cars, and none of them had ESP. Personally, I don't need another electronic nanny, and I don't miss not having ESP in my Versa.

ESP Upside: Keeps you alive.
Expected Value = chance of dying per trip * trips taken in the car's lifetime * value of your life * marginal increase in survival odds with ESP compared to not having ESP.
(not exactly, but a decent enough approximation for illustration)



ESP Downside: Costs money, potentially less fun factor if it can't be turned off. In a Versa, I'm going to ignore point #2.
Expected Value = $500 over the car's life.



Net value =

Yep...It's sort of like fire insurance on your house...complete waste of money unless you're in the 0.00something % of the population who's house burns down

Its only a waste of money if the risk was incorrectly priced

For fire insurance I would think that they have some decent models / data to work from.

NAV of ESP?

Geez, you do learn stuff quickly don't you?

 

[mmret]

I wonder what kind of discount rate we should apply.

[slybry]

I thought this was supposed to be a thread about the Versa not a ESP discussion.

Another thread that has gone completely off topic.

[rrocket]

^^^^You'll get over it....

[Schmengie]

I thought this was supposed to be a thread about the Versa not a ESP discussion.

Another thread that has gone completely off topic.

 
 I really, really like my Versa. Is that better? 

[Altima1]

I thought this was supposed to be a thread about the Versa not a ESP discussion.

Another thread that has gone completely off topic.

I think the Versa is the greatest!!!