Japanese Car Zone - View Single Post - ESP could prevent more than 400 deaths a year in UK.

Snake Vargas · 08-24-2006, 09:36 AM

Seriously, once you've developed it, it must hardly cost that much in a car that already has ABS, Traction Control and EBD systems and the requisite sensors.

I'm really pissed about companies "de-contenting" - where cars available overseas with more airbags or especially ESP decide that they won't bring them to Australia.

The Golf V used to not have ESP available, option or not. I think outcry made them make it available as a $690 option. The Mazda 3 recently gained $1000 ESP as an option (why so expensive?) across the range, saying it was the first volume selling model in its segment to do so. Guess one or the other of those conditions counted the Golf out, but that's not the point.

I've also emailed Mazda about why they don't offer ESP on the Mazda 6, when it's widely available across the range in Japan, where our 6's come from. They replied with some guff which basically means it's a marketing decision. It's standard on the 6 MPS.

Not ESP, but the Honda Accord Euro has two levels of spec, 'normal' and Luxury. The normal level has 4 airbags - honestly, was that really necessary? Or just to make one more way of differentiating the Luxury model?

Worst of all, the brand new Camry has ESP available - as standard on the AUD$40k Grande specification, and not even as an option elsewhere. How damn cynical is that? I don't care if Toyotas are reliable and not exciting, that's a customer's choice if they want that sort of a car. When you remove from them the choice to have one more safety feature, even as an option, you're committing an act of pure bastardry. It's not like you can even talk about importation and economies of volume - it's a domestically manufactured car. Bring on the disrespect. They deserve it.

Sure, ESP may help in some cases, and may not in others. It's not a silver bullet, a magical life saving device. Additionally, not all versions of ESP are created (or calibrated) equally. But, for the vast majority of drivers, it'll be a valuable option. When it's dry and I'm the only one in the car, it's easy to say it's not that important. When it's dark, wet and you've got three other people and their luggage, talk to me again. At least give us the option where to spend our money, instead of creating false "stratification" in your model lineup.

Rant over.

08-24-2006, 09:36 AM	#9
Snake Vargas Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: ESP could prevent more than 400 deaths a year in UK. Seriously, once you've developed it, it must hardly cost that much in a car that already has ABS, Traction Control and EBD systems and the requisite sensors. I'm really pissed about companies "de-contenting" - where cars available overseas with more airbags or especially ESP decide that they won't bring them to Australia. The Golf V used to not have ESP available, option or not. I think outcry made them make it available as a $690 option. The Mazda 3 recently gained $1000 ESP as an option (why so expensive?) across the range, saying it was the first volume selling model in its segment to do so. Guess one or the other of those conditions counted the Golf out, but that's not the point. I've also emailed Mazda about why they don't offer ESP on the Mazda 6, when it's widely available across the range in Japan, where our 6's come from. They replied with some guff which basically means it's a marketing decision. It's standard on the 6 MPS. Not ESP, but the Honda Accord Euro has two levels of spec, 'normal' and Luxury. The normal level has 4 airbags - honestly, was that really necessary? Or just to make one more way of differentiating the Luxury model? Worst of all, the brand new Camry has ESP available - as standard on the AUD$40k Grande specification, and not even as an option elsewhere. How damn cynical is that? I don't care if Toyotas are reliable and not exciting, that's a customer's choice if they want that sort of a car. When you remove from them the choice to have one more safety feature, even as an option, you're committing an act of pure bastardry. It's not like you can even talk about importation and economies of volume - it's a domestically manufactured car. Bring on the disrespect. They deserve it. Sure, ESP may help in some cases, and may not in others. It's not a silver bullet, a magical life saving device. Additionally, not all versions of ESP are created (or calibrated) equally. But, for the vast majority of drivers, it'll be a valuable option. When it's dry and I'm the only one in the car, it's easy to say it's not that important. When it's dark, wet and you've got three other people and their luggage, talk to me again. At least give us the option where to spend our money, instead of creating false "stratification" in your model lineup. Rant over.