[QUOTE] I'm not in the market for a car at this very moment but I'm sure in 3 years I'll want a subcompact for general use. As it stands, I will NEVER and I mean NEVER drive a car without ABS brakes. Not a rental, not a friends car, not a borrowed car. Even if I'm riding inside the car as a passenger I wouldn't feel safe. ABS brakes have saved my life numerous times. More than I can ever count. [/QUOTE] Hmmm, I can't recall when I would have had a use for abs...........around 11 years ago as near as my wife and I can figure and even then I avoided the dangerous situation. (driver running red light) This from a Canadian page: What you should know about...Anti-lock Braking Systems "However, cars with anti-lock brakes are up to 65% more likely to be in fatal crashes than cars without them, says a new US study. It appears that the problem isn't with the technology, it's poor driving habits and lack of driver awareness on how the brakes operate. Drivers who rely on technology instead of better driving habits to improve safety are driving down a dangerous road." ymmv