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electronic stability control
Last week while my 1987 560 SEC was at the local dealer for repairs, they loaned me a 2006 C-class. I think it was a C320.
On the highway, in the left lane, driving the 06 C-class, the right rear tire blew. It sounded like a shotgun went off! I'm not sure what caused this, but what happened next was VERY dangerous.
The car began to slow down rapidly. I went from 70 to 40 in a matter of seconds. I needed to get to the right shoulder immediately, with the traffic on my right flying past at 70+ mph, I tried to give it a little gas so I could merge right. No dice. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TURNED THE GAS PEDAL OFF!!! As in, the gas pedal did nothing. I could not accelerate.
I was taught when I was learning to drive that the throttle is an important tool in accident avoidance. More than once, I have used the throttle to rotate the car and regain control - or to accelerate slightly to merge right when a tire blows, for example.
In the end, I caused a huge traffic jam and had to wait for an opening to get over to the right. Long story short, the ESC could have gotten me killed.
One more reason I still love my '87 560.
Brian
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