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I have a hybrid which uses a similar (more advanced) traction/stability control system (VDIM):
I am not a fan of the traction control- as there is not an easy way to turn it off. If you are stuck in snow- the traction control won't let the wheels spin. You're screwed- call a tow truck, shovel your way out, or call a bunch of friends to push. I learned to carry a small shovel in the trunk in winter. Once the car is moving, it works fine... but I have had to dig my way out of 4-5 inches of snow a few times after being parked. (My previous Camry, a 1998, would have pulled right out of that kind of snow with no issues.)
I am a huge fan of the stability control. It works great- and has saved my butt a few times. In fact, I purposely test-drove my hybrid during a snow storm to see how the system worked- and the salesperson told me to go around a corner too fast, and sure enough, the beeper went off, but the car went exactly where it was supposed to. Very minimal sliding... in a few inches of slippery snow. (A sharp 90-degree right turn at 25mph in the snow is usually a really bad decision in snow- but the car stayed true.)
This past winter we had a 14" snowstorm. While I certainly didn't go out driving in the middle of it, after the snow stopped falling it was a few days before the city was dug out and snowplowed- and this was a major U.S. city, where plowing is usually very good. I am grateful that I had the stability control to help out until the city was done plowing.
Given the choice, I would get them... especially since you live where it can snow a bit.
Also, before you buy check with your insurance company, often they will give you an additional discount if you get stability and/or traction control.
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2007 Camry Hybrid
Last edited by 98CamryLE; 08-10-2008 at 10:01 PM.
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Linear Mode
