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My husband just bought me a 2001 Toyota Corolla S this July, however he never checked if it had ABS or not... Turned out it doesn't and we live in Iowa, where snow and ice are abundant during half of the year.

I am a new driver, with a little less than a year's worth of driving experience and have never driven a non-ABS car in slippery conditions before. Work is about 12 miles away and I have to cross the capital of the state from side to side to get there, so lots of stop lights, 4-way intersections and crazy drivers to watch out for every day during rush hour (I am still not feeling brave enough to drive on the interstate during the winter). So I am really afraid of my vehicle now that I know it has no ABS and am considering selling it. However, I am torn by tremendous guilt about selling a car that has absolutely no problems mechanically just so I would feel safe - it runs absolutely great and we have has no issues with it so far and it doesn't even have a single scratch or dent on the exterior.

So I am hoping for some feedback from you guys! Should I sell or toughen up and drive the Corolla? It has about 170K miles on it and we bought it for around $6,000.

My own judgment is not only clouded by my inexperience but also by an accident I got in while learning how to drive, where my husband was showing me how to use the cruise control and the windshield wipers at the same time and we came to a train barrier all of a sudden, I couldn't find the brake fast enough and went through it, putting a good dent in the arm and smashed the windshield. I had pretty severe PTSD after that for a few months with flashbacks every time I had to apply the brake.  

as for the PTSD... look around while driving and say to your self...   everybody else can do this.. i can do it..

have you ever been ICE Skating???   you can do that...

there are a few tricks...     as antilock brakes will help.. but counting on them. as they compare wheel speed... if they all stop at the same time... thats all you get..  once sliding.. you are sliding..

keep the toyota...  its a fine car...  they will generally run over 220.000 miles without too many major stuff needing to be done..  like head gaskets or transmissions.. if you keep up with the normal oil changes..


a serious trick is to scrounge one of the door mats made from bent steel that roll up...  or even one made from cut tire rubber...   tie about 40 feet of 1/4 inch nylon rope to one end...  so its attached to two corners on the same end.. you can then drop this infront of your tire.. and loop the center of the rope either into a rear door latch.. or if you have a trailer hitch..  this way .. you can use the mat for traction..  and drive a few hundred feet dragging the mat behind you...  this way you won't need to walk back to get it..

if one drive wheel is spinning.. you can apply the brake pedal lightly to moderate pressure to slow the spinning wheel down.. while still applying throttle.. this will either split the torque to move the car between the wheels or make the other one spin.. hopefully moving the car forward..

did you find the owners manual in the glove box...

they are available online for free if you don't have it to study..

when driving your normal route.. take a look at the streets.. do you have to go up or down any hills.. even shallow hills...

depending on where you live.. you might have the option of a spare set of snow tires with studs..   or chains...

one really important thing...   pack an old waterproof suitcase.. with last years winter gear in a bag.. or one of the vacuum down bags to keep it dry..... including something like granola bars.. gloves and boots.. water proof.. and mouse proof...

these are just things to ***


there is another trick....  if you have some squirt bottle type of PAM food pan coating.. you can apply it to the wheels and to the lower panels of your car.. without getting Any on your windows or mirrors... it will shed the mud and snow for a few days after the application..

i have friends with off road trucks who go mud bogging..  their truck cleans up so easy..