My wife and I are shopping for a used vehicle.  She prefers
a car with ABS for its safety (we have two small children).
The ABS in her current Dodge came on several times over
the years, so she's convinced she has a need.

I heard some people buy cars without ABS because they
don't like the "feel" of it.    Are those people less safe?
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ABS brakes help your car continue going straight if one or
more wheels slide when braking hard after driving too fast
for road conditions.  If you drive safely and especially don't
tailgate, ABS brakes will rarely if ever be needed.

Your post indicates that your wife has a history of driving
too fast for road conditions "several times."   If you can't
take her car keys away or protect the children from riding
with her, then get the best ABS system available.

Good luck.

Rodan.

Not a Ford, but older Chevy Cavalier's had 4 wheel anti lock brakes and
traction control. If you ever drive one in snow and ice, you'll be sold.

Al

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Lets first assume that the ABS control system is at least 3 channel, if
not 4.  ABS systems work by monitoring wheel speed and then working to
reduce brake effort on the wheel(s) that is not spinning as fast as the
others until it spins back up.  A 3 channel system can actuate the
brakes on the two front wheels and the rears in tandem.  A 4 channel
system can actuate all 4 wheel independently.  What we are not talking
about here is a vehicle stability system.  These are similar, but in
essence quite different.

PRO's:
1) If it's possible at all, ABS will provide you with the ability to
easily maintain directional control of your vehicle in a low friction
stopping situation.
2) ABS can modulate the brakes faster than the majority of drivers.
CON's:
1) If your car has ABS, and the car behind you doesn't have ABS, is
following too close, and doesn't have a trained driver, you're gonna
get hit.
2) ABS isn't a miracle worker, thus operators need to be trained in how
to work with ABS.  Panic stops are just that, panic stops, and some
folks don't operate very well when surprised.  For older people, best
ABS operation requires braking a different way than they may have
originally been trained.
3) People take for granted that their car has ABS and thus tend to
drive less conservatively.
4) A recent study of USA crash statistics showed that cars equipped
with ABS are 65% more likely to be involved in a serious accident.

Knowing all the above, I'd still get ABS as I know that ABS is simply a
tool that I and my family need to train on how to use.