re: "...though the Bosch ABS system certainly seems to be above reproach, and one of the most reliable on the market...."

I'd hardly expect anything less, concerning a technology like this being offered in this country, unfortunately.

I'm also in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and in club session with MB reps, they've remarked off-the-record that the reason M-B waited over a decade to finally offer ABS cars in this country in the mid-'80's (whereas it was offered in Europe that interval earlier) was the litigious nature of this country, and becoming far worse. I'm not criticizing lawyers, mind you, but rather the attitudes of their clients (our countrymen) for this epidemic inability to accept personal responsibility. But I digress, sorry....

My point is that M-B *had* to know that the ABS system was utterly reliable before they dared offer it in the U.S. It's one thing to offer non-safety-related gadgets at any time -- no real lawsuits would amount from a defect in many of the gadgets on board MBs, and Volvo's, these days. But for something as crucial (and easy to demonstrate as a vital safety component, to a jury) as a new braking system just couldn't be offered without real-world trials.

I'm sure Volvo has been the same way! And unfortunately, that's why europe gets a lot of new technology before us!