Actually insurance companies have been trying to get out of the ABS discount for as Long as ABS has been out. ABS does prevent lock up but research has shown more accidents due to driver fault( you need a greater distance to stop) and abs malfunction, there have been a ton of recalls from all the car companies. My family is full of mechanics and none of them will buy a car with ABS. Like the saying goes Keep it simple stupid,ABS is not simple! As far as air bags....give me an older car made of steel over these new plastic ones with air bags.
I don't like air bags, especially on an old Ford. Mines a 1990. A couple of times I've been tempted to just take the wheel cover off and disconnecting the air bag from the sensors. Problem is I believe the "AIR BAG" idiot light will stay on all the time and I'm not to interested in taking apart the dash housing and speedo to get to the light bulb that lights this thing up
I agree on the ABS thing. It's a safety misconception and I'm not surprised that insurance companies don't care about it anymore.
I guess you had your heart set on a foxbody eh? Maybe you and mom can compromise with just the Air Bag, not that the air bag will help anyways. These cars crumple like a pop can.