Car Crash Tests

[ericschand]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...htestvideo.htm

What kind of car do you drive? How safe is it?
Are you thinking of buying a new car?
Will the video/opinion change your mind?

ers

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I'm planning to get a 2007 altima, and there is no video for that one. Oh well. The 2006 seemed to have faired well though.

[ken0042]

My Grand Am got the worst possible rating- however they used a 1999 Grand Am, and mine is newer. Hopefully they made some improvememnts in 4 years.

[Bill Bumface]

Just curious if anyone actually found a car on there that has a "good" side impact rating. Those are the hardest to get, and I was curious what out there actually scores well.

[ernie]

Mazda 3 - good front collision protection, poor side collision (no curtain airbags).

Nissan X-Trail - was never available in the states so it hasn't been tested in the US, but everything I've read gives it a strong rating for both frontal (excessive pedal movement the only problem) and side impacts.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Just curious if anyone actually found a car on there that has a "good" side impact rating. Those are the hardest to get, and I was curious what out there actually scores well.

Not sure how the test is done in the states but elsewhere the test is used to simulate a small car hitting the side so most SUV's do quite well, with or without side airbags.

Many cars with curtain airbags perform well.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by ken0042

My Grand Am got the worst possible rating- however they used a 1999 Grand Am, and mine is newer. Hopefully they made some improvememnts in 4 years.

Yeah, I was watching that video and telling myself: 'self, don't rear end anyone or you are screwed.'

[FlamesKickAss]

07 ford fusion. good and good

[getbak]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Just curious if anyone actually found a car on there that has a "good" side impact rating. Those are the hardest to get, and I was curious what out there actually scores well.

Toyota RAV4

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Just curious if anyone actually found a car on there that has a "good" side impact rating. Those are the hardest to get, and I was curious what out there actually scores well.

Both my cars, Civic and Tsx got a good for the side impact. the Civics side air bag actually comes from the top of the car.

Is good the highest rating, or is there a great or excellent rating?

[tete]

I checked out the Subaru Imprezza (I'm considering the subaru line for our next vehicle somwhere down the road) and it had a "Good" side impact rating as well as a "Good" front impact rating.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by ken0042

My Grand Am got the worst possible rating- however they used a 1999 Grand Am, and mine is newer. Hopefully they made some improvememnts in 4 years.

I doubt it... 1999-2005 are the same design.

I have a '99 GT... oh well, I better just not rear end someone in the next couple of weeks.

I just bought a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon to replace the Grand Am, and luckily, it was rated 'Good' in both front and side tests.

I am not sure these ratings would ever change my decision on what car to buy though. Of course you want to minimize risk, but really the only way to be perfectly safe is to not hit things while you are driving. Perhaps if it was common industry knowledge that a particular car was very much worse than any other car, I would avoid it.

[Ironhorse]

I'm quite happy in my 2006 MINI. Actually a very safe car, contrary to what many people perceive.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I have a Volvo V70 largely b/c of its safety...while I agree with Draug that the best option is never to hit anything, it isn't like you always have a choice...some accidents are unavoidable on your part and I want the best chance for me and my family to walk away

[FFR]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Just curious if anyone actually found a car on there that has a "good" side impact rating. Those are the hardest to get, and I was curious what out there actually scores well.

Saab's have Good side impact ratings. The Saab 9-3 is the safest rated car in the world I believe.

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I'm quite happy in my 2006 MINI. Actually a very safe car, contrary to what many people perceive.

Mini is one of the safest cars out there. They don't look it because of
their size. However, size doesn't really seem to make a difference
if the vehicle is poorly designed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfQuNsgT46s
(note that's the 2001 model, 2004 model is much better at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkAzt_0qIg)

As for the comments about "not hitting anything," it's not my driving
I'm worried about. I'm worried about the lady driving her SUV, putting
on lipstick, and holding a coffee at the same time, while turning left from
Hawkwood onto John Laurier (actually witnessed it).

ers

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by ericschand

Mini is one of the safest cars out there. They don't look it because of
their size. However, size doesn't really seem to make a difference
if the vehicle is poorly designed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfQuNsgT46s
(note that's the 2001 model, 2004 model is much better at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkAzt_0qIg)

As for the comments about "not hitting anything," it's not my driving
I'm worried about. I'm worried about the lady driving her SUV, putting
on lipstick, and holding a coffee at the same time, while turning left from
Hawkwood onto John Laurier (actually witnessed it).

ers

Don't forget the cell phone. Every time I see someone driving like a moron, they are almost always on a cell phone.

Seems a lot of side impact tests are done without the curtain airbags. I wonder why that is? I got some on my Mazda 3, and wonder how it would affect the poor rating.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by ken0042

My Grand Am got the worst possible rating- however they used a 1999 Grand Am, and mine is newer. Hopefully they made some improvememnts in 4 years.

Negatory. They didn't even fix the head gasket issues in 4 years, they certainly didn't make structural changes to N-bodies in that time to improve this. Getting a better front impact score than what it did requires some serious structural modification.

[ericschand]

http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html

Another article on cars and safety. Very interesting read.
Busts numerous myths.

[It's an article from 2004 though as someone I emailed was kind enough to point out]

[Dion]

My 2005 Ford Escape did well.

Side impact was good and frontal offset was acceptable.