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See Your Car in a Crash and then again in Slow Motion - Over 150 Models
consumerreports.org — Ever wanted to see what your car would look like if a dummy drove it into a wall? Admit it, you think about it when you get a lousy trade-in price. Thankfully, there's the Consumer Reports Crash Test videos, where you can see how your car will hold up against things like short concrete walls and other typical objects found along a highway.
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- dgcrazykid, on 10/11/2007, -9/+163*starts to look for a new car....*
- ChromaVita, on 10/11/2007, -4/+493My car is too old to be on that list...
...That mean's it's safe right? - SurrealDream, on 10/11/2007, -14/+21Eek, American models! What's a Ford Mondeo called in America?
And holy *****, I don't think I want a Mini Cooper any more :/ - sishgupta, on 10/11/2007, -5/+19@surreal
According to wikipedia the "Ford Contour" is the US equivalent of the Ford Mondeo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mondeo - ivanisavich, on 10/22/2007, -9/+281I am sorry. But this website will not be satisfactory until they have an Oscar-Meyer-Weinermobile crash.
- theonlymerry, on 10/11/2007, -16/+19Well i would, but according to that list European cars dont exist :p
I think that should have probably been marked in the title - lmushl, on 10/11/2007, -2/+23Watch out for the Cooper's Flying Gas Cap of Inertia-Induced Doom
- Wolfboy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5surrealdream - It depends what year of Mondeo. Through 2000, it was the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in the U.S. But those haven't been sold here since then. The newer Mondeos seem to be a different platform.
- joefreeza, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4My car wasn't so good =(
- youaredoome0, on 10/11/2007, -4/+9This is just cool.
- SamKellett, on 10/11/2007, -6/+29Crash dummy: best job ever.
- phantom_mullet, on 10/11/2007, -10/+35@surrealdream
You know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France? A Royale with Cheese. Do you know why they call it a Royale with Cheese? - SteveA, on 10/11/2007, -1/+31I can't wait to drive my car today, it achieved the ranking of poor
- Makubex, on 10/11/2007, -3/+132006 Civic, fully loaded with anti-grav side mirrors. (Watch the video.)
- Blizaine, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4When I watched the side impact of the a VW Eos I thought the drivers head had popped off!
- ShooterMcGavin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24Check out the Mazda 3... I think that dummy was smoking a cigarette during the crash...
- cs02rm0, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@surrealdream
I think it's just about equivalent to the Taurus. Which did ok. i've got one too. - mentor972, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3No Camaros? What a rip.
- ricksite, on 10/11/2007, -2/+38Being that a test dummy is a "tool", I am surprised to not see one in a Camero.
- anchorman, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1I just recently bought the new Honda Fit. The least expensive of all the Hondas. I was surprised that it did so well!
- scootinger, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6Hmmm, my Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix wasn't on there....
- wrestlingnrj, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4Glad I have my 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
- keyboardduder, on 10/11/2007, -15/+2What?! Is CR ***** stupid?
If a Ford Mustang crashes, the windshield comes loose on impact (they dint mention that) , the driver hits his head ON THE STEERING WHEEL THROUGH THE AIRBAG and that gives an ACCEPTABLE rating?! WTF? I think CR is paid off. Because everyone knows Newer American cars aren't built well anymore. - kavery, on 10/11/2007, -0/+53Rather than tell me how my Mercedes did, Jeff Bartlett popped up and called me a "materialistic, self-centered prick". Anybody else get that?
- slamtv7, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2Why did I have to watch this.
- retral, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13Aww, no hummer test.
- JoeDiggsIt, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3@TheOnlyMerry - Consumer Reports usually reports on American consumer products, that's why you're not seeing your standard European models.
- mccrusc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I think I saw the Toyota FJ Cruiser chuckle a little bit and brush off it's shoulders after that side impact.
Probably the only one on the whole list that you could drive away in. - HayString, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1lol @ mccrusc
- thatsmyaibo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I guess my Honda Element would make a roomy and spacious coffin. They showed it without side airbags though and my 2005 has them. I wonder how that would change things.
- Wisgary, on 10/11/2007, -0/+43http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RszRFAbfF04
Holy sweet crap of the gods - WorldGroove, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8@Wisgary
I can't believe that the law allowed that to even be on the road. - djSyndrome, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1"Hmmm, my Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix wasn't on there."
The latest Corolla is on there, and they're built on the same platform. It ranked poor on the side-impact test without the side and curtain airbags. Glad I'm trading mine in soon. - OsiVert, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4For some weird reason I try to find the car with the lowest rating. Anyone find a poor front and side video? Now read my comment in slow motion.
- bigt8r, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2God! I think we know after the first video or two that you're Jeff Barley with Consumer Reports... Learn to program your site and videos with cookies! Also allowing us to turn the ***** volume down would help.
- ChromaVita, on 10/11/2007, -4/+493My car is too old to be on that list...
- ivanpk, on 10/11/2007, -61/+11ouch... i have a scion. don't want to be hit in the side...
- joeconway, on 10/11/2007, -17/+64...you drive that thing?
- kjk437, on 10/11/2007, -4/+62Yep, there's a few of us too. 35 MPG boxes with legroom for my 6' 4" 315 fatass in the back seat are great...
Well, as long as I don't get hit in the side... Then I'm *****... - ionbattle, on 10/11/2007, -23/+6Yeah, the car ***** owns...best headroom and balance of utility and economy in a car, and sexy to boot.
- Yamoth, on 10/11/2007, -5/+26I rather not get hit at all...
- gordonp, on 10/11/2007, -6/+61@kjk437
You drive from the backseat? - dhVyse, on 10/11/2007, -4/+15I'll admit that it is a good car for cheap now that i've been driving around in my friends, but sweet looking? THE THING IS FUGLY!
- kjk437, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16@dhvyse
I have no problem with people calling it ugly, because once they sit in it and stretch out, they don't care.
Guess it would be a bad idea to play "OH ***** WE'RE GOING TO CRASH" jokes on passed out passengers once they see this report, though... - Al3x, on 10/11/2007, -12/+3@kjk437
m/f ? - kjk437, on 10/11/2007, -4/+19@coasters2k
Ah, yes, 12 MPG vs. 35... 12 vs 35... Hmmm... Let me ponder that for a second and picture who the bigger loser would be if I were using an SUV to drive 5 miles to school every day...
@Al3x
Relevance?
Male.- CaptCrazy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1But an SUV can get HUGE lift kits, they could run over a scion, have you EVER seen a scion with a lift on it?
- retral, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4"and sexy to boot."
WTF are you on?
- Hooloovoo, on 10/11/2007, -4/+86Well, it turns out my head will be putting dents in my door, excellent!
- ours, on 10/11/2007, -2/+21This guy is right, most cars have the dummy hitting the back of his head against the door frame! Yikes!
Go for the BMW with side-airbags.
Anyways, still happy taking the train to work. - SmokeMeAKipper, on 10/11/2007, -20/+1Drive a cav too do you.
- montiff, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Of course every car's video works except for my Ford Focus.
- 32bitwonder, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@montiff: It the video for the Focus worked for me, try it again.
The 2000-2007 Focus receives a "good" rating for frontal impacts and "poor" for the side impact test (without airbags). I wish they'd also include the same side impact test with side airbags. Perhaps they do with a paid subscription. - anti-net, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I know the new European Ford Focus got 5 stars from EuroNCAP
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/ford_focus_2004/204.aspx
I don't think this model is sold in the US tho
- ours, on 10/11/2007, -2/+21This guy is right, most cars have the dummy hitting the back of his head against the door frame! Yikes!
- amg503, on 10/11/2007, -4/+80Hey, my Ford Pinto isn't listed on there...
...maybe there was nothing left?- Nougat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+38@amg503 (#7122469)
Backstory about why Pintos would explode in a rear impact, and what Ford did to remediate it:
When struck hard enough from the rear, the gas tank would be driven into the rear differential. The diff would crack the gas tank open, there would likely be a spark as this happened, and boom.
Ford's fix was to take two pieces of thick plastic, about a foot square, and zip tie them to the differential. This way, the risk of spark would be reduced, and no explosion. - Klainmeister, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3i think he was being sarcastic....
- Davekcon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8the pinto was originally designed with dual front airbags and an internal fuel bladder. Unfortunately these two items were cut from the final design to save money.
- fogster, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4@Nougat: I wasn't aware the Ford fixed it. Maybe just on future models. I've always seen it presented as the classic "example" of capitalism gone wrong: they figured out it was cheaper to take the risk of being sued for those killed in accidents, versus the cost of a recall, and decided not to do a recall.
- jongurizzy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5"A + B + C = X. If X is more than the cost of a recall, we don't do one."
"What car company do you work for?"
"A major one." - Nougat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@fogster (#7128240)
I'm pretty sure it wasn't a recall, but just a "service action" - but the fix was applied post production. My dad used to own a private shop, and he showed me one of these when it came in. He related to me that he had installed a number of these himself for customers, which means it wasn't a recall. Had it been a recall, only Ford would have performed the service, not independent shops.
- Nougat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+38@amg503 (#7122469)
- frozenwookie, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12wow, im gonna be in pain if i get hit on the side
- mlvassallo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8Me too. :( Why Mazda!?! Why!?!
- GawtMilk, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20Dude, to be honest I think if you get hit from any angle you'll get completely ***** over.
- benitojuarez, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5=( no firebirds or camaros. I mean it makes sense since they were discontinued, but still.
- asauterChicago, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17^^^ With those models they found during a frontal impact, that the force of it will completely shave off your mullet. Way to graphic to display on CR.
- chingy1788, on 10/11/2007, -21/+6My friend, in a lancer, got hit in the side but a jeep, at a round-a-bout
he survived without injuries, he spun 180 degrees
and thats the old lancer, i think he said it was the 93 model or something
anyways
the jeep was pretty damaged- mushishi, on 10/11/2007, -33/+9Were you in the crash, and did you by chance sustain brain damage?
- meatmcguffin, on 10/11/2007, -3/+46It's like a reading at a hippie poetry bash
- s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1Gotta love all those 30+'s and their complete lack of round-about awareness.
- MutatedNantuko, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6Wow, that's a pretty awesome site. I wish it were a little bit more full with details for more cars, especially Scions, but the photography is greatly detailed and informative.
- daza, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6This is actually very impressive. I just have to wonder how they managed to get so many cars to test. In each test they used up to two cars (front and side impact) -- surely car companies weren't just 'donating' them, or were they?
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6@daza (#7122723)
They do donate them. Remember that the usual MSRP that a company puts out on a car is probably at least 150% higher than the cars "actual" worth. It's not much for a car company to donate a couple so that the HSI can give it a nod, it makes them look much better. And that's what they brag about in the commercials. "Received 5 star crash test safety rating blahblah" - HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8@bjweeks (#7122883)
Same concept, wrong agency, sorry :) - dalemi, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Consumer Reports doesn't do the crash testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does. As a non profit organization CR does extensive tests on cars which it reports on every month in its magazine and at CRO.org. CR always buys all of its cars at the dealership, just like you and me. They are completely independent accepting no advertisement and will not take any money or products from the manufactures. They may not be perfect, who is, but they are about as good as they come.
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6@daza (#7122723)
- lukehh, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15Yikes. check out the chevy cavalier; they don't even bother with a side impact
- deviouster, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9and i just bought that as my first car today! damn
- lukehh, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7hate to say it might be your last (!?)
sorry. - cawpin, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5I'll tell you right now that the Cavalier is fine. I totaled mine and all I had was scratches from the airbag.
- Teaboy, on 10/11/2007, -6/+26I thought American cars could only go in a straight line?
- madk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1oh my poor little cav.
- FIip, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4They didn't do a side impact test for my Jeep Grand Cherokee, either.
At least it's nice to know how I'm going to die. - postal21, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1wow. yeah that thing like exploded. the middle of the car actually crunched.
- lovecups, on 10/11/2007, -1/+23This is really informative....I now know that my car is a giant death trap...actually...no I think that maybe ignorance was bliss on this one. Now I'm afraid to drive.
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Jesus, the Crown Vics are horrible with side impact. Not good for cops.
And Jeff Barlow needs to go shoot himself. :)- UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I haven't seen any cars on here that do well on the side impact. They hit you square and when they do, they do some major damage. I just cringe at most of these. I looked at the Dodge Caravan which is what my wife drives and it actually seems somewhat safe. The neon I used to drive didn't fair so well. I wonder how my new Caliber would do...
- iomatic, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Civic did very well in side-impact. That said, I'm glad I got an Si so I can outgun that oncoming Hummer!
- Nougat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@hhp2k (#7122768)
The Crown Vic police cars have a service bulletin regarding the possibility of explosion in a high-speed rear impact - similar to the Pinto. This only applies to in-service police cars, not regular Crown Vics, or used police cars sold to civilians, presumably because the speeds they are concerned with are very high.
They haven't driven the highways around Chicago, everyone goes fast.
- Tarnum, on 10/11/2007, -98/+1Buried as SPAM - links to paid site.
- lmushl, on 10/11/2007, -4/+41...welcome to the internet? Is this your first non-blog?
- fogster, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4The content linked to is free. And it's Consumer Reports... It's not like they're a money-grubbing evil corporation.
- profOblivion, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7Wow. A link to videos compiled BY Consumer Reports, ON consumerreports.org, linking directly to consumerreports.org rather than through something like Autoblog or what have you, not requiring a subscription, with no ads during the videos like most websites, in fact not an ad on the page being linked to, and you say "Buried as spam."
That's rich.
- aussiebuddha, on 10/11/2007, -5/+11my honda civic 06 did brilliant. man i feel like speeding now :-p
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -1/+47@aussiebuddha (#7122812)
remember that that's only at 40 mph.. - seraph82, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Did *brilliantly.*
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -1/+47@aussiebuddha (#7122812)
- secretwhistle, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7The Toyota Tundra gets a "Good" rating on the front offset but loses both front tires and (it looks like) the spare.
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2@secretwhistle (#7122814)
Holy *****.. wow. - Tippis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+21...of course. The impact energy is wasted on turning the *car* into junk, rather than the driver's neck.
- cawpin, on 10/11/2007, -13/+3@Tippis - Yes, it is most definitely wasted since Toyotas are already junk.
- UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3@cawpin
Toyota is one of the only few "real" auto manufacturers in North America, show them some respect. - shark615, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3@cawpin
If that is the case then every American car manufacturer must be seriously ***** because Toyota is #1.
Scary.
- HHP2K, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2@secretwhistle (#7122814)
- deviouster, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6i no longer feel safe in the backseat of my familys hyundai tucson! OUCH.
roadtrips wont be as fun now that i've seen that video. - TheOneWhoIsMany, on 10/11/2007, -3/+17No Peugeots...
- cs02rm0, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9Or Renaults. Guess they haven't penetrated the US market well.
Probably something to do with being smaller, more fuel efficient and having extra features like being able to go round corners :p - hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3Or them being ugly as a pimpled ass?
- rohanch, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Go to Euro NCAP instead. There are videos too, open the page for a car and click the "films" link under the pic.
http://www.euroncap.com - alf86, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6"Or Renaults. Guess they haven't penetrated the US market well.
Probably something to do with being smaller, more fuel efficient and having extra features like being able to go round corners :p"
They aren't all that small. And Americans buy plenty of Japanese and German cars already. I would bet the reason Peugeots and Renaults aren't in the US market has more to do with those companies, than with Americans. Maybe they feel the market is already too saturated with similar cars, or maybe they can't meet the government safety regulations. Perhaps importing the cars would make them too expensive for what they are. Their lack of presence in the US market does not mean Americans refuse to buy them; they simply aren't available for us to consider. - gummih, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3My last car was a Renault - what a heap of rubbish! I've owned my share of problematic cars, Lada, Ford Escort, MMC Eclipse but the Renault was the worst value of any car I've owned.
- Cmain, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Companies like these would almost need to make a deal with an established American automaker. They do not have a presence in the U.S. because they do not have enough dealerships. If they could make a deal with a company like Chrysler they could sell their cars at Chrysler dealerships.
- Nougat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@alf86 (#7125937)
Both Peugeot and Renault were sold in the US market in the 80's and early 90's. The problem was that the vehicles built for the US market were really bad cars, especially the Renault. The Renault issue is that they were built by AMC in the Kenosha, WI, plant. I think both models had some issues with conversion engineering to meet US emissions and safety standards.
And really, remember the Renault Le Car? The thing had 12" wheels with three lug nuts each and the early ones had an 800cc engine.
- cs02rm0, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9Or Renaults. Guess they haven't penetrated the US market well.
- adzurka, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Great find, my car did very good.
- mykool, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1What, they didn't test the Camero or the Corvette, what a bummer. As for the Jeep I just bought, well at least I can drive through flash flood zones that happen here every time it rains.
- Elliuotatar, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I bought a 2007 Nissan Versa. It gets a good rating in both front and side impacts. But I might want to wear a helmet or get a four point harness cause the dummy's head actually makes it through the air bag to the steering wheel! Also, potential for cracked ribs in side impact.
- osbjmg, on 10/11/2007, -1/+21Blue Nissan Versa? Hiro?
- Elliuotatar, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1No, white.
- noogiewoo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+88http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4291830697517725289
This is perhaps one of the most shocking crash tests I've seen. It's a chinese knock-off of some 4x4.
Look how the entire dashboard and steering wheel flys towards the drivers face.- Angostura, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Urgh, just watching that made the hairs stand up on my neck. And not in a good way.
- youaredoome0, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4Oh my god, someone in that would probably die.
And they're actually allowed to sell those? - CDHarrisUSF, on 10/11/2007, -2/+23Have you ever seen the results for pre-2004 F150s?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfQuNsgT46s
Now, compare that to the newer models:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkAzt_0qIg - winmywii, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4@CDHarrisUSF
I was just thinking about buying a 97 from my dad. I may change my mind. Don't feel like being decapitated. - mactaggart, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Looks like an Isuzu Rodeo.
- evi1, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3I totaled a 2001 Ford F150 by hitting a concrete wall almost the exact same height as the one in the crash test and walked away without a scratch.
The only difference was that is was a 4x4 instead of two wheel drive.
Seeing that video now makes me *very* happy I choose the 4x4 instead. - 80hd, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1crazy. You can see where the dash basically erupted since the steering column is reinforced into the axle and whatnot.
- 80hd, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1nice F-150 comparison. The first truck was like a stepped on pop can. The second didn't even break a window
- mntalkase, on 10/11/2007, -9/+13Volkswagen Jetta, FTW
Highest Possible Rating... Bitches.- osbjmg, on 10/11/2007, -11/+51Pretty nice car (for a girl) ;)
- s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -27/+0Yeah, too bad your girlfriend's car can't keep up with my Civic.
- hotsake, on 10/11/2007, -1/+65More like VW Bus, WTF
http://www.youtube.com/?v=TPpU5azjCB8 - kjk437, on 10/11/2007, -1/+27@hotsake
WTF indeed. Holy mother of god. - docj13, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2@s1mph0ny
You're comparing two identical car makes, and target markets. Basic civics and jetta's (up until 06) come with lame 4-cyl engines. Top of line models top out at around 200HP for both. I believe that 06/07 jetta's now come with 5cyl (2.5L), which is similar to the stock 1.8-liter, SOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine that civics come with. Why even bother arguing about which is better? - RenoSJ, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2No GTI data, I'd like to think that it's similiar to the Jetta though.
Good site for future purchases. - asurroca, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4@ RenoSJ: The dude narrating the video for the Jetta said that the Rabbit (and therefore GTI) results were the same as the Jetta.
- RenoSJ, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Ah hah ... if I had turned my speakers on, I would have heard that. Thanks for closed caption. : )
- SmokeMeAKipper, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Dugg for my deathbuggy Cav.
- JohnnyXmas, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2COME ON - The gremlin was an INCREDIBLY popular car!! Why isn't mine in the list?!
- jhub908, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4that inside view was f'in SCARY. Nothing like a face full of flying glass, jebus.
- XIUgraag, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9Not with my VW Jetta :) I feel safe now
- asurroca, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I got in a ~60 mph accident (it was a rollover not head on though) in a Bug a few years back, and the windshield bubbled outward so that there was very little glass inside the car itself. I would presume most modern cars do the same thing. From the videos, I think whiplash is probably going to be more of a concern than shards of glass in your face!
- UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Glass isn't the concern from the front windshield, as a matter of fact there is no glass flying from a windshield on any of these tests. It's all from the side windows. My little brother was hit (by a drunk driver) on the side (perfect t-bone) on the passenger side and the glass from the window penetrated his skin on his head and had enough inertia/velocity it flowed around his skull and they had to get pieces out of him on the other side and top of his head. They had to make the incisions to pull the glass out b/c they entered on the right (side facing passenger) side of his face. Believe me, that ***** is dangerous.
- bunnybash, on 10/11/2007, -3/+393 Years ago i organised a party for high schoolers out here, anyways we had 800 high schoolers show up, one of the fun things to do was to take your choice of about 5 different sledge hammers to a 1977 Volvo 240 GL... after 4 hours of constant pounding and then another 1 hour from a rugby team pounding it, we even had 400kg (800 pounds) hanging from open doors, trying to rip them off... anyways long story short we drove the Volvo away from there, the only reason that it wasnt road worthy was the fact that we had removed all the glass/mirrors for safetys sake.
Anyways I own a Volvo that i hit a kangaroo in (which usually totals a car) i killed the roo, and the only damage to my car was the license plate cover was cracked. It was truly truly shocking that i hit a 6 foot roo and didnt do any damage to my car whatsoever!! Old school Volvo's for life!- Davekcon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+34"I own a Volvo that i hit a kangaroo in"
dug up - bradleyland, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3That's a fantastic anecdote (I think), but resistance to damage is not a good metric by which to measure safety. To the contrary, the "crumple zone" was a huge advancement in safety technology. Sacrifice the car, save the occupants. That Volvo is probably not nearly as safe as a more modern car with adequate crunchability.
- bunnybash, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2no it isn't as "safe" but you can beat the ***** outta it! in fact that little wall they use to run the cars into would probably need some more reinforcing :)
- Davekcon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+34"I own a Volvo that i hit a kangaroo in"
- JohnnyXmas, on 10/11/2007, -11/+1Who cuts that douchebag's hair; Bill Gates>?
- Roksix, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5WOOOOO!! Not going to die FTW!
- aimetti, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Hopefully my 06 Subaru wrx falls under the same results as the regular impreza. Thing held up good.
- mistahroth, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6I'm a bit confused that my 2003 Alero has "1999 Grand AM" written on the side of it, and its definately a grand am lol
- skatejunk, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Yup, sure is... I'm pretty disappointed that I couldn't see my car get really smashed up by someone other than me.
- ThrobbingBrain, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9No need to be confused. The Alero and Grand Am are the same car with (slighty) different body styles and interiors.
- gib786, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2aww no rovers on the list :(
- diggdong, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3They did not show the unseatbelted drivers. People tend to get the safety idea once they see how people fly through windshields or compound fractures of the legs and ankles. Obviously, it is assumed that the buyer will wear one, but next time your at a stop light look and see how many have theirs strapped on. Just think - in a barrel roll * with your vehicle, where you are ejected - you will probably be thrown ahead of your car, therefore, if you stop before your vehicle does it will not defy physics simply because you have a key to it and give it petrol. Side impact airbags look like a great feature to help determine a future purchase of a vehicle. Most car crashes happen while turning.
- ChrisGranger, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6My mom recently saw an accident where all four of a car's occupants were thrown through the side windows as the vehicle rolled. People who don't wear a seatbelt are Darwin Award winners in training.
- winmywii, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Its the law here (in WV). That helps encourage it, but a lot of people still won't wear them. My girlfriend has this crazy idea that she doesn't need one if she sties in the back.
- UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2I'm personally against regulating or telling someone what to do when it comes to self-responsibility. I believe seat belts are by-far safer than not even in the rare cases that trap you in a car. I always wear a seat-belt and feel kind of naked without one. I believe people who are aware of how fast your life can be taken and overall just want to be safe will wear them. My point, to politicize this and say, stop making ***** legislation. People need to be responsible for their own actions or in-actions.
/rant - fogster, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I was always taught that seatbelts weren't JUST for the wearer's safety, though, at least in the case of the driver: it helps keep them in control of the car, making it less likely that they'll kill others on the road. (Just a little twist to the regulating "your" rights argument.)
- petehill, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Unstablemind, we're already responsible for those other people, whether you like it or not. Even if we lived in some bizzaro libertarian dystopia where no emergency medical help were administered to car crash victims, we would still need some sort of collective funding to clear the bodies off the road.
When individuals fail to value their own lives and safety as much as our institutions effectively value those lives, it creates a negative externality that everyone else has to pay for. Enter the need for legal enforcement.
Our "freedoms" include the freedom to organize representative forms of government that act to prevent individuals from engaging in suicidal behavior on public roads. You, of course, are free to disagree and to attempt to pursuade the rest of us. Good luck. - mjtener, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1@unstablemind - dope. Laws are to protect the public, the more time you take in the ER b/c of severe injuries effects someone who actually got into an accident, not having stupidity catch up w/ them. There's also a greater chance of your corpse being flung ever so elegantly through the air, which might hit a child or a small rodent... The seatbelt law is to protect others around you, so stop acting like some adolescent ass having a temper tantrum.
Damn petehill beat me to the point, and may I say does it a bit better then me...
- benramadan, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I want the one that crashes into the cars from the side. That thing is indestructible! Granted, it would almost certainly snap my head clean off, but at least it wouldn't be totalled.
- Rambeezle, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1dern richers with their cayennes, fancy *****
- slapded, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2dugg down. my cayenne isnt on there. guess they are just too nice to destroy
- winmywii, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1If you pay that much for a car it better get a 6 star rating.
- bearda, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4These tests seem to use the base-equipped models for crash tests. Keep in mind that your side-impact rating may actually be a lot higher if your vehicle is equipped with optional side-impact air bags, like the Mazda3.
- CedEx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Safety really shouldn't be an option.
- UnstableMind, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1if it's available, I believe they test with and without them. They did on the Dodge Caravan anyway.
- mjtener, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@ Cedex
Safety shouldn't be an option... until you have your $5k airbag stolen out of your Lexus SUV every week.... @ that cost, yea, it becomes an option. Just like false airbag deployments, they cost a pretty penny to replace. Safety, as long as it's just your own really, can be an option.
- lupinglade, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3yep, Saturn is the best!!!!
- DerekMurray, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11http://www.euroncap.com/carsearch.aspx
all the european ones, for the people that dont live in the USA.- wycheck89yo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1you mean like the oompa loompas from Loompaland? That's just a movie, man lol. There is no "outside the USA"
- synthsrkl, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3a digg user being old enough to drive? buried as inaccurate...
- andyd273, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Oh, I'm sure most of us are old enough to drive (check Kevin and Alex).
Sober enough to drive or mature enough to drive, maybe not...
Then again, most everyone on the road drives like a kamikaze anyway...
Why my next car is gonna be a Sherman tank.
- andyd273, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Oh, I'm sure most of us are old enough to drive (check Kevin and Alex).
- mralucas, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0It is very hard to trust the consumer reports videos case and point just about 3 to 4 years ago there was a lot of reports from consumer reports saying that the toyota 4 runner was a very poor car because it had a high roll over rate and couple of other thing which i can not remember at this time. just like the susuki that was a round at that time but now on the video it says it is a good car .
- obrysii, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I wonder how well an '85 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser would do.
- dolphumous, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I'm safe in my suby.
- enthused1286, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2I can't wait to eat steering wheel for dinner.
- KevInTx, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Whew! Glad to see my little Lexus IS 250 holds up so well in a crash because driving in Houston is just a tad bit on the dangerous side like 90% of the time
- MattInChicago, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4Why oh why destroy a fully pimped out Mustang GT convertible! Why not a lowly V6? No they kill a fully optioned, with leather, GT? Ugh....waste of $$$$ when the same test could have been done with a V6 and cloth interior. If this was Ford's idea, no wonder they're loosing money, or if it was CR's idea then no wonder their subscriptions are so high.
- punkdemons, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2oh god.. time to trade in my Saturn Ion .. that looks painful
- laurarena, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1do the ions have plastic side panels?
- Dio82, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Yeah i'm kinda scared by that as well.
And yes they have polymer panels, for now at least, but if i remember seeing right they will be changing soon.
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I have a headache.
Or rather I will have one according to that Dummy. - Verdanic, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Holy hell, the Mercedes C-Class is a tank.
- nxlr8, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1My Cadillac CTS-V did great in Front Impact.. :-)
- punchinelli, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6For as much as you paid for that car, I'd hope it would make you a damn ham sandwich too
- chalgo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3They don't have my car :(
- andyd273, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Time to start looking for a good chiropractor...
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