crash ratings for our old wagons

well, I don't think that's exactly what I'm saying.

What I AM saying is wrap the entire car with bubble wrap, AND wrap yourself and your passengers with bubble wrap, then open the sun roof and have a neighbor fill the car with packing peanuts... Then you will be safe..

 

Yeah, I've got a big issue with that as well, Hans. My old Chevy HHR, which my wife now drives, has HUGE A-pillars. No exaggeration, the cross-section of the pillar and interior trim is about 6-7" in diameter. You can 'lose' an entire vehicle behind there, let alone a bicyclist or pedestrian. I've had to adopt a pattern of moving my body to look around the pillar when warranted.

 

If the cars only had the thick pillars, no airbags and no seatbelts, those would be the ideal cars for con men to buy their wives, while attaching lucrative life insurance policies against them.
But to be serious, I often wonder as to the real motive for manufacturing such vehicles. I'll gladly get into a simple old car, instead, and take my chances

 

As for poor frontal visibility, take one of these for a spin just once. it will be the last time you drive one, even worse than the Areo Star......

 

Ratmaster: Thanks for those photos and I'm glad you're here to tell the tale. How did the passenger side of the car hold up?

Sounds about right, So many times I'm driving and then my Father's talking.

Oh, And do not - I repeat, Do NOT Exceed the speed limit; That's another safety measure; It's a Limit, Not a "Suggestion". Plus, Going slower gives you more reaction time to brake and higher fuel economy!

Watch out for deer, Too.

http://ecomodder.com/blog/slow/

To quote a James Bond video game, "Titanium armor does not protect you against stupidity". Not to say I haven't done stupid things, Because I have - I haven't had a car accident on my own accord but came close to running off a road while messing with my iPod.

I no longer make it a habit of driving while listening to music.

Are you saying that in a rather sarcastic way? I think you could be saying that being too protective can become a hazard.

"Honey, Did you see the rear window in here?"

 

I'm new here on the site, so no one has really gotten to know me just yet. I have a silly/sarcastic sense of humor. I'm definitely being sarcastic about the bubble wrap and peanuts. I suppose some people out there are a hazard due to their cautiousness. I am not however making fun of them. I guess to sum it up I'm saying that whether you are driving the 59 Chevy or the 09 Chevy I don't want to be in an accident. SO, I drive accordingly. Regardless of what car I drive or how it's rated in crash tests, I don't want to hit a Semi Truck, a bus, a Bell transport van, a Prius or anything else. So I pay attention to what's happening around me. That's all.

 

The funny thing about this discussion is that it is true the extra safety built into new cars is encouraging worst driving! When the average person feels more secure, they take more chances, which of course increases the likelihood of needing the passive safety features.

Interesting fact about the think A pillars. Supposedly the new ones are that thick for increased safety, to give the roof more strength. Odd that. One of the strongest car roofs you will find is on a Volvo 240, and no pillar in the car is thicker than the distance between the centre average person's eyes.

 

Deer are dangerous not because they're potential projectiles. But, because drivers lose control of their vehicles, through natural reactions to attempt avoiding confrontations with them. They advise people here not to impulsively steer away to avoid hitting them

 

Actually, the Smart cars are the one tiny car you do not want to tangle with, sure, take on a Toyota Yaris anyday, but the crazy frame of a Smart car is a bit overdone.

Some video evidence why you don't want to try to play football (American or European) with a FourTwo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKSPxQjPOm0

Sure, it gets punted, but holy CRAP does it take out that Mercedes. It's like a little motorcycle powered wrecking ball.

Anyway, rest assured, your wagon is safe as need be, doesn't matter if you are driving a new Volvo or an old wagon, certain crashes will kill you either way, and these tanks, as I said, are safe as need be.

Just keep in mind, nowadays size does not matter, most tiny cars hold up well. Not all, some are horrible, like the Chevy Aveo / whatever Suzuki it is based off of. Those things fold up like beer cans, whereas some others, well, you'll think you hit a rock.

Keep in mind that while a modern car is built to crumple, our cars share a common design with theirs in one key way, the cabin is meant to stay intact to the point where you can still operate the doors from a frontal or rear impact.

Incase you are still curious, here are a couple photo's of a wrecked '89 Olds custom cruiser my father procured two years ago for parts for our '86:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Dead-Reckon/1989 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser/100_0781.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Dead-Reckon/1989 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser/100_0787.jpg

This was a glancing blow, was told it happened at 40MPH. So yeah, long story short, these B body tanks are fine in a wreck. Just watch out for rogue smart cars!

 

Yeah, the Smart car hurts the mercedes, But I'd much rather be in the Mercedes. I sure as heck wouldn't want to drive that Smart car into one of our wagons in an accident...

 

what they don't show you in the smart car video are the G force numbers that the passengers in the the smart car are subjected to,the kinds of g forces that cause tearing and dislodging of internal organs.

the smart car has a great passenger cage, that will stand up well in accidents and does protect it's passengers from intrusions and being crushed. however their internal organs will suffer life ending trauma.

 

If this is a mountain hwy the smart car is bounced over the edge while the Benz just sits there.

 

This Mercedes is identical to the one I have... (the only difference is that mine has a longer wheelbase).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EysDcrs-GAo

 

Smart car...... I think I'm smart enough to know your not going to have any legs left, not to mention all your other permanent injuries.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKSPxQjPOm0

 

And then there is 120MPH to ZERO in .68 mili seconds...


I don't think it's gona matter what you drive in this test!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k3K86hMiYc