150 crash test videos.. see how your ride stacks up..

[V. Barbarino]

here

Before you buy a car, I highly suggest you watch how it performs. Some of these are scary...

[endymion]

I've been playing with that since I saw it on Digg this morning. They don't have my car listed.

30 MPH into a fixed object is not a very hard crash test. I'd like to see more realistic tests. Publicize those, people would drive slower.

[V. Barbarino]

I thought it was 40mph?

At any rate, I read that recently that all cars were doing so well they made the rating system much harder, so a good rating then is not as good as a good rating now.

It's pretty clear from the videos though, that a seatbelt and airbag will more than likely save your life. Some really high percent of all fatalities involve roll overs.

I won't drive in a parking lot without my belt on, I'm a nazi about it. My car isn't on there, though the convert is, so my car is pretty good. I love having the side bags, I see too many peeps run red lights.

[pod]

They need to start showing the old gross-out films in Driver's Ed again, if such courses are still offered in schools.

[endymion]

Originally Posted by V.

I thought it was 40mph?

Yeah the head-on I think was, the side impact was 30. Neither is realistic. I survived a 60+ MPH head-on, not with a fixed object but with a car headed in the opposite direction at 60+ MPH. Seat belts, no air bags, but I'm happy to have both now. I have a photo somewhere of what both vehicles looked like afterward that I'll scan when I get back to Miami, they look NOTHING like what happens at 40 into a fixed object. And from working fire rescue as an EMT I can tell you that most side impacts are either fender benders or 50+ MPH. How would you ever hit somebody broadside at 30?

Do what you can to stay inside of the vehicle, the really horrifying stuff happens when you get ejected. And slow the hell down.

[V. Barbarino]

I would like to see them test older cars from the mid to late 90's, cars that are being handed down to teenage drivers. The good news for my kids will be when they are old enough to drive, they will have some sick safe car even though it would be ten years old.

My 1st car, a Dodge Shadow, would probably disintegrate on impact.

[JMT]

the 4-door version of my car was rated "good" and "acceptable".

apparently, my head may be injuried in a front crash, and i may fracture my pelvis and/or femur in a side crash.

[endymion]

Originally Posted by V.

I would like to see them test older cars from the mid to late 90's, cars that are being handed down to teenage drivers.

+1

My parents stuck me in a Volvo for my first car. The same exact model that saved my life.

They should show crash tests at realistic speeds in late 90s cars to kids before they give them a license. You can't drive well unless you realize what the consequences look like.

[V. Barbarino]

I think if you buy a new car, you have to watch these videos as well...

It's a powerful tool to show you what an accident will look like.

[saintjohn]

Originally Posted by techjunkie

How would you ever hit somebody broadside at 30?

Funny you should ask. Two weeks ago, the driver of a P/T Cruiser rolled through a stop sign and into the path of my 1987 Range Rover. I applied the brakes, but hit her vehicle squarely on the driver's side. She was cited for failure to yield, and the damage to her car includes both doors (which no longer open) and the rocker panel. I'm guessing it'll cost thousands of dollars to repair (if her insurance company doesn't write it off as a total loss).

The aftermarket ARB bumper on my Rover has been shifted back and to the left about 1/2 inch. The Hella 4000 fog lamps on the bumper still work, and didn't even need to be re-aimed. I think I'll buy a can of satin black spray paint to cover up the scratches on the bumper, and then stencil a P/T Cruiser silhouette on the front left fender panel.