Author Topic: "safety" of little tin can cars. (Read 1937 times)

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 29, 2004, 02:00:34 PM »

If small cars are dangerous, wouldn't we expect to see this in accident stastics from someplace like Japan?

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #31 on:** July 29, 2004, 02:18:02 PM »

The benz are a lot better im terms of safty imo than the honda's and light little ricer cars. Benz combined weight and manuverablity into some very well designed cars. The test drivers and engineer's over in german have a play ground to test the cars on, which the US doesn't have, so from expirence they know how to make a car safe.

Staga · « **Reply #32 on:** July 29, 2004, 03:45:04 PM »

hmmmm that would be quite nice slogan in a T-shirt... "I'd rather crash in a Mercedes"

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #33 on:** July 29, 2004, 04:13:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Staga
hmmmm that would be quite nice slogan in a T-shirt... "I'd rather crash in a Mercedes"

DAMN RIGHT. i would not trust my life to a ricer for any reason.

Staga · « **Reply #34 on:** July 29, 2004, 04:34:46 PM »

Friend is going to buy a Lexus LS400; I wonder if it's acceptable to call him a "ricer" ?

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:42:39 PM »

nah. call him a guy with an eye.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #36 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:52:10 PM »

Aside from the fact that pickups and SUVs protect their occupants by inflicting terrible damage to normal sized cars, they have four safety drawbacks.

1. Prone to rollovers.
2. Poor braking distance.
3. Poor dynamic steering response (agility).
4. Poor lateral acceleration limits.

Not to mention all of the environmental and economic damage they cause.

I for one can not wait to see this destructive trend die out.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:55:57 PM »

In a collision with a static object, it's clear from testing results that size alone does not impart much of a safety advantage. Engineering is more important. A well-engineered small vehicle can outperform a poorly-engineered behemoth.

In a collision with another vehicle, large vehicles gain an advantage mainly by bringing a lot more inertia and kinetic energy, thereby making the magnitude of any collision much more severe. The large vehicle driver gains a minor advantage for himself, but only by endangering every other motorist on the road.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #38 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:11:14 PM »

If people really want to make their vehicles more survivable, why not take some real safety measures.

1. Maintenance. Tire wear, tire pressures, brakes, steering, suspension.
2. Buy the stickiest tires possible at the expense of wear. So many brands are marketed on the basis of tire mileage life or price, two factors which work against safety.
3. Wear a Snell/FIA approved full face helmet.
4. Use a racing seat with a 6 point harness.
5. Wear a HANS device.
6. Have an FIA approved roll cage welded into your car.
7. Wear a fireproof suit, socks, gloves, and head sock.
8. Replace the factory gas tank with a properly installed ATL fuel cell.

This would be a lot more effective than worrying about how big or small your car is.

mietla · « **Reply #39 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:18:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
In a collision with a static object, it's clear from testing results that size alone does not impart much of a safety advantage. Engineering is more important. A well-engineered small vehicle can outperform a poorly-engineered behemoth.

In a collision with another vehicle, large vehicles gain an advantage mainly by bringing a lot more inertia and kinetic energy, thereby making the magnitude of any collision much more severe. The large vehicle driver gains a minor advantage for himself, but only by endangering every other motorist on the road.

Admit it dude, you just can't afford to buy an SUV.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #40 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:20:24 PM »

I wouldn't buy an SUV if you paid me to drive it.

Staga · « **Reply #41 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:21:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
The large vehicle driver gains a minor advantage for himself, but only by endangering every other motorist on the road.

Speaks like a true socialist!

Che lives!

J_A_B · « **Reply #42 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:41:20 PM »

"If small cars are dangerous, wouldn't we expect to see this in accident stastics from someplace like Japan?"

I don't know enough about Japanese roadways or traffic habits to comment. I only know what is true for my own neck of the woods--in this case rural and small city USA.

------------------------------------------------------------

"In a collision with another vehicle, large vehicles gain an advantage mainly by bringing a lot more inertia and kinetic energy, thereby making the magnitude of any collision much more severe. I fail to see how that is a good thing."

Yeah the bigger vehicle protects its occupants mainly by using the smaller vehicle as its personal deceleration zone. Whether it's a good thing or not depends on which car you're in

Unfortunately for you Funked, you'll likely be the guy in the smaller car being used as a crumple zone so I can see why you wouldn't be too thrilled with the prospect.

You actually make excellent recommendations FUNKED---but now the problem of economics rears its ugly head. Most of us don't have the cash to blow on building something like that. If I had the cash to built a full roll cage into my car...you better believe I would.

J_A_B

mietla · « **Reply #43 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:50:54 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
I wouldn't buy an SUV if you paid me to drive it.

that's what all the girlie car drivers say.

J_A_B · « **Reply #44 on:** July 29, 2004, 07:26:59 PM »

"The large vehicle driver gains a minor advantage for himself, but only by endangering every other motorist on the road. "

Eh?

How can you possibly look at it that way when you CHOOSE what you drive? It is so easy for you to even up the odds!

Has to be come sort of a troll. You're too normal to resort to such wierd reasoning Funked.

J_A_B