Smart Car Crash Test

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Murminator

I think they are very safe they are a roll cage on wheels doesn't matter what you drive if you get hit by a semi your coming out on the losing end. These cars a so light if you did get hit the energy would be transfered it would be like kicking a soccer ball as to kicking a brick. We sometimes think the bigger vehicles are the safest but sometimes not
Here is a vid of a ext cab truck at 40 MPH compare the driver compartment to the 70 MPH smart car
http://www.progressive.com/video/40F-150.mpg


see how well your vehicle faired

https://onlineservice1.driveinsuranc...ash_videos.asp

you know even after the accident (which were two different types) the ford truck still had more room in the cab than the smart car did.

to compare you would have to see the smart car do a head on instead od a glancing blow, I don't think it would work quite as good in that one. there was another video of the 99 ford truck (first year they went to 2 back doors opening) and there was a flaw that was fixed for 2000. but everyone uses this video to repersent all fords, which are the best selling vehicle (let alone truck) in north america.

so you can slag ford truck all you want but remember they sell more f150's than dodge (don't over drive gutless engines) and GMC (got mechanic comming) all you want want to see some neat comparasons between different trucks go to http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/truth/ I will agree it is a ford site and they will not show stuff that may be better than ford but it is pretty interesting all the same.

Steve

[Cap'n]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

to compare you would have to see the smart car do a head on instead od a glancing blow,

That is a head on collision. The only reason it appears to be glancing is because the car hit the barrier a bit more to the right and pushed the barrier back on that side, which allowed the force of the impact to be directed more to the right and upwards.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Cap'n

That is a head on collision. The only reason it appears to be glancing is because the car hit the barrier a bit more to the right and pushed the barrier back on that side, which allowed the force of the impact to be directed more to the right and upwards.

yup thats what I mean, the test facility one doesn't move, so it would be interesting to see it again against an inmovable barrier that won't adsorb some of the impact by moving.. having said that it is still a lot better than I would have expected from thoes little match boxes

Steve

[Cap'n]

Yep, I agree on all points. It reminds me of the F1 crashes where all that remains of the car is a cage with a driver inside.

Makes me think, if the manufacturers can produce a high quality cage when they need to, like in the itty bitty Smart, just how safe could all of our vehicles be with the same attention?

[lukep77]

I have to say that regardless of all the saftey features and all the money I would save on gas I will take my full size sedan over that coffin on wheels. The smallest thing I will drive would be my gf convertable and that is a fair sized car. I work around tractor trailers and Ive seen some compacts after hitting a semi and the semi allways wins. But I would love to see a tractor hit a smart car, but hopefully not with some one in the smart car.

just my 2 cents worth.

[Ruth]

Well no matter what I'm sticking with my full size GMC 3/4 ton PU. If I went into the ditch in one of those things up here they wouldn't find me until spring. With the traffic up here my vehicle is probably considered a sub compact.

[Cap'n]

I wouldn't feel safe using one as a highway vehicle either, but that's not what they were designed for anyway. As an economical, inner-city commuter I think they are a great alternative.

[Cap'n]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

to compare you would have to see the smart car do a head on instead od a glancing blow, Steve

And the car would have to slow down by 30 mph.