BMW, Mazda, and Toyota Crash Tests...uh oh

[Gripenfelter]

"NHTSA also released new front- and side-impact crash test results for 10 sport-utility vehicles and cars.

In those tests, the BMW 3-series and the Mazda6 did worst, earning three stars for injuries caused to the driver in a side-impact crash. Three stars reflects an 11-percent to 20-percent chance of serious injury in a crash.

NHTSA noted that the damage caused to the crash test dummy in the BMW crash indicated a high likelihood of serious pelvic injury in an actual crash."

Oooops. :eek:



"A BMW spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment."

Wow... there's a surprise. :thumbsup:



"The 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup with an extended cab received the worst rollover rating of the vehicles tested, earning two stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's five-star scale."

***AHEM***

Toyota... trucks....

"A Toyota spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment."

They're probably trying to get him out from under his truck...

:rofl:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/pr...me=pr31-03.html (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2003&filename=pr31-03.html)

[hjr]

The Mazda and BMW still faired MUCH better than the Pontiac Grand Am and Grand Prix. 1/5 and 2/5 respectively. And the sunfire/cavalier got a 1/5 as well.

the toyota was the only truck tested, so there is no comparison (mistu SUV was there, but thats different)

[hjr]

basically im saying that this is overly biased.

[ACS-e36]

Originally posted by hjr
basically im saying that this is overly biased. :werd:

[Gripenfelter]

Its NHTSA. How can they be biased?

[T5_X]

NHTSA tests aren't very representative of real world crashes, they do provide good data as a starting point of reasearch, but they aren't near comprehensive enough.

And I would barely hold there rollover testing reliable at all. Basically they just tip the car enough till when it rolls, and they assign it a grade based on what angle it reached before it rolled. This is hardly in anyway representative of any real crashes, a very poor test.

The most reliable test data comes from studying all data for a specific vehicle. The IIHS frontal offset crash test is by far the best test as it simulates a real accident.
Want to know how crappy it is to rely solely on the NHTSA? When the new body style of F150 came out, it was immediately got a "5 star" safety rating all around from the NHTSA. Just see for yourself just how much different a conclusion was reached by the IIHS: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0110.htm

[hjr]

not them. You.

[Hash_man]

The most reliable test data comes from studying all data for a specific vehicle. The IIHS frontal offset crash test is by far the best test as it simulates a real accident.
Want to know how crappy it is to rely solely on the NHTSA? When the new body style of F150 came out, it was immediately got a "5 star" safety rating all around from the NHTSA. Just see for yourself just how much different a conclusion was reached by the IIHS: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicl...e/html/0110.htm


Ya excactly... the IIHS simulates real world crashes, thats why almost any car gets, and puts the 5 star front end rating on their commercials. But another example, is that when the chevy, pontiac, and oldsmobile vans came out redisigned a few years ago, they got a 5 star rating.. but in the IIHS tests, the driver's foot was cut off almost every single time, or right near being cut off, and major head injury was sustained.

[Gripenfelter]

Originally posted by Ranger_X31
NHTSA tests aren't very representative of real world crashes, they do provide good data as a starting point of reasearch, but they aren't near comprehensive enough.

And I would barely hold there rollover testing reliable at all. Basically they just tip the car enough till when it rolls, and they assign it a grade based on what angle it reached before it rolled. This is hardly in anyway representative of any real crashes, a very poor test.

The most reliable test data comes from studying all data for a specific vehicle. The IIHS frontal offset crash test is by far the best test as it simulates a real accident.
Want to know how crappy it is to rely solely on the NHTSA? When the new body style of F150 came out, it was immediately got a "5 star" safety rating all around from the NHTSA. Just see for yourself just how much different a conclusion was reached by the IIHS: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0110.htm

Thanx for the info. Never heard of IIHS. :)

[T5_X]

Originally posted by Hash_man


Ya excactly... the IIHS simulates real world crashes, thats why almost any car gets, and puts the 5 star front end rating on their commercials. But another example, is that when the chevy, pontiac, and oldsmobile vans came out redisigned a few years ago, they got a 5 star rating.. but in the IIHS tests, the driver's foot was cut off almost every single time, or right near being cut off, and major head injury was sustained.

Yes, it is easy to score high on a full frontal test because the entire frame of the vehicle is taking the brunt of the collision. In real world collisions, this simulates very few accidents. Crumple zones are very effective in many cars for a full frontal collision.
One thing that makes a car very well designed in terms of safety is its ability to have crumple zones which are effective in collisions with a variety of differently sized and shaped objects at a variety of angles and at different points on a vehicle.
Just because a car does well head on into a wall, doesn't mean it'll do well into a telephone pole, or any other more likely collision.


OWNED!
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/photos/0110_2_34.jpg

compare with the toyota tundra, which recieved a LOWER NHTSA rating:
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/photos/0108_2_22.jpg

[Hash_man]

/\ /\ /\ What he said... very well put. The IIHS front end collision test is an offset crash, where the other guys it is just a normal full on front crash, and at close to half the speed.

One good example is the Toyota sienna minivan, they can advertise that they got the highest rating from the IIHS, and i don't think any other minivans have been able to do so in their ads. The IIHS is the real credible one.