For years they have tested both. There is no reason a safe bumper needs to cost over $1000 to repair. If it does cost more, then most likely a simple redesign of the cosmetics won't change the safety at all - but will save consumers a ton of money (lower repair bills, and lower insurance bills). Plus the repair bill test may highlight safety issues that were previously unnoticed before. If someone hits you at a few MPH, you should only have a scratched bumper. But what if the bumper moves significantly into the body or engine of the car? The bumper should crumple - not the body of the vechicle. Significant intrusions from these low speed tests mean the vehicle could pose significant safety risks to the vehicle occupants.
Why is occupant safety even in question at <5mph? Unless they're running into a landmine or something, injuries are extremely unlikely at these speeds. Backing out of a parking spot and running into a pole or concrete obstruction is a perfect example of a real world situation.
Originally posted by: Lifer
i thought crash tests were there to test passenger safety, not repair costs
Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Originally posted by: Lifer
i thought crash tests were there to test passenger safety, not repair costs
IIHS does both. And it is really ridiculous that a 5mph or under impact can do thousands of dollars of damage to a car. Of course if you want to make a truck look pretty, I guess you have to expect these things. Can you order a new f-150 with a steel or unpainted rubber bumper? I would expect that in a work truck.
Since 1975, the federal government has required that automobiles be able to withstand a low-speed impact (usually 5mph or less) with a minimum of damage and needed repair cost. The legislation that required this was brought about by insurance companies who were upset over the flimsy bumpers of the day (or even lack of) where a car could be nearly totalled from a low-speed impact, like a bump in a parking lot.Originally posted by: Lifer
i thought crash tests were there to test passenger safety, not repair costs
Originally posted by: CraigRT
who cares about bumper tests.. well i mean really... most good looking vehicles without functional looking bumpers will sustain a lot of damage.. cars are mostly cosmetic appeal on the outside now, and hardly any real function
i am sure other trucks also for example, would not score great either...
I don't see anywhere in that article where they compare it to the POS Chevy truck with the engine knock problem. I don't see how you can compare the two without additional information. Where is the cost analysis on the Chevy P/U???Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Ford F-150 rates 'poor' in bumper tests
The nation's top-selling vehicle sustained $1,500 in damage in low-speed crash test, group says.
Guess they are NOT built like a rock.
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