One more reason to drive an SUV.

[mugs]

Originally posted by: fisheerman
Man these things don't even look safe.

I guess this just proves it. You can have these things I'll pay the extra in gas and not worry about the kids as much

Crash Test

Topic Title: One more reason to drive an SUV.

Sounds like a reason to take a lesson in logic. You posted a reason not to drive a subcompact. You did not post a reason to drive an SUV.

 

[ericlp]

"If you were to take that argument to the nth degree, we should all be driving 18-wheelers"

Sounds like maybe you need to take a course in defensive driving. Stop talking on the cell phone and reading the black berry while driving ... That's a start. These cars also stop a lot faster and turn quicker. I guess most people haven't figured that out.

 

[Sacrilege]

Originally posted by: ericlp
"If you were to take that argument to the nth degree, we should all be driving 18-wheelers"

Sounds like maybe you need to take a course in defensive driving. Stop talking on the cell phone and reading the black berry while driving ... That's a start. These cars also stop a lot faster and turn quicker. I guess most people haven't figured that out.

I've never understood the logic of saying a small, nimble car will help you avoid an accident. You can be the greatest driver in the world, in the most nimble small car, but that doesn't mean a thing if you are sidelined by a terrible driver in a heavy SUV running a red light. In some situations agility may be an asset, but there are many circumstances out of your control.

It will always be better to have more space, padding, and metal around you in an accident. If you want efficiency and easy parking in a city, I think a Civic is a better choice than these cars tested. And cheaper than a "Smart" car.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Sacrilege

Originally posted by: ericlp
"If you were to take that argument to the nth degree, we should all be driving 18-wheelers"

Sounds like maybe you need to take a course in defensive driving. Stop talking on the cell phone and reading the black berry while driving ... That's a start. These cars also stop a lot faster and turn quicker. I guess most people haven't figured that out.

I've never understood the logic of saying a small, nimble car will help you avoid an accident. You can be the greatest driver in the world, in the most nimble small car, but that doesn't mean a thing if you are sidelined by a terrible driver in a heavy SUV running a red light. In some situations agility may be an asset, but there are many circumstances out of your control.

It will always be better to have more space, padding, and metal around you in an accident. If you want efficiency and easy parking in a city, I think a Civic is a better choice than these cars tested. And cheaper than a "Smart" car.

This is true, as the numbers well back. Being nimble won't do a lick of good when susie soccer mom has only 30 feet left to bleed 40 mph of speed from her car.

 

[Titan]

1.5 ton Volvo 240 FTMFW!

I ran 2 of those and they are tanks, too bad they stopped making them in '93. The tiny doors have plate steel in them and weight like 100 pounds each. Each of mine was crashed into something while I was not it the car (long story) and it barely broke turn-signal covers, bulbs still worked. Had an idiot back into me with some cheap toyota crap and mangle his rear "bumper" and not even scuff mine. Weight combined with low-to-the-ground responsive handling makes them one of the safest cars i've ever driven in VT, even on ice and hills.

Now I have Jeep Cherokee, a modest SUV, but still can't stand driving on bumpy roads by comparison, my jeep takes 2-3 tiimes longer to stop shaking and wobbling when I hit a bump, and it's even lighter than my old volvo.

High center of mass = FTL.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: manowar821
See, I know how to drive, so I don't really worry about the crash rating too much. I'll stick with my pocket-rocket to enjoy driving and cornering, you can have your butt-ugly heap of uninteresting and poorly rehashed plastic box-on-wheels.

Just don't call any truck drivers\SUV drivers when you need to have something larger than a bowel movement moved.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Sacrilege

Originally posted by: ericlp
"If you were to take that argument to the nth degree, we should all be driving 18-wheelers"

Sounds like maybe you need to take a course in defensive driving. Stop talking on the cell phone and reading the black berry while driving ... That's a start. These cars also stop a lot faster and turn quicker. I guess most people haven't figured that out.

I've never understood the logic of saying a small, nimble car will help you avoid an accident. You can be the greatest driver in the world, in the most nimble small car, but that doesn't mean a thing if you are sidelined by a terrible driver in a heavy SUV running a red light. In some situations agility may be an asset, but there are many circumstances out of your control.

It will always be better to have more space, padding, and metal around you in an accident. If you want efficiency and easy parking in a city, I think a Civic is a better choice than these cars tested. And cheaper than a "Smart" car.

This is true, as the numbers well back. Being nimble won't do a lick of good when susie soccer mom has only 30 feet left to bleed 40 mph of speed from her car.

The nimble Mercedes c240 seemed to not have a problem t-boning my truck last year. My truck is still on the road, the MB is in a land fill somewhere now.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Titan
1.5 ton Volvo 240 FTMFW!

I ran 2 of those and they are tanks, too bad they stopped making them in '93. The tiny doors have plate steel in them and weight like 100 pounds each. Each of mine was crashed into something while I was not it the car (long story) and it barely broke turn-signal covers, bulbs still worked. Had an idiot back into me with some cheap toyota crap and mangle his rear "bumper" and not even scuff mine. Weight combined with low-to-the-ground responsive handling makes them one of the safest cars i've ever driven in VT, even on ice and hills.

Now I have Jeep Cherokee, a modest SUV, but still can't stand driving on bumpy roads by comparison, my jeep takes 2-3 tiimes longer to stop shaking and wobbling when I hit a bump, and it's even lighter than my old volvo.

High center of mass = FTL.

Old Volvo meet new Renault

 

[Pneumothorax]

Originally posted by: Sacrilege
It will always be better to have more space, padding, and metal around you in an accident. If you want efficiency and easy parking in a city, I think a Civic is a better choice than these cars tested. And cheaper than a "Smart" car.

That's why I drive a Civic. It makes way more sense than an un-"Smart" car as it's within spitting distance on price AND mpg.

 

[TheSlamma]

Originally posted by: fisheerman
Man these things don't even look safe.

I guess this just proves it. You can have these things I'll pay the extra in gas and not worry about the kids as much

Crash Test

Why do you think I'll never have a collision in my life.

 

[Titan]

Originally posted by: Strk
]

Old Volvo meet new Renault

That was really awesome and interesting. I am surprised.

Still, I said 240, not 940. Though similar, the older ones had more steel and the newer ones started swapping in aluminum. The floor is a good point, those floors are weak in volvos.

Sadly, Renaults do not grow on trees in VT as Volvos and Cherokees do. There will be parts for my discontinued rigs until I die. Hopefully not in a crash.

 

[Robor]

Isn't this just pointing out the obvious? When a large heavy vehicle hits a small light vehicle the result is pretty much given. I drive a small car and I'll admit I don't like SUV's because they're difficult to see around/through. I try to avoid driving behind/beside them but it's pretty difficult these days.

I'm with ericlp... I'll be behind/beside a car that's drifting, braking excessively, or driving way under the speed limit and 3/4 of the time they're yapping away on the phone with little care to their surroundings. Is it so difficult to say, 'Let me call you back, I need to focus on the road'? And if it's that damned important pull over and finish the conversation! :|

 

[fisheerman]

Being the owner of a Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, Ford F350 diesel and (drum roll please) Honda Civic <----what? Ill tell you I only drive the Civic to work in the city. If I have the family or we are out on the weekends we are driving one of the tanks. Although I only have a couple of kids I have so much crap that must accompany them when we go out the civic is out. The large SUV are also very comfortable on long road trips or just driving around. I couldn't even fit our weekly trips to sams club in the civic.

I can't stand the civic I feel like at any time I'm going to get plowed by a larger car/SUV.
Also driving at night is almost impossible because the headlights of a UGO are right in the back window.

Small cars suck unless you are single and live in the city. Ill take the beasts anyday.

fish

 

[heyheybooboo]

Highway deaths in 2008 were at their lowest level in nearly 50 years.

Alcohol is involved in nearly 40% of all highway deaths.

Statistically, you are just as likely to die in a light truck or SUV as you are in a passenger car.

For whatever reason, more people seem to die in Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island from striking fixed objects (""Look-out-for-that-TREE!"")

I drive a one-ton utility van - we bring the pain :shocked:
(just kidding)


More juicy tidbits from FARS

 

[night]

need zero tolerance on alcohol when driving. any blood level = jail. open container = jail. or just kill them outright, i don't care.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: night
need zero tolerance on alcohol when driving. any blood level = jail. open container = jail. or just kill them outright, i don't care.

Well that's pretty stupid.

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: night
need zero tolerance on alcohol when driving. any blood level = jail. open container = jail. or just kill them outright, i don't care.

:laugh:

 

[MovingTarget]

If fuel, the environment, traffic, etc. weren't an issue, we'd all be driving Peterbuilts. However, we live in the real world. Streets are conjested, fuel periodically goes thru the roof everytime someone in an OPEC nation sneezes, pollution sucks, global warming sucks, paying a car note sucks, etc, etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong...I do like large cars, but smaller ones have their place. I would not drive my Caprice in downtown Birmingham, or any other major city. Large vehicles are hard to park and do not maneuver as easily as a small car. On the interstate, however, it rules. In town, gimme a Smart ForTwo anyday. In a crash, one will bounce off of just about anything, but you'd live. This is much less of a possibility in, say, an Explorer.

 

[Vicken]

Honda Fit didn't look too bad, it has side airbags, but those other cars, OUCH.

 

[KDOG]

You know who should be here ANY minute now with his SUV hating propaganda....

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: manowar821
See, I know how to drive, so I don't really worry about the crash rating too much. I'll stick with my pocket-rocket to enjoy driving and cornering, you can have your butt-ugly heap of uninteresting and poorly rehashed plastic box-on-wheels.

Just don't call any truck drivers\SUV drivers when you need to have something larger than a bowel movement moved.

Yeah. That make sense.