Does size really matter???? I guess so.......

BigMac
BigMac Posts: 849
edited April 2009 in The Clubhouse
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rammed three automakers' smallest cars into their midsize models. Although the small cars had passed other IIHS tests, they flunked in collisions with larger but still-fuel-efficient sedans (text taken from the link I posted). I guess the age old saying that says size does not matter is not true for the most part.

From left, the Smart Fortwo, the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit after a head-on collision with a midsize sedan in which both vehicles were traveling at 40 m.p.h.
b82r5k3rfkzhf65f4.jpg
Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/automobiles/14crash.html?hpw

Car size,weight, and safety status report from the IIHS:
http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4404.pdf
DON'T CLICK THIS!!
Post edited by BigMac on
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Comments

  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2009
    It doesn't take a dummy to figure that one out eh?;)

    I haven't had any complaints other than "Ow! Go easy will ya?":p:D
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2009
    That is one of the big reasons that my lightest vehicle is 4,000 pounds.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited April 2009
    The interesting thing is when you look at long term statistical data it generally turns out that mid/full size sedans are much safer than large, medium, etc trucks and SUVs

    That is looking at large amounts of accident data over years and corresponding injury to passengers. Real world data ...

    So in some cases, larger is not always better.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2009
    wizzy wrote: »
    The interesting thing is when you look at long term statistical data it generally turns out that mid/full size sedans are much safer than large, medium, etc trucks and SUVs

    That is looking at large amounts of accident data over years and corresponding injury to passengers. Real world data ...

    So in some cases, larger is not always better.

    I bet that has more to do with the high center of gravity of trucks and SUV's rather than the weight.

    Only 1 of my 3 vehicles is a truck. (Tahoe) While tip over is a real concern, my wife does not drive it very agressively so hopefully it will not be an issue. I feel you have a better chance of controlling tipovers than you do multi-vehicle accidents though.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited April 2009
    Hmmm, looking over some of this:

    http://www.iihs.org/research/hldi/composite_intro.html

    Maybe that's (my first post) not totally true ...
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2009
    When they asked the manufactures of those micro cars to comment on the crash findings, they stated that "it was nothing to worry about because those types of crashes don't happen very often"...

    rolleyes.jpg
    Jake
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  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited April 2009
    Seriously... doesn't this fall into the "duh!" category?

    Put a crash test dummy on a motorcycle and crash it into a midsize sedan both at 40mph. OMG??? What have we discovered!!! :rolleyes:
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  • avelanchefan
    avelanchefan Posts: 2,401
    edited April 2009
    PhantomOG wrote: »
    Seriously... doesn't this fall into the "duh!" category?

    Put a crash test dummy on a motorcycle and crash it into a midsize sedan both at 40mph. OMG??? What have we discovered!!! :rolleyes:

    Phantom you win the post of the day award! LMAO
    Sean
    XboxLive--->avelanchefan
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,710
    edited April 2009
    PhantomOG wrote: »
    Seriously... doesn't this fall into the "duh!" category?

    Put a crash test dummy on a motorcycle and crash it into a midsize sedan both at 40mph. OMG??? What have we discovered!!! :rolleyes:

    The conclusion is clear, innit? Ban motorcycles; put everyone in Hummers.
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited April 2009
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The conclusion is clear, innit? Ban motorcycles; put everyone in Hummers.

    HUMMERS for everyone!!!!
    A guy could get elected on a platform like that....


    (oh, CARS)
    :D:D
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited April 2009
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The conclusion is clear, innit? Ban motorcycles; put everyone in Hummers.
    You could just ban Hummers, trucks, minivans, SUV's in general, and all large or mid-sized sedans. When everyone has a micro-compact, there won't be any large cars to crash into them any more ... That platform will probably NOT get you elected!
    Alea jacta est!
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,710
    edited April 2009
    Neither one of the above 'platforms' would (probably get one elected, that is) :-)

    I like small cars (and small trucks, actually) and have always driven fairly small vehicles (currently a 2000 Ford Focus ZX-3 5-speed on which I've put 159k miles to date). I like the economy of purchase price and operation; it's a car not an extension of one's... umm... well, what some people seem to think that their cars are!

    I agree; small vs. small is probably safer for all. I think the rollercoastering price of energy will lead us all (back) to small soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see gasoline in the $3 to 4 a gallon range this summer, no matter what the macroscopic condition of the economy is.

    By the way, kinetic energy (which is what tears your innards loose when you collide with, say a brick wall -- as your KE is transferred to the wall through you) is directly proportional to mass, but it's proportional to the square of velocity. It's the speed that kills...

    E = 1/2 mv^2
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,151
    edited April 2009
    I have always known that size matters, from personal experience and past failures. Mine is too small, so I always drive a truck when I can, and I always come equiped with a d!ldo so that my dates don't notice (but I still have to make sure the lights are off first, and keep her distracted the whole time once I do the ol' switch-a-roo). The only really big issue with this strategy is when we get to a Joe Blob, she always thinks she's got my little finger.

    (Deepest ... ha! ... apologies for any offense to more sensitive readers.)
    Alea jacta est!
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