I am by no means trying or attempting to start something with this comment.



The offset crash test is basically hitting a pole in line with either wheel. Is what I'm seeing from the above videos. Or any scenario where it's a corner or similar.

At least is what I get. I see the point in the test, but it's one VERY specific test. Let's face it, most accidents are front dead on, side(or T-Bone) or rear.

All small cars are inherently crap out of luck because of the small front end.
Even with space age materials available to the car manufacturers. Every car has a use, purpose and a point in which it will fail.
Only when we get to the point where cars drive themselves and we are chauffeured as humans will cars become something that crash tests are no longer needed.
I'm 27, I say at least maybe in my future childrens lifetime will a self driving car be available to the masses like a car with the steering wheel.

A steering wheel will eventually be replaced and we will become the kids in the backseat that get taken where we want to go, watch a movie or listen to the radio on the way.

At least that's my perspective on it. We'll get to that point, hell we're in the super early alpha phase of such technology. Eventually it'll be something that we have that moment, "Why the hell didn't we do this sooner".

End my partly scifi future fantasy.

 

Let's be more clear...since the Fit is a small box, it has a better chance at having a higher structural rigidity than a large box. The Fit is actually very taut and rigid.

Let's not forget that size of car has little to do with crash test results. Here's the same test on luxury sedans:

Status Report

 

I told my wife that if she's going to hit something, hit it dead-center in the front.

 

I'm surprised the Yaris scored higher than the Fit. The dummy's head goes between the airbags but in the case of the Yaris with its single front airbag, it looks like Ralph's face end's up full of shards of glass and smacking the dash and the A-Pillar. Looks like his day is a lot worse than just mediocre

I disagree that this is an atypical type of crash. On the highway in Quebec, people often drive with a tire well on the yellow line if not completely over it. Many country roads are small 2 ways with no median and a speed limit of 65mph. I can vey well imagine someone driving carelessly and striking a driver that has a drop in his/her alertness. I've caught myself getting complacent during long 3h plus drives and having to quickly avoid an idiot that can't hold his lane and is oncoming.

That being said, it seems as the test is setup so that the impact misses the main engine bay and the actual crash bar. It seems there's not much more than the headlight housing and body getting crushed and the car seems to "roll or scrape" across the wall. Also the crooked impact creates a twisting motion which I guess is the reason why so many dummy's seem to miss the front airbag. Perhaps the airbag of the future will be more square rather than round son that a victim's face doesn't fall besides it in this situation.

These guys have to test for everything, even dropping heavy weight on the roof to test its strength. I don't think these guys are trying to have a bias against compact cars, they are just being scientific and objective. If you hit a corner of a wall in a Mercedes SUV you'll be better off than if you did it in a Fiat 500. That's just scientific fact and car makers and drivers have to take those facts in account when dealing with driving and safety.

 

Case close.

No car is going to do well hitting a solid wall off center at speed. More likely you'll hit another car that also has a crumple zone there to soften the impact, in addition it's a moveable object, it will bounce off.

Just don't go diving into K rails or telephone posts (on the drivers side for that matter, not sure how you'd manage that) and you'll be fine.

Anyone have some train vs car crash test videos? I want to buy the car that survives the best. Will probably be some variant of the M1 Abrams.

 

Except some did, including the Chevy Spark.

I'm glad someone posted the mid-size luxury sedan ratings though. Acura did well; Mercedes, Lexus, and Audi did not. The Fit was due a redesign. It doesn't feel nice though that we're on the other end of that.

As for this type of accident being unrealistic, most pictures of wrecked cars I've seen on here are offset front end collisions. Think about it.

 

I told my wife that if she is going to hit a deer, bring it home afterwards.

 

Some good points.

The video of the Spark showed it deflecting the hit. It slid by more than absorbing the impact. I think the solution is a slightly different passenger safety cage. It's probably already designed into the 2015s (if not you can bet it will be).

The steering wheel turns on impact as well as being pushed to the right so a differently shaped air-bag probably won't help. Maybe additional air bags behind the wheel, or a differently shaped bag on the side. I noticed most of the dummies heads went to the left of the steering wheel. Some cars are putting them in the footwell now too.

They can design our cars to be more survivable. They do it for race cars. While the race cars have a much higher chance of experiencing a crash, there are so many more Fits with so-so drivers. I'm not suggesting full cages, but we're not hitting the wall at 150mph either.

The chances of needing this in our cars is low, but it will sway my next purchase as I'm sure it will those who are buying Fits now (especially the used car market).

 

Does anyone else find it interesting nobody was screaming about this in 2008 when the GE was testing?

New Fit's coming out.

Or is is just because Chevy finally built a car that passed now and boosting sales? Which senator is heavily invested in Chevy?

/tinfoilhat

 

The test is a 2012 test, so the GE is designed before that.
The Spark was designed after that.

 

F@ck.... isn't that how Senna died?




Overall I think they're supposed to be safer, but there's also tests claiming big cars to be less safe because of the stopping distances, weight (& weight distribution), etc., etc... but there's also tests showing smaller cars can avoid certain accidents.
I love that vid with the Fit that flipped, feel bad for the owner, glad he's ok... but just look at the car afterwards... you'd think it would be worse. I say it held up quite well.


I think you're looking for this?









Videos from BBC Top Gear: Series 17, Episode 1 - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear Australia


Didn't you learn anything from Snowden? lolol... ahahaha.. I wouldn't doubt it though.


When the GE8 first came out it was heralded as one of the safest cars in it's class... now because of this test (which bigger cars didn't fare as well either), everyone's panicking to trade in their cars.

 

10 tons? Yeah that should do. Where's the offset crash test for that? I bet it just smashes through the wall

That's what I mean, when the GE8 first came out everyone was raving about it's good crash ratings. This story even made it on my local news last night in the little national news portion (which is like two minutes) that rarely reports anything of value.

Just seems a little odd in all senses. Definite sensationalism, possible bribery.

BRB gonna buy 10 throwaway prepaid phones now i'm sure my regular phone will be tapped soon.

 

We looked at the crash test ratings and watched the crash videos before ordering our '09 Fit. It was the only small car that did well in all the crash tests at the time. Frankly, I find the new test results disturbing because I think this is the crash you get if you slide off the road and hit a utility pole or graze the front of another vehicle.

On the other hand, time marches on. We expect the new cars to do more for us than look good.

As much as I dislike the Chevy Malibu (rental car), I would rather be in one of those than the so-called tank that we all felt safe in when we were kids. Ever see the video of the crash test between a '59 Chevy and an '09 Malibu?


When I was in college I worked in a hospital and was in the ICU at times (Hospitals improve, too. A modern hospital would never have let someone like me near the patients.). The patients were generally old people dying and young kids who had been in wrecks. The ones who survived had head trauma and chest injuries from impacting against the steering wheel and the non-collapsing steering columns. You could see the outline of the steering wheel, the horn, and the column on their chests.

If you are in a modern car you would be spared those injuries and the long recovery periods that went with them. You guys who think it can't happen to you because you're good drivers—well—good luck to you. I hope you are good enough.

I sure like the ten cupholders in the Fit. Like the eight airbags a lot more. Why would a buyer consider an automobile that didn't do well in all the tests when there are cars that do well? I am one who does not consider these tests unrealistic exercises.

Cheers.

 

That '59 Chevy didn't deserve to die.

Here's another video that gives it better perspective. What tests, how they do them, with a better explanation of the small offset frontal impact.

Pay attention to the 2012 Lexus ES350 that fails miserably during the test (it's the silver car behind the blue-shirt guy, and makes our Fits look like tanks in comparison).


And Becky is kinda cute. Why can't I crash cars for a living?

 

Mainly because it's a Chevy.

But seriously, unrealistic, no, it's a definite possibility. But I do believe if I am in an offset front collision like that it will be on the passenger side. They said the main problem was the steering column and the head going through the airbags? I think this wouldn't be as big of a problem on the passenger side. It's one large airbag and the curtain airbag right?

If it was on the driver's side more likely it will be a car, not a solid pole or wall. Not saying it won't hurt, but I don't think it will be as dramatic.

Anyway, that's what i'm going to use to go to sleep tonight and not fear driving my tin-can to work tomorrow

 

you know you can do all the proactive and protective things in life but an astroid could still hit you in the head... meaning, life it wat it is, and how it comes. dont kill yourself over it.

 

pretty soon these crash agencies are going to start dropping bowling balls on the roofs of cars claiming potential fatal dangers and terrible ratings against hail the size of bowling balls.

 

Actually, if you hang on long enough, IIHS will be firing phasers and photon torpedoes to see who can take a hit. I wonder how the Fit gen #217 will hold up under setting 6. Fascinating.

 

Folks down here avoid accidents by having a concealed carry permit. God, Guns and Guts save lives...

 

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