New IIHS 3- & 6-mph bumper tests

[pow]

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr030107.html

The video sums it up nicely.

[Croc]

Sucks to be a G6 owner.

[ocnblu]

*checking the classifieds for an '81 Escort*

[pow]

Amazing how much better the AURA performed than the G6.

[pow]

Oh, and look at good ol' Toyota...

"... the Toyota Camry needed a lot of repairs after the full-rear test, including repair of fenders and body panels. The trunk floor and unibody structure had to be straightened out. However, the total cost of these repairs was a relatively low $1,480, in part because Camry parts don't cost as much as those on some other cars."

By the same token I'm sure VW was dinged... as their parts are rather expensive.

[bowtie_dude]

Oh, and look at good ol' Toyota...

"... the Toyota Camry needed a lot of repairs after the full-rear test, including repair of fenders and body panels. The trunk floor and unibody structure had to be straightened out. However, the total cost of these repairs was a relatively low $1,480, in part because Camry parts don't cost as much as those on some other cars."

By the same token I'm sure VW was dinged... as their parts are rather expensive.

The Accord racked up $8k in total damages with the full front ringing up almost $3500 alone.

[Flybrian]

Insurance covers the cost anyway, so big deal. Even if it doesn't (and believe me, I know), I was able to fix my own damage myself for cheap.

Insurance companies lobbying to make it cheaper for insurance companies. Makes my heart sad...

[siegen]

The Kia and Hyundai should be $0. Who fixes those things anyway?

[Flybrian]

The Kia and Hyundai should be $0. Who fixes those things anyway?

Want to know something? That's more factual and less joking than it leads on to be.

Most Korean cars I see (even 2000+ models) are simply in woeful cosmetic appearance. I guess if you buy the lowest denominator, who cares?

[Intrepidation]

The Camry and the Aura handled the frontal crash tests very well I think. The G6 did horribly though. That is the problem with newer cars...the bumpers are useless and get damaged so easily. I'd be afraid to tap anything with the Intrepid's bumper. The Shadow on the other hand got T-boned by an Olds and the bumper just got a tiny crack. I banged it into a pol once trying to maneuver to the damn cars scanner at one of the gates and the school and it did nothing. Hell, I know for a fact you can have 2 people weighing more than 500 pounds total jump on it and it won't budge...try doing that to a new car's bumper.

[aaaantoine]

Sure, that 1981 Escort takes very little damage, but at the same time...

- It's almost 30 years old, and is more likely to total due to depreciated value.

- It's damn ugly.

- How does its SAFETY measure up to modern car standards? That's far more important than how much your insurance company pays to repair a bumper.

[Flybrian]

My car has 14 inches between the prow and the nearest mechanical part (radiator). God bless FWD and their proportions. I laugh at 3ers with tiny front overhangs.

[Intrepidation]

My car has 14 inches between the prow and the nearest mechanical part (radiator). God bless FWD and their proportions. I laugh at 3ers with tiny front overhangs.

Sixty8 will tell you that doesn't matter and it's the work of the devil

[siegen]

I watched the news segment on this. The height of the object that you bump into would affect the cost greatly. The object that they were using collided with the head lights on some cars, and on others it didn't. I'd imagine using a different height object for the test would change the results considerably, as some would or would not have damaged head lights and grills. If they really want to reduce the cost of collisions, they should make a standard height for all bumpers on all cars, and give minimum/maximum heights for head lights, etc.

[ToniCipriani]

Just more excuses for insurance companies to jack up premiums.

"Oh, your car is more likely to have a costly repair when you bump your ass against the front, so we'll need to charge you more."

[the_yellow_dart]

I just emailed this to a friend of mine with a Maxima, with the subject - "Don't crash your car'.