Suginami

That is very interesting, and thank you for the long post!

I always thought Saab made strong cars, so these findings are a bit disturbing. Pre conceptions and all that.

A point to bear in mind though, is that cars are designed to collapse. If they didn't, the forces would be transferred directly into the persons body, accellerating it extremely quickly, much quicker than if the car body didn't take up some of the impact time to deform.
Saab always claimed to have a very strong roof structure, probably needed because of the huge hatch opening.
There was a famous picture from England, where a car transporter carrying new Saabs tried to go under an overpass, and the front Saab contacted the steel I-beam right in the middle of the windshield. It was apparently the only car on the top, and it was swept off the truck, but hung on the I-beam in the air, attached only by its front roof structure.
It was prominently displayed in a dealers showroom for quite a while. I hope I can find that picture.:p

Personally I am convinced that Toyota makes the best cars in the world. This is not to denigrate Mercedes or any other car. It is just that this company has raised the bar to perhaps unreasoning heights. Take a look at a Lexus LS 400 trunk hinge for example...

I remember when VW announced to the world that they would make better quality cars than any other German car company. This was when their products were very bad indeed.
And shazzam, take a look!

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"