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Originally Posted by tjts1
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What theory?
My Focus was a 2007, the last model year and thus why I didn't get another.
The placard for the Mercedes states 4,300 pounds.
The 240 I gave to a friend, but had to be one of the safest I have driven. Volvos were the safest for decades and it also felt safe. However, it had not had the air bag checked like it should, so could be a hazard. The air bag components only have a life of 10 years, I.I.R.C.. Plus, doesn't have the room, the classiness, or a diesel engine of the Mercedes. Also on the individual basis I didn't have as much information and wasn't as well sorted.
The type 3 chassis was released in 1961 and significantly redesigned in 1969 decades before the type 1 (1934 I.I.R.C.). It was designed with crumple zones, collapsing steering column, and padded dash. This means the type 3 do way better than the crash test video. The advantage the Squareback has over the Focus is no engine to go into the cabin. Further, the windshield isn't right in your face.
I also have first hand experience. Both times the impact was at the passenger front fender, the Squareback at a combined speed over 65M.P.H. and the Focus at 55M.P.H.. In the case of the Volkswagen it was able to be driven after the accident as no suspension damage, one body buckle, and I only had minor whip lash; not even my glasses came off. However, the Focus had a busted axle that jammed into the power plant, eight body buckles, and had severe whip lash for which I had to be treated for weeks and never fully healed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy
That's in large part because the W123 has a much more upright windshield than a modern car.
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That makes a lot of since, Skippy! So then it is give and take. Once the windshields started leaning way back the air bags were needed to protect ones head from hitting the windshield.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy
I wouldn't say that airbags are completely useless, but they are very far from being the best in crash safety. A few weeks ago at Gilles Villenneuve Massa and Perez both smacked the wall HARD and walked away. They did this without the benefit of airbags. The main things that saved them from injury were the six point harness and the very strong survival cell the cockpit sits in.
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What happened to those great air bags when I had my accident? Of all the incidents I have heard about, not one had air bags go off. One was when a family member head on hit a cow at 70M.P.H. on a dark country road. There was no air bag to protect them. So what good do air bags do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy
I don't know if you've noticed, but today's cars are obese. They're filled with useless garbage, only some of which is demanded by the government. The other stuff is there to fill customer desires. Ten speaker stereos, electric windows, electric seats, navigation systems, entertainment systems, climate control systems, carpets, and sound insulation add up to a lot of weight.
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My point should have been made more clear, tut mir leid. I should have said hevier guage steel. Punch a W123, an American auto before the oil embargo, heck I will even let someone punch the Squareback (the fender I am replacing though
)! Then punch a modern vehicle and will do damage. The gauge steel is way less and that was my initial point.
On the point of heavy, the lighter and more nimble a vehicle handles, including engine performance, does help with safety. It is better to avoid an accident than be in one. The Volkswagen can be driven like a motorcycle in the way it can be whipped around. Those kind of maneuvers have saved me many a time and reduce the impact of the accident.
This remindes me two lessons I learned from the last accident. First, know yourself. I have a low blood sugar condition and can really affect mental clarity when too low because I haven't eaten enough. Not only had I not eaten breakfast or intake of calories, I hadn't had very much quality sleep. So I was basically driving intoxicated meaning my reaction times were way down. Even the six second space was enough. Second, keep your autos maintained! I had severe slop in the suspension but was told by the mechanic it was fine. However, when I needed the most grip the suspension wasn't able to fully transmit the forces and stop the vehicle in a reasonable manner. It was corrected right after the accident, except for the guide rods and springs; still need to find a suspension shop.