Car safety test changed and pissed off MB

[engatwork]

Read the last paragraph.

new car safety test

Interesting to see what was at the top of the list. Wonder how much money moves around to get listings like that?

[raymr]

All they need is carbon fiber and titanium floor boards.

[spdrun]

You can't make everything 100% safe. Insurance industry: taking all the fun out of life ever since it was created. Damn, I wish the tests could be done with actual insurance officials in the front seats!

[MagnumPI]

I never would have imagined the bumper isn't as strong at the corner, or IN THE WHEEL-WELL. Now I know if I must hit an immovable steel wall directly in front of my side of the car, with an odd shape not seen anywhere on the road, I'll drift into sideways instead. Or, turn the wheel about 3 degrees right, whichever.

[MTI]

Let's see them add this to the crash safety testing

Pike's Peak Climb

Both occupants walked away from the accident with only minor injuries

[cmbdiesel]

Originally Posted by MagnumPI

I never would have imagined the bumper isn't as strong at the corner, or IN THE WHEEL-WELL. Now I know if I must hit an immovable steel wall directly in front of my side of the car, with an odd shape not seen anywhere on the road, I'll drift into sideways instead. Or, turn the wheel about 3 degrees right, whichever.

Fortunately MB has taken into consideration that the majority of MB drivers are much better at the task than the general population.

We're better looking too...

[cullennewsom]

Originally Posted by MagnumPI

I never would have imagined the bumper isn't as strong at the corner, or IN THE WHEEL-WELL. Now I know if I must hit an immovable steel wall directly in front of my side of the car, with an odd shape not seen anywhere on the road, I'll drift into sideways instead. Or, turn the wheel about 3 degrees right, whichever.

HOV Entrance crashes, Toll booth crashes, construction barrier crashes, bridge pylon crashes, etc.

[retmil46]

Originally Posted by engatwork

Read the last paragraph.

new car safety test

Interesting to see what was at the top of the list. Wonder how much money moves around to get listings like that?

Funny you should put it that way....

For 15 years, the vehicles built by a certain truck manufacturer I work for were consistently rated dead last for quality by JD Power. Granted, not that many players in the Class 8 truck category, but still....

Then about a month or so ago, at one of our daily huddle meetings, it was announced that JD Power had rated our trucks top of the field for quality - in one shot vaulted from dead last to lead dog.

The QC groupleader and I looked at each other, and both of us made essentially the same comment - "I wonder how big a check they wrote JD Power to make THAT happen?".

[MTI]

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Fortunately MB has taken into consideration that the majority of MB drivers are much better at the task than the general population.

We're better looking too...

Judging by the listing of cars in your sig . . . you might want to visit a dealership and have a look at the new generation of owners.

[DieselPaul]

"As a leader in automotive safety, we have full confidence in the protection that the C-Class affords its occupants -- and less confidence in any test that doesn't reflect that," the German automaker said in a statement.

Such a German thing to say, I love it.

[MBeige]

MB hasn't always agreed to the insurance crash tests saying they are not realistic, and conducted their own tests instead.

[Hatterasguy]

I'd still take my chances in a MB in a crash.

In the real world they seem to do pretty well. Volvo's too.

[jcyuhn]

Originally Posted by MBeige

MB hasn't always agreed to the insurance crash tests saying they are not realistic, and conducted their own tests instead.

I recall that MB took exception to the U.S. federal test, which is a full frontal crash. It drives designers to build a "soft" front structure. Mercedes argued their research shows that partial offset frontal crashes are more common in the real world, so they built a stiffer front structure to better handle that situation. It didn't perform as well in the U.S. test, but they believe it provides better overall safety to their customers.

[Can't Know]

In terms of tact and diplomacy, I thought Toyota's statement was better reasoned.

The irony, of course, is that the luxury models are usually the best ones in any maker's lineup. Very few of the remainder of the lines are even going to do as well as these did.

Still, I'm mostly curious that the E and S classes were not tested. Not to denigrate the C class, but it's sort of like sending your idiot stepchild to greet the King.

[retmil46]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I'd still take my chances in a MB in a crash.

In the real world they seem to do pretty well. Volvo's too.

AMEN BROTHER!!!!

Nearly 4 years ago, in my original 87 300D, got t-boned by a Ford Explorer doing 50 to 55 mph. I walked away with only a set of bruised ribs from the center armrest - got spun 180 and thrown 20 feet clear of the road - and the car still ran and moved under it's own power - the front end of that Explorer looked like it had ran over an IED, total loss.