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Sedans Low End Sedans (under $16k)
3820 messages, Last post on Nov 24, 2008 at 9:45 AM
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Replying to: nippononly (Feb 24, 2006 9:12 pm) |
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I noticed something interesting--and distressing--while looking at the NHTSA crash test scores today. The Accent's scores have been posted, and they are better than those of the Rio: 5/5/4/3 on the Accent, 4/5/3/3 on the Rio. This continues a disturbing (to me) trend where Kias built on the same platform as their Hyundai counterparts have worse crash test results than the Hyundais. It started with the Elantra and Spectra and continues now with the Accent and Rio. It's also not a good sign that the scores for the Accent for side crashes have gotten worse in comparison to the previous design (although frontal scores have improved). It would be nice to see improvement across the board. It will be interesting to see how these cars fare in the IIHS crash tests.
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Replying to: backy (Feb 26, 2006 7:51 am) Bottom line: For me personally, I have very little confidence in the NHTSA testing. ~alpha
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Replying to: good4u (Feb 24, 2006 5:36 pm) 
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Replying to: alpha01 (Feb 26, 2006 8:56 am) It's clear that there were changes to the tested Camrys from 2002-2004; for example, the weight of the test cars went up almost 200 pounds between 2003 and 2004. Also, it is possible that one year, a score was right on the borderline between two star ratings, and the next year the score was almost the same but it fell into a different star category. This might have happened between 2003 and 2004 for example. The 2003 front side TTI was 73 and for 2004 it was 70. That might have been just enough to put the 2004 into the 4-star classification. I've seen this kind of thing on the IIHS tests also. The line between classifications has to be drawn somewhere, and there's no such thing in these tests as "almost four stars" or "just squeaked into the Good category". As to why the side impact score declined a lot between 2003 and 2004, maybe you could ask Toyota about that. I prefer the IIHS testing myself, but we don't see very many cars get low scores on the NHTSA tests and then get high scores on the IIHS tests. The reverse does happen, though, which makes sense because the IIHS tests are more severe than the NHTSA tests.
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Replying to: backy (Feb 26, 2006 11:23 am) I do not know about the methodology behind when NHTSA tests vehicles, but even ASIDE from the side impact, the Camry received varying between 4 and 5 stars in the frontal during those years as well. Now, if that WAS the case, the IIHS would have had to retest based on THEIR methodology. "I prefer the IIHS testing myself, but we don't see very many cars get low scores on the NHTSA tests and then get high scores on the IIHS tests. The reverse does happen, though, which makes sense because the IIHS tests are more severe than the NHTSA tests." Ok, well that pretty much sums up why the NHTSA tests clearly dont provide a full picture. IMO, the frontal tests compliment each other as the IIHS has stated- the NHTSA test is demanding of restraint systems, and the IIHS test demanding of structure (and restraints). However, the NHTSA side impact and IIHS impact do not have this type of relationship; the NHTSA test does not expose weaknesses that the IIHS test does not, while the converse is true. I just dont think I'd really be concerned with the NHTSA side ratings for the Accent and Rio.... ~alpha
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Replying to: alpha01 (Feb 26, 2006 11:55 am) P.S. As I noted, it was the test car weights that changed on the Camry. That is curious in itself, because I would think that Toyota would want the crash test car to be the lightest weight possible, all else being equal, since weight plays a role in the frontal impact results.
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Replying to: backy (Feb 26, 2006 12:55 pm) With regard to the Camry weights, your comment was "It's clear that there were changes to the tested Camrys from 2002-2004; for example, the weight of the test cars went up almost 200 pounds between 2003 and 2004." Your statement led me to believe you were expressing changes made to the Camry resulted in a weight increase, and affected the ratings. If I misread it, I apologize, but I feel this is a logical interpretation. "OK, show me any car equipped with side bags and curtains (as the '06 Accent and Rio are) that got three stars on a NHTSA side impact test and also got a "Good" score on the IIHS side impact test. I haven't found any yet." Touche, point taken. ~alpha
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Replying to: alpha01 (Feb 26, 2006 7:18 pm) 
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just how good a small car can really do on a test like the one given. Perhaps it's not physiologically possible to pass their test with a small rig. They are people who probably drive the large GM SUV's and pick-em-up trucks and worry excessively about getting into an accident all of the time. Yikes. I say this: extra driving tests for your types. Forget about the stupid tests. The Rio LX and Rio5 remain on my futures list, irregardless of any Hollywood trumped-up safety test. Good driving can do wonders for safety. I will always think that. If I'm smutted out by a large Detroit pick-em-up truck I'll die instantly, anyway, so I won't have to wonder, wait and worry about some silly little things that don't add up to nothing, will I? I take the Tom Petty stance from 'Here Comes My Girl' off of the 'Damn the Torpedoes' album on this one. Safety tests are for the crappy drivers and the worry warts. Isn't it interesting that I love the lineup of Kia cars that don't do excessively well at these tests? Humm. Give me one good extendo-thought reason why I should worry about those tests, after considering the comments I've already made here? Then tell me the Super Bowl wasn't tampered with this year. What a travesty of justice that affair was.
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