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IIHS Picks Safest Vehicles - READ ONLY

130 messages,  Last post on Sep 23, 2009 at 12:03 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety

Messages Page 10 of 13

#91 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [jestercaruso] by backy

Nov 01, 2006 (5:47 pm)

Replying to: jestercaruso (Nov 01, 2006 4:43 pm)
No, I'm not kidding you.
 
The Jetta and Rabbit have excellent crash-safety scores--even without all 57 airbags. The new Sentra is untested. Have you found out how much it costs to add ABS to a Sentra 2.0S? Go configure one and see for yourself. It's not cheap.
 
Your saying that the Sentra has nore standard safety features doesn't make it true. It's not. It doesn't lead in optional safety features either. And it's easy to demonstrate those facts to yourself. If you care about the truth.
 
BTW, why in the world would you BEG someone not to buy a car like a Rabbit or Accent or Elantra? Do you get a cut on every Sentra sold (maybe on Civics too)?

#92 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [backy] by v_d

Nov 01, 2006 (7:49 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 01, 2006 5:47 pm)
Yeah, someone on a Rabbit forum here actually had a list of vehicles that got the exact same scores the Rabbit did, and if I recall right, there were a couple of Mercedes', Lexus', Volvo's and other luxury brands. I think the Rabbit was actually the single car under $50k out there. So if you want safety, I`ll go with the Rabbit.
 
ABS (not a Pack - standalone) in Canada is standard on the 2.0S model, but it costs $500 on the 2.0. In the US it`s $600 but you get 16" + ABS. And yes that`s a lot for something that should be standard on every vehicle by now.
 
A base Rabbit vs a base Sentra in airbags will come 6-6. True the Rabbit has 2 additional rear side airbags, so that comes to 8. Pretty amazing!
 
Coming to buying... no I would not buy an Accent, or a Civic, Elantra or even Sentra, I`d take the Rabbit for it`s driving dynamics and german engineering. But again, that`s just me!

#93 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [v_d] by backy

Nov 01, 2006 (9:26 pm)

Replying to: v_d (Nov 01, 2006 7:49 pm)
Actually the Civic gets better IIHS crash scores than the Rabbit--the Civic is an IIHS "Gold" award winner, the Jetta and 4-door Rabbit "Silver." Still very good though. If the Rabbit had better fuel economy and reliability, it would probably be my top choice in this class (in 2-door form).
 
When I configured a Sentra 2.0S with ABS, not only did I need to select the ABS+alloys package, I also had to select the Convenience package. So adding ABS was about a $1200 bump--of course you get some extra stuff too.

#94 of 130 ABS a luxury ? by ecotrklvr

Nov 01, 2006 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 01, 2006 9:26 pm)
That torques me off, too. Nissan seems to make it tough to buy safety, unless you are willing to pay to pamper yourself.
 
I'd be driving a 2003 Altima right now, if 4 years ago I could have found a 2.5S, anywhere, with ABS.
 
It's even worse with VSC. Only on the 3.5's. Dang.

#95 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [backy] by jeffyscott

Nov 02, 2006 (6:40 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 01, 2006 9:26 pm)
The rear test is what kept the rabbit/jetta from getting gold. Footnote on rear impact for these on IIHS site now says: "Design changes have been made; to be tested later in 2006." So they may move up to gold.
 
Also the Civic is in a lighter weight class, so frontal scores may not be comparable. There is a 450 pound difference in the weight of tested cars.

#96 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [jeffyscott] by backy

Nov 02, 2006 (10:21 am)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 02, 2006 6:40 am)
You are right, the frontal scores are not directly comparable. But that doesn't change the fact that the Civic got excellent scores for its weight class--as did the Jetta and 4-door Rabbit.

#97 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [backy] by jeffyscott

Nov 02, 2006 (11:42 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 02, 2006 10:21 am)
Yep, civic did do very well and the Sentra will remain in the same weight class as the Civic.
 
I wish they would add a frontal test that would be comparable across all cars. Maybe smash the thing they use for the side test into the front of the cars, for example.

#98 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [jeffyscott] by backy

Nov 02, 2006 (12:18 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 02, 2006 11:42 am)
They could do that, but would it mimic the real world to have a sled smash into the front of a stationary car?

#99 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [backy] by jeffyscott

Nov 02, 2006 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 02, 2006 12:18 pm)
How about something like the sled going 20 mph and the vehicle also going 20 mph and smash them together in a frontal offset crash?

#100 of 130 Re: First hand experiences and thoughts? [jeffyscott] by backy

Nov 02, 2006 (6:08 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 02, 2006 5:29 pm)
Then the weight of the vehicle plays a role, so the results couldn't be compared across weight classes--same as today.

Messages Page 10 of 13

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