6 mph crash test results are in! Scary $$$$$$

[SharkmanBMW]

six miles-per-hour bumper crash = up tp 4500$
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=consumer&id=5080255

here si the iihs PDF ---> http://www.iihs.org/news/2007/iihs_news_030107.pdf

An old ford escort same test = 86$ damage:p

[Jimbo]

$9000 damage to a Volkswagen in a 6MPH crash, that is scary. Cars are made to be way too disposable these days.

[winfred]

so the escort was totaled, ain't that a bitch :D



An old ford escort same test = 86$ damage:p

[SC David]

Sheesh! I could hit something at 10 times that speed in the E34 and MAYBE have a scratch.

[etcetera]

I had a 76 530i. Was teaching my sister to drive and while we were pulling up to the parking spot behind our house she hit the gas instead of brake and pushed the nose through a block wall. Zero detectable damage. Luckily the blocks from above didn't fall on the paint.

[New Owner 95 E34]

I can vouch for the sturdiness of 80's Ford Escorts! First car in college was an '84 Escort Wagon, and when one day, icy conditions caused me to t-bone someone while I was going about 20 mph. :( She was fine, but her doors were crushed, windows blown out all around.

Escort had a bent license plate, and a cracked turn signal lens. Repair cost- $0. :D That car was a friggin' tank. Shitty? Check. Solid? Check.

I swear I've reformed- no accidents since that one, and it makes me embarrassed to think of how I used to drive. Had to tell the story though- it's too perfect for this thread!

[spyrot1]

My only problem with this methodology is that they add up all 4 damage areas to come up with their "grand total". Unless your on the highway, stop short and hit the guy in front of you, and then someone smacks you in the back, there is no way to know exactly how much damage you will incur.

Also, the 1981 Escort... are the damage totals in current dollars or 1981 dollars?

On the Toyota a full front collision is only $936, not the $4,911 that this test says.

This is deceptive researching, put out by anti-automobile pin-heads. It is true that bumpers are not as strong as they were in 1981, but the cars are now designed to protect the occupants rather then the car.

Insurance companies would rather pay $10k to fix a car then have to pay $100k to fix a human. That's why they have actuaries doing all this math...

Why do you think all the insurance companies are advertising that they all now have lower rates? Safer cars=less cost to the insurance companies.

Bumpers are replaced by crash zones, with the blessings of the Insurance industry. Big strong bumpers will mean that all the force of the accident will be absorbed by the occupants, deformable bumpers means that the occupants get mu8ch less of the impact. Even NASCAR figured this out...

Front Front Rear Rear TOTAL
full corner full corner
Toyota Camry $936 $1,467 $1,480 $1,028 $4,911

[CharlesAFerg]

My only problem with this methodology is that they add up all 4 damage areas to come up with their "grand total". Unless your on the highway, stop short and hit the guy in front of you, and then someone smacks you in the back, there is no way to know exactly how much damage you will incur.

Also, the 1981 Escort... are the damage totals in current dollars or 1981 dollars?

On the Toyota a full front collision is only $936, not the $4,911 that this test says.

This is deceptive researching, put out by anti-automobile pin-heads. It is true that bumpers are not as strong as they were in 1981, but the cars are now designed to protect the occupants rather then the car.

Insurance companies would rather pay $10k to fix a car then have to pay $100k to fix a human. That's why they have actuaries doing all this math...

Why do you think all the insurance companies are advertising that they all now have lower rates? Safer cars=less cost to the insurance companies.

Bumpers are replaced by crash zones, with the blessings of the Insurance industry. Big strong bumpers will mean that all the force of the accident will be absorbed by the occupants, deformable bumpers means that the occupants get mu8ch less of the impact. Even NASCAR figured this out...

Front Front Rear Rear TOTAL
full corner full corner
Toyota Camry $936 $1,467 $1,480 $1,028 $4,911

Exactly... Just look at the horrendous US E28 bumpers.... Bleeechhhh - It literally ruins the car...

[bigtisas]

I want a car that can protect the passengers and driver as well as the car itself.
Nowadays, Japanese car bumper is just thin plastic with foam inside. What's the point to have a bumper if it breaks at 6mph? it should be called fog lights holder.

[genphreak]

I want a car that can protect the passengers and driver as well as the car itself.
Nowadays, Japanese car bumper is just thin plastic with foam inside. What's the point to have a bumper if it breaks at 6mph? it should be called fog lights holder.Exactly. Modern bumpers succeed only in ensuring a new and ongoing revenue stream for automotive companies making increasinagly commoditised products (cars).

An e34 bumper arrangement (including shock absorbers, etc.) is expensive and heavy but the best balance of praticality and safety. I doubt many ever have to even be replaced.

:( Nick

[Montreal525]

I think all the damage is du to the fact that all modern cars have fancy bumper covers that are extremely fragile and very expensive... I'd like to see the same tests but with the covers removed, exposing the real bumper, ie the steel bar with the shocks absorbers... Those are suppose to resist a 6 mph test... The bumpers do their job it's all the fancy triming that goes to hell...

Now that's what I call a bumper, on my old Bronco, it would've taken on anything.... Oh yeah....

[gale]

Our local CCA chapter does a tech session at one of the better body shops in town once a year & the owner commented on how expensive replacement panels are for "American" cars vs. BMW's. He basically says BMW's might be more expensive for the initial purchase whereas American cars sell cheap initially but Detroit makes it up in parts down the road.

[mikell]

Don't forget outrageous headlight costs - a $5 sealed beam unit on an old Ford vs a $700 headlight unit on a new Japanese car.

[Dave M]

I think all the damage is du to the fact that all modern cars have fancy bumper covers that are extremely fragile and very expensive... I'd like to see the same tests but with the covers removed, exposing the real bumper, ie the steel bar with the shocks absorbers... Those are suppose to resist a 6 mph test... The bumpers do their job it's all the fancy triming that goes to hell...

Now that's what I call a bumper, on my old Bronco, it would've taken on anything.... Oh yeah....

Yeah baby, my work truck has 6 mile per hour everything :D Nice rig by the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/dave_macisaac/Misc/Chevy2.jpg

[attack eagle]

I want a car that can protect the passengers and driver as well as the car itself.
Nowadays, Japanese car bumper is just thin plastic with foam inside. What's the point to have a bumper if it breaks at 6mph? it should be called fog lights holder.

You guys are confusing the bumper skin with the actual bumper.
If the skin doesn't tear its damn near indestructible. I prefer skinned bumpers anyway. Beats the hell out of rechroming or replacing a bumper every time you have a minor incident.