I am not even a fan of fords, but the most recent one has a 5 star crash test ratings and its rollover is 4 star, compared to a 3 star for the smart.
You keep saying everyone needs to take everything into account. what exactly is "everything"? If all you have is that a smart has something they call a safety shell, then no...no other car has that, but do you really think it is safer than a Volvo? If so, based on what?
Your arguments need substance to stand on...right now it sounds a lot like fanboyism...much like what you see in the console game arena...with a lot of "this is better because I think so".
Got news for ya...the smart doesn't have a roll cage, and all modern vehicles have passenger 'safety cells'. And all modern vehicles sold in the US have crumple zones...except for smart and Lotus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jediknight36
You have to take in account EVERYTHING!
If you take into account 'everything', the 1,800lb smart is not nearly as safe as a 4,800lb BMW designed for both active and passive safety. Sorry.
But if you feel safe driving the smart...I know I do, because I know the chance of a life threatening impact is minimal due to where and how I drive my smart...that is what counts.
I am not even a fan of fords, but the most recent one has a 5 star crash test ratings and its rollover is 4 star, compared to a 3 star for the smart.
You keep saying everyone needs to take everything into account. what exactly is "everything"? If all you have is that a smart has something they call a safety shell, then no...no other car has that, but do you really think it is safer than a Volvo? If so, based on what?
Your arguments need substance to stand on...right now it sounds a lot like fanboyism...much like what you see in the console game arena...with a lot of "this is better because I think so".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Smithee
Got news for ya...the smart doesn't have a roll cage, and all modern vehicles have passenger 'safety cells'. And all modern vehicles sold in the US have crumple zones...except for smart and Lotus.
If you take into account 'everything', the 1,800lb smart is not nearly as safe as a 4,800lb BMW designed for both active and passive safety. Sorry.
But if you feel safe driving the smart...I know I do, because I know the chance of a life threatening impact is minimal due to where and how I drive my smart...that is what counts.
Look, I just dont see where bigger is better every time. Just because you can ram a truck into a wall dosnt prove the safty of a real world indecent. When smart talks about the cell, they compare it to a roll cage. They way I remember the photos, the smart didnt look that bad. Not drivable, but you can skid into a sign in any car at less than 20 mph and not drive it away.
You cannot prove that bigger is always safer. When I mean take everything into account, I mean, stopping speed, maneuverability, all safety features, the fact that the 8 cly engine has to go somewhere, and the mentality of the driver.
If you look at them all, the smart is "safer".
And while Xbox 360 has more and better games, the PS3 is a better over all system! :P
wider tires, types and thickness of rubber, bigger brakes all exist on bigger cars. The more contact the tire has with the ground the faster it will stop as the more traction it will find. Bigger brake rotors allow for more firm and faster braking power, which is why many people opt for larger brakes when racing.
...take everything into account...the smart is "safer".
I'm sure we can all come up with accident scenarios where we'd rather be in a smart than a military Humvee with exposed metal interior surfaces, no airbags, etc. So, OK, it cannot be proven that bigger is always safer.
Conversely, you cannot say that, "taking everything into account, the smart is safer" than an SUV. That's just ludicrous given the laws of physics.
I used to have a Volvo and a Nissan Pick up. Both I felt I could be safer in an accident, While Both held up well in accidents sometimes with no damage (to themselves but plenty of signs knocked down during snow) I am convinced I could have avoided those accidents in the Saab, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic I have also Owned.
The Civic I had was in several accidents while I was sitting still. I was backed into several times by LARGER Vehicles that couldn't see me because of there blind spots.
I have driven in several Blinding snow storms In compact cars with no problem while the ditches were filled with pick up trucks and SUV's that lost control because of all the inertia.
While I have never been in a major accident my self, I know that all the little fender benders I have been in could have been avoided if both cars had been smaller and more maneuverable, with better visibility.
On another side of this argument, what would you rather have your teenager driving, A Larger 7 passenger vehicle with a bunch of friends to distract the driver and Lots of Power, or a two passenger Smart car? For those EMT’s out here, what kind of Accident would you rather be called to?
My Point is, it is best to avoid the accident in the first place. The only one accident you can guarantee you wont get hurt in is the one that doesn’t happen. Stability controls anyone?
Last edited by forestacademy; 09-19-2008 at 02:58 PM.
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