"Most Dangerous Car in America"

[matti]

Originally Posted by jayeh

Your area doesn't do this already?

Quotes I received here...

2008 Corvette $105 per month
2008 Ford Crown Vic $75
2008 Yaris HB $125



Anything made by Honda or Toyota is an extra $20 a month easily. I've noticed that most Yaris/Echo drivers are especially bad but not the overly aggressive bad, or the lazy bad (not signalling etc), but the "I'm so scared I might actually crap my pants if I drive over 55mph, but I'll cut across 6 lanes of highway without even looking" totally-fucking-stunned clueless type.

I've never inquired about how much it would cost to insure any other cars in my area other than my current Yaris, two previous Corollas, a Tercel, and a few other non-Toyotas. I don't recall how the cars compare, really. I do know that my new 2012 Yaris is only $2 more per month to insure than my last car, a 2007 Corolla. Currently, I'm paying about $44/month to insure the Yaris....can't recall my exact coverage levels, though.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by matti

I've never inquired about how much it would cost to insure any other cars in my area other than my current Yaris, two previous Corollas, a Tercel, and a few other non-Toyotas. I don't recall how the cars compare, really. I do know that my new 2012 Yaris is only $2 more per month to insure than my last car, a 2007 Corolla. Currently, I'm paying about $44/month to insure the Yaris....can't recall my exact coverage levels, though.

Do you have collision? If you don't have collision coverage, I wouldn't think there would be much difference (hence $2) when changing cars. If you do have collision, then that's great that your coverage only increased $2.

[FuuFuu]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Yet there are numerous accident threads on this forum where Yaris occupants survived relatively unscathed (thank God!) ...

Cheers! M2

<- ME :D

And I had a pretty nasty dealing with a tree too. Nothing but a few bumps and bruises. Though had I hit that tree in my ranger, I would've been able to drive it home hauling the driftwood behind me...

[Billiam]

I hit a very large June Bug at 70 MPH a few months ago. The front end crumpled just as it was designed to and the air bags popped as well. I walked away with just minor bumps and bruises.

[tk1971]

This quote from the LA Times article pretty much says it all:

"Not surprisingly, the institute said its research demonstrated that the vehicles with the highest injury claims tend to be small cars."

I'm thinking no duh (common sense?)...

Sorry, but I also ride motorcycles, so there really isn't a car that is "too small" for me.

[Damo]

It doesnt take a genius to figure out that MANY young drivers choose Yaris for its price. There are a LOT of Yaris drivers on our roads. You add the sheer number of owners together with the inexperience of young drivers behind the wheel and of course its going to be over-represented.

Typical moronic media scaremongering.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Originally Posted by Damo

It doesnt take a genius to figure out that MANY young drivers choose Yaris for its price. There are a LOT of Yaris drivers on our roads. You add the sheer number of owners together with the inexperience of young drivers behind the wheel and of course its going to be over-represented.

Typical moronic media scaremongering.

Well I am never one to defend the media and their scare mongering, but the measurement is per every thousand insured, which takes into account the number on the road. That said, you are probably right about the Yaris attracting younger drivers (and for that matter, drivers who just think it's cute, rather than drivers who like to drive and thus might be more cautious when driving), and that is most likely not taken into account... Of course small cars are more dangerous. There is not much point in denying that...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Damo

It doesnt take a genius to figure out that MANY young drivers choose Yaris for its price. There are a LOT of Yaris drivers on our roads. You add the sheer number of owners together with the inexperience of young drivers behind the wheel and of course its going to be over-represented.

Typical moronic media scaremongering.

Good point re age/experience of drivers likely skewing the numbers.

[MadMax]

Sorry, but around here the most dangerous vehicle on our roads is the Ford F-150...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Sorry, but around here the most dangerous vehicle on our roads is the Ford F-150...

Here they, from my experience, mainly just get too close to your bumper...which is irritating re the level of the lights.

A few nights ago I was driving south on I-45 in the slow lane. I had just passed the area where you can see construction re the future North American Headquarters Campus for Exxon Mobil. I was just about to put my turn signal on to take the FM 2920 exit when I heard a loud rumble. I decided to slow down and delay putting my turn signal on. A CAR PASSED ME ON THE SHOULDER GOING AT LEAST 90 MPH. He was racing another car that was going the same speed in the #2 lane. This happened so fast I didn't catch what type of cars they were driving. I kept thinking about that little voice, little bit of instinct that caused me to wait. If I hadn't waited, the result might have been disastrous. I hope those idiots eventually got tickets. Since the killing of the Libyan ambassador, I've noticed way more than the previous occasional military helicopter patrol and I'd imagine even military pilots are able to provide notification (indirectly if not directly) to patrol cars.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Since the killing of the Libyan ambassador, I've noticed way more than the previous occasional military helicopter patrol and I'd imagine even military pilots are able to provide notification (indirectly if not directly) to patrol cars.

Military aviators are not allowed to assist in law enforcement, it would be a violation of the Federal Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. §1385) which limits the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies in using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of the land.

This only applies to Federal forces (active duty military and the Reserves), the National Guard can do so within its home state if the appropriate authority (usually the governor) approves it or in an adjacent state if invited by that state's governor.

Back on topic, I think part of the problem for high insurance rates might be the costs of repairs and replacement parts. Go back and look at some of the threads concerning accidents, the damage doesn't appear to be that bad but the repair estimates are astronomical! Unfortunately, due to the low number of Yaris brought into this country (as compared to Civics and other similar vehicles in its class), parts are going to be expensive.

Also, many modern cars are designed to "absorb and spread" the forces of an impact so many more components will be damaged as compared to the heavy, steel cars of the past.

But I for one consider that to be a small price to pay for driving one of the coolest cars around!

On a side note, I accidentally tore the mirror off a rental minivan we had in Key West earlier this week (a concrete pillar took it out while I was backing out in a parking lot). Luckily it was a company rental, and we always get full coverage; but I would hate to see what the final repair bill is going to be on that!

Cheers! M2

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Military aviators are not allowed to assist in law enforcement, it would be a violation of the Federal Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. §1385) which limits the powers of local governments and law enforcement agencies in using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of the land.

This only applies to Federal forces (active duty military and the Reserves), the National Guard can do so within its home state if the appropriate authority (usually the governor) approves it or in an adjacent state if invited by that state's governor.

Back on topic, I think part of the problem for high insurance rates might be the costs of repairs and replacement parts. Go back and look at some of the threads concerning accidents, the damage doesn't appear to be that bad but the repair estimates are astronomical! Unfortunately, due to the low number of Yaris brought into this country (as compared to Civics and other similar vehicles in its class), parts are going to be expensive.

Also, many modern cars are designed to "absorb and spread" the forces of an impact so many more components will be damaged as compared to the heavy, steel cars of the past.

But I for one consider that to be a small price to pay for driving one of the coolest cars around!

On a side note, I accidentally tore the mirror off a rental minivan we had in Key West earlier this week (a concrete pillar took it out while I was backing out in a parking lot). Luckily it was a company rental, and we always get full coverage; but I would hate to see what the final repair bill is going to be on that!

Cheers! M2

Your first two paragraphs = extremely interesting information about required barriers between agencies.

Your third paragraph = what I was thinking as well. This is why I thought Matti might not have collision given his increase was only $2. Perhaps the extra safety features (ABS, etc.) almost exactly make up for other increased costs.

Your fifth paragraph = I whole-heartedly agree.

[baseballfan416]

I guess this would explain why my STi is cheaper to insure than the yaris... No abs, no anti-theft, no awd, no traction control ('07), less air bags and a worse crash rating... So much for being economical...

[Fidelio]

its dangerous walking in some parts of the neighborhood where I live.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Fidelio

its dangerous walking in some parts of the neighborhood where I live.

I once took a bus from Torrance to Beverly Hills. If I remember correctly, it went all the way up Western Ave from Torrance Blvd to Wilshire Blvd. It was an interesting experience. I wouldn't have walked or ridden a bike anywhere along the route.

[Rain]

Makes me feel silly to "upgrade" to a smaller car haha

I'm currently paying $80/month insurance for my Yaris sedan and Scion iQ. Hopefully that report doesn't jack insurance up. Fairly surprised they didn't want more for the iQ

[otterhere]

Well, I -- for one -- have found the body integrity, even with just a slight bump or scrape, to be LESS that reassuring! It is a very cheap car, after all... Not just small (there are smaller ones; the Smart Twofer, the VW bug, now the FIAT 500 Pop, the Mazda Miata... I could go on!)... I'll continue my search for the next great vehicle...

[12 yaris]

Does anyone here know of Crosley's,I had a '50 Super.
Sitting in the car you could have both arms hang out each door.
I also had a '59 Fiat 500 Nouva,2dr,suicide door,with a factory
sliding roof.
I also had Austin Healey Sprite,and an MG Midget.
All of these cars were very small,Most offered no seat belts,or any kind of safety features.
You had to watch out for everybody else,or keep your lights on so you could be seen while driving.
I honestly think that most of the safety features on the new cars are not needed,such as ABS,traction control,air bags,(I hoestly believe they do more harm than good).