Mini v. sedan = injury. No duh. Is this news?

[IllusionX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_86RuYXoJA

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by mr. poopyhead

the current corolla is bigger than an 80s camry...

The current Yaris sedan is bigger than an 80s Camry, and weighs the same. Toyota's been playing in the upsizing game, too.

[jambo101]

This is a plot by the oil companies to get us all back into gas guzzling SUV's

[Dave]

Same article was published in today's Toronto Star, and I was going to post about it here as well.

Seems this article doesn't mention the point in the Star that got me so riled up this afternoon:

"There are good reasons people buy mini cars. They're more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests," said Adrian Lund, the institute's president.

Automakers who manufacture the small cars said the tests simulated a high-speed crash that rarely happens on the road. They also said the tests rehashed past insurance industry arguments against tougher fuel efficiency requirements. The institute has raised questions about whether stricter gas mileage rules, which are being developed by the government, might lead to smaller, lighter vehicles that could be less safe.

http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/533297

In my humble opinion, this is absolute bullshit and nothing more than an attempt at using fear mongering to push people into larger and less efficient vehicles. The biases of the group who released this study is as clear as day. Leave it to insurance and oil companies to sensationalize 300 year old physics laws. This study could only mean less if it was published directly by the oil tycoon from The Simpsons.

[auxmike]

Why did'nt they try the HB Yaris vs. the Camry?
That's the showdown I wanna see!

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

BTW, I just looked up the nominal curb weight for a 2008 Camry. 1050 lbs more than my 2009 Yaris sedan.

I'm glad the iihs did the test small car vs small car + 1000lbs....

Originally Posted by mr. poopyhead

this is the stupidest crap ever...

you could do the same experiment and replace the "minicars" vs. sedans with sedans vs. SUVs... you'd get the same results and then have a "scientific" evidence that people should ditch their sedans and all move to SUVs... which will just accelerate the arms race that has been going on for years now... people moving into bigger cars and trucks to save themselves from the other people driving big cars and trucks... it's ridiculous...

take a look at the cars from the 80s... they were like the "minicars" we have now... the current corolla is bigger than an 80s camry... and have you seen the new ford F150? it's twice the size as an F-150 from 20 years ago... are traffic fatalities any lower now than then? (that's an honest question... i have no stats on it)

god bless america... the land of the fearful...

+190238498791209852

[Kal-El]

Geez, this is equivalent to crashing into the edge of a solid wall (with all impact force on the left half of the car) at 80 mph! What do these idiots think is going to happen??

Hell, if you took a Hummer and did the same test with an 18-wheeler, do you think the Hummer is going to keep you safe? No chance.

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Geez, this is equivalent to crashing into the edge of a solid wall (with all impact force on the left half of the car) at 80 mph! What do these idiots think is going to happen??

It's even worse than that, because the car with the smaller mass is driven backward on impact.

[RHDVIPbB]

Nobody has a higher chance of survival in a head on crash. Too many variables.

I do however think that there needs to be more testing when renewing your driver license.

[mr. poopyhead]

Originally Posted by Dave

This study could only mean less if it was published directly by the oil tycoon from The Simpsons.

"i'm gonna build the rootin'est, tootin'est, pollutin'est SUV for ya'll safety minded americans! yee-haw!!!"

[DefStarYaris]

I guess I should ditch my Yaris for a Hummer inside a larger Hummer wrapped in armor plating so I'll be safe.

[nsmitchell]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

Now foxnews.com has put this as their lead story and top video link.

/sarchasm/ Not Fox News! /endsarchasm/

[nsmitchell]

I think fear is what drives a lot of Americans to big cars/SUVs. Plain and simple. Fear, and keeping up with the Jones'/materialism.

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

<snip>
It's kind of a movement, I guess—one I'm proud to be a part of.

+1

[ddongbap]

Seriously guys, we need to get out of the sterotype that SUVs are everywhere. They aren't anymore.

On a side note. The MBenz C-Class was introduced after the E-Class became larger. MBenz needed another entry level segment in the US. Back in the 80s, the E-Class (190E, aka w201), was small.

[slothman86]

And how many people have really gotten hurt on this site while driving their Yaris? ?

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

Make sure you read Motor Trend's response. It's pretty good ...

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6494659/...ack/index.html

Have to agree - that was really well put.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

What a revelation! Ram a big car into a little car headon, and you're worse off in the little car! Whodathunkit?

For real!