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

[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...

[wooverstone8]

http://online.wsj.com/video/toyota-y...88B4C74AA.html

[Lambpasty]

Wait so you mean to tell me that If I drive my Yaris into a head-on collision with a ford F-350 that there's an increased chance I'll be hurt?! So that means that if I get into a head-on driving an F-350 into a dump truck I might get hurt too?! I guess everyone should just start driving school buses and dump trucks around everywhere.

So is this really about the Yarii and economy cars being (obviously) on the losing side of a head-on or is it a way to persuade people into buying huge SUVs they don't need so they can be "safe" (and boost sales)...

[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

[Thirty-Nine]

So for "Crash Test Tuesday," I posted up a video and question on my blog: Which is safer—Older large cars or newer small cars?

http://tinyurl.com/Which-Is-Safer

[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.

[Thirty-Nine]

This whole thing is giving small cars a (hopefully temporary) bad rap.

I agree with the comments above.

Now, let's see the sedan vs. SUV. Then let's see SUV vs. semi truck.

Shit, we should all be driving tanks and bulldozers ... just to be on the safe side. Heaven forbid people would start to move to smaller cars.

Frankly, I'm getting sick of hearing about this damn story. It's all over the net and the TV tonight.

Look at all the new small cars in the last few years ... heck since 2004:

Scion xB
Scion xA
Scion xD
Toyota Yaris
Ford Fiesta
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Nissan Versa
Smart ForTwo
Honda Fit
Pontiac G3

Pre 2004 (and still for sale)
MINI
Chevrolet Aveo
Hyundai Accent
Kia Rio
Probably a few I'm missing.

Anyway, there has been an influx in small cars and it makes me wonder why an organization would spend all kinds of money to show people "hey, small cars aren't as safe ..." Just a "reminder" I guess ...

I'm proud to drive a small car, promote my small-car Web site, and frequent forums like this. It's kind of a movement, I guess—one I'm proud to be a part of.

[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.