Not so Smart...

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:27 am

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/vi ... est-9-2009

A real test, not a chopped video. (sorry about the commercial)

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:09 pm

If anything it shows how bad an offset impact can be for any car. It looks like if you are going to hit, hit head on as it may result in spreading the impact over a greater area. Or just don't have a passenger and sacrifice the passenger side of the car.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:50 pm

I will say that despite the spectacular 270-degree rotation the Smart does, I'm pretty impressed with how the roof and A-pillar hold up. Similar for the other small cars, Yaris and Fit (vid available at the MSNBC link.)

In contrast, check out how the roof, A-pillar and floor buckle like an accordion in this Chinese-made Brilliance BS6...the side-impact looks to be fatal as well. And that's jus the midsize sedan--yikes!

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/bril ... hing-but/7

edit: oh, yeah...and I'm never buying my kids a car that small. It's driving school and an Accord for them.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:50 pm

I thought the intent was to show the biggest one wins? I can tell you for a fact that three of my co-workers bought their 16 year olds an SUV just because it's bigger and they would therefore automatically be safer in a crash. :roll:

Teaching them how to actually avoid a crash is the bottom of their priority list.

Raise your hand if what you've learned doing AX or track has helped you avoid an on-highway incident....more than once.

:RAISES HAND:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:16 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

I will say that despite the spectacular 270-degree rotation the Smart does, I'm pretty impressed with how the roof and A-pillar hold up. Similar for the other small cars, Yaris and Fit (vid available at the MSNBC link.)

In contrast, check out how the roof, A-pillar and floor buckle like an accordion in this Chinese-made Brilliance BS6...the side-impact looks to be fatal as well. And that's jus the midsize sedan--yikes!

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/bril ... hing-but/7

edit: oh, yeah...and I'm never buying my kids a car that small. It's driving school and an Accord for them.

I advise all my clients to get an Accord or Camry for their kids. I think in 15 years I have had two clients listen.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:20 pm

Oh yeah

for vincent's question. I did a slalom the other night in my truck to avoid an idiot.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:34 pm

Raised hand here for Vincent's question. 75mph lane change in my pickup.

I had this conversation with someone today about them buying an SUV because it was big and safe. Problem is that most of the time the accident is with the side of the road and the vehicle rolls due to high center of gravity. :roll:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:55 pm

Hey, you want some of me??

http://jalopnik.com/5096933/chevy-tahoe ... pays-price

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Same here on Vincent's question.

I thought it odd that the IIHS would just pick the large/small cars from the same manufacturer (sort of will-it-blend style). What's that supposed to prove?

Where's the Hummer vs. Aveo vid :twisted:

?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:06 pm

I still need to bring my Smart to an autocross sometime. Just because.

--Donnie

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Donnie Barnes wrote:

I still need to bring my Smart to an autocross sometime. Just because I like irony.

Fixed.

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