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How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by James Grabau on
Tuesday, 17 February 1998, at 8:07 a.m.
I love my 240. I will continue to buy Volvos. However I feel that the current trend of SUV mania is making the roads very hazardous to anyone in a car of any make. Forgive my venting, I understand that many consumers need the cargo space and the 4 wheel drive. I guess I see many who use these huge vehicles (4000+ lbs) to transport a single 150-200 lb person to work, and around town! I would gladly explore the very fuel efficient cars coming onto the market if I did not have to feel vulnerable as hell whenever I ride in or drive a small car.
Do any CARS currently have safety systems that effectively protect passengers from a SUV? Volvo? GM? Ford? Anyone?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
James Grabau
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by pat on
Tuesday, 17 February 1998, at 8:40 a.m.
Assuming it T-bones you on the passenger side, you should be safe. I probably can't say the same for your passenger though. I am also worried about this but there's not much we can do. However in my driving it seems far more likely that I'll have a frontal-offset crash then anything else due to all the high-speed / non-divided roadways here in boston. I think a law should be passed where SUVs need to have the same height bumper as cars and that the bumper should be the most frontal part of the car and should have stricter deformation quidelines due to the shear momentum of an SUV. It should somehow also be easily removable for when they want to do serious off-roading. I wonder how many SUV owners really ever even offroad yet their bumpers are more than 2 feet off the ground! Lately it seems like they are buying them for more safety! and now maybe they'll get penalized by their insurance because of what they'll do to the other guy in a crash.
1 month after moving to boston I had a side collision with an Isuzu that cut me off in a rotary. By the time I hit him, I was probably down to 2mph. My bumper went completely under his and thus he crunched my hood just enough to get me a new hood.
Or maybe volvo's next safety device will be a pre-side collision detector that instantly deflates the left side tires and makes the doors popout at an angle so as to form a ramp to launch the SUV over the top!
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by R. Abel on
Wednesday, 18 February 1998, at 6:00 a.m.
You could subscribe to the "get a bigger truck" theory, like a Hum-Vee or a Mac truck. I personally would not like to be the one to find the answer to this question in experience. T-bone you pretty much have control over, however. Assume that every driver is a 16 year old male with 4 beers under his belt who is late to pick up his girlfriend for a date. They'll push every limit, run every yellow light, etc.. If you drive under this assumption, you'll never leave the sides of your vehicle vulnerable.
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by JS on
Sunday, 22 February 1998, at 6:14 p.m.
Your posting reminds me of my father's first lesson on driving: always assume that everybody else in the road is an idiot. He is 77 (driving since age 18) and never had a serious accident...
Jorge
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by LKB on
Wednesday, 18 February 1998, at 12:03 p.m.
Relatively speaking, I'm sure my 240 is safer than most cars on the road. I understand T crashes are severe, in any case, but Volvos, and Mercedes, maybe BMWs, are better than most cars as far as crash protection. That's all the sedan market can currently provide, I think.
BTW: I always drive with my low-beams on, as DRLs, to increase my visibility to other drivers.
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by Henry T. Mui on
Tuesday, 24 February 1998, at 3:42 p.m.
That depends on the speed the SUV is going when you hits you on the side.
Last week (2 weeks ago) I seen a 740T (not sure of the year) get smashed up in the rear by a big tractor trailer. The frame of the car was still in good condition but the quarter driver's side trunk rear was crushed. I think the insurance company wrote the car off. It was the tractor trailer's fault. The 740 was ahead and stop for a stop sign and behind came the tractor trailer and
rear ends him from behind. Big bucks to have it fixed but, the owner still wanted it fixed. Read article in Detroit Free Press Sunday Feb. 22nd./ 98. Section "C" Business Section "Wage War on the Big Trucks." If you wish , please e-mail me your snail mail address and I'll be happy to send you the article.
regards,
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by Ted Y. on
Thursday, 19 February 1998, at 1:07 a.m.
Don't get me started!
I can go on and on about my two favorite things; SUV's and auto insurance agents.
Ted Y.
Ummm... what does "SUV" mean?[ALL/1988] posted by Owen Woodland on
Thursday, 19 February 1998, at 2:03 a.m.
I know that this is probably painfully obvious to y'all, but I have never heard the term before and was wondering what "SUV" is, no doubt something or other Vehicle (Stupid Urban Vehicle, p'raps?)
Thanks.
Owen
Re: Ummm... what does "SUV" mean?[ALL/1988] posted by Ed Lipe on
Thursday, 19 February 1998, at 8:30 a.m.
Owen, you're very close on that one. SUV is just another acronym for Big Truck that costs Big Bucks. aka sport/utility vehicle. Ford Explorer, Jeep Cherokee...
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by R. Abel on
Thursday, 19 February 1998, at 7:05 a.m.
Sports Utility Vehicle (big 4 wheel drive truck).
Re: How safe is my Volvo when a SUV, T-bones me?[ALL/1988] posted by Perry Montgomery on
Friday, 20 February 1998, at 11:17 p.m.
Sorry but I have to put in my 2 cents worth. I just happen to be the owner of both a volvo(122) and a SUV. My wife keeps telling me she wants a new volvo wagon, but she also mentions the feeling of safety she has while driving our Isuzu. It comforts me to know that while she is driving my daughter and herself around on streets filled with drivers that are either not paying attention, talking on a cell phone(a personal pet peeve) or just generally driving recklessly, she has one of the bigger vehicles surrounding them. While it is true that she poses a danger to people driving in little unibody cars like my 122, I have the choice to drive in that smaller car. I agree that much can be done to improve the safety of the SUV, until something is done,
I have no problem putting my family in a vehicle that gives them more than a good chance surviving a crash. so until they make
tanks street legal, we will continue to drive a nice passenger friendly, larger vehicle. If you must drive a small car, drive a volvo!