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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by Irollturbo on Tue Jun 11 14:52 CST 2002
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last visit: Sat Sep 6 14:36 CST 2014

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Anybody know what's up with the IIHS S60 Crash Test score? Out of the last batch of scores released, the S60 certainly does not distinguish itself. It's not a bad rating, but a number of other cars scored better. The score is definately not in keeping with previous Volvos or the Volvo brand image for that matter.

http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0204.htm

It just doesn't make sense that the S60 wouldn't do better in such an utterly predicable and reproducable test, especially with Volvo's big crash research center that allows just able any accident scenario to be created. What gives?

-Ted

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by tim smith on Tue Jun 11 16:16 CST 2002
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I really don't see what's wrong with the crash test score. The predicted stress on the legs/feet is a little lackluster, but it performed well other than that. I agree with Phil that it's better to look at real-life performance as opposed to IIHS crash tests. The tests do have some validity in overall evaluation of the car's crashworthiness, but there's no accounting for the HUGE number of variables that influences the performance of a specific car in a specific crash.

As an example, there was a crash near where I live several months ago. A man in an S80 was driving along the highway and hit a tractor trailer that was parked on the shoulder. There was quite a bit of damage done to the car as it flipped violently, ending up on its roof. Unfortunately, the driver died. But the S80 has been scoring extremely well in crash tests. It's not pleasant, but it's something to think about. I wish I had a counter example, but I don't know what exactly would constitute such a thing.

Tim
--
Tim Smith '85 745GLE M46 w/86k

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by someone claiming to be Punxsutawney Phil on Tue Jun 11 15:35 CST 2002 [RELATED]

Maybe they think the accident scenario of running into a huge block of concrete on the highway is uncommon? I'd look at the "real world" insurance claims results, also available from the same source.

Compared with the 850/70 it looks like the s60 recieved one additional "Acceptable" rating.

http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/95005.htm

There have always been safer cars than Volvos, and the testing methods have always been less than perfect. In one of the very first crash tests note the 1979 240 received one (1) star, same as the Renault LeCar.

http://www.crashtest.com/explanations/archive/crash.htm#anchor161663

-Punxsutawney Phil

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by Irollturbo on Tue Jun 11 16:19 CST 2002
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Points well taken, but one needs to be a bit careful with the insurance claim data as it is skewed by the type of people who tend to drive certain cars. So if very careful and conservative people tend to drive Volvos the insurance claim data may be better, but this does not make it a safer car. The GMC Safari is a good example of this. Terrible crash test score---POOR. Yet the injury history is quite good, even better than a V70. Both the driver and size of the vehicle contribute to this. Just don't hit a concrete barrier- OR a similar sized vehicle in a head on offset collision, which the barrier simulates.

If memory serves, that early 240 crash test had such a bad score due to a seatbelt latch failure. I understand that this was a defect in the pre-production sample used for the test and that the problem was corrected in the production units.

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by someone claiming to be Punxsutawney Phil on Wed Jun 12 01:26 CST 2002 [RELATED]

I'd expect a minivan to do better in a crash than a car, even a Volvo. It's a truck. Some years ago that famous European crash test between the Volvo 740 and the VW Microbus was performed. The dummies in the VW "survived", but the dummies in the Volvo "died". The now well-known dissimilar vehicle height phenomenon. It's true that barrier tests don't take into account the psychodynamics of the buyers, but OTOH, you're considering buying an S60, aren't you, and not a Harley? Barrier testing also fails to take into account the car's ability to avoid an accident, the brakes, handling, skid control, etc.

I think a Volvo is "reasonably" safe, but if I were given a choice of crashing in one or in a Suburban, I'd choose the Suburban. Physics 101.

I also recall that the 1979 240 behaved "screwy" in the first crash test.

-Punxsutawney Phil

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by davidm on Wed Jun 12 05:23 CST 2002
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My insurance company gives me a discount based on another set of of books you rarely hear about. Regardless of published crash test results, they discount cars for which they pay out less money, cars in which the occupants are substantially less likely to wind up in the hospital or morgue. And in the Boston area, Volvo has been a top performer...and my discount this year was $265 on the S70.
--
(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

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Poor S60 Crash Test Score???? S60

posted by S40man on Sun Jun 16 21:13 CST 2002
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The common mistake is people think Suburbans and SUVS are safer than cars, but in reality, they are not. They have much more tendancy to roll over, and when they hit a car, their bumpers/crumple zones are ineffective. The floor of the SUV would completely rupture. Bigger is not necessarily better. It all lies on how well the car can absorb the impact.

Silverado Truck 4,709 LBS
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0107.htm

Chevrolet Astro (Huge Van)-Terrible rating- Not designed well
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/96024.htm

Mercedes M Class (Designed Properly)
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/99012.htm

Volvo S40 (Smallest Current Volvo, but Designed Properly)
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0124.htm

Volvo S80 (Biggest Volvo Sedan)
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/00007_2001.htm

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