Fifth gear 4x4 test

[davidjmiller]

pop onto youtube now and check this out. Maybe I should have keep the old 110.

David

[Disco Matt]

I'm guessing you mean the Disco Vs Espace crash test?

I wasn't all that convinced. Of all the accidents I have seen (and living in Mid Wales I've seen a few) a Disco would give you a much better chance of survival than a normal car. If they had rerun that test so the Disco chassis rail was in line with the Espace it would have been very different!

[davidjmiller]

Yes, that's the one. Sorry I was not more specific.

Taken on face value it does not look great.

David

[Disco Matt]

Yes, that's the one. Sorry I was not more specific.

Taken on face value it does not look great.

David

True - I was somewhat amazed how easily the bumper/wing/A pillar distorted. Land Rover could easily have added some bracing from the outer end of the bumper to the chassis rail to form a triangle, then an extra cross member which would prevent this (not so good for whatever hits you, admittedly!). I suspect it's a case of people expecting more from their cars now than they did then!

[Disco_Stu]

Re run the test with a 6mm steel winch bumper and steering guard and I'll bet that'll be different again.

Stu.

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

Re run the test with a 6mm steel winch bumper and steering guard and I'll bet that'll be different again.

Stu.

yes ive seen and it looks bad . all i say least it was a 300 series and not a 200 series with no airbag. least now EURO-N-CAP  are more real life set ups. safety can only get better with newer models.

the old series one 80inch really does look a bad motor for safety now if used as a every day car.

[Disco Matt]

I've never been convinced by airbags TBH - notice that they're not used in motorsport where crashes are likely to be far more severe? I've also heard tales from recovery drivers of side airbags causing neck injuries that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

[mike142sl]

I've never been convinced by airbags TBH - notice that they're not used in motorsport where crashes are likely to be far more severe? I've also heard tales from recovery drivers of side airbags causing neck injuries that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

Hang on - motorsport cars have all manner of cages, four point straps etc to protect the driver, hardly comparable to every day cars. I suspect there is plenty of evidence to suggest air bags have saved lives.

[Disco Matt]

I've never been convinced by airbags TBH - notice that they're not used in motorsport where crashes are likely to be far more severe? I've also heard tales from recovery drivers of side airbags causing neck injuries that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

Hang on - motorsport cars have all manner of cages, four point straps etc to protect the driver, hardly comparable to every day cars. I suspect there is plenty of evidence to suggest air bags have saved lives.

True - my point is that airbags aren't the only way

[clbarclay]

A winch bumper won't necisserily help the occupants of the disco survive. The smart cars are a classic example of that, the structure won't bend much in a 70mph crash, but because there are virtually no crumple zones to reduce the deceleration, the higher G forces are more likely to kill the occupants.

[Disco_Stu]

Although I agree with the science behind what your saying, I cant help thinking I'd prefer to have one than not in the event of a frontal shunt. Having removed my old one the difference between the two is marked, I'm pretty sure the winch bumper would withstand the impact better than the original part.

And as the sticker says, a 200lb metal girder strapped to the front of my car and what I hit becomes my crumple zone. And of course, it works for the A Team....


Stu.

[Bulli]

I've never been convinced by airbags TBH - notice that they're not used in motorsport where crashes are likely to be far more severe? I've also heard tales from recovery drivers of side airbags causing neck injuries that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

Hang on - motorsport cars have all manner of cages, four point straps etc to protect the driver, hardly comparable to every day cars. I suspect there is plenty of evidence to suggest air bags have saved lives.

True - my point is that airbags aren't the only way

im sure there is but an airbag is not doing the job of a cage or a harness. An air bag is there to protect the driver from the intrusion of the wheel more than anything. racing steering columns are designed to collapse to reduce the risk of this scenario. 
Air bags are a major move forward as far as safety is concerned but as we should all know speed is the biggest killer. The faster the crash the lower your chances.... so we should be safer lol

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

GEE WIZ VS discovery that would be a lamb to the slaughter.  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Evilgoat]

Air bags, crumple zones etc are all there to help the driver survive and reduce the g force exerted on the occupants as already mentioned. Accidents happen, and its not unknown with larger vehicles that the structure of the passenger space is undamaged but the occupants are still killed by the G-forces involved.

In a reasonaly fast impact you ar elooking at parts of your body weighing at least 100 times what they normally do, this is enought op plaster your barin to the inside of your skull. Air bags are there to prevent this and as a secondary, prevent mechanical contact with anything.

The early airbags were bad news, having injured rescuers and serivice techs alike. A lot of it is about damage limitation, sure, whiplash hurts and it can profoundly change your life, but not as much as what the alternative could be.


Motor racing a lot of this prtection is ther ein other forms, neck brace, helmet etc. Seeing as the public wont wear this to nip to the shops, we get airbags.

[muddyjames]

It always baffles me why my driver and other loader wont wear thier seat belts at work in the lorry. I always have to sit in the middle seat with a lap belt :( Better than a windscreen I guess.

Seat belts arent uncomfy either.

However. I have seen that clip before and it did shock me. My air bag warning light is on and has been for 2 years. I am baffled on how to reset it cheaply. But if your in a crash that big with A pilars folding in around you I feel an airbag is not likely to do much. In a slow crash then yes, probably help alot. I will never forget richard hammond though when he crashed the porsche cayen that he thought an air bag would be like a big fluffy pilow, and he was wrong, its like hitting a hard pillow! :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

I'm guessing you mean the Disco Vs Espace crash test?

I wasn't all that convinced. Of all the accidents I have seen (and living in Mid Wales I've seen a few) a Disco would give you a much better chance of survival than a normal car. If they had rerun that test so the Disco chassis rail was in line with the Espace it would have been very different!

And a £30,000 brand new Espace against a £4,000 14 year old Disco.  Spend the same either side and again, a different story.