Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo, Toyota Yaris - front crash tests

[Onyxblue]

This is an interesting crash test - fron-to-front between a small car and a midsize sedan.

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr041409.html

[Knightro2]

Yea, I read this on MSNBC just a little while ago. It's interesting but they aren't part of the standardized tests. They could say the same thing about a Nissan Aramada going head to head with a dump truck.

[Red Devil]

You mean a bigger car will hurt a smaller car going at the same speed? You don't say....... I think there was a study about this a long time ago.....oh yeah! The laws of Physics!!!

[feloniousmonk]

You mean a bigger car will hurt a smaller car going at the same speed? You don't say....... I think there was a study about this a long time ago.....oh yeah! The laws of Physics!!!

F=ma to be exact, where F is force or momentum, m is mass and a is acceleration (which is velocity or speed divided by time).

Greater mass, greater momentum. Primary reason why SUVs and their associated absent minded drivers are a public safety hazard. Most drive them without actively thinking about what it is they are doing... much less the fact that they are at the helm of a 5,000+ lb killing machine. It's like giving a 2 year old a loaded double barrel shotgun with safety off.

Yes, I had yet another close call with an inattentive SUV driving trophy wife, aka bimbo, today. Funny how it only happens when I drive the Versa. Never in the BMW... something to be said about having power to be out of or ahead of situations. The Versa would be great if it had another 50 hp. One can only dream. I like the Versa, but the way others drive around it is irritating the hell out of me.
Modified by feloniousmonk at 12:38 AM 4/17/2009

[fjwagner]

Yes, I had yet another close call with an inattentive SUV driving trophy wife, aka bimbo, today. Funny how it only happens when I drive the Versa. Never in the BMW... something to be said about having power to be out of or ahead of situations. The Versa would be great if it had another 50 hp. One can only dream. I like the Versa, but the way others drive around it is irritating the hell out of me.Modified by feloniousmonk at 12:38 AM 4/17/2009

My daughter primarily drives the Versa and your comments are one of the reasons I have been considering getting her something different. Maneuvering the freeways in Houston sometimes requires some quick acceleration; even to get on the darn things. I do not particularly want her to have more horsepower, but there is a trade-off. I have noted the same thing you have when I drive the car and I also have found myself needing more than the car can give. The Versa is a good car, but she has to drive up to 50 miles each day to and from swim practice depending on whether it is a day with double practice or not. Most of those miles are on Beltway 8 and HWY 290. I do get concerned about her safety as all parents do.