Crashes in micro-cars are bad for your health, too. But such sacrifices before the idol of Global Warming are demanded!
Not a problem. I rarely drive over 6 miles an hour anyway. /s
Back in the early 70’s I had a economic professor walk into class and open with, “What ever happened to bumpers that bump?” He went on to explain that in his day (he was rather old), if you saw a buddy stopped at an intersection you could run into the rear of his car with yours and rocket him across the intersection because the bumpers were spring loaded and the cars didn’t weigh much.
And this is the reason I will drive my 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn Edition with a Hemi in the ground, and when it’s dead buy a Ford F150.
The truck is paid off, so no point in taking on a new bill now.
Small, light cars don't have to be dangerous, any more than 3-ton trucks are automatically "safe" just because of their mass. It's a matter of engineering.
My father-in-law was in a horrible head-on collision with a big delivery box truck. He was driving a Prius (and no, he's not a liberal - he's a red-meat conservative retired Army Airborne vet). The Prius, though obviously totalled, protected him exceptionally well and his worst injury was a fractured sternum from the impact with the airbag and steering column. I saw the wreckage, and the structural integrity of that car's passenger compartment is just incredible.
A couple years ago, driving my restored 82 Mercedes 240D, I rear-ended a late modal BMW at around 10 MPH. I did about $1800 damage to the BMW but there wasn't a scratch on my Benz. The reason being, in 82 Mercedes still used the big chrome bumpers but the BMW had the under-body bumpers, so there was paint damage and broken plastic pieces all over.
Why the insurance companies haven't been lobbying full-force againt the current car designs is beyond me. They have to be getting nickeled and dimed to death on their profits.
But, maybe it's not that big a problem.
WHen it comes to the politics of opposing these small car mandates, I propose we adopt the left’s slogan:
“No Blood for Oil!”
As Rush Limbaugh aptly describes them as “2 seaters lawn movers” to get 45mpg but I dont think that they can properly stand up to the side wind effect of when a 40 ft trailer flies pass you!! I can easily imagine that the tailwind of a trailer can cause you to lose control of the car or worse!!
No way Obama will take away southern red-neck trucks.
This only one of the unintended consequences of high CAFE standards.
can’t wait for ER nurses to come up with a catchy name for these vehicles (motorcycles are affectionately known as “donorcycles”)
In micro cars, crashes that would be a "fender bender" in other cars become major. Repair costs are not the main concern - survival is.
These are only the costs to repair the POS cars.......
What are the costs added to the “National Health Care”??
We need govt funded car insurance pronto.
"The Kia Rio racked up the most damage among the tiny cars, $3,701 in repairs to the full front bumper. In the four tests, the Rio averaged $2,705 in damages.
Among the other vehicles tested, the Hyundai Accent averaged $2,123 in damages, the Honda Fit racked up $1,960 in repairs and the Toyota Yaris would have led to an average bill of $1,951. Tests to the bumpers of the Mini Cooper generated average damages of $1,637. "
Since the Hyundai Accent & KIA RIO 4 Dr sedans are the same car. Just as GM's Camaro, Firebird, and TransAM were years ago. Their hatchbacks (station wagons, might be a little different). The Accent comes as a 3 Dr Hatchback, and the RIO5, is a 5 Dr Hatchback (StaWgn) And are built in the same plant. I should know, I have a 2008 KIA RIO5, that was built at the Hyundai plant in Korea, last year.
If you look at the following two (2) articles, the Hyundai/KIA product line dominates the the top 10, Least Expensive Vehicles to get insurance for, 5 out of 10 (50%). Also there are no US compact cars in that list, only two (2) mid size vehicles, Chrysler's Town & Country (Minivan), and Saturn's Vue (SUV or Crossover). They may be using the same report for their articles.
The most and least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure
By Amy Danise, Insure.com
Last updated May 28, 2009
The Most Expensive Cars to Insure
Posted: Jun. 03, 2009 11:06 a.m.
On the US News Automotive Site
disposable technology.
The new Green is more disasterous than ever.
Wouldn’t it be cool to have a derby demolition with one Ford truck against a dozen smart cars?
Lower the speed limit to 2 MPH! It will also save fuel! LOL.