[urq] 80's Audi were Below average in NHTSA crash test . Audi A4 bumpers are well rated

[steven j]

I've been looking at the NHTSA crash tests since they
came out in about 1979.   The 1985-ish Audi 5000 got a
horrible crash rating.  With the steering rack on the
firewall and that 5cyl going to the bumper the
steering wheel was pushed back in a crash delivering a
punch to the drivers head.  The 4000's tested at the
time were just the 4cyls - and the results weren't as
bad as the 5000, probably because the missing cylinder
allowed  an extra 5 inches before it started pushing
the steering rack back.  One would imagine a 5cyl in
the type 85 would be worse than the 5000 crash test.
Of course if you have an offset crash - and the engine
doesn't get pushed back - the car is probably fine.
For around 1989 Audi introduced PRO-CON-TEN in the 100
and 200 where cables push the engine forward in a
crash and those cars cut driver head injury to low
levels.

I think when airbags came the pro-con-ten cables might
not have been installed, but they were on the 100/200
only.   Feel free to correct me on details. 


 

--- Ed Kellock <ekellock at gmail.com> wrote:

> ISTR that the 4k series cars were one of the highest
> rated chassis of
> their time in crashworthiness.
> 
> Ed
> 
> On 8/16/07, LL - NY <larrycleung at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Having seen some of the Type 85's in the wrecking
> yard, I'd venture a guess
> > that
> > you didn't go "straight in" in your accident. The
> 4K's passenger compartment
> > seems to buckle in a header, at least based upon
> empirical forensic analysis
> > at the wrecking yard, I think you were lucky.
> >



       
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