Re: 5000 safety questions

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

Hairy green toads from Mars made Richard C. Gann say:

> 1) Is anybody familiar with the procon-ten safety system that 
>    pulls the steering wheel away from the driver via steel 
>    cables into the dash board. This is an often stated safety 
>    fact where I come from (South Africa) and am surprised safety
>    conscious Americans don't talk of it more.  

My 100Q owner's manual has a couple of pages on the procon-ten
safety system. It incorporates the seat-belt tensioners, and
other things too. If you want, I can type some in from the book.


> 3) Is any one familiar with the crash tests that the German 
>    Magazine, Auto-Motor (I think that's the name), did where
>    the 5000 was rated at the top regarding safety, ahead of 
>    Volvo. I think this article was printed in 1987.

The 1989 100Q rated best in the US (ever) on the 35MPH frontal
impact tests. This is *without* an airbag. I notice that the
new A6 got the best import score this year - the only import
to get straight 5's.

> 4) Are US spec cars safer, those ugly bumpers on certain cars 
>    look really dumb !!! and those strange door mounted safety 
>    belts????

Audi's use airbags, not the door-mounted passive restraints.
Those are dangerous (not as safe as a regular seatbelt, which
I *always* wear).


-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-881-1294
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Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too heavy to care.