Re: 1997 side impact standards=BS!

[ScharfR@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-11-16 20:19:52 EST, RELAYER@aol.com writes:

<< well the 1997 model year is upon us, and that means we will hopefully stop
 hearing car ads boast "with 1997 side impact standards".  This has been
 advertised by the american companies mostly, bragging as if they are so far
 ahead of the competition due to this.  I can remember my 1985 Coupe having a
 large steel tube in the door, long before this talk of requirements. >>

Just a little FYI: The standards that apply to _all_ cars in 1997 are vastly
different from the ones that were in effect for _all_ cars since the '70s.

In the past, all that was required was a static load test on the door
reinforcement beam, and all cars had them.  The new law requires that the car
be capable of a dynamic side impact (your basic T-bone" crash), a much more
severe test.  A large number of cars which were able to pass the old standard
could not even begin to meet the new one - in particular two-door vehicles.

Audi content:  All (U.S.) Audis have passed the "1997" standard since about
1994 due to the phase-in requirements.  The law required 10% of a company's
cars to comply in 1994, 25% in 1995, 40% in 1996 and 100% in 1997.  Hence,
those who complied early made a bit ov marketing noise about the fact.  Audi,
by the way, uses reinforced aluminum door beams in today's cars.