Re: Crash Test Results for Older Audis, and a Dodge Colt

["Robert Dalton" <rpdalton@onebox.com>]

I didn't see the crsh numbers you mentioned for
the Audi 5K, but I'll bet they are correct.  I
think their is a tradeoff between good handling
(stiff chassis) and crash safety.  Most 80s German
cars do not do very good on crash safety.  My recollection
is that Mercedes models are barely adequate, and
Audis are pretty poor.  I doubt if Audi would ever
admit this, but they seem to have recognized this
limitation because their newer models are real
safe (5 star crash test results) 

It's a fascinating area because it might not take
a lot to make a car safer.  A 70s Ford Pinto was
made extremely safe by simply adding polyurethane
foam in aluminum boxes to optimize the crush zone.
 I wish the list had some mechanical engineers
who had access to computer modeling programs for
German cars and vans (My VW Westfalia Camper, with
no hood to speak of could use lots of help in the
crush zone). 

-- 
Robert Dalton
rpdalton@onebox.com - email
(703) 234-3969 x1020 - voicemail/fax



---- "Alexander van Gerbig" <Audi_80@email.msn.com>
wrote:
>     Yeah you survived, very important!  Although
> I closely looked at the
> 
pictures and you can see how the driver's safety
> cage was totally crumpled.
> 
Look at the roof, that shouldn't happen in a
> crash.  This is expected with
> 
older cars since the technical design and chassis
> weren't like today's.  I
> 
have seem some new Mercedes crash videos, they
> have it done well.  Front end
> 
impact leaves the driver's/passenger's cabin
> perfectly intact.  The energy
> 
from the crash is absorbed mostly by the front
> end, then if the crash has
> 
enough force the energy is sent through the chassis
> underneath the cabin
> 
where the chassis finishes absorbing the impact.
>  Really cool to watch.
> 
    I just posted those numbers off a site, I
> didn't make them up.  I hope
> 
that the 5k crash test results are not right,
> my sister drives an '86 5ks!
> 

> 
Thanks!
> 

> 
Alexander van Gerbig -- '88 Audi 80
> 

> 
The Audi 80 Pages-----------------------
> 
http://surf.to/the80pages.com
> 

> 
Katonah, NY 10536
> 

> 

> 


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