Life Savers.

[911fan]

I know this sounds paranoid but I’m interested.

Was watching Life Savers on TV last night (documentary about a Cambridge NHS A&E ward) and have been wondering today:

Are newer cars which are made with more contemporary materials and possibly with lighter weight metals as safe as a heavy, older (eg 1990s car) metal car?

Does bigger necessarily mean safer because of bigger crumple zones?

I know my 997 is strong (never had to test that thankfully) and NCAP ratings abound, what sometimes worries me is eg in a side impact a Range Rover would strike me at the level of my cill, so what good is my side impact bar etc?

Maybe these are silly questions, but any experiences or specialist knowledge appreciated. Cheers.

[steve singh]

Cars are safer now than before - crumple zones displace the energy more effectively to reduce imapct/injury than a car that doesn't have it.

Nothing to see here - move on.

[Nick644]

I remember seeing something on, I think it was 5th gear, some years ago about older cars are considerably less crash resistant due to metal fatigue. Affected cars more so if left outside all their lives. If you're worried about safety, either get a full internal roll cage or a new Range Rover/Land Cruiser!

[KPE]

Nick644 said:

I remember seeing something on, I think it was 5th gear, some years ago about older cars are considerably less crash resistant due to metal fatigue. Affected cars more so if left outside all their lives. If you're worried about safety, either get a full internal roll cage or a new Range Rover/Land Cruiser!

That is right. They tested an old Volvo estate 740 against a newish Renault Modus with airbags etc. The Modus won hands down.

[Little Lofty]

Speaking of 'Life Savers' how bloody good were they, we may sometimes moan about the NHS but bloody hell the injured parties received fantastic care.

[911fan]

Nick644 said:

I remember seeing something on, I think it was 5th gear, some years ago about older cars are considerably less crash resistant due to metal fatigue. Affected cars more so if left outside all their lives. If you're worried about safety, either get a full internal roll cage or a new Range Rover/Land Cruiser!

I am worried and about safety, and I'm also pretty sure that 911 ownership and safety are not mutually exclusive.

If it's the difference between a broken pelvis and a life-support machine for my/passenger's collapsed lung ....

What safety upgrades have there been to the 991, I couldn't find anything on the website please?

Cheers.

[Hungrymc]

Safety generally improves little by little, year by year. There is an underlying correlation to size / weight and rigidity of the structure (Smart four2s are very stiff and strong but will come off second best to a large lorry and don't have the package space to have much in the way of energy managing crumple zones)). The interior also improves - better airbags, better energy managment in the trim parts etc. safety is a 'system' that is engineered together (belts, airbags, structure all tuned to work together) and very hard to improve upon in a road car. If its a stripped out track car, then I'd say stiffening the structure with a good cage, replacing glass with plastic, remove exposed sharp edges etc.