What is safer in a crash- Mercedes E or Sprinter Van?
What is safer in a crash- Mercedes E or Sprinter Van?
Author
Discussion

HenryHippo

Original Poster:

261 posts

126 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
quotequote all
I'm going to a "second world" country in the new year, notorious for road accidents. I'll be travelling with some precious cargo, so don't want to take a Bolt with a kamikaze Prius driver.

Found a firm with a modern E class, but also saw they have sprinter minibuses. The E would have more airbags if you crashed into a wall but the bigger Sprinter would come up trumps in a crash with another car?

Leaning towards the Sprinter

trickywoo

14,237 posts

260 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Sprinter more likely to end up on its roof.

Perhaps less passive safety, harder to avoid a crash.

SpeckledJim

34,338 posts

283 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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As it’s more wieldy the E Class might be less likely to be crashed in the first place?

Emergency lane-change manoeuvre in a Sprinter isn’t easy.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

203 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
quotequote all
Too many variables.

If you're going to crash into someone else you want to be in the heaviest car/van. Doesn't matter how many stars your car has if you go from +70mph to -20 in the blink of an eye.

That doesn't apply if you're going to hit immovable objects, where active safety and a big long crumple zone will be king.

Assuming it's a modern Sprinter I'd lean towards that although I think in the real world you'll struggle to beat a big heavy SUV as the best of both worlds.

When Fifth Gear tested 2 Mondeos, one fully loaded in a head on crash the lower riding car got mullered as the other one just rode over it.

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Would probably take the E Class

Blib

48,213 posts

227 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Whatever you do, those French drivers will always get you in the end.

wiliferus

4,219 posts

228 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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E class. Sometimes you will have the opportunity to avoid a collision. E class will stop quicker, steer better, and have more power (sometimes good to get out of trouble).
The sprinter may be made of granite, but will be more cumbersome.

trashbat

6,314 posts

183 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Cars have had significantly more attention and therefore more development when it comes to safety.

It sounds like the current Sprinter is OK-ish.

https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans-pickups/news/2021/e...

Teddy Lop

8,301 posts

97 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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The van would be my choice, visibility to see what's going on around you and those about to crash will instinctively aim for a less bigger thing if they can

georgeyboy12345

4,638 posts

65 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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You won’t crash.

What a weird train of thought

Jazoli

9,681 posts

280 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Vans offer significantly less protection than a car, a lot of them dont have airbags for passengers and very few have side and curtain airbags, E Class every time.

andy43

13,267 posts

284 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Blib said:
Whatever you do, those French drivers will always get you in the end.
My thoughts exactly smile

shtu

4,596 posts

176 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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As a wealthy foreigner in a dodgy country, it's far more likely you'll be kidnapped or robbed.

Sleep tight. smile

Blib

48,213 posts

227 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Don't, whatever you do, drive in India.

raspy

2,714 posts

124 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
quotequote all
HenryHippo said:
I'm going to a "second world" country in the new year, notorious for road accidents. I'll be travelling with some precious cargo, so don't want to take a Bolt with a kamikaze Prius driver.

Found a firm with a modern E class, but also saw they have sprinter minibuses. The E would have more airbags if you crashed into a wall but the bigger Sprinter would come up trumps in a crash with another car?

Leaning towards the Sprinter
Focus on the driver and the quality of their training in being able to avoid an accident in the first place.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

203 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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georgeyboy12345 said:
You won’t crash.

What a weird train of thought
What a weird thing to be so definitive about.

Fishmoint

14 posts

60 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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If you're gonna crash do it in comfort, take the e

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

203 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Did you not go in the end?

The statistics alone prove that you are incorrect.

Davie

6,263 posts

245 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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That's next level risk assessment there! I'd be checking the hotels, see which mops the floors more frequently in case of slips and trips. Fair play for thinking ahead but I can't but help feel that if you're that concerned, why even go there especially with "precious cargo" as your anxiety levels will be off the scale and surely take some of the enjoyment of the trip away? You could fall down your stairs and die before you even get to the airport... but you can't let those thoughts dominate or you'd never leave the house. Or maybe you would because the house might catch fire.

Driversmatter

277 posts

123 months

Tuesday 27th December 2022
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Depends what sort of crash you had in mind.

My instinct says car every time. Better safety systems and crash structure.