Comments on: What’s safer: a 1966 Cadillac or a 2009 Civic? http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic Daily coverage of the world of cars, including upcoming cars, industry news, car politics, fun lists, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:56:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: dan http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic/comment-page-1#comment-22571 dan Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:02:01 +0000 http://www.cargurus.com/blog/?p=1148#comment-22571 I would much rather die in a 66 caddy than an 09 civic I would much rather die in a 66 caddy than an 09 civic

]]> By: Justin Gazda http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic/comment-page-1#comment-22441 Justin Gazda Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:38:58 +0000 http://www.cargurus.com/blog/?p=1148#comment-22441 I have owned many examples of old iron cars in my time, and not only feel safer in them, But I know for a fact that I am. The thing is, most people in the old days did not wear their seatbelts, and it shows. I am quite confident that in my 68 new yorker, I could have a tremendous accident and walk away fine, but only if I use the safety gear provided. It had shoulder belts, safety glass, side impact door beams, and the like. The stats show that you have a 75% chance of surviving any accident in any car. The 25 percent death comes when luck happens to put you in a position where the other guy has a much more robust car and hits you in a way that makes you die. I saw photos of a motorcycle that crashed into a volkswagen golf. The motorcycle was laying across both front seats and all people in the accident died. A freak accident, but I am sure those involved never thought it would happen to them, but they are still quite dead nonetheless. I have owned many examples of old iron cars in my time, and not only feel safer in them, But I know for a fact that I am. The thing is, most people in the old days did not wear their seatbelts, and it shows.

I am quite confident that in my 68 new yorker, I could have a tremendous accident and walk away fine, but only if I use the safety gear provided. It had shoulder belts, safety glass, side impact door beams, and the like.

The stats show that you have a 75% chance of surviving any accident in any car. The 25 percent death comes when luck happens to put you in a position where the other guy has a much more robust car and hits you in a way that makes you die.

I saw photos of a motorcycle that crashed into a volkswagen golf. The motorcycle was laying across both front seats and all people in the accident died.

A freak accident, but I am sure those involved never thought it would happen to them, but they are still quite dead nonetheless.

]]> By: Chris http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic/comment-page-1#comment-15243 Chris Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:24:15 +0000 http://www.cargurus.com/blog/?p=1148#comment-15243 One feature that is supposed to make newer cars safer is the ABS. The thing is though I HATE ABS brakes!! I live in Massachusetts and we get snow up here. I can't control the car for beans once the ABS kicks in during slippery weather. I actually think it's NOT as safe as just plain old breaks. One feature that is supposed to make newer cars safer is the ABS. The thing is though I HATE ABS brakes!! I live in Massachusetts and we get snow up here. I can’t control the car for beans once the ABS kicks in during slippery weather. I actually think it’s NOT as safe as just plain old breaks.

]]> By: Brad Johnson http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic/comment-page-1#comment-12985 Brad Johnson Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:19:23 +0000 http://www.cargurus.com/blog/?p=1148#comment-12985 true true. I personally have not been involved in a heavy accident. (touch wood). My mother, however, was in a heavy accident about 12 months ago. She was behind the wheel of her little Suzuki Swift, it was very new at the time. She had pulled out of an intersection turning right at a set of lights, she had the green and as usual proceeded with caution waiting til the car to her right had stopped. As she came off the clutch and got the car rolling another car to her right failed to stop on the red and she had not seen it past the other car which had stopped and she was hit in the driver's door, (Australia, the drivers door is on the right side) by the Nissan Skyline at around 65km/h. The little Suzuki spun once and was a mess, however, the crumple zones, side intrusion beams and airbags all contributed to keeping my mother safe and relatively injury free inside the car. I dare say that in an older car, even a bigger/heavier one without those safety features the outcome would have been somewhat different. Thanks. Brad, Australia. true true. I personally have not been involved in a heavy accident. (touch wood). My mother, however, was in a heavy accident about 12 months ago. She was behind the wheel of her little Suzuki Swift, it was very new at the time. She had pulled out of an intersection turning right at a set of lights, she had the green and as usual proceeded with caution waiting til the car to her right had stopped. As she came off the clutch and got the car rolling another car to her right failed to stop on the red and she had not seen it past the other car which had stopped and she was hit in the driver’s door, (Australia, the drivers door is on the right side) by the Nissan Skyline at around 65km/h. The little Suzuki spun once and was a mess, however, the crumple zones, side intrusion beams and airbags all contributed to keeping my mother safe and relatively injury free inside the car.
I dare say that in an older car, even a bigger/heavier one without those safety features the outcome would have been somewhat different.
Thanks. Brad, Australia.

]]> By: Oliver http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/12/12/what%e2%80%99s-safer-a-1966-cadillac-or-a-2009-civic/comment-page-1#comment-12899 Oliver Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:38:23 +0000 http://www.cargurus.com/blog/?p=1148#comment-12899 A large percentage of accidents are single car accidents. In these cases it is much better to have a car that crumples than a car made of steel. Heavy steel cars tend to stop nearly instantaneously when they hit a tree, wall, or other immovable object. This tends to be bad for the driver. So yes, the Cadillac will be great if you plow through a Toyota Echo, but not so much if you something big. Plus, the Cadillac is more likely to survive the accident than you are. A large percentage of accidents are single car accidents. In these cases it is much better to have a car that crumples than a car made of steel. Heavy steel cars tend to stop nearly instantaneously when they hit a tree, wall, or other immovable object. This tends to be bad for the driver. So yes, the Cadillac will be great if you plow through a Toyota Echo, but not so much if you something big. Plus, the Cadillac is more likely to survive the accident than you are.

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