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Fender-benders in micro cars can be costly
Yahoo ^ | 6/11/2009 | Ken Thomas

Posted on 06/11/2009 6:52:45 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Even a fender-bender in a fuel-efficient mini car can lead to thousands of dollars worth of repairs, the insurance industry found in new crash tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported Thursday that repairing damage to microcars in low-speed crashes of 3 to 6 miles per hour could cost anywhere from $474 to $3,701.

The Institute conducted low-speed crash tests on the front and back bumpers and the front and rear corners of seven 2009 model year mini cars that have become more widely available with rising fuel costs in recent years.

The Kia Rio racked up the most damage among the tiny cars, $3,701 in repairs to the full front bumper. In the four tests, the Rio averaged $2,705 in damages.

The Smart fortwo had the lowest average bill of $899 among the seven vehicles tested. In one test, damage to the rear corner of the fortwo cost $507. The Chevrolet Aveo had the second-lowest bill, an average of $1,155 in damages for the four tests.

Among the other vehicles tested, the Hyundai Accent averaged $2,123 in damages, the Honda Fit racked up $1,960 in repairs and the Toyota Yaris would have led to an average bill of $1,951. Tests to the bumpers of the Mini Cooper generated average damages of $1,637.

Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan said bumpers should be designed to protect vehicle parts such as grilles and headlights. Damages should cost less than the typical $500 insurance deductible for a collision, he said.

"When you reach $1,000 (in damages) the bumper isn't doing its job, and anything $1,500 or higher is egregious," Nolan said.

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agenda; democrats; economy; globalwarming; gm; greenjobs; microcars; obama; smartcar; socialism
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins
“Proper weight distribution, with advanced crumple zones will go far more in protecting the occupants than just adding mass to the vehicle.”

A brand new 4 door three quarter ton crew cab pick up has a head on with a brand new mini cooper. Both pass government mandated safety specs. Which would you rather be in?

The greater mass of the pickup will not only stop the mini cooper cold, but also shove it back making the crash much more violent for the occupants of the mini cooper. All other things being equal, mass does make a difference.

61 posted on 06/11/2009 11:57:35 AM PDT by monday
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To: ctdonath2

18 wheelers will be banned.......


62 posted on 06/11/2009 12:00:19 PM PDT by Sybeck1 (No teleprompters were harmed in the creation of this post.)
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To: monday

The greater mass of the pickup will not only stop the mini cooper cold, but also shove it back making the crash much more violent for the occupants of the mini cooper. All other things being equal, mass does make a difference.

Yes this is true and the leftist response is to level the playing field and put EVERYBODY in a minicooper. Except them


63 posted on 06/11/2009 12:30:48 PM PDT by Chickensoup ("Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.")
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To: ctdonath2

what kind of car?


64 posted on 06/11/2009 12:31:42 PM PDT by Chickensoup ("Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.")
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To: ctdonath2

That’s a Volkswagen Crossfox. It’s quite a big larger than a Smart Car.


65 posted on 06/11/2009 12:42:09 PM PDT by Malsua
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To: Malsua

Huh. [Squints at photo carefully] By gum yer right.
Hate to think how a Smart Car would have fared under the same situation.


66 posted on 06/11/2009 12:56:44 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (John Galt was exiled.)
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To: Chickensoup

See #65. It’s not what I thought it was. Same point remains though.


67 posted on 06/11/2009 12:57:17 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (John Galt was exiled.)
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To: ctdonath2

Ouch. Prayers for the poor truck driver.


68 posted on 06/11/2009 1:18:08 PM PDT by patton (Obama has replaced "Res Publica" with "Quod licet Jovi non licet bovi.")
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To: ctdonath2
Hate to think how a Smart Car would have fared under the same situation.

I'm not sure a Smart would have been worse. They're so small and rigid, they bounce off. The occupants might get jellied in the process but I'm not sure the subduction would have occurred.

69 posted on 06/11/2009 2:44:53 PM PDT by Malsua
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To: Red in Blue PA

First new car I ever bought was a Mazda...

Now that the laughing is finished.

The rear bumper was spring loaded..smartest thing I’ve seen on a car ever.


70 posted on 06/11/2009 5:30:47 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: ctdonath2; MyTwoCopperCoins

I agree with the comments you and others have made about the reason for this high expense is to “save the passenger compartment”.

I think the MOST IMPORTANT point to take away from this article from the Insurance Companies is to EXPECT VERY HIGH insurance rates for these clown cars. Those high rates will easily sop up much if not ALL of the savings that you will achieve from gas savings. The rates may not yet reflect these tests, but count on it: they will VERY soon.


71 posted on 06/12/2009 8:41:49 AM PDT by AFPhys ((.Praying for President Bush, our troops, their families, and all my American neighbors..))
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