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 ...
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.
18 wheelers will be banned.......
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
what kind of car?
That’s a Volkswagen Crossfox. It’s quite a big larger than a Smart Car.
Huh. [Squints at photo carefully] By gum yer right.
Hate to think how a Smart Car would have fared under the same situation.
See #65. It’s not what I thought it was. Same point remains though.
Ouch. Prayers for the poor truck driver.
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.
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.
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.
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