| In Australia, a study was recently conducted to rate | | | | happens when the vehicle is involved in a crash? You |
| the safety of cars from years past. The study was | | | | can't see how the vehicle is going to perform when |
| undertaken to give consumers who are looking to buy | | | | you are in the showroom or the used car yard." |
| second hand cars adequate information as to the | | | | The study did not only focus on the safety of car |
| safety of a certain vehicle. With numerous cars aged | | | | occupants in the event of a crash but also took into |
| more than ten years on Australian roads, the study will | | | | account the safety of other motorists. Unlike modern |
| be helping consumers decide which second-hand car | | | | cars which are designed to absorb more energy from |
| can protect the adequately in the unfortunate event of | | | | a collision, old cars have solid bumpers which can |
| a crash. | | | | seriously hurt the occupants of anther car. |
| According to Australia's Herald Sun, the gap in terms | | | | The result of the study is a huge boost to |
| of the crashworthiness of the safest old car and the | | | | Volkswagen popularity in the territory. Not only does |
| worst is significantly wide. The study found out that the | | | | the largest European automaker show that their VW |
| Daihatsu Hi-Jet from 1982 to 1990 is the worst of the | | | | seat belts and airbags make their new cars safer but |
| lot. The safest in the group is the Volkswagen Passat | | | | they have also proven that they have been making |
| from 1998 until 2005. According to the study, motorists | | | | safe cars in the past. |
| are 26 times more likely to be fatally injured in the | | | | Aside from the best-rated Passat, other notable |
| Hi-Jet than in the Passat. | | | | Volkswagen auto models which are rated above |
| Alarmingly, the study found out that of the 279 cars | | | | average are the Volkswagen Bora and Golf. Versions |
| that they have tested, 48 are potential risks to the life | | | | of these cars from 1999 to 2004 are highly rated in |
| of car occupants. These vehicles are not the usually | | | | terms of safety. In contrast, the Mitsubishi Cordia made |
| obscure makes but these are popular vehicles making | | | | from 1983 to 1987 are considered to have below |
| the result of the study more alarming. These 48 cars | | | | average crashworthiness. |
| were rated "much worse than average". The study | | | | The below par performance of about one of six old |
| involved 2.8 million cars which were involved in an | | | | cars is showing that not all solid cars are safe. Not only |
| accident in Australia and in New Zealand from 1987 to | | | | that, the study also found out that the price tag on the |
| 2005. | | | | cars does not necessarily translate to safety. There |
| These vehicles are a serious threat to the safety of | | | | are expensive cars which performed poorly compared |
| motorists. While buying second hand cars that are still | | | | to relatively cheaper cars. |
| in very good condition may be a good choice for | | | | "We are seeing a number of small cars, which are |
| consumers, the fact that many old cars are unsafe, it | | | | $10,000 or under, performing very well in terms of both |
| is a risk that customers need to be warned about. | | | | their occupant protection and their collision partner |
| Michael Case, the RACV chief engineer, has this to | | | | protection," said Dr. Stuart Newstead, a senior |
| say as to the importance of the study: "A lot of | | | | researcher at the Monash University Accident |
| people, when they look to purchase a car, are | | | | Research Centre. |
| influenced by a wide range of things... But what | | | | |