[2002Z4CSS]

Good entertainment.

[68gtoMN]

Originally Posted by goatwgn

They are "sand-bagged". Looks like a lot of nonsense every time they do one of these tests. People rigging up tests to prove a point they want to get across that is usually totally irrelevant. Then they use people who are either acting(or actually are) uneducated on the subject of the test to make it more beleivable to the audience.

However, in this case the gal is a mechanical engineer (on top of having been an Olympic Rythmic gymnast and a professional stunt actor). Vanessa Vander Pluym is a

world-class rhythmic gymnast and black-belt martial artist trained in high falls, weapons, air ram, water sports, motorcycles and more

[68gtoMN]

Basically, the cars of 1962 remained rigid in a collision, deforming only slighly, which transferred the energy to the passenger compartment/items/passenger. If you watch, the passenger flew into the windshield with tremendous force and the seats broke free from the floor. Others point out that this was a 50 year old car whose integrity was compromised by age. True, to a point. Still, the outcome would have been similar, if not exactly the same, had it been "new".

Remember the physcis rule for "conversation of energy" in a collision. Imagine that you have a 3-ft length of hollow steel pipe (similar size to baseball bat) and you swing it full-force (like a bat) into a steel girder. You will hear a tremendous noise (energy) and the force will reverberate though your hands/shoulders/head/back, possibly causing discomfort. Now imagine a similar sized cardboard tube (heavy / sturdy type) filled with SAND to the same weight/length of the steel pipe. If you swing this at the same steel girder, what happens? The cardboard tube deforms, energy is passed onto the sand, which shoots out of the tube and little, if any, energy is transferred back to you. The total energy in the "collision" is the same, but the result is markedly different.

[mikeb]

My dad was on the way to work in his 69 grand prix and was driving by a volvo dealer when a guy pulled right out in front of him in a new volvo. Dad couldn't stop in time and tagged the volvo on the driver's side close to the rear wheels. He said that the volvo spun around and the rear end was knocked askew. Dad's car just had the front fender mashed in around the front wheel - the fire department helped him bend it back and commented on how hard it was to bend that old sheetmetal, and then he drove on to work LOL......

With that said there is no doubt that the newer cars have made great strides in safety, but sometimes the old cars win with sheer mass.

[Bob Rutledge]

Ask yourself this question. In that particular test, which car would you have rather been in? Put me in the 2002 Caddy for that particular test.

[Silver Judge]

Originally Posted by Bob Rutledge

Ask yourself this question. In that particular test, which car would you have rather been in? Put me in the 2002 Caddy for that particular test.

I'd rather be in the '62. Specifically, the back seat and with the blonde in the featured test

[goatwgn]

Why do they say the '62 Cadillac is only 15 feet long? My owners manual says my Intermediate size '66 Tempest S/W is 203'' (which is an inch shy of 17 feet), and I know it isn't as long as a '62 Cadillac. The 2002 Cadillac is most likely 15 feet long, but they show that as being 17 feet. Think they got them mixed up, as typical on these things. Why don't they give us the Blonde's measurements? That would be more entertaining.

[Ron Landis]

really don't put much stock in "tests"...here's why. Got eight stitches above my right eye...crawled out...crawled back in to turn down the stereo before SHP showed up. Every car I've upset or wrecked I've doubled the steering wheel over...this one included. No belts used in this one either. No helmet when I got hit on my bike, either. Doc said it was equal to an eight story fall. Many variables in every equation. Didn't look like Earnhardt shoulda died, either...did it? Just sayin'. Ron

[ctgross]

She has an excellent rack! Eyebrows indicate the carpet probably matches the drapes.

[sts]

<I'm not really sure what these videos prove as they keep doing ones like this.>

Because there are still a bezillion idiots on the planet who think

<some things can be done to older daily drivers to make them safer>

Any questions?

[mike nixon]

That 62's not far off what I'd consider a driver. The newer car's not even in consideration.

I'd much rather drive a car and be aware than to rely on crumple zones. You may not avoid everything but you can reduce impact or avoid it all together my paying attn.

Mike