5th gear modus vs 940

[Chrali]

I watched the modus vs 940 video and totally get how designed has moved on and how FWD absort impact more evenly. The test used a 91 940.

Would it have been any better for a later one like my 98, with air bags, sips etc?

[chelle_belle]

If they could of hit them square on instead of off center i think the volvo would be in better shape,

[Daim]

If they could of hit them square on instead of off center i think the volvo would be in better shape,

Maybe, but the passengers would still be in worse condition than the Modus...

[stevo48]

Re the crash test video, it has been suggested the volvo had been, shall we say tampered with for marketing purposes, true or false? make your own mind up.
The fact remains that any crash at those sort of speeds is going to cause horrific injuries or even death, the car might stop suddenly upon impact but the human body and its internal organs do not resulting in possible massive internal injuries or death from those injuries.
I know which car I would prefer to have a crash in if it was inevitable.

[Chrali]

I can easily believe that a RWD car in an offset head on would direct the other car either side of the engine, thats why a direct head on would be better. In a FWD even an offset head on is a direct head on as the engine spreads the impact.

There is another video on you tube yaris vs 940, showed pretty much the same as the modus vs 940.

http://youtu.be/q0NZwg25qPA

[ruffday]

You also have to remember that modern cars are designed to crumple much more than older cars.

[Chrali]

You also have to remember that modern cars are designed to crumple much more than older cars.

The 940 crumples well, so it must be better :)

Just thought every should see the Yaris vs 940 vid too.

[oldbob]

re Yaris vs the volvo the volvo continues to move fwd during and after the impact whereas the yaris goes from fwd to rev and spins out sideways thereby inflecting a much greater g force to your internals as was mentioned above
by stevo48
not a lot of point the car dealing with the impact if you dont.... I will continiue with my volvo thank you

[wooble]

I'm probably in a fairly exclusive club here having actually crashed an old Volvo head-on into a newer car - about 2 years ago I had an offset collision in a 1988 240 against a mid-90s Nissan, both cars traveling about 20mph at impact. The front of the Nissan was nearly torn off and the driver spent the night in the hospital. The Volvo had a crumpled front end and a damaged battery and small leak in the radiator where they were pushed into the fan. I drove the Volvo onto a car transporter, drove it off again at my house, and spent the night in my own bed.

The Volvo might have fared worse against a 2011 Nissan, but I don't have the means to afford a brand new car, and even if I did, I wouldn't want to drive a dull, cramped, plasticy, ugly FWD econobox which is designed for housewives and students anyway.

[foggyjames]

This test has been discussed many times before, and I tend to make the following points...

The "lardy" 945 weighs approximately 1400kg and a Modus is circa 1200kg, yet the Modus is a much smaller car. You'd expect the Modus to be stronger. 7/900s are not as heavy as people think. Even the 2s were slightly heavier per inch (given that they're a bit smaller).

Strength isn't necessarily a good thing. Sure, these short cars don't fold up like you might expect...but if they are still transmitting fatal decelerations to the body, your limbs might be in-tact, but you'll be no less dead! That vital point is not mentioned on the film.

The other thing worth mentioning is how good the 940 is of its vintage. It's based on the 760 which was launched in 1982, so the design is 22 years older than the Modus. In that context, it's not a bad result. Now consider this test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPca-aTlL0) - 760 (1982 launch) vs mk2 Cavalier (1981 launch). Pretty scary, eh? Cars like the Modus owe a lot to cars like the 940. I don't think it's very fair to bash the 940 over the results of this test - I think it was very predictable.

cheers

James

[brodgar]

thx for linky above James.
I prefer being in the volvo

[tt82]

Two points

First, put both the Volvo and the Renault into a tree head on and see which fairs best. I get a feeling the Volvo would absord the impact better.

Second. The last remark "Traditionally the heavier car is always deemed to hold the advantage in a head on crash. We've shown it may be time to rethink that convetion". I dont think so -

Mercedes Benz C Class 5 star vs Smart ForTwo 4 star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKSPxQjPOm0

Smart City Coupe 3 star Vs Vauxhall Corsa 3 star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBbsNWwvgM

The smart car may absorb impacts well and stay in shape, pity the occupants don't survive it to well. I wouldn't get in one of those cars, its a death trap!

[222s]

A Modus vs the modern equivalent of the 940 (V70?) would be interesting. Ditto the 940 against the same age Renault, to put everything in perspective.

Now consider this test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPca-aTlL0) - 760 (1982 launch) vs mk2 Cavalier (1981 launch). Pretty scary, eh?

Tbh, it looks as though the front of the Cavalier is up against something pretty solid - surely with no counter momentum of its own, it would have been punted forward far more, rather than the front staying still whilst the rest is demolished?

[tt82]

Tbh, it looks as though the front of the Cavalier is up against something pretty solid - surely with no counter momentum of its own, it would have been punted forward far more, rather than the front staying still whilst the rest is demolished?

I wouldnt be to sure about that. Chances are if your stopped you'd be in traffic and have other vehicles infront of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSEl2ueCATs

[foggyjames]

It's an interesting question, as it certainly doesn't roll forward much...although it does move a little. I don't know!

cheers

James

[princepugh]

Tbh, it looks as though the front of the Cavalier is up against something pretty solid - surely with no counter momentum of its own, it would have been punted forward far more, rather than the front staying still whilst the rest is demolished?

I did think about that when I last saw that video but TBH those Cavaliers were made from paper really weren't they? Grot boxes too!

:hidesbehindsofa:

[Chrali]

This test has been discussed many times before, and I tend to make the following points...

The "lardy" 945 weighs approximately 1400kg and a Modus is circa 1200kg, yet the Modus is a much smaller car. You'd expect the Modus to be stronger. 7/900s are not as heavy as people think. Even the 2s were slightly heavier per inch (given that they're a bit smaller).

Strength isn't necessarily a good thing. Sure, these short cars don't fold up like you might expect...but if they are still transmitting fatal decelerations to the body, your limbs might be in-tact, but you'll be no less dead! That vital point is not mentioned on the film.

The other thing worth mentioning is how good the 940 is of its vintage. It's based on the 760 which was launched in 1982, so the design is 22 years older than the Modus. In that context, it's not a bad result. Now consider this test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPca-aTlL0) - 760 (1982 launch) vs mk2 Cavalier (1981 launch). Pretty scary, eh? Cars like the Modus owe a lot to cars like the 940. I don't think it's very fair to bash the 940 over the results of this test - I think it was very predictable.

cheers

James

Christ alive, was the Cav made out of paper mache? Thats really shocking!

Not dissing the 940 at all, getting to lurv mine, sometimes just looking big and solid is enough !

Just wondered as my 1st post said, whether a last of the line 940 with more recent safety kit would have faired any better than the 5th gear test.

Ps I see your C class and raise you an S class vs Vauxhall Corsa

http://youtu.be/ngCAa8jPkf4

And S class vs Smart

http://youtu.be/9ie6YAwOM4I

[LankyTim]

Theres another video of a acceleration ramp crash test featuring a Renault 21 hitting a Ford Orion parked behind another car, so I suspect the Cavalier was also blocked in with another vehicle.