Seicento vs. XC70

[mantee78]

I was thinking to post it in the Joke of the day thread, but this is still a car accident, so nothing to laugh at... well... at least I'm trying not to laugh

http://youtu.be/4yeCG6SS5wI

[tt82]

Not sure about this one. There is damage to the rear of the XC70 but considering the state of the Fiat, I would expect the red reflectors on the rear of the bumper to be smashed. I think the circumstances are quite different to those that are being reported.

[mantee78]

Originally Posted by tt82

Not sure about this one. There is damage to the rear of the XC70 but considering the state of the Fiat, I would expect the red reflectors on the rear of the bumper to be smashed. I think the circumstances are quite different to those that are being reported.

This video is published by the volvo's owner. He stated that seicento drove into his back, no people injured.
The Seicento is quite narrow so it's possible that red reflectors are in one piece.

[inchindown]

I was involved in a similar accident a few years ago when I lived in London. A ford Sierra ran into the back of my Renault 18. There was very little damage to my car but the Sierra front end was totalled.

I think the excess damage in these cases is that the crashing car is standing on the brakes and causing the nose to dip down below the bumper of the car it is hitting so that it's the bonnet area that is taking the biggest hit.

[Proghound]

Originally Posted by inchindown

I was involved in a similar accident a few years ago when I lived in London. A ford Sierra ran into the back of my Renault 18. There was very little damage to my car but the Sierra front end was totalled.

I think the excess damage in these cases is that the crashing car is standing on the brakes and causing the nose to dip down below the bumper of the car it is hitting so that it's the bonnet area that is taking the biggest hit.

Sad to say, I can vouch for that from my own experience in my old Citroen ZX where I stood on the brakes at a roundabout, from low speed but too late. My front bumper & grille were goners, the bonnet was folded and one front wing peeled back as the headlight on that side was smashed and its mountings pushed backwards.

The damage to the car that I hit? (a Saxo I think) Absolutely nothing ... to the extent that the very kind lady driver even called my insurers to let them know she wouldn't be claiming. Apparently all that her mechanic could see was a slight bend to her rear towing eye, which had gone right through my front bumper.

[oldgreybloke]

Is it something to do with crumpleability ( I blame George Bush)

A few years ago, number one sons Panda was rear ended by one of his chums in a Polo. Polo was totalled. 3lb hammer applied with gusto to hatch shut rail on back of Panda sorted it in 3 well placed whacks.

[DaveNP]

If it were my Volvo I'd be wanting a very good mechanic to thoroughly check the back end. If as suggested both cars were braking hard then the Seicento would probably go under the bumper of the Volvo but there could be hidden damage, the plastic bumper could have flexed and rebounded but the steel shell behind it may be damaged, I've seen that in a couple of cars that have been rear ended.

[mantee78]

Originally Posted by DaveNP

If it were my Volvo I'd be wanting a very good mechanic to thoroughly check the back end. If as suggested both cars were braking hard then the Seicento would probably go under the bumper of the Volvo but there could be hidden damage, the plastic bumper could have flexed and rebounded but the steel shell behind it may be damaged, I've seen that in a couple of cars that have been rear ended.

There is a shock absorbing styrofoam insert, filling the gap between the bumper and the steel shell, to absorb the impact, not quite a bumper itself.

[reggit]

Several (OK 29) years ago, I was driving my Dad's car to college, a metro turned itself into a similar shape to that fiat when it slammed into the back of me at a junction, I knew it was going to happen as I saw it overtaking another car as I was braking for the junction. The damage to the Rover P6 I was in - the towbar electric socket bent.