Small SUV Roof Strength Test
#16
Lexus Fanatic
I mentioned that to someone in my group and his response is "well sometimes you need to take emergency maneuvers" My response was "What's the point in taking an emergency maneuver if you're creating another emergency?
If I'm in a SUV and a deer runs onto the road, I'll hit the brakes but if Bambi doesn't move she's roadkill...
If I'm in a SUV and a deer runs onto the road, I'll hit the brakes but if Bambi doesn't move she's roadkill...
#17
Lexus Fanatic
The odds are in favor of the driver in the SUV surviving over the large buck. I see plenty of those accidents in the hills where I live. The vultures try to get a piece of the action though.
#19
Lexus Fanatic
1. Not a a big concern, high strength steel is used selectively in key areas already in all of the best cars, adding strength not weight. Fire departments are well aware of the use of these high strength metals in newer cars as they cut victims out of wreckages, which is another issue for them. Fortunately the engineering involved is not as casual as putting junk on a roof rack.
#20
I think a problem with large SUVs is that things like debris, deer, other cars, etc. can get stuck under them and then flip them over, especially if the drive wheels are still going. Sadly, my friend's mother is no longer with us today because of this scenario.
#21
I'd take the roll over, assuming I were strapped in. A deer crashing through your windshield is capable of decapatating(sp) you. Not how I want to go.
#22
Lexus Fanatic
This is one of the reasons, among many, why I like Subarus. The center-post (B-pillar) in a number of Subarus, especially older Foresters, is so strong that even Fireman's jaws have trouble cutting into them. Ironically, this has been a Fire Department complaint with the Forester. The secret to the amazing strength is high-grade steel inserts inside the pillars, corkscrewed back and forth over each other some 5 or 6 times.
Take a look of color-coded cutaway drawings of the best cars and you will see expensive high strength steel used in windshield posts, B pillars, etc. All this to create a safety cage effect.
#23
Lexus Fanatic
I ended up helping him get a new vehicle to replace it (as I do with a fair number of people)...a Mazda MPV.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-26-09 at 10:25 AM.
#25
Lexus Fanatic
#26
Lexus Fanatic
#27
Lexus Champion
Not only that, but the type of steel is important - Mercedes is using a ultra-high strength steel with boron added and lower levels of carbon. The less carbon steel has, the stronger it is at the expense of ductility. Toyota has jumped on the UHSS bandwagon in their unibodies, but Honda hasn't - they use UHSS in non-critical areas such as the rear bulkhead.
#28
Lexus Test Driver
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^Great information, nthach, thank you.
I find it interesting that Honda can have their element perform to such high levels, but the CRV drop the ball so much. Congratulations to Subaru and Jeep though, the new Forester is a phenomenal SUV, and I always appreciate the added, dare I say, German "solidness" from Subaru products over comparable Honda/Toyota products.
I find it interesting that Honda can have their element perform to such high levels, but the CRV drop the ball so much. Congratulations to Subaru and Jeep though, the new Forester is a phenomenal SUV, and I always appreciate the added, dare I say, German "solidness" from Subaru products over comparable Honda/Toyota products.
#29
Speaks French in Russian
Good stuff.
Located an old article I posted years back about Subaru's reinforced pillars. So strong Jaws of Life has trouble cutting it apart.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...-a-subaru.html
Located an old article I posted years back about Subaru's reinforced pillars. So strong Jaws of Life has trouble cutting it apart.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...-a-subaru.html
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Not only that, but the type of steel is important - Mercedes is using a ultra-high strength steel with boron added and lower levels of carbon. The less carbon steel has, the stronger it is at the expense of ductility. Toyota has jumped on the UHSS bandwagon in their unibodies, but Honda hasn't - they use UHSS in non-critical areas such as the rear bulkhead.