How Much Does Safety Matter To You When Buying A Car?

"BrownMiataDieselWagon" (opporamblings) 01/22/2015 at 22:10 • Filed to: None

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Inspired by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of a Jeep Wrangler's crash test video, I decided to revisit the crash test ratings for my Jeep Wrangler.

I have to admit that although I knew the Wrangler isn't the safest vehicle on the market, I didn't really care about crash test ratings during the purchasing process. However, after seeing some of these crash videos and photographs again, I can guarantee you that I will give more consideration to safety the next time I go car-shopping.

Here is how the IIHS rated the JK-generation Wrangler:

Small overlap front- M (Marginal)

Moderate overlap front- G (Good)

Side- P (Poor) The doors are removable thus very light for ease of removal; not designed to withstand crashes, more designed towards keeping mud, rain, etc. out.

Head restraints and seats- M (Marginal)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:13

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I really dont care about safety. That may change once I start a family, but for me right now, as a single guy as long as I trust myself as a driver safety is not a concern for me

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:14

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If it's a family vehicle or something that's gonna get driven a lot. It's kinda paramount in my opinion. Other wise I'm going to take the risk of going out like James Dean!

Scary__goongala! > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:15

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My first car had 1 airbag, which in an accident would have more than likely killed me anyway. My current vehicle has 2 and one may go when i replace the steering wheel. So i don't care much, im also a single young male. But i believe the best safety feature is a good driver.

Trunk Impaired 318 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:15

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I bought an AW11 MR2 so clearly I have no sense of self preservation

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/22/2015 at 22:15

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You are so wrong it's not even funny. It doesn't matter how good of a driver you are when someone else blind sides you. The second you start to fuck up as a driver, is the second you believe you won't mess up.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:15

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I care a good bit. I know that I am a good driver, but can not trust the other idiots out there. If someones going to hit me, I want to be in the safest thing I can be in.

Big Bubba Ray > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:16

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Never really thought about it. My Subaru is pretty safe but my Datsun? No way. I imagine an accident in that thing would be the end of me haha

My Baja Bug was the same way. Half fiberglass, half rusted to shit metal. Instant deathtrap.

Jedidiah > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:17

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I don't really care.

You've got to die sometime, I'd rather die in a car I like.

Just don't be negligent, put the best brakes on your car, don't drive like an idiot, and avoid severe weather and you'll be pretty safe.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/22/2015 at 22:19

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Im not saying im invincible as a driver. Im saying as long I stay aware of how im driving and the things going on around me I should be fine. That wasnt me saying I am an infallible driver, that was me saying I cannot slip up and I must constantly work to improve my driving even when it doesnt necessarily need improvement. One can always improve.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/22/2015 at 22:20

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I agree with this. Just a few months ago, I thought the same way as Denver, that if I do everything that I'm supposed to do (obey all traffic laws, yield to other drivers, check mirrors, etc. etc.) that it doesn't matter what the safety ratings are for my car. However, recently, someone I knew got into a car accident which was not his fault in any way. In fact, this person is one of the most cautious drivers I know. He's okay but this is mainly because he was driving a very safe car.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/22/2015 at 22:21

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Yes, but some things you can't prevent. That split second a squirrel runs out and a PETA member swerves in your lane to dodge it, for example. Safety isn't my biggest concern, but other drivers up that concern more than anything.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/22/2015 at 22:21

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I'm going to agree with you on this one. If we're talking safety systems(a la air bags ect.) It really depends on the car, but I'm not going to trust myself to be perfect and right over everyone else every time I get in my damn car(s).

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/22/2015 at 22:23

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My vehicle is relatively safe, sans steering column, but definitely my biggest concern is the unpredictable. The things you can't control are the things that can most easily end your life in a split second.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Scary__goongala! 01/22/2015 at 22:23

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I used to think the same way. But even if you are a good driver, accidents can still happen. There are many other drivers out there who aren't as good.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/22/2015 at 22:26

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Yeah, safety features are nice, but they truly are a liability against the unpredictable. It doesn't matter how much you improve, how much of a good driver you are, or how much you adhere to your state's road laws. Shit can happen, it will be real, and no way in hell can you or will you avoid it every single time.

You can maybe bend the odds in your favor ever so slightly, but that's not always the case.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 01/22/2015 at 22:27

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This is my exact thought.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/22/2015 at 22:27

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I'm not trying to offend you, but the people I've known that speak highly of their driving, are the ones that always crash. My Dad was a driver for UPS, and with the exception of a truck(Fed-Ex ironically) parking in the middle of the road and having to take it's mirror or a pedestrian, he never had a crash. He still doesn't talk about how good of a driver he is, because he knows that's when you let up your guard.

Flat Six > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:27

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I don't think about safety too much when comparing cars in a class. An excellent safety rating wouldn't convince me to buy a Toyota over a BMW or vice versa.

I do think about safety when deciding what kind of vehicle to buy (vintage vs modern, 2 wheels vs 4 wheels, etc..)

After I purchase the car then I try to keep it as safe as possible.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/22/2015 at 22:27

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Unpredictable shit happens, no one is ever ready for that, and neither will you. You can only hope that when it does happen, you have the reflexes to react in the best way possible.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:29

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I definitely don't drive the safest car, but living in Florida and having to take the ditch on more than one occasion has made me a bit more concerned. I know all it takes is one of the state troopers reading a newspaper, running into me head on, to end it all. So, the next modification for my car will definitely be a collapsible steering column, because that is the only part that doesn't get more than 4 stars.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Flat Six 01/22/2015 at 22:34

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I agree with part of this (vintage vs modern, 2 wheels vs 4 wheels). However, safety ratings in a certain class of modern cars can vary significantly (for example, Datsun GO vs Ford Fiesta).

Alex from Toronto > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:34

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The small overlap and side impact matter the most to me.

Round headlight enthusiast > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:40

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let's just say I'd rather die than drive a boring car.

Michael Maguire > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:46

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The way I see it is that almost all cars made in the 21st century are relatively safe. Let's compare safety in today's cars versus 20 years ago. Even the worst offended of today would be a safety god of the 80s.

This is why safety is not a huge deal breaker for me.

BJ > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:46

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Since I have a family, safety is important to me. Not only for them, but for myself as well - I want to see them grow up, etc etc.

However, I'd still like to get back on a motorcycle and I would love to occaisonally drive something that gives a more visceral experience when I don't have the kids with me, but there's only so much money to go around...

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Round headlight enthusiast 01/22/2015 at 22:46

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What do you drive?

Soloburrito > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:54

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to me, modern safety features are a perk to new(er) car ownership. It's not the first thing I think about, but I feel better that my daily driver is pretty safe.

Birddog > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:54

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It's pretty low on my list.

But.. I'm old.

My first seven cars had nothing more than seatbelts.

And I lived.

TotallyThatStupid > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:54

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How Much Does Safety Matter...

Less than it probably should, but more than this:

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:55

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I wouldn't buy an unsafe car, but I tend to assume (right or wrong) that most modern-ish cars I'd be interested in are sufficiently safe.

titsinmymitts > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/22/2015 at 22:58

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I definitely agree with what you are saying.

However, vehicle safety is still not a huge priority for me.

ranwhenparked > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 22:59

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Not at all, really. I can't say I've ever consulted safety ratings for any car I've purchased.

That said, comparing safety statistics for new cars is pretty much pointless. Almost everything on the market today has a perfect or near-perfect NHTSA score anyway.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > TotallyThatStupid 01/22/2015 at 22:59

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This received a "marginal" rating, which isn't even the worst.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > titsinmymitts 01/22/2015 at 23:05

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Vehicle safety wasn't really my point there, it was more of it doesn't matter how good you are, someone else can change that.

Conan > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 23:06

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It doesn't matter too much. Though I obviously don't want something that fails all tests/kills you.

It scares me away from owning a motorcycle.

Steve in Manhattan > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 23:08

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At this point in my life, if we retire to the country (upstate NY) I want something with as many airbags and safety features as are available. As I ease into my 50s, I realize that my reaction times are somewhat diminished. And I want Volvo S80 safety, but I want to make sure anyone I hit in a crosswalk (NOT ON PURPOSE) lives.

5-Speed Gangsta > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 23:31

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Safety?

bwp240 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 23:34

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I don't really want to put people in a big metal deathtrap, so instead I have a big plastic deathtrap.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > bwp240 01/22/2015 at 23:44

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Explain.

JasonStern911 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/22/2015 at 23:58

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Safety, in part due to an impending baby, was part of the reason I sold my SR5 AE86. So it matters as far as I don't see myself owning a car without air bags and ABS as a daily driver. But I will always own motorcycles and have an inherent risk to myself that I am willing to take on for personal, borderline spiritual reasons.

Sam > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 00:02

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I love seeing all these variants of "YOLO SINGLE MALE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN LIFE". You're all fools. Driver skill doesn't protect you in a blindside, unavoidable collision that leaves you paralyzed or worse.

I was nearly killed or at least maimed in a Miata. If the impact was about an inch further back (the Rav4 hit right in front of the drivers side door), I would have at least lost my legs. I would have probably not graduated high school either, or been able to live a normal life. So safety is important. Really though, the NB Miata is a pretty safe car in everything but side impact and rollover.

Here's the few pictures I have of the accident. (Taken by my friend, as I was far too shaken up to do anything) Doesn't show the damage to the front of the car, only the rear where I spun in to the abutment at roughly 40mph.

The woman in the Rav4 survived due to the airbags and seat belts.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Sam 01/23/2015 at 00:04

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I'm glad you're okay.

JasonStern911 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 00:06

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B.S. If you're blind sided, then you weren't paying nearly as much attention to the road as you think you were. Shut up. Put your phone down. Turn your radio down. Make sure your rear view mirror is adjusted. Put those wide angle adhesive mini-mirrors on your side mirrors. And learn to scan constantly .

Sam > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 00:12

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Thanks. When my friend showed people the other pictures (he had more, but I don't have them on hand) they couldn't believe I left with just a bandaid on the arm from the EMTs and some wicked pain in the neck and shoulders. Basically, it was luck or fate or something that kept me around.

I will say that driver skill kept the crash from being much worse, as I was maintaining the spin the entire time to avoid hitting other traffic. I even pushed the clutch pedal so hard it bent.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JasonStern911 01/23/2015 at 00:16

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Do you know how many people drive in the rain with out headlights? Shit there are people who give even less of fuck, that drive without them at night. Even if you think you can, you probably can't predict anyone's next move.

JasonStern911 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 00:26

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True, you cannot predict everyone's next move, but you're completely ignorant if you do not think that there are actions you can take and driving characteristics you can adopt to exponentially reduce the likelihood of being in an accident.

Do yourself a favor and go find an old man that still rides a motorcycle in the era of teenagers with licenses, soccer moms with minivans, SUVs, and Bro-Trucks. Ask him for advice, and ask him about his friends that did not follow that advice. Adopt some of his advice, and I bet you the likelihood of you getting in an accident will be cut in half.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JasonStern911 01/23/2015 at 00:37

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My Dad was a UPS driver for nearly 20 years, so I have plenty of preventive advice. He also knows good and damn well that shit happens and people make mistakes. There are plenty of rules you can follow to watch and defend, but they don't work 100% of the time.

JasonStern911 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 00:49

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well, since you know everything and there is nothing that you can learn to improve your driving abilities, at least with respect to safety, you win. I concede that everyone should drive bubble cars with a max speed of 5 miles per hour with mandatory backup inflation units running at all time to ensure the bubbles are always at a safe air pressure should one fail to further ensure no damage if any bubble cars were to accidentally collide, because no one other than you can drive defensively and alertly, and thus we must be saved from ourselves. please start a whitehouse.gov petition requesting this and I will gladly sign it for the greater good.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 01:14

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For a DD that sees action in rain, snow and long periods of driving at night? Yes. Too many idiots.

I save my unsafe hoonmobile for sunny weekends.

Flat Six > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 01:23

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If something is egregiously bad yes you should rule it out. Can't disagree there. Probably goes for both crash tests and "unsafe at any speed" style vehicles like the Carrera GT. However a lot of safety ratings I think are relative to the class of the vehicle. Just because a Caterham gets a better safety rating than a Morgan 3 wheeler doesn't mean either are safe.

bwp240 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 01:41

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http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/v…

I have a 2000 Saturn, but the later L-series are pretty close in structure to mine. It does surprisingly good in the overlap, but anything else will probably leave me severely maimed...

wiffleballtony > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 02:24

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I didn't even check the safety rating on my car. I think they're largely irrelevant in most modern cars . Primarily because I think the tests exist largely for themselves to justify their existence and I feel I'm most likely to be rear ended by someone in a massive SUV which I'm sure they don't have a test for.

pip bip - choose Corrour > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 06:27

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not at all!

thebigbossyboss > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 06:57

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Not at all so far. I drive a car with no abs, and poor test results.

thebigbossyboss > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 06:59

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Meh. It's the young man mentality. We've all been there, and I'm still there. I bought my car cause it went BRRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP not because it was safe.

thebigbossyboss > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 07:01

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Absolutely accidents can still happen. All manner of things COULD happen, but I tend not to think of those things so much.

Although once I was about 6 feet from getting a suburban travelling at 55mph in my drivers door. I had a car with no airbags so that might have hurt.

Hiroku > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 07:10

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I drive a Volvo, so yeah. Quite a bit.

Old-Busted-Hotness > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 07:38

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Not at all. I've survived enough crashes in old no-safety shitheaps to conclude that I'm indestructible and possibly immortal. Bought a Challenger last year, but not for its crash rating.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 08:27

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Safety is important to me, but it probably isn't the end-all, be-all. However, if I were choosing between two vehicles and there was a significant safety difference, I'd chose the safer one.

Round headlight enthusiast > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 08:47

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'03 Subaru Outback. Might seem boring but it does great snowy donuts and has the added bonus of safety.

Hey, y'all, watch this! > bwp240 01/23/2015 at 12:27

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My first car was a 2001 L-series. I eventually totalled the crap out of it and replaced it with a '97 Jeep Cherokee, so obviously safety wasn't at the top of my priorities list then.

The older I get, though, the more I think about things like that, and my current car has good ratings.

Hey, y'all, watch this! > BrownMiataDieselWagon 01/23/2015 at 12:31

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I definitely consider safety more when I buy a car these days. It's not dying in a car accident that scares me, though. It's getting horrifically maimed and surviving that does.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > thebigbossyboss 01/23/2015 at 12:42

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I originally wasn't concerned until the second time I was ran off the road by someone coming into my lane lol.

bwp240 > Hey, y'all, watch this! 01/23/2015 at 12:44

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Lol I learned to drive in a '98 Jeep Cherokee. I wish we still had that car but everything was broken except for the door handles. Wish I could remember the VIN so I could try to find it again.

thebigbossyboss > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 12:48

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I've had accidents but most were fairly minor.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > thebigbossyboss 01/23/2015 at 12:59

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Never have actually hit anything, but someday there won't be an treeless ditch when Suzie Soccermom or Richard Statetrooper comes into my lane.

JasonStern911 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/23/2015 at 22:22

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sorry for that last post. just because you were acting condescending doesn't mean I should act like an asshole.