This has got to worry Sydneysiders.

[drivesafe]

This is a Chinese truck safety test, carried out at just 64 KPH

Below is some pictures of the new CHINESE MADE test suburban train bound for Sydney.

YouTube - Chinese Car, Truck Crash Testing

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/1249.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/1250.jpg

[spudboy]

I think they've got the wrong idea of how a crumple zone should work :eek:

[Lotz-A-Landies]

That Chinese van looks remarkably like a VW Transporter T3 model!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/1244.jpg

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I'm afraid to say that Chinese mobility devices is just another form of population control. :eek:

There is only one device I would be even less inclined to travel on and that is a Chinese aeroplane (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/commercial_aviation/ThingsWithWings/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%253a7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbbPost%253ae0db65d5-e878-4ea7-91e7-57d917813d23).

It's kind of funny isn't it. When it comes to land transport many people will accept the risk (see Korean cars) but when it's airtravel only the best in safety will do.

[B92 8NW]

That Chinese van looks remarkably like a VW Transporter T3 model!



YouTube - What about that VW t3 crash test?

[one_iota]

I am a Sydneysider....

What is the relevance of a train built to Australian specifications in China to a van running into a wall?

I don't know

However I will continue to drive the Defender to work as the risk of catching Swine flu on public transport and dying of it is much much greater than a train running into a concrete wall

:D

Note that the risk of the train doing this has been increased due to the lack of glass windows for the driver...I blame the Australian specifications.

[olbod]

I dont believe that anyone will ever die before their time has come !!

[solmanic]

That video has been around for ages and apparently it is a VW Transporter but it was filled with sand in the rear to see what would happen. And apparently it was crashed at a lot more than 64km/h. Also a lot of the crash test footage doing the rounds on Youtube is prior to certification and several cars get modifications to address safety concerns raised in the tests. But they sure are fun to watch...

[malsgoing130]

read in the Sunday times motoring here in WA a week or so ago that the motor Journo was very upset to hear that the Great Walls Motor (GWM) Ute has no air bags and ASR. He confidently stated that this was the only vehicle that was to be sold in Aus without the above mentioned saftey gear. Luckily he forgot the DEFENDER:D:D:D:D. I think people have gone mad, up till a couple of years ago not one single utility was offered with an air bag never mind ABS, There must be millions of them driving around right now.

Would be nice though after having seen some Defers involved in smashes if they came with a roll cage, might be something to put on the list?;)

regards Mal
PS the VW looked to be doing 100+ to make it "crumple" like that. I have unfortunitly seen alot of them that were involved in smashes in Seth Efrika and they hold up a little better than that.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

That video has been around for ages and apparently it is a VW Transporter but it was filled with sand in the rear to see what would happen. And apparently it was crashed at a lot more than 64km/h. Also a lot of the crash test footage doing the rounds on Youtube is prior to certification and several cars get modifications to address safety concerns raised in the tests. But they sure are fun to watch...

Well while we're posting fun crash tests then... this is a personal favourite...

YouTube - holden commodore - worst car crash test

[Cap]

The commodore makes the chinese van look like a 5 star safety rating!

[87County]

it appears that there is a fair bit of bs on youtub; and a concerted effort to discredit the chinese auto industry...

[dobbo]

What difference will it make using chinese labour to build NSW trains as opposed to using Aus labour and the same chinese components to build the trains we run now? Surely the driver could stop the service before they hit the concrete barrier. Hopefully they are capable enough, it's not as if they have to steer the train or anything.

Just out of interest I wonder how many chinese components, steel or other products go into building a modern day RR.

Think I'll take the swine infested public transport, don't want one of the ABS, power steering or brake components failing or it might throw me into a concrete wall.;););)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I am a Sydneysider....

What is the relevance of a train built to Australian specifications in China to a van running into a wall?...I like the train and am impressed with the fact that the driver has no window to look through, maybe they have taken the driver out and it is actually a Suburban Drone with a remote operator working from a game consol under Public Service standards! :o

Regarding trains built in China to Australian standards - my guess it's no different to Qantas aeroplanes maintained in China to Boeing standards or Qantas turbofan engines being overhauled in China to GE, RR or Pratt & Whitney standards. Both those scenarios are currently happening every day and Qantas aircraft that have had major maintence in China are on Qantas routes today.

Anyone want to fly Singapore Airlines?

Diana

[Shonky]

We're whinging about Chinese build quality... anyone done a forum search on "Puma" lately? :eek:

[Captain_Rightfoot]

it appears that there is a fair bit of bs on youtub; and a concerted effort to discredit the chinese auto industry...

No that's just plain wrong. In European crash testing of Chinese imported cars they have received some of the worst results ever achieved in those tests. See one example here. (http://jalopnik.com/cars/crash-test-dummies/brilliant-chinese-brilliance-bs6-sedan-crumples-like-a-coke-can-in-german-crash-test-271345.php)

Building cars that protect their occupants in crashes is an incredibly complex science and it's one that the Chinese are yet to master. However I note that their intended acquisition of some distressed euro brands is clearly an attempt to buy this knowledge.

[PAT303]

I'd like to add,that train will withstand a holden 202 red motor hitting the front of it at 40km/hr,I know this for a fact as I worked on that project and I personally bought the motor and dropped it from the side of the factory wall on a length of cable into the facia.They are getting made in china because not one of the Australian companys involved could build them.It is the most bungled contract this side of the Seasprite debarcle. Pat

[PAT303]

read in the Sunday times motoring here in WA a week or so ago that the motor Journo was very upset to hear that the Great Walls Motor (GWM) Ute has no air bags and ASR. He confidently stated that this was the only vehicle that was to be sold in Aus without the above mentioned saftey gear. Luckily he forgot the DEFENDER:D:D:D:D. I think people have gone mad, up till a couple of years ago not one single utility was offered with an air bag never mind ABS, There must be millions of them driving around right now.

Would be nice though after having seen some Defers involved in smashes if they came with a roll cage, might be something to put on the list?;)

regards Mal
PS the VW looked to be doing 100+ to make it "crumple" like that. I have unfortunitly seen alot of them that were involved in smashes in Seth Efrika and they hold up a little better than that.

There has been a study on actual crash's in Europe and the defender was the safest vehicle on the road.I is on this forum somewhere. Pat

[series3]

I remember reading something about that video of the Commodore crashing, maybe it didnt have a chassis or something as they wanted to test the strength of the bodywork alone in a head-on collision.

[FenianEel]

Staying off topic....
I know there is a scientific basis behind modern design, but the over riding factor in modern cars is weight and cost.
I can't believe how weak most modern cars are, particularly small ones, even the ones that get 5 star NCAP ratings.

You do need to dissipate energy, but you can have all the crumple zones, abs and airbags you want -
They're not much use when the engine block is sitting on your lap, or the rear seats are kissing the dashboard.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Staying off topic....
I know there is a scientific basis behind modern design, but the over riding factor in modern cars is weight and cost.
I can't believe how weak most modern cars are, particularly small ones, even the ones that get 5 star NCAP ratings.

You do need to dissipate energy, but you can have all the crumple zones, abs and airbags you want -
They're not much use when the engine block is sitting on your lap, or the rear seats are kissing the dashboard.

What makes you think they are weak? If it's dintability that doesn't surprise me. Their strength is in their structure and choice of materials which can't be seen.

Have a watch of these two.

YouTube - Fifth Gear Crash-test Volvo 940 estate vs Renault Modus

YouTube - Fifth Gear: 4x4 Crash Test

[FenianEel]

What makes you think they are weak?
The following factors are some:
Dintability & ease of damage
Seeing damage and injuries from accidents
Crashing vehicles myself, either single vehicle, or into others :eek:
Damage after other vehicles bounced off mine :twisted:
:D

[Captain_Rightfoot]

The following factors are some:
Dintability & ease of damage
Seeing damage and injuries from accidents
Crashing vehicles myself, either single vehicle, or into others :eek:
Damage after other vehicles bounced off mine :twisted:
:D

Good work Human Crash Dummy (please don't take offense at the dummy part)!!! We should call you Lawrence Patrick from now on :)

What 5 star car were you in when you had a big prang?

[zulu Delta 534]

I enjoy reading posts like this one as it tends to highlight how the mentality of the human race is ever changing.
I can remember when we bought cars to drive from point to point rather than to be safe to crash. I doubt if we even thought of having a crash.
I can remember when the driver was the one responsible for the shortcomings in road accidents rather than an ABS failure or a malfunction of the cornering enhancement device.
I can remember when we were saying exactly the same things about the quality of Japanese products as we are about Chinese ones today.
I can remember when the ratio of fatal accidents wasn't as high as it is today. Granted there are more cars on the road but the roads have white lines and are even bitumen sealed nowadays and a damn sight safer!
I can also remember when a "state of the art" motor car of the day cost about 400 quid and we used to get 32 Miles to the Gallon regularly (about 9l/100k).
But I suppose we have progressed a lot since then, or have we?
Regards
Glen

[FenianEel]

Good work Human Crash Dummy (please don't take offense at the dummy part)!!! We should call you Lawrence Patrick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Patrick) from now on :)

What 5 star car were you in when you had a big prang?
Lol, Mr Patrick certainly suffered for his science.

I've just been lucky, very stupid (in my younger days), but lucky.

Hmm cars I've crashed, had major crashes in
P76's (crashed 3 of them, rolled one, it's still registered and now in pristine condition)
Mazda 323 (was my Mothers) rolled and totalled:(
Gemini - left the road doing 100k's, down a 10m embankment and flew for about 30m (sisters car :eek::D)
Couple of bingles in the D1 & D2 too
To name a few.....

Been co-pilot in some ridiculous accidents too..
XA Falcon rear ended a bus:imwithstupid:
Valiant ute, through an equestrian fence and stable wall:eek:
P76 t-boned by a Hino truck
Nissan Pulsar nose to tailed and squashed
Nissan Maxima tboned after some knob sailed through a stop sign

Have only been in one accident on a road bike though, thanks to someone who thought they'd pull an immediate U turn on a major road without indicating or braking:bangin:
Maybe I should be called Lawrence.
Even though there were others, I've never been injured in an accident.

I have broken just about every bone, joint, ligament and tendon playing footy though:D:wheelchair:

[solmanic]

Well while we're posting fun crash tests then... this is a personal favourite...


The commodore makes the chinese van look like a 5 star safety rating!

Yet another incorrectly titled "crash" test. Pig's @rse it's a Commodore! Sure the tail lights resemble an 80s era one but that's about it.

One of my favourites is this one for the, once again Chinese made, Brilliance...

YouTube - Brilliance BS6 Chinese Car Crash Test Disaster

Further searches explained that there were major modifications made to the car following these tests to improve safety and another one was uploaded...

YouTube - Brilliance BS6 - new 3-star crashtest

[abaddonxi]

Gemini - left the road doing 100k's, down a 10m embankment and flew for about 30m (sisters car :eek::D)


It's a lot harder to crash test the models that have the flight capability package installed.:D

[EchiDna]

........Anyone want to fly Singapore Airlines?

Diana


I assume you know Singapore is about as close to China as Perth is to Sydney?

xenophobes need not apply thanks...:(

[Bigbjorn]

I can't believe how weak most modern cars are, particularly small ones, even the ones that get 5 star NCAP ratings.



Guys who work for a local towing coy. tell me there are a few small cars they won't pick up with a hook truck. Apparently they sag a bit and doors, bonnet, boot etc. won't open. Don't know if this is an urban myth but they believe it and always send a tilt tray for certain makes/models. They reckon some of these cheap little jiggers are not much more than a plastic bag being towed around by the front wheel drive powertrain.

[abaddonxi]

Guys who work for a local towing coy. tell me there are a few small cars they won't pick up with a hook truck. Apparently they sag a bit and doors, bonnet, boot etc. won't open. Don't know if this is an urban myth but they believe it and always send a tilt tray for certain makes/models. They reckon some of these cheap little jiggers are not much more than a plastic bag being towed around by the front wheel drive powertrain.

Easy to spot, the airbags are listed as a structural member.

[V8Ian]

Guys who work for a local towing coy. tell me there are a few small cars they won't pick up with a hook truck. Apparently they sag a bit and doors, bonnet, boot etc. won't open. Don't know if this is an urban myth but they believe it and always send a tilt tray for certain makes/models. They reckon some of these cheap little jiggers are not much more than a plastic bag being towed around by the front wheel drive powertrain.
You rarely see a hook truck these days, reason, the windscreen is a structural part of most cars on the road. XD was the last Falcon fitted with a bench front seat, all police cars were fitted with such. Put 6 burley coppers in an XD and they had problems closing the doors, due to the sag!

[Captain_Rightfoot]

You rarely see a hook truck these days, reason, the windscreen is a structural part of most cars on the road. XD was the last Falcon fitted with a bench front seat, all police cars were fitted with such. Put 6 burley coppers in an XD and they had problems closing the doors, due to the sag!

Huh? I know they had them in the AU because a lady at school has one. I can't be bothered trawling the ford site to see if they still have them.

Au Falcon Front Bench Seat (http://aol.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_50674/title_AU-Falcon-Options-and-Accessories/newsarticle.html)

[malsgoing130]

We're whinging about Chinese build quality... anyone done a forum search on "Puma" lately? :eek:

ha ha ha thats a brilliant retort, Id say if they built them in china the quality could only improve:twisted::twisted:

[malsgoing130]

I enjoy reading posts like this one as it tends to highlight how the mentality of the human race is ever changing.
I can remember when we bought cars to drive from point to point rather than to be safe to crash. I doubt if we even thought of having a crash.
I can remember when the driver was the one responsible for the shortcomings in road accidents rather than an ABS failure or a malfunction of the cornering enhancement device.
I can remember when we were saying exactly the same things about the quality of Japanese products as we are about Chinese ones today.
I can remember when the ratio of fatal accidents wasn't as high as it is today. Granted there are more cars on the road but the roads have white lines and are even bitumen sealed nowadays and a damn sight safer!
I can also remember when a "state of the art" motor car of the day cost about 400 quid and we used to get 32 Miles to the Gallon regularly (about 9l/100k).
But I suppose we have progressed a lot since then, or have we?
Regards
Glen

quite right!

[PAT303]

I enjoy reading posts like this one as it tends to highlight how the mentality of the human race is ever changing.
I can remember when we bought cars to drive from point to point rather than to be safe to crash. I doubt if we even thought of having a crash.
I can remember when the driver was the one responsible for the shortcomings in road accidents rather than an ABS failure or a malfunction of the cornering enhancement device.
I can remember when we were saying exactly the same things about the quality of Japanese products as we are about Chinese ones today.
I can remember when the ratio of fatal accidents wasn't as high as it is today. Granted there are more cars on the road but the roads have white lines and are even bitumen sealed nowadays and a damn sight safer!
I can also remember when a "state of the art" motor car of the day cost about 400 quid and we used to get 32 Miles to the Gallon regularly (about 9l/100k).
But I suppose we have progressed a lot since then, or have we?
Regards
Glen

If only Glen we had people like you running the show,ABS,stability control blah blah,isn't that what the driver is for?. Pat

[malsgoing130]

The Brilliance that was crash tested- First failure, fired the designer and shot the engineer. Then welded in a couple of UB's inder the sills and viola 3 star rated.
I wonder, playing devils advocate if they (star suppliers) ever randomly select a production model and crash test it - I mean for all previously test vehicles, does anyone know?

Mal

[abaddonxi]

The Brilliance that was crash tested- First failure, fired the designer and shot the engineer. Then welded in a couple of UB's inder the sills and viola 3 star rated.
I wonder, playing devils advocate if they (star suppliers) ever randomly select a production model and crash test it - I mean for all previously test vehicles, does anyone know?

Mal

Dunno about random crash tests. I know that during the brief time I worked at RTA Road Safety, they did keep a database of crashes from police reports and insurance claims - so, nothing under a bingle - not reported, not claimed. Which would provide the same information.

Ever see a Saab that anything but a front end crumple?

Simon

[inside]

If only Glen we had people like you running the show,ABS,stability control blah blah,isn't that what the driver is for?. Pat
Because you can't control what the other people out there are doing? You have remarkable faith in other people's driving skills.

[Bigbjorn]

XD was the last Falcon fitted with a bench front seat, all police cars were fitted with such.

Still an option, at least on utes. My XH ute has three across seating with a larger than usual fold-down armrest making it a two or three seater as required. Bit of a squeeze though, with three full grown adult males aboard. I can only try to imagine fitting three big bun faced coppers full of bludged beer and Chinese tucker across one.