Thread: HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WITH A D3 IN SOUTH AFRICA

Originally Posted by JDNSW

On the subject of speed limits, it is worth noting that a lower speed limit would, on the face of it, have had no effect on this accident.

Not necessarily so since the Disco may have been travelling at the speed limit but if slower for a lower speed limit, the other vehicle may not have intruded so far into the front passenger footwell area because the Disco would have decelerated more, or because the Disco would not have been at that spot anyway.

Then again, perhaps the Disco should have been travelling faster. I vividly recall from decades ago trying to accelerate for a few brief moments to avoid being involved in a head-on when an out of control vehicle speared across the road and came at me from a slight angle. It missed me but I would have preferred to have been much further ahead, or behind.

I like long the front on my D4.

I remember early lots of really negative comments and articles about how heavy the D3 was and how Land over had cocked it up by not finding ways to make the then new D3 lighter then its predecessor.

I bet there are now at least several people in South Africa very happy, even with their various injuries, that LR didn't make the D3 lighter than the D2.

I remember about 15 years ago seeing two old people who had rear ended a car at no more then 30 kph on Parramatta Rd in rush hour traffic in one of those silly little square Suzuki Bongo vans. While not dead they were trapped as the whole front of the Suzuki had squashed completely flat and had trapped their legs breaking them, to say they were distressed is an understatement.

While I don't remember the car they hit I do remember seeing it had bugger all damage.

As far as I'm concerned for me and my family bigger, heavier and taller is better and lots of overhang (crumple zone) is even better again when it comes to an accident and personally I don't give a stuff what some journo writes about poor fuel economy or saving the planet by building smaller cars. If they want to drive todays version of a Suzuki Bongo van and risk running into my 2.7 ton D3 then that is their choice.


cheers,
Terry

If you wanted to see how a Disco 1 went in an accident. This is an oldie from 5th gear.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIKu1UDoa6s]Renault Espace vs. Land Rover Discovery crash test - YouTube[/ame]

& Disco 2.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA4zmoqDzVk]Crash Test 1999 - 2004 Land Rover Discovery II (Frontal Offset Test) Mfg after Oct 1998 - YouTube[/ame]

Mazda made the bingo van, Suzuki was the carry.

I had a focus go under the side of the D2 today and though it's 2" higher, the Focus dived under braking enough to not even hit the sliders side on even though they sit fully under the sill and being 50mm thick. Not a skeric(k)/sceric(k)/skeri(c)k/sceric(k)/ (sp) . Might claim to have them powdercoated.

And here is the D3 crash test, it shows one very safe vehicle in both frontal and side on heavy impacts.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z6ChQ29NI"]Land Rover Discovery 3 2006 ANCAP Crash Test (4 stars) - YouTube[/ame]

Not really fair to compare a D3/4 to either a D1 or 2 given that apart from the shared name they are very different vehicles and from different era's in safety design.

cheers,
Terry

I think I will have nightmares about those photos tonight. But I also would like to get a second D3 for the wife to drive. Anyone prepared to donate?

Cheers

Dom

I think I'll put my family in one of those sleds they use for the side impact test. It didn't deform at all :0


Horrific story.

Driving a D2a at the moment, its all I can afford. Think I'll look to get a D3 when possible though. Hate the thought of my kids getting hurt. I drive far more carefully now as a father than when I was single.

CarJunkieanon, good point on affordability. I have the same thoughts as you now that I am a parent.

I would love to be able to take my family on off road trips and general transport to and fro in a more modern vehicle with all of the recent safety developments in them such as a D3/D4 etc. but alas, I cannot afford the HUGE asking price of these vehicles . Does that then make me irresponsible and any less of a caring provider for my loved ones?

Just something to think about for those that are pushing the safety at all costs barrow around in other threads on this forum.

Wish I had a business to write a new vehicle off on, that seems to be the norm these days.

Drive safe
Mikey