Accident in Defender

[Scott]

Hi Everyone
I did a little searching and couldn't find much information about this topic.
I am thinking about buying a new Puma to replace my 02 130 and am a little worried about crash safety. Time is moving on and you can now buy other utes with Airbags, crumple zones etc. I have been lucky and never had an accident of any sort, in any car, in over 600,00km but the time may come when I am hit side on at an intersection etc. This is the main reason I would not buy another Defender.

Want to know has anyone been hit side on and what was the result? Has anyone hit anyone or anything head on and what were your injuries?

I know they are a truck etc, but there are alternatives now that are safer, when 20 years ago there was not. The alternatives are still not as good offroad and in other ways, but you have to look at the pros and cons of any decision. A friend of my wife and I, was hit on the left hand side at an intersection, a couple of weeks ago in a Prado by a car. The Prado was a write off and she only suffered whip lash. The crash broke the child seat on the passenger side though, no children in the car luckliy. This was in a 50 zone. I would hate to think if she was in a Defender and was hit on the drivers side. This is my main worry, want to know if anyone has been in this situation, how badly injured were you.

A side question are LR going to bring our a new defender soon?

Thanks
Scott

[spudboy]

Yeah - they are lacking in the Airbag/Crumple zone/rollover safety. I've seen a few pictures where they've gone shiny side up, and the roof pretty much collapses unless you have a rollbar or a Milford barrier.

On the plus side, you are up higher than normal cars, and they have a real chassis, although the crumpling of the body is what you want to absorb the impact.

I've put some heavy duty side steps/rock-sliders on my 130 which are some improvement to the side impact protection, and I want to fit a roll cage.

If you are after safety as a no. 1 priority, then Defender is not going to get too many stars unfortunately.

Am hoping that the next version of the Defender has at the very least air bags.

[frantic]

Get a roll bar and rocksliders with brushguard linked to the bullbar + a 2in lift and 95% of any side impact's short of a truck/bus will be at ankle height.

[Chucaro]

I agree with spudboy, the Defe it is not very safe
If I need a ute and safety will be my concern I would get a VW Amarok.

[slug_burner]

Risk is consequence and probability

With the Defender most cars are going to be hitting under your seat, that reduces the number of vehicles that can hit you at body height therefore reduces probability and reduces the risk.

I have greater concerns for the stability of the vehicle under hard braking on a slightly greasy road than I do about side impact.

[Scott]

Have you looked under the door lately, there is nothing there really. Well nothing very strong. The cab is aluminium, and would crush very easily I assume. You can make aluminium strong, take a new XJ jag but the defender, was not designed for crash safety.

I still don't think the floor height in a standard defender is above the height that would be impacted when hit by a standard family car. I think some impact would be at floor height and the seat box.

You could as suggested build very strong side steps and rails with extra reinforcing without too much trouble, that would transfer some impact to the chassis and away from the cab.

[Grumbles]

I wouldn't think any major sideways hit [ie small car hits high Puma] will stop your head impacting the door pillar. Energy still has to be dissipated and the human body in the cabin will still recoil rapidly sideways and sustain injury.

[VladTepes]

Unless you really need a ute a disco 3 or 4 would be a much netter proposition for you. With the back seats folded flat there is a heap of storage room

[inside]

Can we post this again? Between my FL2 and my Defender I'd rather have a crash in the FL2. My main worry with the Defender is swerving to avoid an accident, it'd fall over pretty quickly I'd imagine.

[Scott]

No one had any accidents?
Being a farmer, I use the ute offroad everyday. We live 30km from town on a tar road. The Defender is great around the farm and for carrying big loads from town. Only downside is safety and comfort on long trips, also no dealer if I buy a new one. 4 hours to toowoomba, our nearest dealer.
I don't want to get off topic though, I can make it safer somewhat but its also the lack of airbags and seat belt technology, also soft coverings in the cab you can hit your head on.