This is an amazing video showing the 2006 Prius undergo a crash test from the front and the side. Shows the tests with and without the side air bags. The car rated very good in the tests !!! You'll have to watch a small 10 sec. advertisment before actually seeing the video. Well worth the wait in my opinion. Click here for the link.
Great. More American jobs being lost to crash test dummies. When will we learn? Seriously, very cool (and scary) video. Thanks...
Certainly the Prius would have done better in the crash tests if the IIHS hadn't removed the wheel trim rings as Toyota had designed and intended the car to be configured. Boy that side impact on the Prius w/o side air bags is frightening.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(esskay @ Aug 4 2006, 12:41 PM) [snapback]297717[/snapback]</div> Dude, I just gotta ask.. What is a little piece of plastic over the rim going to do for safety in an accident?
Even THEY took off those ugly wheel trimmings. But seriously, that video without the airbags looks painful. Glad I got them. EDIT: Damn ESSKay beat me too it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Aug 4 2006, 09:46 AM) [snapback]297719[/snapback]</div> Sorry I forgot to add a smilie, I was just being sarcastic!
Wow can't help but watch it again. I am now very glad I got the sidebags. I hope to never have to see them deploy. Very graphic on how the dummy's head was physically struck by the oncoming vehicle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Aug 4 2006, 12:04 PM) [snapback]297736[/snapback]</div> Consumer Reports gave the Prius (and other vehicles) Poor ratings in side impact crash results w/o the side curtain airbags. Most of the vehicles were rated as Good with them. Now we know why... With kids in the car, this wasn't even a question for me - if the option wasn't available, I wasn't buying one...
OMG. Which costs less? $1,500 for side airbags or a violent, graphic death? I'm glad I went with the former! :blink:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jw_teacher @ Aug 4 2006, 02:03 PM) [snapback]297885[/snapback]</div> Yup, absolutely. My sister was in an accident back in February where she was driving a vehicle (not a Toyota) that went out of control on an icy road and slid sideways into oncoming traffic - the resulting side impact was much like that test (although at about 60 MPH and with a large SUV playing the part of the oncoming vehicle). Everyone survived, but aside from some internal damage (torn liver, etc) the most serious of the resulting injuries were caused by head trauma as there were no side airbags. The aftermath was weeks of intensive care followed by months of rehabilitation due to (thankfully temporary) brain injuries. Side airbags may not have totally eliminated the damage, however they certainly would've helped reduce the severity by a huge factor. My sister says that she'll never buy another car without side airbags, and let me tell you, she certainly feels safe and secure in my Prius... It's added value for an "option", but it's a safety feature that could save your own life, or those of your loved ones. Dave
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tatania @ Aug 4 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]297782[/snapback]</div> I have seen, and felt (ouch), them deploy. Without question, I would be dead today if my late, great, 2002 Camry had not had them. On 3/1/03, I was T-Boned, driver's side, by a Chevy Tahoe that was, by its driver's admission, doing about 40 mph when it hit me. The violence of the impact was incredible. The curtains, which deploy about 10x faster than frontal bags, and don't deflate afterward, also hit you with an unforgettable whallop, but of course, it's a lot better than having your brain sucked through the other vehicle's radiator. If you offered to give me a car without side curtains, I wouldn't take it. I will never own such a car again. Oh yeah, my Prius has 'em.
I'm a nurse and work with trauma patients every day, and I wouldn't have purchased a Prius (or any car) without side air bags. It wasn't a big deal to trade off a nav system for this and other safety features on my package. In 2005, you had to make these choices; I'm glad to hear side curtain airbags are standard on the new 2007's. Should be criminal not to make these standard.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vegemann @ Aug 4 2006, 10:30 AM) [snapback]297643[/snapback]</div> Makes me even more relieved that I have the side curtains. And it doesn't matter what vehicle - Prius or anything else - side curtains are a necessity! I also posted some accident info and links here.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jw_teacher @ Aug 4 2006, 04:03 PM) [snapback]297885[/snapback]</div> Um.... No airbags, and no crash is the cheapest. I wonder if the center console gives way under side impact, or if you get your pelvis powderized in the side impact...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vegemann @ Aug 5 2006, 12:30 AM) [snapback]297643[/snapback]</div> Hey! Many thanks for the side impact videos! I was looking for something like this, but more in diagram form. I now know I got my seat covers installed incorrectly, and it won't deploy the side impact bags correctly. I'm going to have to fix this relatively soon. Jimmy P.S. This really should be a STICKY! It's a heck of alot more important than any of the other stickies I've seen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vegemann @ Aug 4 2006, 07:30 AM) [snapback]297643[/snapback]</div> Quite impressive... thats the best video I've seen to show the differences of having and not having the airbags.... makes me a believer!
