In article <1g8us9r.jyl97tg2f9i2N%SP@M.com>, SP@M.com (Bebop) wrote:

> Tim <anon@anonymous.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Why did Honda not request that the test be conducted again WITH
> > the air bags? It makes me wonder whether the side airbags are
> > really effective in protecting the driver. A company that promotes
> > an image of its cars as being among the safest on the road ought
> > to take steps to improve the vehicle's safety, or demonstrate that
> > it IS safe when the airbags are installed.
>
>
> Why? To find out if there is any difference, so you don't have to wonder
> any more.
>
> The first year models are usually not the best.

I agree that the first year models are not the best. I believe the best
Honda vehicle is the last one in a series such as a 1997 Honda Accord. It
was the last one in that series and I rarely have seen any negative things
written about a 1997 Honda Accord in this newsgroup. I have seen lots of
negative things written abut the 1998 Honda Accord which was the first
model in that series.

 

In article <1g8us9r.jyl97tg2f9i2N%SP@M.com>, SP@M.com (Bebop) wrote:

> Tim <anon@anonymous.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Why did Honda not request that the test be conducted again WITH
> > the air bags? It makes me wonder whether the side airbags are
> > really effective in protecting the driver. A company that promotes
> > an image of its cars as being among the safest on the road ought
> > to take steps to improve the vehicle's safety, or demonstrate that
> > it IS safe when the airbags are installed.
>
>
> Why? To find out if there is any difference, so you don't have to wonder
> any more.
>
> The first year models are usually not the best.

I agree that the first year models are not the best. I believe the best
Honda vehicle is the last one in a series such as a 1997 Honda Accord. It
was the last one in that series and I rarely have seen any negative things
written about a 1997 Honda Accord in this newsgroup. I have seen lots of
negative things written abut the 1998 Honda Accord which was the first
model in that series.

 

It's funny how everyone is so concerned with "safety". Many of my friends
and even my own father killed in car accidents, the first thing that comes
to mind is when your tickets punched, that's all she wrote. My concerns is
with the 4x4 effect, where you see these 4x4 pickups blasting down the
highway during a blizzard, just because you have it, you just don't push it.
If your hit broadside....you ain't got a lot of anything between you and the
accident, I wouldn't put much faith in an airbag protecting my head, when
the rest of my limbs are crushed and or severed.........................

Just suppose though that they start putting motorcycles through these
"safety" tests, OH MY GOD! SAVE ME!

I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
get a Mercedes or a Hummer!

Joe

 

It's funny how everyone is so concerned with "safety". Many of my friends
and even my own father killed in car accidents, the first thing that comes
to mind is when your tickets punched, that's all she wrote. My concerns is
with the 4x4 effect, where you see these 4x4 pickups blasting down the
highway during a blizzard, just because you have it, you just don't push it.
If your hit broadside....you ain't got a lot of anything between you and the
accident, I wouldn't put much faith in an airbag protecting my head, when
the rest of my limbs are crushed and or severed.........................

Just suppose though that they start putting motorcycles through these
"safety" tests, OH MY GOD! SAVE ME!

I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
get a Mercedes or a Hummer!

Joe

 

It's funny how everyone is so concerned with "safety". Many of my friends
and even my own father killed in car accidents, the first thing that comes
to mind is when your tickets punched, that's all she wrote. My concerns is
with the 4x4 effect, where you see these 4x4 pickups blasting down the
highway during a blizzard, just because you have it, you just don't push it.
If your hit broadside....you ain't got a lot of anything between you and the
accident, I wouldn't put much faith in an airbag protecting my head, when
the rest of my limbs are crushed and or severed.........................

Just suppose though that they start putting motorcycles through these
"safety" tests, OH MY GOD! SAVE ME!

I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
get a Mercedes or a Hummer!

Joe

 

It's funny how everyone is so concerned with "safety". Many of my friends
and even my own father killed in car accidents, the first thing that comes
to mind is when your tickets punched, that's all she wrote. My concerns is
with the 4x4 effect, where you see these 4x4 pickups blasting down the
highway during a blizzard, just because you have it, you just don't push it.
If your hit broadside....you ain't got a lot of anything between you and the
accident, I wouldn't put much faith in an airbag protecting my head, when
the rest of my limbs are crushed and or severed.........................

Just suppose though that they start putting motorcycles through these
"safety" tests, OH MY GOD! SAVE ME!

I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
get a Mercedes or a Hummer!

Joe

 

I love my wife and kids, and want to make sure that whatever car
we're driving is safe and fun and economical -- so I'll pass on
the Hummer and the Mercedes :-).

The Element is definitely a fun vehicle --great for a trip to the
beach for example-- but it has only come close to being a safe
car by 2004 standards. A superior side airbag like the one in the
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute would put the Honda Element in the
"Good" category on both the side-impact and frontal impact
collisions. There's no decent reason for Honda to have used a
dinky side airbag.

Nothing's stopping you from buying one of the Element models
without side airbag if you're giving more weight to fun than to
safety. That's your prerogative. I'm not saying all models
should have side airbags (though that's not a bad idea). But if
I'm going to pay extra for the model with side airbags, they
should work and work well. They should be more than "window
dressing".

Tim

In article <SIdWb.12035$M8.6421@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, moo@moo.com
writes...
><Snip>
>I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
>get a Mercedes or a Hummer!
>
>Joe

 

I love my wife and kids, and want to make sure that whatever car
we're driving is safe and fun and economical -- so I'll pass on
the Hummer and the Mercedes :-).

The Element is definitely a fun vehicle --great for a trip to the
beach for example-- but it has only come close to being a safe
car by 2004 standards. A superior side airbag like the one in the
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute would put the Honda Element in the
"Good" category on both the side-impact and frontal impact
collisions. There's no decent reason for Honda to have used a
dinky side airbag.

Nothing's stopping you from buying one of the Element models
without side airbag if you're giving more weight to fun than to
safety. That's your prerogative. I'm not saying all models
should have side airbags (though that's not a bad idea). But if
I'm going to pay extra for the model with side airbags, they
should work and work well. They should be more than "window
dressing".

Tim

In article <SIdWb.12035$M8.6421@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, moo@moo.com
writes...
><Snip>
>I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
>get a Mercedes or a Hummer!
>
>Joe

 

I love my wife and kids, and want to make sure that whatever car
we're driving is safe and fun and economical -- so I'll pass on
the Hummer and the Mercedes :-).

The Element is definitely a fun vehicle --great for a trip to the
beach for example-- but it has only come close to being a safe
car by 2004 standards. A superior side airbag like the one in the
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute would put the Honda Element in the
"Good" category on both the side-impact and frontal impact
collisions. There's no decent reason for Honda to have used a
dinky side airbag.

Nothing's stopping you from buying one of the Element models
without side airbag if you're giving more weight to fun than to
safety. That's your prerogative. I'm not saying all models
should have side airbags (though that's not a bad idea). But if
I'm going to pay extra for the model with side airbags, they
should work and work well. They should be more than "window
dressing".

Tim

In article <SIdWb.12035$M8.6421@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, moo@moo.com
writes...
><Snip>
>I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
>get a Mercedes or a Hummer!
>
>Joe

 

I love my wife and kids, and want to make sure that whatever car
we're driving is safe and fun and economical -- so I'll pass on
the Hummer and the Mercedes :-).

The Element is definitely a fun vehicle --great for a trip to the
beach for example-- but it has only come close to being a safe
car by 2004 standards. A superior side airbag like the one in the
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute would put the Honda Element in the
"Good" category on both the side-impact and frontal impact
collisions. There's no decent reason for Honda to have used a
dinky side airbag.

Nothing's stopping you from buying one of the Element models
without side airbag if you're giving more weight to fun than to
safety. That's your prerogative. I'm not saying all models
should have side airbags (though that's not a bad idea). But if
I'm going to pay extra for the model with side airbags, they
should work and work well. They should be more than "window
dressing".

Tim

In article <SIdWb.12035$M8.6421@nwrdny02.gnilink.net>, moo@moo.com
writes...
><Snip>
>I still think the Element is one kick-*** car, you want safety............
>get a Mercedes or a Hummer!
>
>Joe

 

My Honda bike failed the side impact test too.... Now what's up with that?

A conspiracy perhaps?

Jammer









"Tim" <anon@anonymous.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a902e7bb283f5dd989682@news.comcast.gigan ews.com...
> The Honda Element EX received a grade of "poor" on the side impact
> test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
>
> "DRIVER ... major torso injuries would be likely ... Serious neck
> injury also would be possible."
>
> Here is the URL:
>
> http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle%5Fr...side/s0308.htm
>
> The IIHS Report notes that the tests were conducted *without* the
> optional side-impact air bags:
>
> "NOTE: The Element tested was not equipped with the optional side
> airbags. When side airbags are optional, the Institute tests
> vehicles without this option. If a manufacturer offering optional
> side airbags requests the Institute to conduct an additional test
> of a vehicle with this option and agrees to reimburse the cost of
> the vehicle, a second test is conducted. Honda did not request
> such a test."
>
> Why did Honda not request that the test be conducted again WITH
> the air bags? It makes me wonder whether the side airbags are
> really effective in protecting the driver. A company that promotes
> an image of its cars as being among the safest on the road ought
> to take steps to improve the vehicle's safety, or demonstrate that
> it IS safe when the airbags are installed.
>
> Wanting to buy an Element, but waiting....
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

"130.81.64.196" <moo@moo.com> spake unto the masses in
news:6VMtc.860$LS6.482@nwrdny01.gnilink.net:

>
> My Honda bike failed the side impact test too.... Now what's up with
> that?
>
> A conspiracy perhaps?




Well, pedestrians do pretty badly in side, frontal AND rear impact tests,
so the conspiracy might go further than you think.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda FAQ
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html

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