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Peryn · 10-15-2003, 09:58 AM

Weight is an important factor. Inertia, mass, velocity, etc, all factor into who lives and who dies. SUVs (at least the full size land yachts) have that advantage on their side. But its not so much the weight of the vehicle, as it is where the weight is. On an SUV the weight is much higher up than it is on a passenger vehicle. Because of this, the casr struck by the suv is hit in an area not designed to take the full impact. If the front end of a car was designed for the whole hood/fender/bumber to take the impact, and it gets hit only on teh top half, you have significantly increased your odds of a fatality. You are putting more stress on a system that wasn't designed for it.

There is another VERY large class of vehicles that escapes teh big car anger that gets directed at SUVs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, 4wd ... their most loaded and heviest vehicle i believe. 4000lbs. Chrysler Town and Country = 4500 lbs. This is not uncommon. Minivans are terribly heavy vehicles, but nobody gets mad at them for sucking down gas, or for causing fatalities in crashes due to their weight. Again, its not necessarily the weight that kills, but where its at.

Another look at vehicle weights : Ford escape XLT Premium 2wd : 3300 lbs. Audi TT quattro roadster : 3500 lbs. The audi is a reasonably small 2 seater sports car. If it got into an accident and the occupants died, everyone would be angry saying that it was the stupid SUV thats big and heavy killing people again, but the sportscar weighed more.

Look at that same audi vs. a Ford Ranger. the ranger weighs 3100 lbs. Add a few hunder pounds for a lift kit, bigger tires and suspension and have it get into an accident with that roadster. It would probably eat the sportscars occupants alive, yet it weighs the same amount, or less.

It isn't always the weight of teh SUV, but where its at that seems to be the biggest problem as far as safety goes to me...

10-15-2003, 09:58 AM	#20 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	Weight is an important factor. Inertia, mass, velocity, etc, all factor into who lives and who dies. SUVs (at least the full size land yachts) have that advantage on their side. But its not so much the weight of the vehicle, as it is where the weight is. On an SUV the weight is much higher up than it is on a passenger vehicle. Because of this, the casr struck by the suv is hit in an area not designed to take the full impact. If the front end of a car was designed for the whole hood/fender/bumber to take the impact, and it gets hit only on teh top half, you have significantly increased your odds of a fatality. You are putting more stress on a system that wasn't designed for it. There is another VERY large class of vehicles that escapes teh big car anger that gets directed at SUVs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, 4wd ... their most loaded and heviest vehicle i believe. 4000lbs. Chrysler Town and Country = 4500 lbs. This is not uncommon. Minivans are terribly heavy vehicles, but nobody gets mad at them for sucking down gas, or for causing fatalities in crashes due to their weight. Again, its not necessarily the weight that kills, but where its at. Another look at vehicle weights : Ford escape XLT Premium 2wd : 3300 lbs. Audi TT quattro roadster : 3500 lbs. The audi is a reasonably small 2 seater sports car. If it got into an accident and the occupants died, everyone would be angry saying that it was the stupid SUV thats big and heavy killing people again, but the sportscar weighed more. Look at that same audi vs. a Ford Ranger. the ranger weighs 3100 lbs. Add a few hunder pounds for a lift kit, bigger tires and suspension and have it get into an accident with that roadster. It would probably eat the sportscars occupants alive, yet it weighs the same amount, or less. It isn't always the weight of teh SUV, but where its at that seems to be the biggest problem as far as safety goes to me... __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.