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RichardD Marshall
Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Odometer: 22856 Location: State of Confusion
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:39 pm Post subject: Car safety? Don't make me laugh
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For the last 24 hours I have had to suffer driving a Ford Galaxy whilst my 110 was in for a repair and what a shockingly dangerous design of A pillar!
Having only driven LR products or older cars for the last 5 years I was shocked to discover that Ford, in their wisdom, have fitted such wide A pillars (I believe Renault have as well) that they have had to fit windows in them to pretend that you have not lost 75% or more vision to the front/side of the car.
I was driving to work along some country roads and coming to a corner I looked ahead and to the side and found my vision of the road completely blocked by this 2 piece A pillar arrangement. The same happened at lights where I couldn't see pedestrians crossing for about 1/4 of the way from the right hand side.
Who the **** saw fit to give a car like that 5 stars for safety? No wonder these cars are driven like morons - they can't see where they're going and possibly don't even realise that they can't see.
__________________________________ Poking the Grim Reaper with a stick then running away. The devil made me do it but God said it was okay with him. |
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Quetzel Just got MTs
Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Odometer: 168
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject:
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My sentiments precisely!!
__________________________________ Quetzel |
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Nightbar Difflock Royalty
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Odometer: 20799 Location: In a state of anticipation...
1999 Land Rover Defender
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:15 pm Post subject:
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Agreed.
But don't worry - its useful to have cars like those on the roads as they are my crumple zone.
__________________________________ The ex-Difflock Ambassador to Naples, Sir Nightbar DCJC DFS and 2 bars.
Plant a tree for the Difflock 3 |
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Jim1064 Just got MTs
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Odometer: 279 Location: Hampshire - the county of green lanes
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:26 pm Post subject:
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Share your concern.
But NCAP ratings are only concerned with impact and crash safety, unfortunately.
__________________________________ Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanagable.
(stolen from a traffic sign in Bangalore, India)
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excossack Mud Obsessed
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Odometer: 2903 Location: Somewhere
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject:
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I have the same with the wifes Focus and also the Berlingo vans at work.
__________________________________ Thanks - John |
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Muddy2 Just got MTs
Joined: 31 Dec 2012 Odometer: 152 Location: Jersey ci
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 9:56 pm Post subject: They not good on wet slipways either
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Had to dive at midnight on one 5 metres underwater , when it slipped off a jetty . Body check Great dive though no resale value
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mudplugga Mud Obsessed
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Odometer: 2798 Location: Shropshire mostly, and Mid Wales
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:11 pm Post subject:
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I had a Citroen van at work a few years ago with huge pillars, it was dreadful.
But the pillars were not the only things that were so bad that I believed it to be unsafe for me to drive, and within 3 weeks, with Unison fully supporting my view, I had a Transit as replacement and the company very quietly disposed of the large fleet of Citroens.
There are other engineering solutions to making a vehicle strong without resorting to blocking the drivers vision.
__________________________________ http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337
"Roof, doors, wheels. It's the way I drive." |
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Muddy2 Just got MTs
Joined: 31 Dec 2012 Odometer: 152 Location: Jersey ci
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject: Angle grinder to each corner
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Lots of fleets vehicles sold as crap , cheap to people who don't drive them, but see the £ sign s
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cynic-al Mud Obsessed
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Odometer: 6062 Location: scunthorpe
1989 Suzuki SJ
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:22 pm Post subject:
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You seem to be assuming drivers actually look out the window?
__________________________________ I know enough to be dangerous. |
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RichardD Marshall
Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Odometer: 22856 Location: State of Confusion
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:12 am Post subject:
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cynic-al wrote: | You seem to be assuming drivers actually look out the window? |
I certainly used to think so!
__________________________________ Poking the Grim Reaper with a stick then running away. The devil made me do it but God said it was okay with him. |
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rhinoman Mud Obsessed
Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Odometer: 3277 Location: Brinkworth, Wilts
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Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:03 pm Post subject:
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Jim1064 wrote: | Share your concern.
But NCAP ratings are only concerned with impact and crash safety, unfortunately. |
NCAP is the problem.
I find new vehicles to be particularly dangerous when pulling out onto roundabouts and on many right hand bends when you can't see what is coming or where you are going.
__________________________________ 2000 Vitara 4u2, 3+3 lift, 33s, winch, safari rack, steel front axle and 5:83 R&Ps, LWB brakes
1986 SJ413K Pickup, 1.6 conversion
2006 Jimny JLX+, stock |
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Nightbar Difflock Royalty
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Odometer: 20799 Location: In a state of anticipation...
1999 Land Rover Defender
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:14 am Post subject:
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Jim1064 wrote: | Share your concern.
But NCAP ratings are only concerned with impact and crash safety, unfortunately. |
So vehicles are designed to meet a flawed rating system for PR purposes rather than what is actually required. Sounds about right.
__________________________________ The ex-Difflock Ambassador to Naples, Sir Nightbar DCJC DFS and 2 bars.
Plant a tree for the Difflock 3 |
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cynic-al Mud Obsessed
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Odometer: 6062 Location: scunthorpe
1989 Suzuki SJ
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:47 am Post subject:
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You'd be surprised what you get used to, no matter what car I drive the rear view mirror completely blocks my view between about 11:30 and 10:00 (field of vision before someone makes the crack ). When I'm driving wagons I find all the mirrors on the O/S have a habit of hiding cars as your approaching a roundabout. Only takes one thing to take you by surprise to make you learn to look around it
__________________________________ I know enough to be dangerous. |
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