Drucifer
Active Member
Hell, my wife refuses to drive my Model S. Too big - too powerful - too easy to curb a rim or worse. The LOVES to be the passenger though. She prefers that I drive anyways, since she would rather not drive generally.
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Dad with teenage son torn over getting Performance versus Standard
- Thread starter NevadacityMark
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Hell, my wife refuses to drive my Model S. Too big - too powerful - too easy to curb a rim or worse. The LOVES to be the passenger though. She prefers that I drive anyways, since she would rather not drive generally.
SwedishAdvocate
Active Member
I haven’t read this entire thread.
And I’m only a layman when it comes to car crash safety.
But my guess is that if anyone thinks the Smart is a safe car, then they’re delusional.
BUT…
What does Vicky Butler-Henderson say at ~8:05?
PLEASE DO NOTE the following in the beginning of the video immediately above:
More here:
Smart EV (or ED) - Post #179 | TMC
…and here:
Saved by smart fortwo structure - Post #2 | TMC
If I were you and living in the US and could afford it, I would at least see to it that my children drove something the size of a Volvo C30/S40, VW Golf, Ford Focus EV, Toyota Prius or Chevy Volt. Note though, that I can’t vouch for the safety of any of those vehicles. You’ll have to do your own due diligence.
And I’m only a layman when it comes to car crash safety.
But my guess is that if anyone thinks the Smart is a safe car, then they’re delusional.
BUT…
What does Vicky Butler-Henderson say at ~8:05?
PLEASE DO NOTE the following in the beginning of the video immediately above:
More here:
Smart EV (or ED) - Post #179 | TMC
…and here:
Saved by smart fortwo structure - Post #2 | TMC
If I were you and living in the US and could afford it, I would at least see to it that my children drove something the size of a Volvo C30/S40, VW Golf, Ford Focus EV, Toyota Prius or Chevy Volt. Note though, that I can’t vouch for the safety of any of those vehicles. You’ll have to do your own due diligence.
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Canuck
Well-Known Member
I got a Nissan Leaf for my kids because of the safety ratings:
2012LEAF Crash-Test Ratings
So I get a call from my daughter, 18, crying so much I can barely understand her (my heart sinks) as she tells me she's been in an accident:
The accident is close to home, so I race over. She was rear ended by a truck while waiting at a light and pushed into the car in front of her. She was hit by a 17 year old male driver, and pushed into a 18 year old female driver. All three vehicles had "N" 's on them (required for new drivers - L for one year, while "Learning" then "N" for one year while being a "New" driver). Thankfully, she wasn't pushed into oncoming traffic, or the road in front with traffic.
The Leaf is now in the shop being repaired. The estimate is $17 to $20k. I thought it would be written off (it's damaged to the front too but not as bad - only bumper damage) but Leafs up here cost a lot more than in the States (and with the tank in our dollar it's not worth importing them anymore - mine is used from Washington State when our dollar was at par). I wanted it fixed since the actual cash value is not worth taking - and I have taken such good care of the battery.
The important thing is my daughter, and everyone else in the accident, are okay. I posted earlier in this thread the fact that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers. Scary. That's why I got her a Leaf. She really can't go anywhere with it and that suits me just fine!
2012LEAF Crash-Test Ratings
So I get a call from my daughter, 18, crying so much I can barely understand her (my heart sinks) as she tells me she's been in an accident:
The accident is close to home, so I race over. She was rear ended by a truck while waiting at a light and pushed into the car in front of her. She was hit by a 17 year old male driver, and pushed into a 18 year old female driver. All three vehicles had "N" 's on them (required for new drivers - L for one year, while "Learning" then "N" for one year while being a "New" driver). Thankfully, she wasn't pushed into oncoming traffic, or the road in front with traffic.
The Leaf is now in the shop being repaired. The estimate is $17 to $20k. I thought it would be written off (it's damaged to the front too but not as bad - only bumper damage) but Leafs up here cost a lot more than in the States (and with the tank in our dollar it's not worth importing them anymore - mine is used from Washington State when our dollar was at par). I wanted it fixed since the actual cash value is not worth taking - and I have taken such good care of the battery.
The important thing is my daughter, and everyone else in the accident, are okay. I posted earlier in this thread the fact that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers. Scary. That's why I got her a Leaf. She really can't go anywhere with it and that suits me just fine!
SwedishAdvocate
Active Member
I am of course also glad to hear that no one was hurt.
Unfortunately though, there is one test missing from that summary:
2014 Nissan Leaf 40 mph small overlap IIHS crash test
Overall evaluation [of the small overlap IIHS crash test]: Poor
Source: Vehicle details 2014 Nissan Leaf | IIHS
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BoerumHill
not great not terrible
Oh, dang. Glad she's alright brother.
My son is your girl's age, and my daughter is a decade apart. Probably gonna get that call one day, and I can just imagine how you felt at that moment.
Glass, metal & rubber can all be repaired/replaced...glad to hear ALL the kids involved came away unhurt.
Canuck
Well-Known Member
Mine's a 2012 and IIHS gave it a "top safety pick":
Vehicle details
But after I bought it I did see that further test and it's not good. But it's not many cars can sustain that type of a crash without injuries. That's why I got a Leaf to keep her off the highways where head on collision are more common.
Vehicle details
But after I bought it I did see that further test and it's not good. But it's not many cars can sustain that type of a crash without injuries. That's why I got a Leaf to keep her off the highways where head on collision are more common.
SmartElectric
Active Member
Safety is important, my Smart ED has 8 air bags, safety cell, stability and traction control, anti lock brakes, and more. My son won't be taking it on any major highway, as that is not permitted in the initial phase of his license. It's infinitely more safe than the 1972 Plymouth Satellite that I had access to at his age...and look how I turned out. ;-)
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