Impressed by a Honda Odyssey crash

Had the lucky pleasure of watching a Honda Odyssey in a ~40-50 mph head on collision and then a tumble down an embankment. No one was seriously hurt, the roof did not collapse, the doors still opened, and the thing was still running while sitting there at the bottom. I must say, I was quite impressed. I'm still not buying a minivan, but if I were, I"d have to give some further looking to a Honda version.

The Dodge/Chrysler minivan that caused the wreck didn't fare nearly so well. Though that driver wasn't seriously hurt either.

I saw video of a car chase that went head-on into a pervious-gen Caravan with a family of 5 at about 70mph.

One of those crashes where you "know" everyone dies...

All walked away unscathed. IIRC the perp didn't do so well.

I'll try to find the video.

I remember a first generation Sedona getting demolished. Offset front impact, then t-boned. Ended up on it's roof. Small child in the car seat in the back was hurt because the car seat failed. Everyone else walked away. Looking at the accident photos I would have guessed everyone was dead. But then again that thing weighed almost 5k lbs.

occupant safety FTW. body structures are designed to absorb and redirect energy away from occupants. car body gets hammered, occupant body not so much.

foxtrapper wrote: Had the lucky pleasure...

You call that a lucky pleasure? I'd have nightmares for weeks.

This thread and one on Focus Fanatics (Focus T-boned at the front fender/windshield post, in an intersection, by a 'new' Mustang doing 60mph) really make me appreciate the engineering and safety features of new cars.

I used to think I was ok "taking my chances" in old cars that wouldn't fare nearly as well in a crash (odds, you know). Perhaps as I've aged I've become more risk averse, but I really appreciate knowing that people are walking away from what would've been fatalities in years past.

As well, I've been a bah-humbug of all the mandated 'extra' safety features that have added weight, size, cost etc... I don't know that I've changed my tune per se, but the threads make me view the 'safety nannies' in a rather new light.

In reply to OldGray320i:

Agreed on all counts. I used to think I needed to put my kids in an old one-ton 4x4 to be safe.

Then I learned that just because your old heavy truck looks fine after you total a new Camry doesn't mean your knees, wrists, face and ribs will ever feel the same again.

Crumple zones ftw indeed.

I think the Odyssey just received a "good" from the NHTSA(?) or something like that (2-3 weeks ago?). All of the others tested didn't do as well.

OldGray320i wrote: This thread and one on Focus Fanatics (Focus T-boned at the front fender/windshield post, in an intersection, by a 'new' Mustang doing 60mph) really make me appreciate the engineering and safety features of new cars. I used to think I was ok "taking my chances" in old cars that wouldn't fare nearly as well in a crash (odds, you know). Perhaps as I've aged I've become more risk averse, but I really appreciate knowing that people are walking away from what would've been fatalities in years past. As well, I've been a bah-humbug of all the mandated 'extra' safety features that have added weight, size, cost etc... I don't know that I've changed my tune per se, but the threads make me view the 'safety nannies' in a rather new light.

I tell ya. While driving my 80's Civic I saw a pickup t-bone a 90's cadillac. It was enough to scare me into something from this century. (just as soon as I get the cash... )

Yeah, it's generally pretty unpopular to say so on a car forum, but seeing the people I share the road with, I'll take all the safety tech I can get. I've recently gotten a job in law enforcement and seeing all the vehicular homicides and assaults only magnifies the feeling.

Yeah I have always welcomed the improved safety. I know it makes cars heavier and look bloated but I figure that is what makes those Ford Engineers wake up and go.

Hmmm Aluminum F150? Why not? Eventually they may say, hmm aluminum/FRP 2021 Focus? Why not?

I have 2004 and 2005 year cars in my fleet and even they feel not as safe as modern stuff.