[quote=qwerty007]Here we go again with simpleton bias. First they changed the way fuel efficiency is measured so the Smart car suddenly doesn’t look so efficient anymore, and now they’ve done a crash test that shows it up in the worst possible light. This little car, is a Mercedes project, went through very rigorous testing, and has been in use in Europe for years. While you might feel safer riding an elephant in the jungle, it’s going to dump a lot of s*** in your back yard. Aside from that the probability of this type of accident happening is remote, and can be more effectively avoided simply by upping the driving test standard, more road safety awareness, and improving road markings, signage etc etc. For example, there are 13 times more fatal accident in the US than the UK, which has a very tough driving test, and government backed road safety awareness schemes. The days of the gas guzzler are pretty much numbered. To me it is incredible that a failing auto industry so out of touch with reality, is still wielding its sword at shadows. [/quote]
I just think it’s ironic that for some piggies that depend on the economic “data” that points to downward trend, that it’s equally difficult for piggies to accept the “data” and simple laws of physics to accept that these smaller cars are *not* safer…
Heh heh, selective belief. Same sort of selective belief that is going to corner some folks into perpetually thinking the sky is falling.
As far as the 13 times more accidents than europe. Yes, but that’s because europe has much more strigent requirements for getting a license. I would say a significant portion of americans wouldn’t have a driver’s license if the tests mandated here were like in europe.
The days of the gas guzzlers are numbered. But so are the days of smaller cars when the MPG of larger cars are made to go up as required by regulations (CAFE here). As far as Prius’ are concerned, owners are never going to recoup the premium they spent on those compact cars, let alone pay the cost of replacing the battery when it dies.
