I can't find crash test info anywhere on the net for C4's. were crash tests ever done with these cars? I would think since the car is made of fiberglass it would be more dangerous than a normal car. Has anyone had a wreck in a C4?

 

Ask Def Leppard's drummer if these cars are dangerous. :lol:

 

I must say I've never seen or heard of one either. Don't all new car platforms have to undergo crash testing by law? The info. has be be out there somewhere. :confused:

 

no, but after having the doors apart.... if you get broadsided by a bicycle it would probably total the car.

Paul

 

right down here in beautiful downtown burlington wi, we have mga, thats the lab that crashes new cars for the insurance institute. i asked, they said anyone that buys that car knows the risks, and so do the insurance companys. so no testing :cry but thats really a good thing. no cars sacraficed :party:

 

I'm an engineer in GM's only North American crash test lab. Keep in mind this is my opinion only and I'm not representing General Motors in my statements.

Yes, crash tests were done on the C4. Crash testing is done on all car lines to meet federal standards. Keep in mind though that this is all done a couple of years before the vehicle is released - IE more than 20 years ago for the C4. Al Gore hadn't even invented the internet yet. Available information will be lacking due to the timeframe. Tests were done in later years to validate airbags when they came out, side impact when those standards were adopted in early/mid-90's, and when any major change is done to the car (not many that I can think of for the C4). Early C4's will not have the side impact protection that was added in later years because standards did not exist then. All the later years do meet the federal standards, although you may not think it looks like much.

We are a self certification business. In other words, the manufacturers run their own crash tests to verify they meet standards. NHTSA does not. We just have to prove they meet when challenged. NHTSA does run tests from time to time, but usually at speeds higher than the standard as a means to compare one car to another. That is where you see the star ratings - NCAP. You can find that on NHTSA's website, but I don't know that the program existed in the days of the C4 so there may be no data. They won't go back and test old cars. Another source for data is IIHS website (Insurance Institute mentioned above), but again I don't believe there will be any C4 data. Again though IIHS does not test for certification, they have their own test matrix as a way to compare one car to another. IIHS has invented several crash test scenarios (ie, offset frontal seen on Dateline). New vehicles go through all this in addition to federal standards now.

So, the only certification data out there is most likely internal to GM. The data provided on the net is assessment data to compare one car to another, not show certification. But I believe the C4 pre-dates all of this.

Sorry for the long speal, but you hit on my subject.

Oh, Paul it may sound funny but I helped develop a test device where a car is hit in the side by a bicycle. Seriously. We run quite a few of those. But way after the C4 days.




[Modified by 93Quasar, 4:26 PM 3/11/2004]

 

Got any jobs for aspiring engineers.

 

Crash test, you wanna stinkin' crash test? Well then, check this out :cry:U

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=738595

 

:eek: :eek: Holy crash batman...


Anybody seen the crash test C5 at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. It didn't fair too well, I doubt ours holds up any better.

On the other hand, they make perfect launch ramps for SUV's :cuss

 

You did bring up a good point that any low riding sports car has and that is underride with taller trucks and suv's. That is a tough one. But as for seeing a crashed are and saying it "looks" bad, looks can be deceiving. When you hit something, the energy has to go somewhere. The coice is you or the car. I'd prefer the car take it all up by way of crush, or exploding fiberglass, or whatever. But the more the car takes, the less you do. The end result is a very messed up ride, but the driver comes out alive. As long as there is not excessive intrusion into the occupant compartment. As far as I can see, the C4 has one of the best protected cockpits of cars out there. It has a full frame, not a unibody job. As the pictures linked above show, the roll bar is functional. And one of the complaints of the C4 is stepping over the high sill. Underneath that is the frame beam that is quite a bit of protection between you and a side impact. However, it does come up a little on the low side. The C4 is by no means perfect, but if I thought it was a total deathtrap I wouldn't drive it.

 

You all ever see that Police chase of a stolen C-4. The guy hits the rear of a Semi at 100+. The car pretty much explodes fiberglass and parts; but leaves him sitting unhurt, in the tub. He was probably very confused as to why he wasn't dead though.

:chevy

 

How comforting :lolg: :lolg: I've never owned a car that I've had more respect for or fear of, and I've owned many. The limits are high but when you surpass them I feel that the outcome is highly dangerous and unpredictable :hat You best have your wits about you, pay attention at all times, and don't be stupid :nonod:

That said, I definately NEEDED more power :rofl:


[Modified by 86Moon, 11:00 PM 3/11/2004]

 

chevy probably sent that video to the crash test guys...and it passed without further testing.. :lol: :lol: :lol:

funny stuff tho, from what i recall , he lost it because he cut too tight of a turn at high speeds and the rear stepped out. i dont remember him clipping the rig... but i could be wrong. amazing video.

 

He clipped the rig, I remember them drawing a circle around the bulk of the car and then another around him as they went seperate ways. Unless this was another Real TV episode. He was dazed, but alright.

 

Yeah but it shot him outta the car. There was no tub or body panal stuff involved. :yesnod: