Hi,

I'm looking for advice. I'm car shopping and have read all I can find about the c6. What I haven't found thus far is much safety information.

1. Has anyone seen any crash test data? I've read the news releases and books that talk about the strengthening of the chasis, but I haven't seen anything else.

2. Does anyone know if the doors have side impact beams? In the cut-aways in the GM transparent diagrams, it doesn't appear so -- but I have a hard time believing that's true.

3. Finally, I've been leaning toward the coupe under the idea that the back lid will serve as a roll bar - but if anyone has seen any roll over data on the c6 convertible, that would be fantastic.

I really like the car, but I'm pretty serious on this topic. I'll be driving my kids in it quite a bit. Incidentally, after exhaustive elimination rounds, the other car I'm considering is a 350z.

I really like this forum and have been reading a lot of the threads. It's been great.

Thanks for any help!

 

Kid Or Kids?

 

It appears he has more than one child and plans to carry all of his children independently in his two-seat sports car at some point in time.

I would also like to review such information. The subject has surfaced in the past, but no info has been provided that I know of. Hopefully someone has some details.

 

I have never seen a crash test on a Corvette and due to its relatively low production numbers will be surprised if I do. If it is out there I would love to see it. I would think its greatest safety risk would be its height, or lack of it. Submarining is never good. Forum members have also related the risk of truckers not seeing it because it is low.

 

I heard the Crash Test Dummies refused to participate in the intentional destruction of a Corvette. The workers feel that it is not in their job code to participate in crashing such a low volume production vehicle. If asked to do so, they feel they should get an extra $1.50/hr. They filed a grievance with the UIU(United Idiots Union). The UIU also represents Locals in the entertainment industry partnering with ventriloquists, the Department of Defense on warhead weapons development, and the retail industry as fashion models. Hopefully, Management will come to their senses, give the Dummies the money they deserve, and this labor dispute will be resolved shortly.

Until all of that occurs, at least we can take solice that the C6 has side curtain air-bags in the seats.

 

Hi -

This is just an extra car - so the # of kids isn't relevant. The real issue is the safety. In one book, I read that GM did 45 prototype crash tests - but this doesn't help me. They don't say what the results are. I've got worries specifically about the side door, as I've said. An interesting fact, under the www.iihs.org site, a Corvette (c5) is statistically one of the cars that report the lowest injuries on insurance claims -- but again, given that so many are driven for low miles -- that isn't fully determiantive either.

In contrast, the crash tests on a 350z look great -- but the vette looks great everywhere else.

A good source that gathers up this stuff is www.informedforlife.com

Thanks!!

 

Here ya go..

http://www.wreckedexotics.com/corvette/

Judge for yourself...

 

Thanks! I'm not sure that it really tells me much, but it is pretty intersting.

 

I've also considered the safety issue, and I hate to say it, but ANY small car that sits so low to the ground will NEVER be safe... especially a plastic one. Doesn't matter how many airbags you have, when a tall heavy SUV broadsides you doing 40 mph, you're in trouble... it'll run right over you. I don't like this fact either.

A Corvette is a specialty "sports" car... in the same way a motorcycle is a specialty "sports" vehicle. I put the C6 in the same class as a motorcycle really... a specialty fun vehicle... not a family vehicle by any means.

Now some folks will take their children on the backs of their motorcycles... and some will take their children in Corvettes. If you are a highly skilled cautious driver / rider and will be travelling on not so congested roads, you will probably be pretty safe in general (meaning low chance of disaster). You can get killed while driving a huge SUV too, just depends on the situation.

I really don't think a 350Z will fare much better than a C6 in most types of accidents. Anything small and low is going to get squashed. If you are truly concerned about safety, I would say you should not be looking at a 350Z verses a C6, but looking at a large SUV verses a C6.

By the way, I plan to get a C6, and once my kid was old enough to ride in it, I'd take him in it... I have a lot of faith in my driving skills (over 20 years and countless thousands of hard miles on bikes and in cars, never a scratch, I'm extremely cautious, have successfully avoided plenty of near misses that may have been fatal disasters if say my wife had been beind the wheel).

If by chance the big man upstairs decides to call my C6 and occupants up into the sky, well then that's the way it was meant to be... can't live your life in fear. Be cautious, but live your life too. How important is it to you to take your children in a sports car? How safe do you feel driving a sports car in general in your local area on the roads you normally travel on?

Or... you may simply want to limit the amount of time your kids spend in the C6... just take them on occasional short rides here and there in safe conditions. In other words, do not take them on I-95 in a heavy rainstorm, etc.

Since I will be having kids soon, I chose to retire my motorcycle to the basement for now. Bikes are clearly more dangerous than any four-wheeler. The C6 will be my "safe" replacement vehicle.

Let us know your findings and decision.

 

Thanks! That's all very true. My other cars are "tanks". A "recreational" car clearly has compromises to it. My goal is to get something fun that minimizes the risks.

For instance, I wouldn't buy a convertible that didn't have some roll-over protection. Is that as good as a roof - of course not. But you can be prepared as possible.

If the vette doesn't have side impact beams, that would matter to me. Other cars do (read 350z, S4, Boxster).

Your advise is good - I'd just like to do what I can to give up as little safety as possibe.

I like the c6 a lot, but part of my issue is that I really can't find much safety information on it at all to know what I'm giving up, if anything.

Given the underbody/body panel construction - there may be a very good chance that this car is extremely safe, and hence I should be jumping down to Kerbeck right away! It is frustrating not being able to tell.

Thanks!!!!

 

On display at the National Corvette Musuem is a C5 that was used in the government crash tests. I was very impressed with how well the cockpit is protected with literally a steel cage. Plus the front and rear are impact absorbing modules. They told me that the C6 is even better built for occupant protection.

 

GM has crash tested a number of the early C6 development cars. However, they WILL NOT release this information. You have to wonder why the information is confidential if the test results are good.

 

Look at the pictures at wrecked exotics again! In almost every case, no matter how horrific the accident and speeds involved, the passenger area remained whole. Look at the windshield frame, almost always undamaged. The entire area between the front edge of the door and the roof structure is never deformed. Even when some clown ran right under a parked car, even though that car's rear wheels were resting on the removable roof panel, no intrusion into the passenger compartment!
You can clearly see the door beam in some of the photos too. It's the tubular steel unit running horizontally from the fron to the back of the door. These photos tell you volumes of info on how a recent corvette holds up in real world crashes. I never even considered a corvette as a safe car until I examined these pictures. I'm impressed.
I would have NO QUALMS taking a child for a ride, properly belted of course!

 

Not that this has anything to do with anything... but I'm sure you all remember that police video of the guy in a C4 hitting a truck while doing over 100 mph and surviving, looking nothing more than merely startled afterwards. Just luck of course, but hey... he CAN say he survived a 100 mph crash with a tractor-trailer while driving a Corvette! For anyone who hasn't seen this video clip, it's pretty amazing... check it out. It's online someplace.

 

I dig it. Good point. I'll be interested in watching this thread to see what other safety info surfaces. It would indeed be nice to know the story regarding side door impact beams. Anyone know?

I guess Chevy is not forthcoming with safety info for the Vette being that most of the Vette market is not concerned about safety. The average Vette buyer is only thinking about going fast, and people who like to go fast are obviously not overly worried about safety... otherwise they wouldn't be going fast to begin with. Plus, I'm sure the safety numbers are not overly impressive anyway, at least not when compared to a Volvo SUV or whatever... so why release info that might only hurt things?

In the grand scheme of things, it's better for them to just not release the safety info. Why have the C6 on the news as ranking lowest in the crash tests (compared to SUVs etc) when they could just not have it in that ranking at all. Better to just stay quiet than to get any bad press... would only make Chevy look bad overall, even to non-Vette enthusiasts... another "Chevy" with a low rank.

I also hope the C6 has good side impact beams... I do believe such is important. But the sad truth is that most of the cars on the road today (big SUVs) will run right over the top of the doors anyway... damn SUVs!

 

I dunno. Other cars are doing it. If Nissan can release the 350z and BMW can release the z4 - (a much smaller car) - I have to believe GM coudl do it. .

 

Good point on the pictures - - but the only bars I saw were in a c5. It looked pretty skimpy- so it is hard to tell if that is a crash bar or just a structural element holding the door together.

Joe

 

Interestingly, I've been talking to Kerbeck. Their dealers confirmed that the the side impact beams were continued on the c6. That, of course, makes an awful lot of sense.

I'd love to find out more about the rollover strength on the convertible. That's frankly the key difference for me.

 

In the immortal words of the rich and famous motorcyclist Malcolm Forbes: “Living is dangerous. Eventually we all die from it.” I have been tempted to buy a T-shirts with the Grim Reaper riding a motorcycle and the following tag line: “I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death.”

If you care about safety, buy a Volvo. If you car about living, buy a Corvette and have fun before God punches your ticket. My gut tells me that you shouldn't be buying a fast sports car if safety is so important to you. While I am 99% sure the Corvette has beams in the doors, you will die of a head injury if broadsided by a truck.

Alan

 

Of some note, when I went from my 04 C5 to my C6 my insurance went DOWN on a newer more expensive vehicle! I asked my agent and she said better saftey ratings.

If that doesn't sit well with you, look at getting the optional side air bags...I think they come with the 1sb package. I have them.

Bottom line, it is a corvette. You are more exposed in this than a Tahoe...but not much more than an accord. However, you are not likely to being going as fast in an accord.