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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: adamb on 19 July 2011, 08:50 AM

Title: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: adamb on 19 July 2011, 08:50 AM
The current edition features a pic of our beloved W116 involved in a collision with something else made in the 70s. It's a pic I've seen on this forum before. They do point out that it's no longer so strong by comparison to modern cars which have super strong safety cages and excellent crumple zones. Moreover most W116s are much weaker due to rust in key body areas.

Incidentally, the Hummer is number 1 which they say will drive away without from what most would regard as a serious collision.

Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Type17 on 19 July 2011, 10:02 AM
Here's the shot, I presume - the other car is a Ford Capri Mk1 which would have been designed in the late 1960's, and was never regarded as a particularly tough, strong car, so this was a pretty unfair fight.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v463/Type17/2011/crashW116Capri11.jpg)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: koan on 19 July 2011, 04:11 PM
What was first and second?

(obviously not a Capri)

koan
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 26 July 2011, 09:03 AM
I'm dying to know the 2nd and whatever else in in the list (top 10?)...
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: jjb-w116-hu on 26 July 2011, 05:43 PM
feeling safer already , and again :)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Big_Richard on 26 July 2011, 06:06 PM
Considering the LHD w116's were the first cars on earth to optionally offer a primitive version of the bosch abs systems that we all pretty much take for granted on all cars nowadays, I find it hard to believe anything else would be considered safer. Unless of course its some american car with those initial version lethal airbags.
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 27 July 2011, 11:56 AM
Quote from: Major Tom 6.9 on 26 July 2011, 06:06 PM
Considering the LHD w116's were the first cars on earth to optionally offer a primitive version of the bosch abs systems that we all pretty much take for granted on all cars nowadays, I find it hard to believe anything else would be considered safer. Unless of course its some american car with those initial version lethal airbags.

Not in the US though - I thought it would be quite neat to add an ABS option to my car but it's apparently so rare that that's nigh impossible.
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Big_Richard on 27 July 2011, 05:47 PM
I'm sure with enoough spare time and a w126 donor car & wiring diagram someone could retrofit later abs into a w116  8)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: haromaster87 on 27 July 2011, 07:03 PM
Quote from: Raptelan on 27 July 2011, 11:56 AM
Quote from: Major Tom 6.9 on 26 July 2011, 06:06 PM
Considering the LHD w116's were the first cars on earth to optionally offer a primitive version of the bosch abs systems that we all pretty much take for granted on all cars nowadays, I find it hard to believe anything else would be considered safer. Unless of course its some american car with those initial version lethal airbags.

Not in the US though - I thought it would be quite neat to add an ABS option to my car but it's apparently so rare that that's nigh impossible.
lol I had the same thought a while back. I wish they could make like a universal ABS kit. Hook a few sensors up to your disc, put a module in line of the brake lines, a couple other things, and voila! Yes I'm aware how impractical and incorrect that is. But it would be nice!
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 04 August 2011, 01:35 AM
Opel Corsa vs. Mercedes crash test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EysDcrs-GAo

I can tell you which one I'd rather be in...
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Nutz on 04 August 2011, 03:41 AM
(http://img2.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Sepp-Maier-Mercedes-S-Klasse-W-116-f498x333-F4F4F2-C-188fc5cd-361117.jpg)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Type17 on 04 August 2011, 04:58 AM
Hmmm, not so good in a side impact, then...



(not really a reliable guide though, as we don't know the impact speed or what it hit/what it was hit by)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Big_Richard on 04 August 2011, 05:39 AM
that w116 looks like it was parked on a train level crossing  ::)

either that or its been hit by a very large truck traveling at high speed.

Although still, its still not quite as dented up as TJ's 6.9 was prior to us giving it a paint job.
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 04 August 2011, 05:49 AM
Quote from: Type17 on 04 August 2011, 04:58 AM
(not really a reliable guide though, as we don't know the impact speed or what it hit/what it was hit by)

Sure wasn't a Ford.  Or an Opel.  I'd wager a train.  And look, the driver was fine. ;)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Type17 on 04 August 2011, 06:01 AM
Quote from: Raptelan on 04 August 2011, 05:49 AMSure wasn't a Ford.  Or an Opel.  I'd wager a train.  And look, the driver was fine. ;)

Actually, I just looked at the URL of the image, and Googled the guy's name - Sepp Maier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepp_Maier) - He was a German Professional footballer (soccer player), and the (DUI) accident ended his career, although he did survive.
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Type17 on 04 August 2011, 07:10 AM
Actually I did a further Google search and this came up... http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/yikes!/ (http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/yikes!/)

Deja Vu  ;D
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 04 August 2011, 08:11 AM
Quote from: Type17 on 04 August 2011, 06:01 AM
Actually, I just looked at the URL of the image, and Googled the guy's name - Sepp Maier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepp_Maier) - He was a German Professional footballer (soccer player), and the (DUI) accident ended his career, although he did survive.

"In 1979, Sepp Maier caused with his Mercedes S-Class to cause an accident in his home town. He slid in rainy race road in an oncoming vehicle. Two women were injured. Sepp Maier came with fractures and bruises to the hospital."

Alcohol can be even more damaging than trains.

http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/yikes!/
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: Casey on 18 August 2011, 10:20 AM
I found pictures of my W124 after a 60-70mph collision with a guardrail (wasn't head-on):

(http://casey.shobe.info/images/index.php?a=half&i=Interests%2FCars%2F1986+Mercedes+300D%2F2011+Accident%2FDSCF0177.JPG)
(http://casey.shobe.info/images/index.php?a=half&i=Interests%2FCars%2F1986+Mercedes+300D%2F2011+Accident%2FDSCF0178.JPG)
(http://casey.shobe.info/images/index.php?a=half&i=Interests%2FCars%2F1986+Mercedes+300D%2F2011+Accident%2FDSCF0179.JPG)
(http://casey.shobe.info/images/index.php?a=half&i=Interests%2FCars%2F1986+Mercedes+300D%2F2011+Accident%2FDSCF0174.JPG)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: zedster on 18 August 2011, 11:01 PM
Not to change the subject but the crash test of the SLS AMG 2010 is impressive! Those doors!

SLS AMG 2010 (http://youtu.be/RMNVVHI2ZNg)
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: gf on 21 August 2011, 09:13 AM
A while back i think in england the insurance companies found the jag xj6 or 40? was the safest, above the w126 or volvos. It could also be the manner in which they are driven. The results seem to vary from country and whose doing the research. it would be a tricky thing to pin down every time
Title: Re: W116 is 3rd most crashable car according to Practical Performance Classics
Post by: TJ 450 on 21 August 2011, 11:14 AM
The 124 suffered a fair whack indeed.

I notice the shape of the guard rail clearly in the front end damage.

Tim