Consumer Reports debuts crash-in theater
Oh how we all love a good car crash, but finding good, slow-motion automotive carnage on the Web hasn't been all that easy to find. Until now. Consumer Reports has put hours of crash-test video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety online, free for anyone to see.
We've already lost hours of productivity to CR's new Crash-In Theater and we're sure you will too. We highly recommend watching the frontal offset test of the 2000 Dodge Neon. It's just amazing how bent out of shape the door frame gets and surprising how much air the rear tires achieve. Oh, and the narrator says the steering wheel actually snapped off from the steering column. That can't be good.
While we found the videos highly entertaining, used- and new-car shoppers will surely find the videos and accompanying analysis beneficial. For those shopping for a used Pontiac Transport, you really, really should watch that video. For those squeamish about seeing a crash-test dummy pretty much destroyed, you really, really shouldn't.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cody Peterson 11:46AM (8/23/2007)
Well, thats a nice, reassuring sight to wake up to this morning, seeing a 2000-2005 Dodge Neon die right before my eyes, approximately 15 minutes before I get into my 2005 Neon and drive to work on the Five (Los Angeles) freeway... Good Times
If I don't survive today, thanks Autoblog for all the good times...
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paul 12:02PM (8/23/2007)
i'll remember you man
lotussun 7:27PM (8/23/2007)
Yeah my friend bought his daughter a 2007 Aveo and it does pretty poorly also! I tried to convince him to get her a Honda fit but he is one of those Domestic guys. So be it I say! I Always check the side impact rating and if is not good I dont even consider the vehicle, I dont care what country or race of people made it -if it doesn't rate good on the side it's not good enough for any of my family - period!
Stoneman 1:23PM (8/23/2007)
Time for a Subaru Impreza.
Cody Peterson 9:24PM (8/23/2007)
Well, I was involved in a fairly bad accident in the 2005 neon and I survived and walked away from it :-)
Some dumb broad ran a stop sign and I broad sided her at 25mph... and that was a Ford Thunderbird (new model, v8) vs my 2005 Neon... did 6000 bucks in damage to the frontend of my car, but it was her fault, and I took it to a good shop (In Newport Beach, CA whom specializes in Mercedes and BMW's) and its as good as new..) and like I said, I walked away (thank God)
Avinash machado 11:47AM (8/23/2007)
Wish they get a Brillance to test. It will be real entertainment.
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ebix 12:04PM (8/23/2007)
Yeah, I love how so many people love to give the Brilliance and other China cars so much crap about their crash test performance...(which I agree with is terrible), but fail to remember the results such as the Neon and Pontiac (oh, how about the F150 too) mentioned here that are just as bad/worse.
These are some American vehicles from just a few years ago! You should be a lot more upset at GM, Ford, and Chrysler instead of the Chinese.
Go Ignorance.
taipeileviathan 11:49AM (8/23/2007)
oh. my. god.
that was horrifying. i suppose it was always unfair comparing the crash tests of mainland chinese models with say, crash tests of mercedes' or bmw's cars b/c that dodge neon test... is making me think twice about giving chinese automakers flack, to say the least... and i don't even like china! i'm taiwanese!
... and chrysler's been at this car-building thing for much, much longer than the chinese have. shame on them that a 2000-2005 model could still fail so spectacularly.
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John P. 12:06PM (8/23/2007)
The Neon design is 12-13 years old now though I think and they don't sell it anymore so I wouldn't really compare it to anything new out there.
But yeah, it looks pretty bad, but that's why we try to avoid accidents in the first place isn't it? I never bought a car for it's safety rating and probably never will, but I do know it's important to some and respect their choices.
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paul34 12:30PM (8/23/2007)
That's true, but I am one of those who always try to think of what happens if "someone else crashes into you."
Sure, there are situations where you can try to prevent that situation as well, but we can't prevent all situations.
paul 12:07PM (8/23/2007)
I'm Jeff Barlan with Consumer Reports, now let's look at this test in slow motion.
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Jason 12:29PM (8/23/2007)
In the side test on the Neon, the head strikes the sled which would cause significant injuries and brain damage. Nice! Pretty scary stuff.
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Mike 12:35PM (8/23/2007)
Anyone watch the crash test for the S10/Sonoma? Yikes.
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freckles 2:32PM (8/23/2007)
I've always heard that these trucks were horrible in front end crashed but man that was horrific!
Phillip 2:56PM (8/23/2007)
Spectacular crash, haha. I really wonder how the crew-cab version did. And the blazer.
Avinash machado 12:36PM (8/23/2007)
Also I just remembered that the PT Cruiser is based on the Neon platform.
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Elliott 12:47PM (8/23/2007)
Very cool.
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Spiel 12:50PM (8/23/2007)
Jeff should have spent more time on his haircut and his outfit than repeating the same lines over and over.
Woooweee that's some hairstyle.
Other than that, glad I don't drive a Neon.
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Spiel 12:51PM (8/23/2007)
Jeff should have spent more time on his haircut and his outfit than repeating the same lines over and over.
Woooweee that's some hairstyle.
Other than that, glad I don't drive a Neon.
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Rocket Punch 12:58PM (8/23/2007)
Never knew the Neon was made in China, or so it seems....
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