[samyakmodi]

@vb-san
maybe - maybe not. as when i tried the polo and figo - they didn't feel as well built. the figo felt a bit flimsy to some extent.

@vasudeva
going by that logic - these cars should also be fitted with a mandatory speed limiter of let's say 30kmph? they shouldn't drive any faster than those speeds any which way in the city.

about a few nights back, i witnessed an i10 ram into the rear fender of a wagon R. and trust me i noticed it only because i saw the wagon R jumping from behind (about good 3 feet). when i got a bit close i saw that the only damage to the cars was - the i10 had a broken headlight + slightly bent fender + a misshaped bumper. wagonR had a broken tail lam, and again a misshapen rear fender and bumper.

what made me wonder was how light weight these cars intact are. though they didn't suffer much damage (considering the way the wagon R jumped) i still wondered what would have happened had there been a small baby in the wagon R and it would have jumped the way it did. ever since that day i made a mental note. "bhaad mien jays saare features air fuel efficiency. will only buy a car which is not just safe, but safest in terms of driver and passenger safety and falls in my budget."

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by samyakmodi

@vb-san
maybe - maybe not. as when i tried the polo and figo - they didn't feel as well built. the figo felt a bit flimsy to some extent.

My reference was based on the NDTV crash video.

[CARDEEP]

Tata Motors has assured to work on the safety of its cars after a range of small Indian cars. More details here:

http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail3/st...ate-tata-.html

At least they are admitting the lapses & will work on improving cars on safety front.

Appreciated

[amolbh]

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

Tata Motors has assured to work on the safety of its cars after a range of small Indian cars.

IIRC, Osamu Suzuki had commented on the safety aspects of the Nano when it was announced (look who's talking!). Had Tata not used such tactics to reduce the weight they would have had the last laugh, and maybe even snatched some share from the Alto800. I did not like the double standards of Tata in making a safer car for checking the viability in foreign/developed markets, and giving us an unsafe car.

OT:
When I got my car, I had two options for the same price:
1. A 9-month A-Star VXi with 6000km and a free service remaining
2. A 2-year i10 with ABS+2 airbags and 30000km used

I wasn't aware of the crash-worthiness of the cars at that time and as anyone would, I chose the former, thinking that it is still OK without airbags. And after watching the respective EuroNCAP videos, I somewhat felt that I made a wrong choice. (A-Star 3/5 and i10 4/5 both with 2 airbags)

After seeing the above video, I no longer regret my decision. The A-Star may not be that safe originally (v/s European i10) or Maruti might have used inferior materials, but I am really happy I have a great handler and a car which still smells new. And no airbags blowing up into my face!!

Till now I used to think Hyundai is really doing something good for India. VERY BAD HYUNDAI!

[blacksport]

Originally Posted by amolbh

After seeing the above video, I no longer regret my decision. The A-Star may not be that safe originally (v/s European i10) or Maruti might have used inferior materials, but I am really happy I have a great handler and a car which still smells new. And no airbags blowing up into my face!!

Till now I used to think Hyundai is really doing something good for India. VERY BAD HYUNDAI!

I would happily sit in a structurally weak i10 with 2 airbags than a structurally weak Maruti without any airbags.

The only Maruti Suzuki cars that I'd ever buy is a Kizashi or a Grand Vitara. The rest are "Modified" for India.

[amolbh]

Originally Posted by blacksport

I would happily sit in a structurally weak i10 with 2 airbags than a structurally weak Maruti without any airbags.

The only Maruti Suzuki cars that I'd ever buy is a Kizashi or a Grand Vitara. All the rest are "Modified" for India.

And have airbags blow up in your face!? Please elaborate on your remark.

Swift somehow seems to be unmodified, but point noted.

[chncar]

Originally Posted by amolbh

IIRC, Osamu Suzuki had commented on the safety aspects of the Nano when it was announced (look who's talking!). Had Tata not used such tactics to reduce the weight they would have had the last laugh, and maybe even snatched some share from the Alto800. I did not like the double standards of Tata in making a safer car for checking the viability in foreign/developed markets, and giving us an unsafe car.

OT:
When I got my car, I had two options for the same price:
1. A 9-month A-Star VXi with 6000km and a free service remaining
2. A 2-year i10 with ABS+2 airbags and 30000km used

I wasn't aware of the crash-worthiness of the cars at that time and as anyone would, I chose the former, thinking that it is still OK without airbags. And after watching the respective EuroNCAP videos, I somewhat felt that I made a wrong choice. (A-Star 3/5 and i10 4/5 both with 2 airbags)

After seeing the above video, I no longer regret my decision. The A-Star may not be that safe originally (v/s European i10) or Maruti might have used inferior materials, but I am really happy I have a great handler and a car which still smells new. And no airbags blowing up into my face!!

Till now I used to think Hyundai is really doing something good for India. VERY BAD HYUNDAI!

Sorry, maybe I am stupid, but I dont understand. Isn't it the job of airbags to 'blow up in your face'? Or would you rather have the steering and metal parts of the car slam into your upper body?

[amolbh]

Originally Posted by chncar

Sorry, maybe I am stupid, but I dont understand. Isn't it the job of airbags to 'blow up in your face'? Or would you rather have the steering and metal parts of the car slam into your upper body?

The job of airbags is to get inflated and stay in a position fixed relative to the driver, as a cushion, so that the driver's head gets protection from it, instead of hitting the bare steering wheel. In the Indian i10, the steering column is moving towards the driver, which is absolutely unacceptable. The airbag when in the process of inflation will have direction opposite to that of the driver's, causing more harm.

This has been discussed many times earlier in the thread and also in the Alto K10 crash thread.

Anyways, if you still have any more questions, we all would love to hear them.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by vsathyap

One mystery is that the quoted speed of 64kmph is quite not what it seems. From some laws of physics, the force of impact is determined by the velocity of the vehicles and their masses.

As there is some discussion about head on collisions, and the force of impact, and whether the cars could suffer more damage or the same amount of damage in such cases, here's a video clipping of an episode of Mythubusters which deals with exactly the same issue.

Makes for an interesting watch and see and learn how the laws of physics come into play in such high force collisions.

Thanks for the video. Very informative indeed. Kind of dispelled my notion completely.

While watching it, I saw another interesting video on Youtube, where a small Renault hatch is crashed against an old-gen Volvo station wagon. The findings are equally interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCecdOBCFjI

[sarathlal]

Any idea on the possibility of retrofitting additional airbags to the current models?

For eg, For an airbag equipped vehicle, In case a manufacturer wants, is it possible to add additional airbags like curtain airbags and passenger airbag?
This would be under the assumption that, the circuits and controls are already in place to handle the trigger for airbag control, since one airbag is already present.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

Any idea on the possibility of retrofitting additional airbags to the current models?

More than having airbags, structural rigidity is of concern. No use of airbags if the structure crumbles on impact!


Cheers!

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

Any idea on the possibility of retrofitting additional airbags to the current models?

I don't think it is possible to retro-fit another air bag once a car is manufactured.

And moreover it is not advisable to do such things. Best if it comes when manufactured rather retro-fitting.

Anurag.

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by volkman10

More than having airbags, structural rigidity is of concern. No use of airbags if the structure crumbles on impact!
Cheers!

Originally Posted by a4anurag

I don't think it is possible to retro-fit another air bag once a car is manufactured.

And moreover it is not advisable to do such things. Best if it comes when manufactured rather retro-fitting.

Anurag.

I agree. But my question was more towards models which has the structural design to accommodate full 6 airbags, but Indian models are given only two.
Recent example being the Indian and Thai city.

Thought was on something of a government regulations, how feasible is it to the manufacturer to add on additional safety features, like the extra airbags, by safety recalls

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

I agree. But my question was more towards models which has the structural design to accommodate full 6 airbags, but Indian models are given only two.
Recent example being the Indian and Thai city.

I am not sure but won't the addition now have any changes to be made to the internal structure to add the airbags into a car?

Anurag.

[i74js]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

Any idea on the possibility of retrofitting additional airbags to the current models?

For eg, For an airbag equipped vehicle, In case a manufacturer wants, is it possible to add additional airbags like curtain airbags and passenger airbag?
This would be under the assumption that, the circuits and controls are already in place to handle the trigger for airbag control, since one airbag is already present.

I am not too sure if I am answering your question correctly - One of my friends has a base version of ford figo and the car met with an accident. While carrying out repairs for the car, he had a discussion with the dealership and got dual airbags fitted (which are available with top end). He spent about 1.05 Lacs over and above the accidental repair cost (which was paid by the insurance company) and this additional amount was settled by him.

I call it a good move, though he was safe after the accident but understood the value of these features and also the dealership was ready to help him with required changes.

Should you need more information, let me know.