![]() | #31 |
BHPian Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 208
Thanked: 211 Times
| ![]() TheLizardKing - thanks a ton. A very good quick reference guide to buying a safer car. And as you said I do hope people look up to this list when making a buying decision, it could save a life. |
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![]() | #32 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ranchi
Posts: 3,998
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| ![]() Lizard King, that is a very useful compilation of facts at one place. New car buyers should definitely have a look at the tables you have drawn. Very glad to see that safety is taking a front seat these days, not only on the forum, but in the outside world too. Also, to be future proof and of course for their own safety, new car buyers should try to stretch their budget a little and get a car with all safety kit in place. Manufacturers on the other hand should try to keep the profitability on the safety components on the lower side, aiding the car buyers. Thanks for coming up with it. Regards, Saket |
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![]() | #33 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pune
Posts: 125
Thanked: 178 Times
| ![]() @Lizard King - Excellent thread. This will help me to choose my next car. Hopefully by 2016 when I manage to save some $$s. My absolute musts are auto-gear (no AMT, 6+ gears if TC or DTC / responsive CVT) and minimum safety (Dual front air bags plus ABS). Your spreadsheet will definitely help. Hats off to the BIG effort that must have gone into it. ![]() |
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![]() | #34 | |
BHPian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 40
Thanked: 50 Times
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Could you please correct the chart? I guess this qualifies for the VXi (O) variant to pass the test. I want to upload the e-brochure of Wagon-R to this post, for proof. But I am not sure how to attach files to post. Below is the link for the brochure: http://www.vehicleades.com/downloads/wagonr.pdf | |
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![]() | #35 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 399
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![]() | #36 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: May 2014 Location: New Delhi
Posts: 120
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Thanks lizardking for this crisp analysis. Really taking time out to do something like this means a great deal. IMHO, there are two parts that contribute to how safe a vehicle is under given circumstances. For obvious reasons, I would not include drivers' skills, road conditions and external factors like lighting, weather conditions etc. 1. Structural Integrity - really this is a no-brainer. I do not understand why can't our regulators make the structural integrity test and scoring a minimum rating in such test (lets say 3 out of a scale of 5) mandatory for any new vehicle to be sold and registered in India. This is by far the most important yet unseen, unheard feature that people rely on for their safety in the unfortunate event of a crash. If for example, a score of 3 out of 5 is made minimum standard, then a car model with score of 4 automatically becomes a premium product considering that Maruti / hyundai and the likes will stop at 3 at least for their top selling budget cars. Obviously there are a lot of factors in structural integrity like crumple zones, etc which also come in to play, but then that's the entire point of having standards - setting minimum acceptable limits. 2. In car safety features - ABS, SRS airbags, EBD, etc. these features aid a great deal in preventing an impact and upon impact minimizing the damage. Yet these are all supplemental systems, and also to an extent dependent on drivers' skills. Hence, while important they should not be considered as important as structural safety. Nevertheless, their presence should be mandatory as well. Again in my opinion, both the above should be mandated by law. That's it. Why do we need to depend on the mercy of auto manufacturers who decide which car variant gets which features? There should be a standard base list of features as universal on all cars manufactured and sold in India. Yes, the cost burden will be passed to the consumer, but then isn't that the case when diesel prices go up and price of vegetables also goes up, or when steel prices go up and auto manufacturers pass on the increase to end consumer. Even so, there is limited scope for manufacturers raising price of individual models exorbitantly as the playing field is leveled and competition will be quick to take advantage of any unfair price hike (just a quick calculation will show that 60 - 70 % of total vehicles sold are in the sub 10 lac bucket which may be very sensitive to price hikes). There are enough precedents on government stepping in to make regulations for auto manufacturers, it happened at the time when CNG was made mandatory for commercial vehicles plying in Delhi, it happened at the time BS IV standards were made mandatory, etc. Why not take the same approach for safety? Partially government has done its duty as a regulator, or at least begun with the right intent, by announcing mandatory safety features but without the entire package that may well be a case of too little too late. | |
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![]() | #37 |
BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TN 14
Posts: 40
Thanked: 22 Times
| ![]() Looks like one of the safest entry level cars is one that does not sell a lot... the Micra Active XV Safety. Good safety features for the money. Even the three pot mill is acceptable at this price point, I would say. However people seem to go in mostly for the unsafe variants of Maruti (VXi and VDi) and Hyundai (Magna, Sportz) and some go on to add more bling which would increase the price to more than this safer option. ![]() |
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![]() | #38 | |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Chennai
Posts: 314
Thanked: 357 Times
Infractions: 0/2 (8) | ![]() Quote:
![]() One comment on the Brio's variants. I don't think we get ABS and air-bag in the 'V' trim of Brio. Request you to kindly check it. | |
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![]() | #39 | |
BHPian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 40
Thanked: 50 Times
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![]() | #40 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: May 2014 Location: Chandigarh
Posts: 47
Thanked: 35 Times
| ![]() Amazing compilation, great post. This is why BHP is way ahead. |
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![]() | #41 | |
BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TN 14
Posts: 40
Thanked: 22 Times
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![]() | #42 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chennai
Posts: 478
Thanked: 271 Times
| ![]() There is a very good article in Autocar india web site that gives a brief about the safety aspects implemented in cars and how they work. The link is: http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...-391595.aspx/0 |
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![]() | #43 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Hi Please read the news in ET. Follow link below. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/45129600.cms. This is a very serious indeed. A Toyota Fortuner airbag did not deploy, probably due to roll-over and no head on collusion. Owner has taken all the Toyota Kirloskar India Directors to Court for criminal liability and Court seems to be in agreement. While there is a bit of exaggeration but this should go as eye opener for all the Automobile companies in India, who take us for granted, giving inferior products while catering to overseas market with better & safer cars. |
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![]() | #44 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: May 2006 Location: mumbai
Posts: 612
Thanked: 633 Times
| ![]() Which are the top 3 cheapest Hatchbacks that have ABS, Airbags and good Structural integrity (read as good NCAP ratings if any)? If someone has their prices also please let me know. I suppose following cars can come in the above category: 1) Micra 2) Vista/Bolt 3) Punto 4) Polo My friend is looking for petrol variant to reduce costs. |
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![]() | #45 | |
BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TN 14
Posts: 40
Thanked: 22 Times
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