Sup guys

I some how got attached to the scion for its style, room and extremely low depreciation or rather appreciation in some cases. But before I buy I want to know how safe it is. I hate to ask for accident stories but they will help extremely. Im worried about getting into a rear end collision and with its small bumper getting f'd up on the 110 freeway. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. From your responses determines whether or not I buy!!

 

I've had the same concern. Since there isn't yet crash test data for the xB, I've had to look at the bB, the xB's alter ego in Japan.

http://www.nasva.go.jp/assess/englis...02e/as115.html

It appears to have done well, but I wonder if their tests are as stringent as the US'.

On these forums I've also found a website that has pics of crashed xBs, just to get an idea of what they look like after an accident. Warning: Not for the timid hearted!

http://www.wreckedscions.com/

Dan

 

There's are three equally imporant aspects of being safe when driving:

1) Avoiding collisions. The Scion's ABS, stability control, traction control, excellent all-around visibility (almost no "blind spots"), excellent emergency handling, and lack of capacity for dangerous acceleration make it less likely to get into an accident in the first place.

2) Protecting the occupants. The results from the Japanese crash tests are very encouraging, but it would be good to have more data. Small cars can do a good job of protecting occupants if they are belted in, and the Scion is a modern design that benefits from the latest research. It's resistant to rollover. So, while side airbags would be a plus and US crash data is missing, I personally feel confident in my xB.

3) Not being stupid. We need another word for "accident," since most of them seem to be the result of some moron doing something brain-dead to cause the collision. That's not an "accident." The accident is what happens to the other guy, who gets hit by the moron.

RichC

 

I have avoided so many accidents with this car, because it stops so darn good. I had a wreck happen right in front of me , cars pull out in front of me etc and the brakes are great. Now that it is lowered a bit and has sway bars on it I can manuver better so that should help, and I found that it's small size helps you to squirt through tight spots.

 

This might be the worst front offset wreck on the website above, still looks like the driver was protected.



Be assurred that this one hurt:



This one is slightly disconcerting. Be careful of the rear-enders, Overboost.com had one that looked similar:

 

That last one concerns me.

Any tall tales of box-SUV encounters??

 

Wow, a SEARCH feature!



Here are previous related threads:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=72982
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70711
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=64260
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14841
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60605
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=63539

More pics of the Blue Bus being rear-ended after stopping to prevent hitting a TT stopped in the road: http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=1254

Please no flames-- but searching is a wonderful thing (myself included here!)

 

relax!!

 

now i'm concerned

 

If you pay attention while driving you can avoid most (not all) accidents

 

It's been out for years in japan. If it was a death trap, we'd know about it.

 

Yes, but avoiding the accident is not the issue here but how well the car can hold up IF you still get into an accident. Some accidents are unavoidable due to the other ... non-careful.... drivers out there.

I was mainly concerned with the rear-end collision which doesn't appear to be a concern for the Japanese. None of their crash test were from the rear-- I looked at other cars on that site too. But looking at the NHTSA site (safercar.gov) looks like we (US) don't check rear crash safety either.

However, looking at some of the rear-end accidents from the above links I feel confident that the xB has a good frame designed to crumple appropriately.



Looking specifically at the Verboost car above, which stopped in time to not hit a TT, then got hit by another car, it appears that a left-rear passenger would have been ok, but that's my layman's opinion. The driver walked away but later had a concussion and memory problems which implies also that it was a VERY violent accident.

 

In the rear-ender pictures I've seen, the rear crumples up to the rear axle. This is good for protecting the passengers, but it is also something to keep in mind when loading behind the rear seats. Anything back there is venerable in an accident. Solid objects that don't crush might put rear seat passengers at risk. If I'm carring something valuable like a camera or laptop, I keep one seat down so it has somewhere to go in an accident or put it somewhere else in the car.