The Final Year

[lozz]

iagree with you there , on the ncap,

they put the time and effort making them safer for passengers ithink,


But saying that not many cars are above 3 star ratings /even big things like Range rovers are crap in a smash,

[highlander]

Also remember than a car's NCAP rating also includes harm to pedestrians - so while it keeps the occupants of the passenger cabin nice and safe with all kinds of airbags and seatbelts and crumple zones, the NCAP score can be lowered by seriously f*cking up any poor bugger that steps out in front.

Let's face it - a Land Rover isn't the nicest thing in the world to be hit by.

[waue1978]

Also remember than a car's NCAP rating also includes harm to pedestrians - so while it keeps the occupants of the passenger cabin nice and safe with all kinds of airbags and seatbelts and crumple zones, the NCAP score can be lowered by seriously f*cking up any poor bugger that steps out in front.

Let's face it - a Land Rover isn't the nicest thing in the world to be hit by.

To be perfectly honest, NCAP ratings have never really figured much as NCAP cars are much newer (& much more expensive) than the budget has previously dictated. Might have to look them up, although it probably won't have a massive effect on what I go for. A 107 has probably got a much better NCAP rating than an E39 5 series, but I know what I'd rather we were in if the 2 collided.

[OdinEidolon]

Also remember than a car's NCAP rating also includes harm to pedestrians - so while it keeps the occupants of the passenger cabin nice and safe with all kinds of airbags and seatbelts and crumple zones, the NCAP score can be lowered by seriously f*cking up any poor bugger that steps out in front.

Let's face it - a Land Rover isn't the nicest thing in the world to be hit by.

To be perfectly honest, NCAP ratings have never really figured much as NCAP cars are much newer (& much more expensive) than the budget has previously dictated. Might have to look them up, although it probably won't have a massive effect on what I go for. A 107 has probably got a much better NCAP rating than an E39 5 series, but I know what I'd rather we were in if the 2 collided.

That's the beauty of it, the one in the 107 would probably be less hurt. It's not about mass only. For example if I recall the 406 NCAP rating correctly the 406's lower driver zone does not collapse easily and thus the driver may suffer from severe leg damage under an impact. With newer cars this is usually fixed thus improving safety. Of course less mass is worse but it's not the whole story.
I agree that NCAP stars include also pedestrian safety and things one may not be interested in. That's why NCAP has partial percentages for each test, and you can read them separately from the overall star rating.

[lozz]

Also remember than a car's NCAP rating also includes harm to pedestrians - so while it keeps the occupants of the passenger cabin nice and safe with all kinds of airbags and seatbelts and crumple zones, the NCAP score can be lowered by seriously f*cking up any poor bugger that steps out in front.

Let's face it - a Land Rover isn't the nicest thing in the world to be hit by.

Who mentioned landrover, & pedestrians,

imentioned Range rover, as of ncap passenger ratings,

btw, ive been hit with a landrover, lets say it wasnt nice, luckily my kids where at school or they wouidnt be here now,
there wouid of been no rear passenger surviors

[highlander]

The 2002 Range Rover scored 4 out of 5 stars for passenger safety. They scored 1 star out of 5 for pedestrian safety, and the word "dire" was used on the report:
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/land_rove ... 2/126.aspx

Means they're really quite good at keeping their occupants protected during a crash, but not exactly stellar at keeping pedestrians alive (thus lowering the overall NCAP score). And if they're that bad for mashing pedestrians I can imagine them being efficient at mashing just about anything they hit.

Incidentally, what were you driving that got mashed by the Range Rover?

[OdinEidolon]

The 2002 Range Rover scored 4 out of 5 stars for passenger safety. They scored 1 star out of 5 for pedestrian safety, and the word "dire" was used on the report:
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/land_rove ... 2/126.aspx

Means they're really quite good at keeping their occupants protected during a crash, but not exactly stellar at keeping pedestrians alive (thus lowering the overall NCAP score). And if they're that bad for mashing pedestrians I can imagine them being efficient at mashing just about anything they hit.

Incidentally, what were you driving that got mashed by the Range Rover?

there's worse. Hummer!

[lozz]

Was driving a Vreg 306 mate on a dual carriageway,
was Rear ended by ex british telecom landrover, or ipresume it was ex bt by the colour,

the landrover didnt flinch, just one of them small round indicator covers fell off,
the tail gate was touching the back of my seat,

driver was gearing down from 60mph so he said when he hit me, so iwouidnt like to say what speed he was doing but he had been drinking,

if it wouid of been a Range rover it wouid of folded in, them landrovers are built like tanks

[waue1978]

Comparable cars
Euro NCAP’s frontal impact test simulates a car crashing into another of similar mass and structure. In real life, when two cars collide the vehicle with the higher mass has an advantage over the lighter one. Generally speaking, vehicles with higher structures tend to fare better in accidents than those with lower structures. Therefore, ratings are comparable only between cars of similar mass and with broadly similar structures. Euro NCAP groups cars into the following structural categories: passenger car, MPV, off-roader, roadster and pickup. Within each of those categories, cars which are within 150kg of one another are considered comparable.

That just decided how much weight I'll be putting on the NCAP rating of any future cars I buy. I'll be sticking with my previous statement on the 107 vs E39 5 series battle & stick to getting a large car.

[grasmere59]

In 2007 i was in the outside lane of the M42 and the traffic all stopped suddenly,i pulled up just in time behind an Audi A3 and then looked in my rear view mirror to see a Frontera closing fast with no sign of slowing,at the last minute big clouds of smoke off the Frontera's tyres(no abs) and bang straight into the back of my E39 and then i got pushed into the back of the A3 and then an MX5 ran into the back of the Frontera.In short the impact only just woke my dogs sleeping on the back seat of my E39 and i drove the car home just having to tie the bootlid down and a bit of tape on 1 rear light lense,the car was repaired and i still have it.I hate to think what the outcome would have been if i had been in a small hatchback,i would have been wearing the Frontera as an overcoat i reckon. No small cars for me !

[waue1978]

That pretty much supports my original opinion.

@Grasmere - didn't realise your 530 was an auto. Was talking to a guy that has a 523 auto last night & was hoping to find out what the difference in economy was between the auto & manual gearboxes as my father's 523 is a manual. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell me as the stalk that controls the trip computer is broken on his!

What sort of economy do you get round town from your 530? Do you know anybody with a manual to know how the 2 compare? I have a theory that, although worse in the factory quoted MPG figures, in real world motoring that automatic is actually more economical due to the taller gearing in top & the fact that in most cases it will pull away in 2nd gear. Sound sensible to you?

[grasmere59]

The gearbox adapts to the way you drive,if you tootle about it will pull away in 2nd and change up quicker but if you have a bit of a spirited moment it pulls away in first and hangs on to the gears more before changing,i wouldn't have anything else but the auto as i've heard the manual is a bit notchy and i can't see how a manual can really work that well with cruise control,if i use the cruise on the E39 it will change down gear itself if needed on hills but the 406 will just labour away untill you change down yourself.I've never done a fill to fill calculation and only go by the mfd.I normally only use it for hi days and holidays and for towing the caravan but the mfd shows low to mid 20's around town and i can get up to 30 on a run,the strange thing is it is more economical the faster you go,it is better on fuel at 90mph than at 70mph,the engine must just be "on song" at 90mph

[waue1978]

The gearbox adapts to the way you drive,if you tootle about it will pull away in 2nd and change up quicker but if you have a bit of a spirited moment it pulls away in first and hangs on to the gears more before changing,i wouldn't have anything else but the auto as i've heard the manual is a bit notchy and i can't see how a manual can really work that well with cruise control,if i use the cruise on the E39 it will change down gear itself if needed on hills but the 406 will just labour away untill you change down yourself.I've never done a fill to fill calculation and only go by the mfd.I normally only use it for hi days and holidays and for towing the caravan but the mfd shows low to mid 20's around town and i can get up to 30 on a run,the strange thing is it is more economical the faster you go,it is better on fuel at 90mph than at 70mph,the engine must just be "on song" at 90mph

The gearchange movement itself is sound, but it is very difficult to do a gearchange or pull away smoothly without turning the passengers into nodding dogs. my old manual 520 (a 99 with the 2.0, not the later 2.2) averaged 27 on a week long trip to Ireland & back with me seriously gunning it on the way home. Had the 523 up to 36 on the MFD on the way back from Bagshot driving fairly steadily along the scenic route (A30) through stop start traffic in the towns on the way back. Parents reckon they've had it close to 40 on a few good runs & stated that they weren't pootling to try to boost the MPG.

[grasmere59]

I had a 528i sport before the 530i and although it was a good car it's not a patch on the 530i,just 200cc more but a much smoother and livelier engine.They reckon the 530i is the best allround petrol engine to have.