Obviously, GM thin metal syndrome came as a shock to me (NO PUN INTENDED). Why isn't this a more common issue on our board? I could have never imagined such **** existed over my four Yokohama tires. In the future, every time I hear a noise, I will think that it is another shock/strut tower going South. Makes me think that these cars may not be safe. Can the bumpers even hold back a 2 1/2 mph tap? Anyone care to comment on this? I had a 10 MPH accident with my TR-7. My car had NO damage. The Buick I hit had a rear fender pushed half-way into the trunk.

Seth

 

I was rear ended in a Grand Prix. Guy was going about 20 and slammed into the right corner. Just some paint lost on my car, his whole bumper was cracked. These things aren't the safest vehicles, but I've had good luck with mine.

 

Josh,

Do you mean to say that these cars aren't the safest things around, but you've had luck anyway; or they are the safest vehicles, and you have had luck with them. Not to be a dick who corrects other's verbage, but inquiring minds need to know.

Seth

 

a guy ran a stop sign and t-boned me in the rear quater, spun me around completly and all the damage was a ripped back bumper and a dented lower quater panal. not bad at all as far as damage was concerned imo

 

Yeah, I always make typos at the worst spots. I editted it so I make sense now.

They aren't the safest vehicles but I've had luck with mine.

 

The TR-7 was from a generation of big bumpers and no crumple zones. During the 80s, the manufacturers starting allowing the vehicle to "absorb" the impact rather than the driver. In the 60s and 70s, we had big bumpers that took the impact with little to no damage to the vehicle, but the impact was absorbed by the driver being jostled around and possibly injured. To protect the driver, the cars are now absorbing all the impact and crumpling while killing the forward motion.

 

I have had an f-250 run over me.. yes run right over me. or rather the front corner of my 84' and all that it did was bend the frame down in front of the a-frame (can be fixed) and the needing of a new hood, and fender, and nose. the truck on the other hand did not made it out so lucky.. When he hit, i ripped his back axel off, pulling the drivshaft off his tranny, flipping the truck over, and watched it roll.. So in that instance i figure mine was the best thing to be in lol.

Now.. As for crumple zones and such.. there is good and bad to that.. In my opinion. they can save lives, but in certain accidents they probably create more damage then anything.. I have seen plenty of the new cars when they are going down the hiway hit a concrete barrier and the thing just desintigrates.. pretty much just put it on the flatbed.. body and all. and burry the whooole car because you wil never untangle what is left of the person.... On an older larger car, same speed, it didn't disentigrate, and the driver lived. Did have injuries.. but nothing major other than a few broken bones...

 

Three years ago, my father lost control of his '92 Grand Marquis. He hit a Town Car, then 90 degreed off that, sped down the block, and hit a fire plug at 45+ mph. I saw the incident through the window of the bakery.
He walked away w/o a scratch. He was buckled in, but the bags did not deploy.
The adjuster from Geico said he is tossing his cars for the same model, or a Town car (same design).
These cars are unit over full frame. I thank Ford every time I see my father.

Seth

 

I rear ended a young lady in a 3rd gen Firebird. No damage to my car but me and my passengersI fell foreward crushing the rear spoiler on the bird with our heads. They need to make those things softer.

 

I do suppose if the third gens had better seat belts it would be a plus.. something that puts you snug to the seat like a 4 or 5 point. that way you follow the car without to much of a front fall and then snapping.... I mean.. I think every car should come standard with a 4 point or 5 point from the factory.. might be a little cumbersome sometimes.. but in an accident it could save even more lives posibly... I mean.. if an F1 car can hit a wall at 200MPH, and the car disentigrates and the roll cage is scraping along the ground and the person stays put in his seat.. I think that would be ideal...

 

third gens are awesome. There was a member on this board who got t-boned in the driver side door by a 5 ton dump truck. Car was a write off, guy spent 1 day in the hospital and was fine other then some bumps and bruises.

in these cars youve got 3600 pounds of steel to protect you, youre pretty safe.

 

I have seen lots of century-old cars, but what the heck is that beauty? And who are the hotties in the back?

Seth