Want safe second-hand car : statistics please

This is the link to the Euro NCAP site with all their results. Not sure if any cars that might interest you are on there.

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/introduction.php

Don't forget, a 2002 Renault Laguna, for example, scores highly twice. Once in the NCAP ratings, and once because it never leaves the dealer so can't possibly crash!

Tony

I have a Renault Megane new shape with the fat a***. Its NCAP 5 safety rated but is very unreliable imho. Too many gizmos and gadgets. Auto windows, lights, windscreen wipers, rear view dimming mirror, stereo gets louder the faster you go, remote entry and keyless start etc etc.

set yourself a budget + stick to it. there are a lot of used cars that fit your bill, but maybe not your budget. obviously a lower mileage 2nd hand one is best if a couple of years old. but the older you need to buy service history becomes paramount. better to have a 100,000 mile 5 yr old car with FSH than a 50,000 mile 5yr old one with nowt.. timing belts + what not will need done.. GL

Get a Volvo or a Saab.

They are as safe as it gets.

Apart from the Volvo 340 which was a deathtrap.

quote:

Apart from the Volvo 340 which was a deathtrap.

On the other hand it wasn't a Volvo, it was developed by Daf before Volvo made the big mistake buying that company. It was even to be called Daf 77!

JohanR

quote:

Originally posted by JohanR:

quote:

Apart from the Volvo 340 which was a deathtrap.

On the other hand it wasn't a Volvo, it was developed by Daf before Volvo made the big mistake buying that company. It was even to be called Daf 77!

JohanR

Volvo 300 series deathtraps ? Are you sure, just because they would randomly switch from forward motion to reverse, that's the sort of thing an alert driver should be able to catch in time. It was just the early variomatics that had a bad name, you still see a lot of the later 340/360 's running around, but then they did have renault running gear. The 2 litre 360 was quite frisky, and the ones that are left do seem to have stood up to time quite well, they must have been solidly built. The alloy wheels on the later ones were a very elegant touch, and the barleysugar aerial. All in all, were they worse than the 480 volvo coupe (also built in Holland) ?

Latest car safety report - out today:-AutoExpress

NCAP is usefull, I think but rather artificial - controlled lab crashes rather than the real thing. AFAIK, the Swedish insurers Folksam keep a record of statistics arising out of actual data.
Try: http://www.folksam.se/engelsk/index.htm

quote:

All in all, were they worse than the 480 volvo coupe (also built in Holland) ?

I love the 480's

Is it true with variomatic drive that you can go as fast backwards as you can forwards?

quote:

All in all, were they worse than the 480 volvo coupe (also built in Holland) ?

Certainly not. All "Volvos" made in Holland where crap. Thankfully that's a thing of the past now.

Highest quality Volvos are the ones made in Belgium, btw.

JohanR

Thanks to everyone for all the advice ...

My plan is to start looking at cars and see what is available and when we find something promising look at its safety rating.

I note the Nissan micra for 1996 had a bad rating but improved in 2003. So it is quite important to check the yaer.

Thanks again

James H.

try one of these: the doors are a bit iffy though

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIte...=250108256198&rd=1,1

lyndon

quote:

Originally posted by James Hamilton:
The family car [a Nissan Micra] was involved in a crash and is a write-off [nobody seriously hurt, I believe, thank God].

Good news that no-one was seriously hurt - but isn't that a pretty good test that it was a safe car? A bigger car for the sake of safety might not be the answer if it's going to be more of a handful to drive and heavier etc.
As an ex-motorcyclist* I'm sceptical about this "big car = safety" argument, when hitting a pedestrian is more likely to kill them than if you were in a Nissan Micra.
(* Biased and opinionated viewpoint, I'll agree. I once knew a woman [receptionist at work] who was 4'2" tall and couldn't drive to save her life, so her husband put her in a Volvo estate to keep her protected, sitting on a cushion. She hospitalised a cyclist within a week).
All I'm saying is, don't automatically think bigger without checking all the angles first.

Thanks for all the advice ... I am not getting a 4x4 but want something better/safer/heavier than a Nissan micro.

Accident happenned at 5.30 pm. Car was turning right on a junction with a green arrow when it was hit by a driver breaking a red light.

This sort of thing is frightenning ...

James H.

Dear James,

It seems statistically that Volvos have the best safety record over the last forty odd years in actual accidents [both for survival and number of incidents per vehicle per year].

I was discussing this with someone earlier this evening and they made the very astute comment that the make is both safe and just a tad dull. It does not attract silly drivers - apart from scarf wearing horsey b***hes who are are danger to all others on the road, whether they are in a Volvo or a Land Rover or anything else - but there are other factors: Volvos are fantastically strong and safe cars that tend to be driven by cautious, conservative [small "c" drivers] and thus they are cheap to insure because thay are a good bet statistically, though they have the ability to inflict mayhem on lesser vehicals.

They also have the best record for whiplash, which should surprise nobody given the decent design of the seats, and the length of bonnet and boot.

ATB from Fredrik

for some years i drove a volvo s60, which has every safety tweak known to man. i know the diesel model is very popular in europe, and there must be a good number for sale used. made in sweden too. if you really want to save, get an old mercedes diesel. real tanks. possibly too old though (no airbags, etc.). good luck, and no classic vw bugs!

Thanks for all the advice ... eventually bought 2002 VW Golf because Volvo would need widenning of driveway ...