Why I Strive For MPG In A Big Pickup

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I am a little puzzled that the venom for SUVs is not equally applied to minivans. Are you that afraid of Momma? Minivans get horrible MPG, too. They are operated (usually) in an method guaranteed to get poor MPG. They have the aerodynamics of a box of Wheaties. If any vehicle ever made that should be a hybrid it is the minivan with its stop-and-go mission.

It's not the mileage of a minivan - it's the safety. Minivans must meet stringent safety protocols - and it shows...

In the event of an accident - here's the stats
Lincoln Navigator SUV:
Chance of life threatening head injury: 16%
Chance of life threatening chest injury: 20%
Chance of leg injury: 35%

Ford Windstar minivan
Chance of life threatening head injury: 2%
Chance of life threatening chest injury: 4%
Chance of leg injury: 1%

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Yup. Kinetic energy. It does you no good to have only a small amount of KE if you do not have the traction to deal with it.

As long as you've realized that weight falls out of the equation


But keep in mind Dave, people aren't jumping on this for the economy (for the most part). It's the safety claim. To visualize in chart form....



Those are real world results, not crash testing data as compiled by:
Tom Wenzel (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, CA)
Marc Ross (University of Michigan)

But the point is, SUV's aren't on the top 10. 3 minivans, 4 mid size, 1 full, 1 compact and 1 subcompact.

Ha, I just noticed the three subcompacts at the bottom of the list are all American. Maybe that's why small car's aren't economical for GM - their small cars kill their consumers :/

[Lazarus]

trebuchet03
I agree with those stats just from observation but have you found any statistic for deaths per miles on different cars and ages of drivers? It would be interesting to see the data broken down that way.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

trebuchet03
I agree with those stats just from observation but have you found any statistic for deaths per miles on different cars and ages of drivers? It would be interesting to see the data broken down that way.

I'll have to hit the databases and see if I can find those

Oh, I forgot to mention that the above stats are based on deaths per 1 million vehicles.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

Oh, I forgot to mention that the above stats are based on deaths per 1 million vehicles.

Thanks that helps quantify it better.

[s2man]

Agh! My Cavalier is fourth from the bottom. I don't know whether to make a smart alec comment, or feel sick. Ok, I'll do both.

I"m gonna look for another Pinto, despite the exploding gas tanks. They're not even on the list.

On the feeling-sick side, that gives another point of view on my choice of a Civic or VW diesel for my next car.

The Cavalier and Sunfire are the same car, just rebadged. It makes me wonder if the "sporty" Sunfire attracts younger drivers who like to drive recklessly, I mean sportier. Hmmm, I drive the boring Cav. My 17yo nephew drives the sporty Sunfire.

Trebuchet, I also notice the worst 10 are *all* US models. Is this an international conspiracy to punish us for our patriotism, or just a stupidity tax on buying poorly made cars?

[metroschultz]

Its Darwinian Theory at its best.
the stupidest get killed first. tongue in cheek.
btw i have my wife drive an Avalon.
S.

[Big Dave]

Remember what Disraeli said about lies and statistics, doncha? You can tortue statistics into telling you anything.

Where was the legendary Volvo and M-B.

I see the Corolla is above my F-series.

Anybody here wanna take bets on who would have walked away if my ABS hadn't saved the day?

I suspect those folks are reconsidering what they drive. I am not.

SUVs and pickups are top-heavy and the ever-present idiots drive them like sports cars. I'd be willing to bet that most of those deaths were single-vehicle accident where the idiot found something nice and solid to whack into.

If a person is driving for MPG that scenario is very remote.

BTW the car most involved in rollovers is the Corvette.

Safe they may be, but minivans still suck the gas.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by s2man

Trebuchet, I also notice the worst 10 are *all* US models. Is this an international conspiracy to punish us for our patriotism, or just a stupidity tax on buying poorly made cars?

More like a domestic conspiracy I personally wouldn't blame the international community for our shortfalling.

Remember what Disraeli said about lies and statistics, doncha? You can tortue statistics into telling you anything.

Yes, you can torture them a lot... But the coroner doesn't lie.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Thanks that helps quantify it better.

* I agree -- since the F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S., the odds would be more fatalities. There needs to be a ratio of number sold to fatalities...

Similar to: "Camry is the most stolen vehicle!" -- well, there's more of them out there.

* In response to the Cavalier -- they hadn't redesigned the shell for a long time and suffered from poor crash testing. The Cobalt fixed a lot of that, structurally -- and with availability of side-impact bags, improved that score as well.

* I say, let Dave drive his truck. He has a right, and he wants to get better FE, so he is here to do so. We may not all agree with his rationale, which is OK.

* I'm one of those people that disagree for the reasons mentioned. My goal is to not spread this idea of personal security at a sacrifice of others, and of FE. I agree that Minvans are also guzzlers. Choose the smallest vehicle for the job. It's cheaper to rent a truck/SUV/Van when you need it, than to own one.

In the meantime, I'll be at eye-level with many bumpers and hope I don't get pummeled.

RH77

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by RH77

* I agree -- since the F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S., the odds would be more fatalities. There needs to be a ratio of number sold to fatalities...

The per 1 million vehicles does that It levels the playing field by raising or lower the fatality number

Originally Posted by RH77

* I say, let Dave drive his truck. He has a right, and he wants to get better FE, so he is here to do so. We may not all agree with his rationale, which is OK.

I don't disagree (and I hope Dave understands that) - I just won't let physics myths perpetuate.

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But on the subject of those statistics up there.... No one has to believe them (which is totally fine). But, one place to look is an industry purely based on risk management.... Insurance...