does ferrari do crash testing?

If you read what I wrote, I used the word 'principles'. Why can't they apply to Ferrari's road cars? Such as crumple zones. There have been many accidents that make current Ferrari's look as if they are one huge crumple zone. Porsche and M-B tout these features of the Carrera GT and SLR, and in both cases they have clearly devoted a focused engineering effort to these features.

As for materials, who says they can't apply? Would the carbon fibre in the F430 be best used as asthetic dash inserts, or as an energy absorbing element of the crash structure?

Engineering and its products don't advance with "can't do" and "doesn't apply" attitudes.

 

You're absolutely right. The most prominent factors of change are regulatory compliance or marketing requirements.

 

I'd prefer that sports cars have the basic minimum of safety gear. Safety=weight, and weight is the enemy. If I died in my car, I went out doing the thing I loved the most.

Of course, I really don't have much room to talk now, given the tank I'm currently piloting.

 

jeremy

this is silly. you don't have to die or be crippled to have fun. good engineers can design light weight components that provide state of the art protection to the driver. again look at f1 racers.

 

Right. But I don't think carbon fibre tubs are cost effective for the street. Nor do F1 racers encounter situations like T-Bones.

But thanks to wacky safety regs, we (in the US) lose out on the M1, Z1, and 959, and cars like the 7 and Europa would never be certified again as mass production vehicles. Hell, even the Elise is being embiggened* next year to meet regs.

* Its a perfectly cromulent word.

 

I have heard on SEVERAL occasions that these cars are not very safe. If safety is a major concern, KEEP the Porsche. Safety is also a number one priority with me and it really bothers me with Ferrari as well. Scary thought. That is also a reason I have not jumped into one.

 

I know for a fact that German manufacturers always go above and beyond the government requirements. Many others don't and I would not be surprised if Ferrari does not. Porsche builds their car for speed with a HEAVY emphasis on safety.

 

I agree you should sell that 430 to me as soon as it comes in. I also live in MD and would be willing to come right over your place and get it. Would not want you to get injured if a crash happens. I have a $100.00 cash.
Seriously, all vehicles are crash tested. The U.S. has the toughest crash requirements in the world. All imports have to meet those standards.

 

"i may just keep my 996 and sell the f430 when it arrives."

Sell the deathtrap at a premium to some poor fool, eh?

Two threads on two boards denigrating the safety of the 8 cyl Ferraris, but not a shred of science to any of it.

Given the choice between side airbags and a 10% weight reduction, for me, the choice would be easy ....

 

I cant believe what im hearing. A porche and ferrari have there engines in the back. The front is open (truck space) on a head on collision @ 60miles an hour, regardless of 10 air bags or one air bag, you are going to eat that symbol on the front of the hood.


Stop worrying about everything and enjoy life to the max. becareful and as safe as you can, and the rest is destiny. When its your time to go, its your time to go. If we knew we would die or have a life altering experience in our f cars, they would be parked that day.

 

Enjoy your new F430 in good health !!! Post pics when you receive.
Rick

 

will

i have not denigrated ferrari. i have requested concrete evidence of crash testing and to date have not seen anything tangible, much less scientific.

the only shred of data i've gathered is that neither of the new 2005 model designs- the f430 and the scaglietti- include side/window air bags. this is a worrisome fact, since it appears to me a lousy place to save a few bucks. i can't believe that the few kilos added by side airbags would affect the performance of either of these supercars.

i have not yet reached a final decision because i don't have enough information yet. i am enchanted all other aspects of the f430--design, performance, comfort,etc. i love to drive fast and i trust my own skills and judgement. i do not trust other drivers in our fat, happy country, especially when they approach from the side and cannot be avoided. so i seek more real data. to date most comments appear a bit defensive. why? i have simply asked a question and gotten precious few real answers. instead i hear comments assuming the u.s. government has done crash testing and maintains high standards. there is, however, no indication of crash testing on the nhtsa website or its euro counterpart. again no data!!

how about a few more facts instead of unsubstantiated opinions?

peace

peace

 

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/testing/ncap/pages/ResourcesLinksNSSandR.htm

I stand corrected, as you've noted, there are no test entries for Ferraris (limited time, few buyers, etc, right?). The above link will provide you with the proof you seek that all vehicles are subject to minimum standards. You can use the link to the brochure referenced on that page, or use that long link on the page to read the actual text of the FMVSS. Now, enjoy and quit worrying that your US-spec car (whatever it may be) is untested for safety. It meets all of these requirements (depending on age). If found to be deficient, it would be recalled. See recent recalls on Chrysler seatbelt bolts (last year or two) and a very recent (last couple of months, I believe) recall on someone else to reprogram the ABS module for compliance. Manufacturers have to certify to the federal government that the vehicles they're selling for a particular year are compliant to all applicable FMVSS, just like they certify that they meet emissions requirements. These programs operate on manufacturer testing with selective auditing by the appropriate gov't agency. This means that Ferrari has tested these cars for crash safety, braking performance and emissions and certifies to NHTSA and the EPA that they comply. These agencies have the right to elect to test for themselves. In the auto manufacturer's world, for obvious reasons, these standards are "must haves" and compromises are made to meet governmental regulations. Otherwise, you can't sell cars! And that's what it's all about. So don't worry, your 430 will meet the standards in FMVSS. I'm sure you could call NHTSA if you're that worried and find out if they're importing these cars under an exemption.

If you're concerned about crash safety in your 430, don't take delivery and write a letter. I'm sure they'll sell it to someone else and maybe someone will put a mark in a checksheet for "potential Ferrari buyer concerned about safety". Maybe some day they'll change their image into one of "safe & fast". In the meantime, AMG makes many fast & safe cars, go get one of them.

 

i've already had an amg car. it was boring. great torque but no cornering. amg's are also all automatics.zzzzzzzzzz

is it too much to ask for a ferrari with modern safety equipment? maybe even as an option? as a neurologist i see too many senseless injuries that would have been prevented by a modern airbag. btw, even the gallardo offers side curtain airbags. too bad i don't like gallardos!

 

I was leaving a car show and some bozo managed to hit me head on in my viper while I was at a stop sign. Not the best car to crash, but at least I was sitting still. And I lived on…to buy a 360 spider!

 

Damn. Reviving a 21 year old thread.

Welp glad you are ok

 

Probably you´re not interested in the advice of a stranger, but this is not a good way of dealing with most problems. Your experience could not be representative of most cases. Of course statistics can be manipulated, but first hand accounts can be skewed too. That´s why statistics were invented.

 

Thank you! Yes, reviving a 21 year old thread....and currently reviving a 23 year old car that has not been driven enough)))

 

Did it total your viper?

I'm a big viper guy.

 

It did total my Viper. I never was that excited about Viper's (just because I was young and anything American wasn't cool to me), but my good friend talked me into buying a Gen 2 Viper and getting 5 other buddies to all buy Vipers and start the "Viper Boy Club". It sounded so gay, but it was a lot of fun. Now I really like the Vipers. I would love to have another. You could whip that tail around any corner and light up the tires anywhere/anytime.

 

I was the same... And then I bought a 97 GTS and fell in love. It made me understand.

It's hilarious when people go that car doesn't handle and can't go around a corner and it's like .. dude... You r never driven one and this thing goes through a slalom test faster than any other car ever tested. You have no clue. They just thinks it's an American muscle car.

The other fun thing about vipers is they are always crowd pleasers. Everyone loves the guy driving a viper for some reason. I never got one bad look or scowl driving a viper. Always thumbs up and smiles etc...

 

You explained it perfectly. I couldn't believe how many compliments that car got. More than every other Porsche, regardless of color. It was silver, and I thought it would not get noticed, but everyone loved that car. After discussing it with my "Viper Boy" group, I was asked, "Yeah, but it's mostly dudes with neck tattoos who compliment your car, isn't it?' I had to think about it for a bit and I realized, "Yeah, I did have an abnormally large number of dudes with neck tattoos who were always giving me thumbs up and coming over and talking to me about how awesome the car was.

One time, I was going to a Rob Zombie concert (totally out of my element), and this police officer was walking with some other central Florida Red Neck (I can say that because of my heritage), and they look over at the Viper as they walk just within vision and the Viper, of of the two said, "Wood ya look 'et that? That's a ******* Viper!"

 

That's a g-o-d-#-a-m-n Viper Apparently, you can't swear in here.