How safe is my car?

MagSafe

MagSafe

MagSafe

Associate
Joined
12 Aug 2004
Posts
1,009
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Hi there,

I'm just wondering whether I should bother getting a new car. I've got a black nissan micra 1.0 at the moment, sure it might be something OAP's are known for driving but in my opinion its a fantastic car. I must have had for around 3 years now, it was made in 2001 so it'll be coming up to 6 years old and is due for its MOT (and service) in January. So far its only done 24,000 miles, its in great condition, has never broken down, is great on petrol and insurance and is quite a nippy little thing so i'm very happy with it :)

I'm in a position where i can buy a new VW (golf or polo) if i want, but i'd rather put the money against a deposit on a flat than waste it on something i don't really need, or at least could do without for another few years.

One of the main reasons i'm wanting a new car is the safety aspect of getting a bulky, brand new car with all those fancy safety features built in. I've seen the tests on light, small cars like mine on Top Gear etc. etc. and one in particular, a smart car, got completey wrecked in a crash, with a very limited chance of the drive surviving ... which got me thinking!

So ... i'm just wondering, are all small and light cars useless in a crash? or does it depend on how well the car is built, how well the frame is constructed etc. Would anyone on here be able to tell me?

I've included a picture which was taken a year or so ago.

firstcar.jpg
 
You don't need to buy brand new to get good protection.

Putting yourself into the second-hand market means you could also use your money towards a flat.
 
Hmm, thats pretty much what I thought to be honest.

Thanks for advice and info, any recommendations on a average priced, reliable car that will keep the insurance (i'm 21) and petrol costs down whilst scoring a 4/5 out of 5 on safety?

A brand new polo is around £7,000 so thats what i'm looking into at the moment, the 2002 model scored 4/5 so i'm guessing the brand new model will be a 5 (but if i'm wrong i'd like to know) so any suggestions will have to beat that :)

Thanks!
 
Check the ratings mate on the Euro NCAP page. It's the industry standard tests nearly all cars are judged by unless they have something to hide or have Porsche on the badge. I doubt any small car is more than a 4 star as by nature they are small and you don't have a lot of room when things start collapsing round you

However be aware the NCAP tests are VERY strict and to get 5 stars is still a tough achievement. I have to say it is comforting to know you're in a safe car. My Saab 9-5 was the first to achieve 5 stars afaik so I know for the first time ever I own a car that's not likely to kill me if I crash :)
 
Your going to spend £7k on a polo because it has a higher safety rating?!!

No offense, but if your Micra has served you so well, and has only 27k miles on it, and your reasonably happy with it, why change and probably lose money in the process?
 
The tests are not always black and white. A 5* Clio may not be as safe as a 4* Mondeo for example.

Seems a bit daft to spend £7k on a Polo because it has a safe crash rating against another supper mini, what happens if you crash into a bigger car?

The micra sounds fine, keep it and get more of your money out of it.
 
As said above, vehicles are rated against those in the same class, so you'd expect a 2* supermini to be worse than a 2* saloon etc etc. It's a bit of a farce of a system to be honest.

I'd not be too hung up about mileage if I were you and go for something a little larger but without spending too much cash (3 or 4 year old focus or similar) and then still have some for your flat deposit.
 
I'd love to know how well my black micra would do in a NCAP test. I guess it'll happen sometime as the brakes are pretty dire by today's standards. Not bad for a 14 year old car with 159k on the clock though.

carfl6.jpg
 
Downsy said:
I'd love to know how well my black micra would do in a NCAP test. [/IMG]
Click to expand...

Same with my Volvo 740. Its a fair old tank. Blocks of steel behind the front bumpers which are indestructable (i know from experiance!) and pretty strong bodywork (none of this plastic crap that bends when you poke it with a finger).
 
James_N said:
Same with my Volvo 740. Its a fair old tank. Blocks of steel behind the front bumpers which are indestructable (i know from experiance!) and pretty strong bodywork (none of this plastic crap that bends when you poke it with a finger).
Click to expand...

It would knock the block over and the car would still be in one part but the driver would be dead.

However since ppl look at the car after a crash and say wow that one actually looks like a car rather than the other totally crumpled shoebox i want to be in the one that looks less damaged, oh the little they know......
 
James_N said:
Same with my Volvo 740. Its a fair old tank. Blocks of steel behind the front bumpers which are indestructable (i know from experiance!) and pretty strong bodywork (none of this plastic crap that bends when you poke it with a finger).
Click to expand...

God help the pedestrian you hit with it though!
 
Firestar_3x said:
However since ppl look at the car after a crash and say wow that one actually looks like a car rather than the other totally crumpled shoebox i want to be in the one that looks less damaged, oh the little they know......
Click to expand...
Aye. That 'plastic crap that bends when you poke it with a finger' is designed like that for a reason. Rather be in a modern car with impact and crumple zones than some old heap with solid steel bits that are likely to make my insides want to become outsides :)
 
*gets off motorbike*

*gets in 20 year old fiesta*

I'm in safe hands!

Good to see your so safety concious, something i should be but money doesn't allow it! :p
 
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