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The NHTSA rates cars in five categories: front impact driver, front impact passenger, side impact front seat, side impact rear seat, and rollover resistance. For the front impact test, a five-star rating translates to a 10 percent or less chance of serious injury. Five stars for a side impact test means that there is a 5 percent or less chance of serious injury. In the rollover resistance ratings (between one and five stars), the more stars, the less likely a rollover is.
Sounds simple, right? Not so fast, says Dan Johnston of Volvo Cars of North America. According to Johnston, it's good to use crash test data as a measurement tool for consumers and manufacturers, but it's impossible to replicate real-world crashes in a lab. NHTSA may test a front-impact collision, but in reality that might be followed by a rear collision at 60 MPH, followed by five rolls down an embankment off the side of the highway, followed by a fire. How will your new car handle all of the scenarios together?
Certain manufacturers -- Volvo is one -- implement safety features beyond what's measured or listed by NHTSA or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Other cars may be built simply to pass the lab tests. When researching your next car purchase, take the test data into account. But going a step further to delve into the manufacturer's safety record may make the difference between life and death.
Kristin Varela is the founder of MotherProof. com, a Web site dedicated to parent-friendly car reviews. Sara Lacey is a MotherProof.com reviewer.
The Used-Car Advantage
By Michele St. Martin|
Safety for Vacationers Despite the gas prices, almost 40 million people will travel by car this summer, says Robert Sinclair, an Automobile Association of America representative in Garden City. To ensure a safe -- and economical -- trip, he offers these tips: -- Travel Light. Passenger weight plus heavy luggage equals more gas consumption. For example, a Nissan Quest minivan can hold seven passengers and has a payload capacity of 1,200 pounds. If each of the passengers weighed 200 pounds, the vehicle would be considered overloaded even without luggage.-- Get a Check Up. For fuel efficiency . and to decrease the need for road-side assistance . get an engine flush. And be sure to have workable windshield wipers. -- Rest Up. Surprisingly, Sinclair says that most accidents occur in the afternoon, between 2 and 4 pm. Take a break every two to three hours. -- Stay Alert. At rest stops, accompany your kids when they use the bathroom or leave the car. Lock your car doors and stay close to well-lit areas. . Brian Quarless |
"You can absolutely get more car for your money if you buy used," says Jack Nerad, editorial director of Kelley Blue Book, the car value bible. "The rational way to buy a car is to buy a relatively new used car. The original owner has already taken the two to three years of depreciation, and the car has a great deal of life left."
Safety features and crash test performance are important concerns when choosing a family car. Also consider current owners' rate of satisfaction and how expensive the car is to own: Even more important than gas mileage is the model's average repair rate and insurance costs.
We asked Nerad to recommend good used family cars. With safety, customer satisfaction and frequency of repairs in mind, he suggests:
Minivans: Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Kia Sedona.
SUVs: Nerad recommends the large SUVs from General Motors, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
Station wagons: Volvos, Subarus.
Sedans: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry.
You can learn most, if not all, of what you need to know about buying a used car on the Internet. A good place to start is the Kelley Blue Book's site at www.KBB.com under "Used Car Values" select "Compare Used Cars." You can compare pricing, safety, specifications and warranties for up to four models at a time.
For detailed safety information, you can't beat the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site at www.NHTSA.dot.gov. The big name in frequency of repair information is J.D. Power and Associates; go to their consumer center at www.JDPower.com, select "Ratings Guide."
Once you've found a car or two that suits you, find out what the dealer or private party might not know -- or not tell you. Go to www.CarFax.com and order a one-car report for $19.99 or unlimited reports for $24.99. With the VIN number of the car you're interested in, you can learn the last odometer reading, whether it has been involved in an accident, whether it has suffered hail, fire or flood damage -- and more. A car is a major investment, and the more you know, the better chance yours will be a good one.
Michelle St. Martin edits the Minnesota Women's Press and writes on a variety of parenting issues.