New Car Vs Old Car




Purchasing a new car gives you access to the latest safety technologies available. Analysis of crashworthiness by year of car manufacture carried out under the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) program shows newer cars are on average safer than older ones. Furthermore, if safety features are optional, purchasing a car new allows these optional features to be fitted to the car. Most critical safety features such as airbags and ESC can only be fitted to the car at time of manufacture.

However, purchasing a used car often saves many thousands of dollars over purchasing the same car new. This allows you to buy a larger car or a car with better safety features than you may have been able to afford otherwise. The UCSR has identified that larger cars and cars with more safety features generally provide better real world occupant protection in a crash than smaller cars with less safety features. It is often the case that an older second hand large or luxury car will provide better crash protection than a new small car with few safety features, for around the same money.

Unfortunately, optional safety equipment is often not requested on new car purchases which means finding some critical safety features in a used car can be more difficult and require more effort by you.

Source: http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/new_vs_used_car.php

Car Size and Colour

Larger sized cars provide better protection in a crash than small cars, passenger vans and sports cars. In crashes with smaller cars, the people travelling in newer, larger cars tend to be better protected.

Broadly, car size groups are classified as:

Light cars: generally less than 1,100kg and an engine capacity of 1.5 litres or less
Small cars: generally 1,100-1,300kg
Medium cars: generally 1,300-1,500kg
Large cars: generally more than 1,500kg.
A minimum weight of around 1,300kg is recommended.

If you’re buying a smaller car, consider safety options such as airbags and models that have the best proven safety performance ratings. Remember, whichever rating system you use, ANCAP or UCSR, the more stars the better!

4WDs

When buying a 4WD be aware that it will handle differently to a passenger car. The higher seating position provides better vision for the driver, but the higher centre of gravity relative to the wheel base can affect car handling in certain circumstances.

4WDs are more likely to be involved in roll over crashes, which are a major cause of spinal injury. Typically these crashes involve a single car leaving the road on a straight section or curve and rolling over.

Look for anti-rolling design, electronic stability control (ESC), curtain airbags, side impact airbags, strong roof support pillars and other valuable crash prevention and injury reduction features in your 4WD.

Colour

White is the safest car colour when it comes to being visible and safe on the road, according to a Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) study. The study demonstrated that white cars had the lowest crash risk in all types of light conditions, while black cars were more likely to be involved in a crash, particularly in daylight hours.

Electronic Stability Control ESC

A question you must always ask before buying that choice car---"Does it have ESC"


Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps drivers to avoid crashes by reducing the danger of skidding, or losing control as a result of over-steering. ESC becomes active when a driver loses control of their car. It uses computer controlled technology to apply individual brakes and help bring the car safely, back on track, without the danger of fish-tailing.

Australian research shows that ESC reduces the risk of:

Single car crashes by 25%
Single 4WD crashes by 51%
Single car crashes in which the driver was injured by 28%
Single 4WD crashes in which the driver was injured by 66%*
No other active safety device has such potential to reduce single car crashes

How does it work?

ESC works by using a number of intelligent sensors that detect any loss of control and automatically apply the brake to the relevant wheel, putting your car back on the intended path.

ESC is of assistance to the driver in:

***correcting impending oversteering or understeering;

***stabilising the car during sudden evasive manoeuvres;

***enhancing handling on gravel patches, such as road shoulders; and

***improving traction on slippery or icy roads.

Not all ESC systems are identical. The hardware is similar, but there are variations in how ESC systems are programmed to respond once loss of control is detected.
Naturally, the degree of effectiveness of ESC is dependent upon the amount of traction between the road and the car. Therefore on a car with old, worn or inappropriate tyres (eg: non winter tyres on ice and snow), ESC will be less effective than on a car with new tyres or tyres specific to a road environmental condition.

Crumple zones

Modern cars protect drivers and passengers in frontal, rear and offset crashes by using crumple zones to absorb crash energy. This means that the car absorbs the impact of the crash, not the driver or passengers.

Strong occupant compartment

The cabin of the car should keep its shape in frontal crashes to protect the driver and passenger’s space. The steering column, dashboard, roof pillars, pedals and floor panels should not be pushed excessively inwards, where they are more likely to injure drivers and passengers. Doors should remain closed during a crash and should be able to be opened afterwards to assist in quick rescue, while strong roof pillars can provide extra protection in rollover crashes.

Side impact protection

Increased side door strength, internal padding and better seats can improve protection in side impact crashes. Most new cars have side intrusion beams or other protection within the door structure. Some cars also have padding on the inside door panels. Increasingly, car manufacturers are installing side airbags that provide protection from severe injury. Head-protecting side airbags, such as curtain airbags, are a more recent development and are highly effective in side impact and rollover crashes.

Seat belts

A properly worn seat belt provides good protection but does not always prevent injuries. Three point lap/sash seat belts offer superior protection to two point seat belts and should be installed in all seating positions. Recent improvements to seat belt effectiveness include:

webbing clamps that stops more seat belt reeling out as it tightens on the spool
pretensioners that pull the seat belt tight before the occupant starts to move
load limiters that manage the forces applied to the body in a crash
seat belt warning systems to remind you if seat belts have not been fastened.
Airbags

Australian airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by seat belts - they are not a substitute. The best protection in frontal crashes is achieved using a properly worn seat belt in combination with an airbag.

Head rests

Head rests are important safety features and should be fitted to all seats - front and back. Head rest position is critical for preventing whiplash in rear impact crashes. Whiplash is caused by the head extending backward from the torso in the initial stage of rear impact, then being thrown forward. To prevent whiplash the head rest should be at least as high as the head's centre of gravity (eye level and higher) and as close to the back of the head as possible.

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Antilock braking systems (ABS)

ABS reduces the risk of tyres skidding under heavy braking and allows the driver to maintain steering control of the car. ABS only operates under heavy braking or on slippery surfaces.

Traction control

Traction Control systems optimise grip and stability of the car on the road during acceleration by measuring wheel rotation. It stops wheel spin by reducing engine power or temporarily applying the brakes to that wheel, allowing the car to accelerate smoothly, even on slippery surfaces. Limited slip differentials also help provide a more even distribution of traction forces when the car is on a slippery surface.

Handling and stability

A car with good handling and stability gives you more control by 'holding' the road better and being more responsive. Good handling depends on the design and integration of the car's steering, suspension, braking, acceleration, body and weight distribution. Test driving different cars will give you a better idea of on-road driving characteristics.

Aggressive driving styles reduce the benefits gained from good handling or ABS. Travelling just a few km/h over the speed limit can completely eliminate any advantage from good handling and ABS.

This is one of the best I've read on Nairaland autos.

Kudos!