Are our Slants "Unsafe"?

ValiantBandit said

I keep hearing about how "safe" new cars are and I saw a crash test of a 1959 Chevy Bel Air vs. a new Chevy Malibu.

I just have a real hard time believing that a Chrysler Newport isn't as safe as a Scion xB. What would you rather get T-Boned in? I'm picking the Newport.

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The issue in the crash tests is survivability. The test answers the question, here's what happens when you get hit in prescribed manner by a "known" object. In the test mentioned, the two vehicles are close to the same weight.

In the Newport/Scion example, the Newport is about 1500 lbs heavier. I'd probably choose a 68 or later Newport over the Scion for that reason

Safety involves much more than just survivabilty as others have stated. Collision avoidance factors of the car and driver are far more important components in the safety equation. A /6 maintained properly and operated in a prudent manner can actually be safer than any other vehicle being operated recklessly by a distracted madman.