How good is a 928 in a crash?
01-08-2010, 02:33 AM
#1
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How good is a 928 in a crash?
Don't want to sound morbid or anything but just wondering. My kids ride in the back often and the car is pretty low compared to all the gigantic SUVs out there these days. Car seems pretty solid to me, just wondering if anybody has had an experience to share.
01-08-2010, 02:56 AM
#2
Nordschleife Master
I would say it is very good.
The reason is that it is responsive enough to avoid most accidents.
However most accident pictures that I have seen show that the chassis can take a ton of abuse before the passengers are damaged.
The reason is that it is responsive enough to avoid most accidents.
However most accident pictures that I have seen show that the chassis can take a ton of abuse before the passengers are damaged.
01-08-2010, 03:03 AM
#3
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600 lbs of engine up front, 120-175 lbs of transmission out back, tied together with a 50 lb steel tube. Pretty sturdy.
01-08-2010, 03:41 AM
#4
Nordschleife Master
Extremely good in accidents. I rear ended an MX6 Mazda once in my S4... It put BIG HURT on that Mazda and scratched my front bumper cover and broke ONE fog light! Seriously it jacked that car up and came out w/ barely a scratch!
Also they say that in the filming of one of those late '70's movies (like Gumball rally or something like that) they crush a 928 with a big monster truck and to get the car to crush they had to cut all of the pillars (A, B and C)! That is pretty amazing if you ask me. That could be urban legend but look how big the B pillar in on the 928 and it is not to hard to believe that it might in fact be TRUE!
Also they say that in the filming of one of those late '70's movies (like Gumball rally or something like that) they crush a 928 with a big monster truck and to get the car to crush they had to cut all of the pillars (A, B and C)! That is pretty amazing if you ask me. That could be urban legend but look how big the B pillar in on the 928 and it is not to hard to believe that it might in fact be TRUE!
01-08-2010, 09:49 AM
#5
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The 928 was one of the first to include things like crumple zones in the hood and rubber bumpers with integrated bumper shocks. It was designed to be a VERY safe car. The spare tire is actually part of the crash-worthiness design as well.
Most of the accidents you see are rear-end collisions from other cars hitting us because (IMO) whether you break hard or soft it doesn't rock forward or nosedive like most cars. The car behind you might think you're just slowing and then you're stopped. WHAM!
Check out Projekt 928 for more info on the design and testing.
Most of the accidents you see are rear-end collisions from other cars hitting us because (IMO) whether you break hard or soft it doesn't rock forward or nosedive like most cars. The car behind you might think you're just slowing and then you're stopped. WHAM!
Check out Projekt 928 for more info on the design and testing.
01-08-2010, 12:32 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Depends on the crash big difference if we are talking Kia Rio or Semi Truck!!!, going 5mph or 100+, otherwise I would concur almost as safe as a Volvo 
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01-08-2010, 12:35 PM
#8
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Images and text from Project 928.
"Outstanding results in the crash test required for insurance rating purposes meant
that the 928 was placed in a relatively low German collision insurance class,"
"Next came checks of all aspects of safety necessary to meet legal regulations in various lands.
Among these were six impact tests of driver onto dashboard and central console: three crash tests for seat
backs and head rests; six acceleration tests for all lids and compartments. And if that wasn't enough there were five
impact tests from different positions on the steering wheel.
Far more elaborate were three frontal crash tests at zero degrees, and one each frontal crash at impact angles of
+ 30 and - 3 0 degrees to the longitudinal axis (in effect against the right and left front fenders), as well as two side
crashes and four from the rear. Tests of seat belt anchorages, door resistance to lateral intrusion, bumpers
(ten times) and roof rigidity were only the tip of the iceberg compared to many hundreds of experiments, both large
and small, all devoted to safety."
"Frontal crash with dummies in the vehicle and a speed of 30 mph. Here too the
result was more than convincing: deformation of the nose section came at
predetermined points, the passenger cell was undamaged in the crash and the
doors didn't spring open."
"Outstanding results in the crash test required for insurance rating purposes meant
that the 928 was placed in a relatively low German collision insurance class,"
"Next came checks of all aspects of safety necessary to meet legal regulations in various lands.
Among these were six impact tests of driver onto dashboard and central console: three crash tests for seat
backs and head rests; six acceleration tests for all lids and compartments. And if that wasn't enough there were five
impact tests from different positions on the steering wheel.
Far more elaborate were three frontal crash tests at zero degrees, and one each frontal crash at impact angles of
+ 30 and - 3 0 degrees to the longitudinal axis (in effect against the right and left front fenders), as well as two side
crashes and four from the rear. Tests of seat belt anchorages, door resistance to lateral intrusion, bumpers
(ten times) and roof rigidity were only the tip of the iceberg compared to many hundreds of experiments, both large
and small, all devoted to safety."
"Frontal crash with dummies in the vehicle and a speed of 30 mph. Here too the
result was more than convincing: deformation of the nose section came at
predetermined points, the passenger cell was undamaged in the crash and the
doors didn't spring open."
Last edited by Jadz928; 01-08-2010 at 01:51 PM.
01-08-2010, 01:14 PM
#9
Although I won't post the pictures, as it is bad Mojo (PM me if interested), I was rear-ended very hard by a full size pickup truck. I was entirely uninjured and my old 86.5 had significantly less damage than the truck that hit me.
I realize that my crash is anecdotal evidence at best, but it was real life for me.......
I realize that my crash is anecdotal evidence at best, but it was real life for me.......
01-08-2010, 01:26 PM
#12
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80mph and into a wall and im still alive to tell about it. the 928 absorbed a lot of energy and the passenger compartment was still in good shape. the car is so strong but still is well designed enough to deform as it should in a crash. I wouldn't think of racing any other car, primarily for that reason.
01-08-2010, 01:39 PM
#13
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A friend of mine flipped this one end over end after getting clipped while racing his brother on the turnpike late one night. He was flying so fast (He claims over 140 MPH) that in flipping over, the hood never touched the ground on any bounce. It hit nose, tail, nose, tail and finally landed sneaker side down. In the pic, the windshield is broken but that happened from a tree branch falling on it AFTER the crash! By the way, he walked away from this crash (actually, he ran to his brother's waiting car back on the highway).
Apparently very sturdy design.
Of note: This is a 1978 Euro. The drive train is still intact. The rest is shot. It's been sitting awhile. He'll sell it.
Apparently very sturdy design.
Of note: This is a 1978 Euro. The drive train is still intact. The rest is shot. It's been sitting awhile. He'll sell it.
01-08-2010, 01:46 PM
#14
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I can't believe no one's mentioned Michael Willhoit's accident -
How a Porsche 928 Saved a Life and Influenced a Career
I purchased my last Porsche from Michael Willhoit a little over two years ago (that’s a picture of it below). Since that time Michael and I have become friendly and he even agreed to sponsor my site (hence his advertisement to the right over there). The other night we got to talking shop and I asked him about all the Porsche 928s he has listed for sale and the story behind it (as I always thought Michael was just an air-cooled guy). Boy was I wrong.
Michael started Willhoit Enterprises in 1974 and, as he likes to say, only recently became an “overnight success” For the past 34 years Michael has sold quality Porsches and is known as one of the premier dealers for 993s and other low-mileage air-cooled cars. It turns out, he should be known for much more than that!
As most of you know, production of the Porsche 928 started back in 1977 (for model year 1978) and rolled forward for the next 18 years (the longest production of any other Porsche model besides the 911). Willhoit purchased his first 928 immediately upon their release to the public. According to Michael, “When the 928 came out in 1978 I couldn’t find one around home so I had to fly to Dothan, Alabama to buy a brand new one in Tobacco Brown Metallic paint with Cork leather interior. Let’s just say, I got a lot of looks on the way home. No one knew what they were. The design was so new it looked like a space ship.” The new futuristic design didn’t stop Michael from selling the 928 and going on to buy and sell many more.
A life changing event
Fast forward three years to the night of June, 5th 1981. At exactly 10:01 in the evening, driving home from a Porsche auction, Michael had just glanced down at his speedometer (71 mph) while driving east on Interstate 44. What he saw when he looked up changed his life and set him on the path he still follows today. Coming straight at his 928, in the wrong lane and with no lights was a drunk driver. The drunk driver hit Willhoit’s Porsche head-on. The impact killed the drunk driver instantly and broke the back of Michael’s wife (in the passenger seat) paralyzing her from the waist down. As tragic as the accident was, Willhoit is convinced that the 928 saved the life of both he and his wife. "If we had been driving a 911 of that period we would have been dead.” As a result of that accident Michael says, “I believe in the 928 and have done everything in my power to keep the car in the public eye and help people to appreciate their true value."
Picture from the scene of the accident
Now, almost 30 years later Michael continues to locate and sell low mileage 993s and Porsche 928s. In fact, while it’s tough to qualify, as the result of a freak accident Michael probably sells more 928s (of the GT and GTS variety) than any other independent dealer in the country.
Best reason I've ever seen for owning a 928.
I purchased my last Porsche from Michael Willhoit a little over two years ago (that’s a picture of it below). Since that time Michael and I have become friendly and he even agreed to sponsor my site (hence his advertisement to the right over there). The other night we got to talking shop and I asked him about all the Porsche 928s he has listed for sale and the story behind it (as I always thought Michael was just an air-cooled guy). Boy was I wrong.
Michael started Willhoit Enterprises in 1974 and, as he likes to say, only recently became an “overnight success” For the past 34 years Michael has sold quality Porsches and is known as one of the premier dealers for 993s and other low-mileage air-cooled cars. It turns out, he should be known for much more than that!
As most of you know, production of the Porsche 928 started back in 1977 (for model year 1978) and rolled forward for the next 18 years (the longest production of any other Porsche model besides the 911). Willhoit purchased his first 928 immediately upon their release to the public. According to Michael, “When the 928 came out in 1978 I couldn’t find one around home so I had to fly to Dothan, Alabama to buy a brand new one in Tobacco Brown Metallic paint with Cork leather interior. Let’s just say, I got a lot of looks on the way home. No one knew what they were. The design was so new it looked like a space ship.” The new futuristic design didn’t stop Michael from selling the 928 and going on to buy and sell many more.
A life changing event
Fast forward three years to the night of June, 5th 1981. At exactly 10:01 in the evening, driving home from a Porsche auction, Michael had just glanced down at his speedometer (71 mph) while driving east on Interstate 44. What he saw when he looked up changed his life and set him on the path he still follows today. Coming straight at his 928, in the wrong lane and with no lights was a drunk driver. The drunk driver hit Willhoit’s Porsche head-on. The impact killed the drunk driver instantly and broke the back of Michael’s wife (in the passenger seat) paralyzing her from the waist down. As tragic as the accident was, Willhoit is convinced that the 928 saved the life of both he and his wife. "If we had been driving a 911 of that period we would have been dead.” As a result of that accident Michael says, “I believe in the 928 and have done everything in my power to keep the car in the public eye and help people to appreciate their true value."
Picture from the scene of the accident
Now, almost 30 years later Michael continues to locate and sell low mileage 993s and Porsche 928s. In fact, while it’s tough to qualify, as the result of a freak accident Michael probably sells more 928s (of the GT and GTS variety) than any other independent dealer in the country.
01-08-2010, 01:48 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
There are some things you can do. Color makes a big difference I think-- colors like silver and metallic-gray are a bit "stealthy" which is good in some respects, but not so good in others. So in traffic we tend to run with the foglights on, particularly in our silver car.
You can also reduce the risks in traffic. Fast-moving, crowded freeways are my biggest worry. Avoid, as much as possible, driving along overlapped with a car in the next lane-- try to always have an escape route. And don't tolerate anyone tailgating you-- change lanes, let them by, go elsewhere.
Tthe biggest hazard around here is folks following so close that they can't even see the brakelights of the car ahead below their hood line.
Go fast, stay safe!