Notices
944 Turbo and Turbo-S Forum 1982-1991
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Clore Automotive

Safety Rating

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-14-2010, 01:46 AM
  #1  
Black51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
 
Black51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default Safety Rating

Hey guys. Just curious to know what the 944's safety rating was back in the day, and what it's rating is today (knock on wood)...
Old 09-16-2010, 02:11 PM
  #2  
quinnfiske
Pro
 
quinnfiske's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I think the safety ratings you see today are a new invention. However, here is a lot of anecdotal evidence that these are safe cars. The drive train is essentailly a solid casting from the front of the engine all the way to the rear of the transaxle. I think they do pretty well in roll-overs as well.

I know a guy who walked away unhurt from a hard rear end hit from a pickup truck. He was in a 931 (924 Turbo) which has the same body shell. The guy in the truck was killed.
Old 09-16-2010, 03:40 PM
  #3  
dillon410021
Race Car
 
dillon410021's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LaPorte, IN 46350
Posts: 3,840
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

side impacts aren't very good on the 944's. but it depends on what your car gets hit with.
Old 09-16-2010, 05:47 PM
  #4  
slap929
Pro
 
slap929's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 525
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

First car with dual airbags standard(88 turbo), so they kind of cared about safety. Kind of.
Old 09-16-2010, 11:37 PM
  #5  
Black51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
 
Black51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

I wonder though about a frontal impact, like if the cab gets crushed and the firewall gets pushed in and you get a good view of the engine with it ending up in your lap.
Old 09-17-2010, 12:08 AM
  #6  
JDS968
Bannana Shine
Rennlist Member
 
JDS968's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 21,055
Likes: 0
Received 334 Likes on 219 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by dillon410021
side impacts aren't very good on the 944's. but it depends on what your car gets hit with.
Anybody here drive one on the street with any kind of cage that extends forward of the seatbacks?

Originally Posted by Black51
I wonder though about a frontal impact, like if the cab gets crushed and the firewall gets pushed in and you get a good view of the engine with it ending up in your lap.
At least the cars have very long front ends, that might help. Lots of room for crumpling before the impact gets to the passenger compartment.

Also, the IIHS has been crash testing cars since the late 50s, haven't they? They must have done crash testing on at least one 924/944 variant at SOME point, right?
Old 09-17-2010, 12:15 AM
  #7  
gt37vgt
Drifting
 
gt37vgt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Australian cars had side bars put in the doors ..for ADR's
Hmm a cage is always tricky on the street I guess if the cage is padded and you mount you seat low .. o would think in 1980's terms its a very safe car the once piece drive line makes it difficult for the engine to end up in the cabin there is a lot of car in front of you to take impact..
Old 09-17-2010, 12:23 AM
  #8  
V2Rocket
Rainman
Rennlist Member
 
V2Rocket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 45,548
Received 648 Likes on 502 Posts
Default

having bought the back end of an SUV yesterday i can tell you that the car held up well to a ~25mph impact..no injuries, the PS frame rail is crushed in front of the wheel but i think the shell may be salvageable with some creative sawzalling/welding


doors still open and close fine, sunroof is fine, roof is not distorted...bumpers got a hole though
Old 09-17-2010, 12:23 AM
  #9  
Black51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
 
Black51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by slap929
First car with dual airbags standard(88 turbo), so they kind of cared about safety. Kind of.
Just thinking about the frontal impact, if the cab didn't hold up in a crash, then the airbags wouldn't do much good then would they? It could've maybe just been a sales thing to go along with the 'economy car' they were pushing on it, as compared to the 911's.

Mind you, I don't think Porsche has been overly scrutinized through the years on low safety vehicles.
Old 09-17-2010, 12:29 AM
  #10  
60Driver
Instructor
 
60Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

951s have been known to experience sudden intended acceleration on many occasions.
Old 09-17-2010, 12:44 AM
  #11  
Black51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
 
Black51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

^^^Ya I've noticed that too. Weird hey?
Old 09-17-2010, 12:53 AM
  #12  
Darwantae951

 
Darwantae951's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,034
Received 25 Likes on 21 Posts
Default

If you look at the way the car is designed, you'll notice that the car is designed to transfer energy from the front to the rear of the car via the drive train. There are ears on the torque tube and torsion bar tube that will catch if the impact is great enough and the force will be transferred from the front of the car to the rear, bypassing the occupant cabin. I've never seen a photo of a wrecked cars rear underbody, but I've seen plenty of crash photos where people walk away with minor injuries from something that looks like they should have died.
Old 09-17-2010, 02:36 AM
  #13  
Black51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
 
Black51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

^^^That's interesting. I've not seen much of the drivetrain as I haven't changed the clutch(yet). So Porsche stuck with their guns and designed the car to be as expensive as possible even in a crash. Aaahhh, I love these cars.
Old 09-17-2010, 05:30 AM
  #14  
ehall
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
ehall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: long gone.....
Posts: 17,413
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I've seen a number of bad 951 and 968 wrecks. I only know of one death, and the driver was going WAY above and beyond safe, reasonable speed. His pasenger was killed. He lived.
Other than that, the others walked away.
I'm VERY confident about the safety of these cars.
Old 09-17-2010, 09:47 AM
  #15  
black944 turbo
Rennlist Member
 
black944 turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 4,261
Received 30 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Does anyone remember Bloodravens t-bon'd 951. He walked away without a scratch after getting hit in the driver door by a Durango going 50mph. I think these cars are extremely tough.


Quick Reply: Safety Rating



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 05:42 AM.