Are modern family cars bigger?

[Darrell]

Yes. Friends of ours have a Q7. When they visit it makes my L3 Vito look very average in size.

Their reason for having it is they occasionally go camping. Mum, Dad and 14 year old daughter.

Q7 is the car to be in if your run into the back of a lorry whilst you’re speeding.

 

[Dryce]

Q7 is the car to be in if your run into the back of a lorry whilst you’re speeding.

A long time ago (15 years?) there were pictures of a W211 that had gone into the back of a lower moving truck at speed on the autobahn. The car was messed and there fatalities. The trick driver walked away.

So I did some calculations regarding momentum. And the W211 isn't a lightweight. Basically the truck - if loaded - would have experienced a big jolt. The W211 would have experienced catastrophic deceleration and the resulting associated front end destruction and fatal injuries.

It's unlikely that a Q7 would do that much better on the basic physics even though it's presumably heavier than a W211. For the W211 to make a significant impact on the truck then it would have to travel significantly faster than any viable road speed - and the net result would be even worse destruction of the W211.

The basic lesson - don't hit something that is a significant multiple of your weight as you end up being the one that suddenly changes momentum.

 

[Darrell]

A long time ago (15 years?) there were pictures of a W211 that had gone into the back of a lower moving truck at speed on the autobahn. The car was messed and there fatalities. The trick driver walked away.

So I did some calculations regarding momentum. And the W211 isn't a lightweight. Basically the truck - if loaded - would have experienced a big jolt. The W211 would have experienced catastrophic deceleration and the resulting associated front end destruction and fatal injuries.

It's unlikely that a Q7 would do that much better on the basic physics even though it's presumably heavier than a W211. For the W211 to make a significant impact on the truck then it would have to travel significantly faster than any viable road speed - and the net result would be even worse destruction of the W211.

The basic lesson - don't hit something that is a significant multiple of your weight as you end up being the one that suddenly changes momentum.

All 3 got out pretty much unscathed. The driver is a friend from Greece and he was driving from Athens to Parga.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Q7 is the car to be in if your run into the back of a lorry whilst you’re speeding.

View attachment 144282

Are the occupants still in it?

 

[Fastcar155]

My mates dad a Jaguar 3.8 series two and a current VW Polo no doubt is faster. I remember we had to keep stopping as the tank was only 8 Gallons.No room in the back.

Mrs Boyband worked for a world famous sports car company in the previous century , the V8 then cost £1500.00

They had a bay where the wrecks were stored awaiting repair.

In the three years Mrs Boyband worked at the company not a single fatally in their cars that were returned to the factory for repair.

 

[Dryce]

In the three years Mrs Boyband worked at the company not a single fatally in their cars that were returned to the factory for repair.

What about the condition of the occupants of the ones that were not viable for repair?

 

[rf065]

Are the occupants still in it?

Yes, and very embarrassed, still got red faces!

 

[Darrell]

Are the occupants still in it?

Yes. The arm you can see is the left arm of a medic.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I’m glad your friends are okay

 

[Spider10]

Not much left of this RS6

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[Fastcar155]

What about the condition of the occupants of the ones that were not viable for repair?

Hi , clearly understand your comment but the owners of asked the company to re build the car to over come the 7 year delivery.

 

[MD5]

Saw this pic somewhere else the other day

 

[ALFAitalia]

Perspective....that little coach is rather further back......but yes that much bigger beast. I'm thinking the small one might be a bit lacking when it comes to space, aircon, wifi.......... and a loo!!

 

[MD5]

Perspective....that little coach is rather further back......but yes that much bigger beast. I'm thinking the small one might be a bit lacking when it comes to space, aircon, wifi.......... and a loo!!

Actually, I'd say it's photoshopped, looking at the sun's reflection on the one windscreen, but nothing on the other.

 

[Mactech]

I did a little table a year or so back of the sizes of my (then) current car and my first car.



Not much downsizing going on except for the fuel consumption. I'd say technology has now moved on.

 

[davymead]

I did a little table a year or so back of the sizes of my (then) current car and my first car.

View attachment 144661

Not much downsizing going on except for the fuel consumption. I'd say technology has now moved on.

Intriguing comparison, one thing noted was the ‘ limits of your endurance’ note. In my first car like yours an 850 Mini a relatively simple drive to the coast would severely test your endurance

 

[chic0821]

if something gets in her way on the School run.

Never had a school run in my day. Taken to school the first day when we were 5 years old, then find your own way after that. Pretty embarrassing for any kid who showed up to school with a parent in tow. Met up with pals/classmates then walked or got a bus. Probably kids nowadays don't have many pals as they don't seem to go out to play. Our parents never knew where we were half the time, we just showed up at lunch time or tea time. All our parents would probably be in jail these day's for neglect. Happy day's

 

[ALFAitalia]

Lol......I went to school on my own on my first day of primary school. 4 miles on a bus out in the sticks when I was 4 years and 8 months old. Both my parents worked so could not even take me to the bus stop.....but it was only 50 yards down the road....which was in a tiny village where everyone knees me with next to no traffic....but even so. No other kids my age in the village so I knew no one on that bus. Never bothered me at the time. My 14 years old son did not believe me when I first told him. Even my wife was amazed....but she is a towny so is a bit different there.
Kids today?....don't know they're born!

 

[chic0821]

850 Mini a relatively simple drive to the coast would severely test your endurance

Perhaps, but at least you could easily get it going if you broke down. Modern cars, don't even bother lifting the bonnet

 

[StMarks]

Lol......I went to school on my own on my first day of primary school. 4 miles on a bus out in the sticks when I was 4 years and 8 months old. Both my parents worked so could not even take me to the bus stop.....but it was only 50 yards down the road....which was in a tiny village where everyone knees me with next to no traffic....but even so. No other kids my age in the village so I knew no one on that bus. Never bothered me at the time. My 14 years old son did not believe me when I first told him. Even my wife was amazed....but she is a towny so is a bit different there.
Kids today?....don't know they're born!

As Freud would say,: That explains a lot...