I have to agree with Tom. The front structure in that 09 Malibu is incredibly strong, just like in just about every 09 sedan now made. http://www.goodwrench.com/gmgoodwrenchjsp/gmspo/Chevrolet/Malibu/2008/02_Structure_Identification.pdf shows what metals are in the front. As for the airbag timing, the computer in a modern car can detect a collision event in 1-3 milliseconds. The airbags are deployed in 3-5 milliseconds after that. The above average human reaction time is 7 hundreds or a second. (.0001 for the computer and .07 for the human { http://www.visualexpert.com/Resources/reactiontime.html }). If you look close at that video or any other with a modern airbag deployment, you see that the occupants head is actually deflected away from the steering wheel, to the left side in this case. Yes, he probably would have soft tissue damage (whiplash) but he will walk away.
I work in a collision shop and every day I hear people say things like Kevin did here. But they do not realize that they are still alive after that wreck because the new car they drive is so incredibly strong. Most wrecks people have today would have killed someone if they happened in a "old" car. Just my 2 cents. Roarke Ponce Shop Manager Excel Auto Body, LLC I-CAR Platinum Individual ASE Master Tech Repair, Refinish and Estimating From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:55:24 -0400 Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] OT:YouTube crash I got some news for you therre skippy. That 2009 car is built from much stronger metal than the 59 Impala is. Not to mention the 2009 car is much more structurally sound than the 59 as well as the fact that the metal in the 59 has had 50 years to begin deteriorating. News cars are designed so the passenger compartment doesn't crush and it did it's job. That video is very real. If you were driving the 59 Impala in that video..you'd be dead, period. Tom Rightler MCC Newsletter Editor ----- Original Message ----- From: Kevin Brown To: The Chevelle Mailing List Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 1:46 AM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] OT:YouTube crash That"s Bullshit!! No Way Would That 2009 Stand Up Against The 59. I Have Seen Alot Of Wrecks in My Day That 59 Would of Cut The 2009 In Half!! What Did They Do To The 59 Take Out All The Fender Bolts Etc.. I Had A 61 That Knocked Over A Friggin Tree And Only Put A V In The Front. Yes It Was A Waste Of A Beautiful Car But Re-Look The Video Over Can't Be Real.. Slight Knee Injury?? The Air Bags Was Too Slow To Deploy. Look at The Dummy In The 2009"s Head Is Whips The Steering Wheel Like A Bag Of Oranges....Ask Me I Would Rather Have A 59 Anyday If I Was Gonna Crash Into Today"s Cars.. Kevin... Father To Holly,Lisa,Jacob,Shianna,Tyler Grandpa To Many LOL --- On Mon, 9/21/09, Larry Williams <[email protected]> wrote: From: Larry Williams <[email protected]> Subject: [Chevelle-list] OT:YouTube crash To: "Chevelle List" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, September 21, 2009, 9:58 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk What a waste of a beautiful classic car. As*holes! Larry -----Inline Attachment Follows----- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.112/2387 - Release Date: 09/21/09 17:55:00 E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.1.0.447) Database version: 6.13300 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
