taikowaza

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...per_tests.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/video...3/bumpers.html

Yet another reason for a TJM, ARB or custom bumper...I'd rather get less gas mileage than have a bumper that crumples when someone sneezes

Small Car Bumpers Fail to Prevent Expensive Damage

Prius, Elantra, Rabbit cost most to repair

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 5, 2008
IIHS-Auto Safety

• Small Car Bumpers Fail to Prevent Expensive Damage

Small cars can deliver high repair bills because "bumpers on many cars aren't designed to handle what should be a no-damage event" in parking lots and commuter traffic, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Rabbit each sustained $4,000 of damage or more in low speed "fender-bender" type crash tests conducted by IIHS.

In a series of low-speed tests, IIHS assessed how well the bumpers of 20 small car models would protect the vehicles from damage in parking lot type collisions. The Elantra, Prius and Rabbit cost the most to repair, averaging $4,000 or more.

"Small cars are supposed to be economical but there's nothing economical about 3 or 4 thousand dollars in repairs after a low-speed collision," said institute senior vice president Joe Nolan.

The Institute conducted a series of 4 crash tests in the comparison of bumper performance in low-speed impacts. There was a full front and rear crash test with a barrier plus front and rear corner impacts. The full-width impacts were conducted at 6 mph while the corner impacts were run at 3 mph.

Modern front-end styling results in bumper designs that can either slide under the bumpers of vehicles they strike or that simply don't have enough room to absorb the energy of a low-speed crash, the institute reported.

"Even if they do engage the bumper of the vehicle they crash into, the bars underneath bumper covers often aren't up to absorbing the energy. They may not be big enough to provide much protection from damage, especially if they don't extend to vehicle corners, or they may be too flimsy to absorb much energy," according to the report.

"Many consumers are turning to small cars for better fuel economy but damage in our tests approached luxury car territory. Savings at the pump could be more than offset by a single low-speed collision in one of these so-called economy cars."

The front bumpers of the Rabbit and Honda Civic slipped under the barrier in the front full-width test resulting in damage to their grilles, hoods, fenders and air-conditioning condensers, according to IIHS. Similarly, the Prius sustained nearly $4,000 damage in the rear full-width test because its bumper is mounted too low to be in position to protect the vehicle's tailgate, rear body panel and taillights, according to the report.

In the front corner test of the right side of the Prius, damage was much less, about $1,200, involving the fender and headlight. Had the test been conducted on the left side, the barrier would have crushed a coolant tank which costs more than $1,000 to replace, not including labor.

Parts for low speed repairs are expensive. The plastic bumper covers that fit over the bumper bars of modern cars are one example. Among the small cars tested, the front covers on the Scions cost less than $500 to replace and refinish, but the Mitsubishi Lancer's front cover is twice as expensive.

Headlights and taillights vary widely in cost as well. A taillight costs $205 to replace on the Prius compared with just $65 on the Focus.

IIHS reported 11 of the cars in the full-front test and 18 in the front corner test required headlight replacement or repair.

"Bumpers on most cars aren't worthy of the term," Nolan said. "Even the best bumper in this group still allowed more than a thousand dollars damage in one 3 mph crash test. Some simple changes could prevent a lot of damage to cars, and expense and headaches for consumers."