Ever wondered how older cars fare in a crash safety test? Well, researchers at a Swedish non-profit organisation Villaagarnas Riksforbund and insurance company Folksam tested used cars that are just over a decade old to find out just how much age and rust affect used cars, and whether or not the cars’ crashworthiness degrades over a moderate period of time.
The outfit tested multiple cars from two groups: 2004-2008 generation Volkswagen Golf and a 2003-2008 generation Mazda 6, all of which were diagnosed with rust issues. The cars were subjected to front and side impacts according to Euro NCAP standards, and the tests were conducted at Thatcham’s British Crash Laboratory.
The Golf and Mazda 6 were specifically chosen because they represent two distinct segments and both are popular in Europe. More interestingly, the duo are relatively sensitive to rust, some of which have found its way into the crash beams.
Unsurprisingly, the group discovered deterioration in both cars’ crash safety levels. Granted, both the Golf and Mazda 6 are older cars, so they wouldn’t have been put through the more stringent tests that have been put in motion and standardised in recent years. To level the playing field, both cars were tested as per Euro NCAP’s standards of the time.
As the tests show, both cars received a lower rating in comparison to when new. “When the Mazda 6 was tested in the frontal test, the car was deformed so that the driver’s seat ended up leaning against the interior of the car and the crash test dummy hit its head in the B-pillar (the pillar between the doors),” said the organisation.
“At the frontal collision, the crash test dummy was thrown forward towards the airbag, which is released from the steering wheel. Then the crash test dummy rebounded in the B-pillar before going back to the car seat again. If a crash test dummy rebounds into the B-pillar, this is not considered by the Euro NCAP model.”
The same fate befell the Volkswagen Golf as well, as it was found to have lost some of its crashworthiness. However, it’s only down by a single point in comparison to its score when new.
“For the Volkswagen Golf, the grade was reduced according to Euro NCAP’s five-point rating scale from a weak five (33 points) when the car was new to a strong four (32 points),” the researchers said. “But the difference in crash safety was marginal with only one point difference.”
Perhaps the most surprising finding was just how much the Mazda’s crash performance deteriorated due to rust issues. “In the case of Mazda 6, crash safety was significantly impaired. The rating was lowered from a weak four (26 points) when the car was new to a weak three (18 points). According to Folksam, for Mazda 6 there is a 20% higher risk of being killed in a real accident, because of the rust,” explained the researchers.
The research group points out that no two cars’ rust issues are alike, and hence it cannot be said with certainty that another used Mazda 6 with rust problems would have fared the same in these tests. The location of the rust issues matters, but in the case of the Mazda 6 it no longer deformed as designed, thus the degradation of its crashworthiness.
What do you think of this? As usual, comment and watch the videos below to compare how the rusted crash tests fared in comparison with Euro NCAP’s tests.
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Half the cars in Malaysia are rusty. How come? Yes, even with Puspakom approval, the cars go back to the road as a danger.
We need to clean up Puspakom. Too much of duit kopi going on in Puspakom and this endangers lives.
Go and check every other car in Malaysia, you will see it heavily rusted.
The integrity of these cars are 100x worse than even Kereta Potong.
Time for Puspakom to clean up their act.
Go and see Jalan Klang Lama, so many kereta potong guys. They all selling heavily rusted cars to the rakyat. Nothing is done to them. Authorities close an eye and allow the sale of kereta potong
Statistics show, there are over hundreds of thousands of kereta potong on our roads. All given roadworthiness by Puspakom
In the UK, MOT will fail these cars. But in Malaysia, Puspakom give LULUS to all these dangerous rusty kereta potong cars on our roads.
Imagine, before the kereta potong is sold, it is in the rain and son for years before it is sold to become one whole car sold.
Puspakom LULUS
Buy Proton HPF cars so no problem.
Do you know Puspakom charges few hundred ringgit for approval for even brand new cars by Proton, Perodua, Nissan etc
I wonder why? Brand new cars tak payah Puspakom inspection lah
Oh yeah…..Puspakom owned by DRB and Syed Mokhtar
Countries with 4 season in Europe have snow during winter. In my knowledge, they pour salt on the snow to increase traction. My father’s proton saja is 18 yrs old. Original paint. No crash repair. Zero rust.
That’s right, salt. Those who down vote are in denial.
Not those. Only that one guy.
In Sweden salt is not used, as the temperatures in winter are too low there (−45.8°C in Ångermanland in 1987) and the melting effect of salt to ice won’t work.
Salt is used in middle-european countries with milder temperatures like Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, etc.
Salt is used in southern region like Gothenburg & Malmo
Ofcos la rusted becoz second hand car dealers all so kiam seap and cut corners to maximize profit, don’t want to repair n instead Kasi duit kopi and then some more claim hardworking…
Only goes to show that EU inspired cars will outlast them overglorified Jepunis cars that rust from inside. This is a gud sign for EU inspired Boyue thats coming here.
At least provide statistics bro, say 10 years trend how many private cars failed puspakom inspection eg transfer ownership, hpi etc. prove your point with facts, don’t simply accuse of corrupt practices etc. Ive seen puspakom’s stats in some of mot’s roadshows. The numbers shown are quite eye opening.
And you must understand the objectives of mandatory inspections by puspakom in malaysia is to measure roadworthiness, not crashworthiness brother. And some inspection ie transfer ownership objective is to verify the identity of vehicle, does not involve equipment based roadworthiness inspection. These mandatory inspections are required under the RTA1986 and adhere to CITA Int Body of Vehicle Inspection Standards regulations.
Jepunis quality? More like rust bucket quality. Thats the problem when Jepunis cars not designed for harsh climates like China & EU. The EU inspired Boyue suffers no such lack of foresight.
Swedish being smartass. Instead of using rusty Volvos as test samples they use German and Jap cars. Didn’t buy that popular segments excuse at all.
A Mazda would have been cheaper then so it would have been quite popular. But yeah, why not a Saab or a Volvo as well?
You see, in these winter proned countries, where significant salt and saw is used, cars deteriorates with rust very quickly. Not only the body but engine too.
Hence, unless your vehicle is battered with salt and saw 4 months a year, this test is not reflective for cars worldwide.
Have you ever seen a car parked at the seaside, exposed to salt fog for years? ;)
I think all the new Proton cars will get 2 stars from 5 stars after 5 years
You think.
P1 uses Posco steel from Kimchi. No scandals. Not like Jepunis steelgate tisu paper. U be more worried for P2 cuz they use the same material.
What kok U are talking john. In M’sia, all cars & I mean ALL including P1 & P2 do not suffer from rusty problem. “Most” cars even after 10 years do NOT have rust problem.
The hundreds of thousands of P1 & P2 cars that is more than 10 years on our roads are testament. Rust come from accident cars that did not do a proper rustproofing undercoat when repairing.
Even old Wiras(1999 on wards) have many coats of paint B4 they are sold. I know bcos my father own both.
Are the golf and Mazda 6 owners in Msia in shock right now?
Resale values going to plummet?
That’s why always buy Toyota or Honda
Eh no lar, why want to feel shocked? They tested the popular cars in that region..We had no idea had they tested the toyota or a honda instead. RV going down in Malaysia? I doubt it very much..
should try on proton/honda with all lubang on rear bumper. i can not think a reason to create lubang.
Bumper r plastic. Salt & rust wun affect its lifetime.
Plastic will degrade and becomes brittle when exposed to sunlight UV rays, the plastic bumper will degrades faster if it’s surface is without any paint coating.
Theres such thing as UV treated. Bumper plastic one such materials.
Proton edar dealer association will be very interested with this test…they will used this to push their vehicle end life policy through…
European cars are always safer than Jaos cars even as they aged . Japs are only good at copy cat and advertisement for their cars .
RV is useless if Japs cars are not safe . we only live once not to go away so fast.
ENCAP has nothing better to do than to test rusty cars? what’s the point of this test? we all know that rust eats into the steal, so its natural that there’s some deterioration. If they want to score it, at least indicate the degree of rustiness. If there’s no deterioration in the score, then the initial score would have been very poor to start with.
Wouldn’t it better to test crash worthiness of cars after major accident repairs?
I think it is not about the brand. Whatever brand also, rust will take place especially for those vehicles involved in flood incident. So, before you buy a 2nd hand car, have to be careful.