ch4 Despatches: How safe is your car?

good_mojo · 1st August 2016, 17:39

Despatches is on tonight (Monday) at 8 pm and I shall watch with interest.

Following the emissions scandal, it would seem that some manufacturers are misleading people over safety ratings. VW are at it again!

if you will miss the programme these links give the gist...

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/n...f-our-vehicles

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...afety-ratings/

victorgte · 1st August 2016, 18:30

Why am I not surprised.

good_mojo · 1st August 2016, 19:51

I watched the program.

Cars are asymmetric and LHD and RHD variants my act differently in a crash. Most European cars tested are LHD. Manufacturers are trusted to test the other the other side and assure that it meets the same standard.

Manufacturers slow to react to problems and make a recall. For example, the Jeep grand Cherokee has a rear-mounted fuel tank that can catch fire in a collision. They knew about this from the eighties and it took them an astonishingly long time recall affected cars. Similarly, Vauxhall only recalled the Zafira after owners took to social media outraged at the numbers catching fire.

Euro ENCAP tests move on, so they expire. VW dealers mislead some Polo buyers that it had a 5 star rating when it was effectively unrated.

Can you trust the manufacturers? The evidence seems to say no.

RPWC · 1st August 2016, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by good_mojo

I watched the program.

Cars are asymmetric and LHD and RHD variants my act differently in a crash. Most European cars tested are LHD. Manufacturers are trusted to test the other the other side and assure that it meets the same standard.

Manufacturers slow to react to problems and make a recall. For example, the Jeep grand Cherokee has a rear-mounted fuel tank that can catch fire in a collision. They knew about this from the eighties and it took them an astonishingly long time recall affected cars. Similarly, Vauxhall only recalled the Zafira after owners took to social media outraged at the numbers catching fire.

Euro ENCAP tests move on, so they expire. VW dealers mislead some Polo buyers that it had a 5 star rating when it was effectively unrated.

Can you trust the manufacturers? The evidence seems to say no.

I wouldn't trust them with new stuff nowadays,no matter which company.

murphyv310 · 1st August 2016, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPWC

I wouldn't trust them with new stuff nowadays,no matter which company.

Richard.
It's not just cars that are made badly.
Washing machines with plastic drums.
Chinese TV sets with the "CE" label put on the factory with no CE testing done.
13Amp moulded plugs with NO fuse.
Wall wart power supplies with no thermal fuses or cut out

I'm sure many will come up with more examples

JSS · 2nd August 2016, 06:48

As an Range Rover and Rover owner, I'm still quite impressive about the original strong build and safety design of Rover 75.

Jim Jamieson · 2nd August 2016, 08:19

I found it surprising with the difference between sides using the American tests.
I had assumed that both sides of a car would be the same chassis wise.

As for trusting dealers, well it says it all on the programme. All they want to do is sell cars.

Nice to see our cars have a good 4 star rating.

Plezier · 2nd August 2016, 08:46

It's all about greed and the worship of :-

The Great God Excessive profit!

We the consumer/customer do not matter excessive profit is ALL that matters. We are supposed to just pay up and shut up!

ratchet · 2nd August 2016, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphyv310

Richard.
Chinese TV sets with the "CE" label put on the factory with no CE testing done.

There is a tiny difference in the font the Chinese use for CE labels. They argue that it isn't a fake European Conformance label, because the font is different, and CE stands for Chinese Export

charlie 22 · 2nd August 2016, 10:13

I think it was going to be a 5 star if Rover put the air bag on the b pillar as standard not as an option.

Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

1st August 2016, 17:39	#1
good_mojo Loves to post Facelift Rover 75 Classic CDT auto and Connoisseur SE 1.8T Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ferryhill Posts: 399 Thanks: 113 Thanked 110 Times in 83 Posts	ch4 Despatches: How safe is your car? Despatches is on tonight (Monday) at 8 pm and I shall watch with interest. Following the emissions scandal, it would seem that some manufacturers are misleading people over safety ratings. VW are at it again! if you will miss the programme these links give the gist... http://www.channel4.com/info/press/n...f-our-vehicles http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...afety-ratings/

1st August 2016, 18:30	#2
victorgte I really should get out more....... MGTF, MGZT, Range Rover Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 2,807 Thanks: 395 Thanked 633 Times in 446 Posts	Why am I not surprised. __________________ MG TF 135, MG ZT, Range Rover P38

1st August 2016, 19:51	#3
good_mojo Loves to post Facelift Rover 75 Classic CDT auto and Connoisseur SE 1.8T Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ferryhill Posts: 399 Thanks: 113 Thanked 110 Times in 83 Posts	Mulder was right: trust no one... I watched the program. Cars are asymmetric and LHD and RHD variants my act differently in a crash. Most European cars tested are LHD. Manufacturers are trusted to test the other the other side and assure that it meets the same standard. Manufacturers slow to react to problems and make a recall. For example, the Jeep grand Cherokee has a rear-mounted fuel tank that can catch fire in a collision. They knew about this from the eighties and it took them an astonishingly long time recall affected cars. Similarly, Vauxhall only recalled the Zafira after owners took to social media outraged at the numbers catching fire. Euro ENCAP tests move on, so they expire. VW dealers mislead some Polo buyers that it had a 5 star rating when it was effectively unrated. Can you trust the manufacturers? The evidence seems to say no.

2nd August 2016, 08:46	#8
Plezier I really should get out more....... Mercedes C Class CDI estate (2003) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gradina Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 62 Thanked 137 Times in 119 Posts	It's all about greed and the worship of :- *The Great God Excessive profit!* We the consumer/customer do not matter excessive profit is *ALL* that matters. *We are supposed to just pay up and shut up!* __________________ Classic SE CDT sadly lost in a severe collision.

2nd August 2016, 10:13	#10
charlie 22 Posted a thing or two MG ZT-T 2.5V6, Mazda Cx30 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Greenford Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 875 Thanked 165 Times in 132 Posts	I think it was going to be a 5 star if Rover put the air bag on the b pillar as standard not as an option. Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk __________________ Ugly Duckling

2nd August 2016, 06:48	#6
JSS Avid contributor Rover 75 Connoisseur 1999 LHD Dealer launch car 100532 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: FINLAND Posts: 112 Thanks: 27 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	As an Range Rover and Rover owner, I'm still quite impressive about the original strong build and safety design of Rover 75.

2nd August 2016, 08:19	#7
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	I found it surprising with the difference between sides using the American tests. I had assumed that both sides of a car would be the same chassis wise. As for trusting dealers, well it says it all on the programme. All they want to do is sell cars. Nice to see our cars have a good 4 star rating.