The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety recently released crash test videos of model year 2007 convertibles just in time for the peak of the summer driving season. Unfortunately, all the service and maintenance in the world isn't going to help these cars at this point, but it is a very small price to pay in the name of safety. Now, reviewing crash footage doesn't really represent the most rewarding new car comparison tool and you would be hard pressed to see a considerable difference in crumple effect between even the best and worst performers, yet there is something compelling about seeing how your vehicle fairs.
In addition to the recently added convertibles, you can go to this Consumer Reports site and select from an entire catalog of vehicles to see how they fare in crash testing. If you have trouble discerning how your car does by how it looks when the rolling stops, fortunately they also provide a ratings summary. One the one hand, you can help but feel that "oh, if they could just spare one of those test cars" feelings and give it to you rather than smash it into a wall at 40 mph. On the other hand, however, this appeals to some morbid fascination many people have. Call it Schadenfreude or too much time spent watching primetime news, but this is somehow interesting.
Note to all of you highway rubber-neckers, rather than further clog up the roadways by slowing and getting the best look possible at the scene of an accident, please just go to this site and get it out of your system.
Either way, it is nice to know how these things really hold up in the unfortunate case where the very worst happens.
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