[gordner]

As to the air bags, I think the difference in modern cars is the systems are smart enough to know when an airbag will help you and when it will not, or will in fact hurt you more. Airbags today are a far cry from those of years ago, and have a lot more logic built into their deployment parameters.
I had an accident in a 2001.5 audit S4, side on collision, and I was astounded at how the progressive airbag system deployed partially, enough to cushion the blow, but not enough that the airbag struck you with any force. I remember an accident years ago my friends mom had with an old Chrysler, first gen air bags, and the fact that most of the injuries she sustained were from the airbag (broken wrist, broken nose, muscle damage.)