914s in front-end collisions - how do we fare?
 

My wife was hit head-on (more or less) yesterday when a 1990 Grand Am ran a red light. Our 2001 Golf TDI was mushed (the airbags did not deploy - a mystery) but she would have walked away if the EMS people had let her. It got me thinking about how my 914 would have fared in the same situation. With the fuel tank in the front, are we driving reversed Pintos (where is Ralph Nader when I need him)? Should I keep my spare in the front as extra cushion or just kiss my rear end goodbye and stop wearing a seat belt?

The air bag was obviously not needed because the Gs were not high enough. Consider her lucky for not having a smashed face now - the airbag was properly designed as she was not injured in the crash.

To the 914, the spare is part of the crash design of the car - keep it in place if you are concerned. Don't get worked up about he fuel tank - it has a lot more crumple zone protecting it than most cars.

Glad your wife is OK!

Back in college I was hit head on, Okay I rear ended a toyota, in my older 1972 914. What was cool was it crunched up to the gas tank, but the tank area was untouched. The windshield support was not damaged as well. Basically the front end accordiended... Scrunched up right to the wall before the gas tank. Everything was shot including the front suspension and all frame and bodywork. But everything else was just fine.

Unfortunately the airbag next to me deployed BIG TIME. I got rid of her right away. Babes in 914s are too much of a distraction when you are driving...

I hope this helps,

James,

I agree with you about the airbag probably causing more harm than good in that situation and I also recognize that the airbag systems are much more sophisticated than they used to be - the car knows better (or is at least programmed to know better) than all of the spectators about what level of protection is needed or not.

There were some pics on Rennlist of a local 914 friend who smashed his car into a telephone pole. Seems there was some dirt on the road in a curve . . .
The fender got wrapped around the pole pretty good and damage was just about up to the windshield post too. Tank was not damaged.
The damage was quite impressive but both occupants walked out.
May be someone kept the pictures.
The moral of the story is that out little cars are very safe in a frontal collision.
Michel Richard

just to keep the conversation going...how about side collisions? Does a roll-cage make a big difference is this area?

where was your spare...
 

rockaria,
did you have your spare in front when the accident happened? Just wondering what happened down there when the front end accordiened back to the gas tank. Thanks

Rich,
I don't think a side collision is the best for the 914...seeing as we are at a bumper=eye level with most SUVs out there! The later, post '72, I think, had an extra beam inside the door to help with side impacts. Anyone else know how a side shot would turnout?

Nathan

Re: where was your spare...
 

Yep, It kinda folded into the scrunch and was basically vertical instead of original horizontal position, still bolted in the place on the floor. I never did take it out. The insurace company totalled it and it was sold for parts.

IMHO a side ("T-bone") impact could be very ugly. Especially in the earlier cars with no door-beams, but even with the door beams you're just not talking a lot of strength or crumple-room in that area. And the car is so low that the other vehicle (if full-sized) would be up around arm-rest or window sill height.

Makes me shudder to think about it. Honestly one of the reasons I no longer drive an old p-car every day. (Here in LA, you're sure to get nailed sooner or later).

My 10 year old daughter gets frightened in my 914. She has never been in an older car of any type, and when she expressed her feelings to me I started thinking about the door strength in particular, as well as the height. The roll cage and racing harnesses probably don't help ease her mind either...

These cars are well designed and can get hit on either end with good safety for the passengers. Side impacts in *any* car are to be avoided at all cost (there's maybe 6 inches of "crush" space in any car)

I was uninjured when I was rear-ended by a buick -- I was stopped at the light, he was doing 50mph or so -- my car was scrunched all the way to the roll bar, but still ran... and I still had reverse through third! The only danger to me was when the ashtray flew out, zipped past my head and broke (!) the rear window. If he'd tried to stop, his front end would've been lower and I probably would've been much worse off for the experience. That 914 took another 15 years for rust from the poor body repair to kill it.

914s kinda suck in side collisions. A local was T-boned at an intersection. He had a later (from early 73 on) car with the door beams, and he also had a roll bar--single hoop. He was severely injured in the crash. Most of the 914's structure on the side is underneath its door in the sill, and since the car is so much lower than just about anything else out there all that is protecting you is the door...

A full roll cage with "Nascar door beams" would help, a regular roll cage would help somewhat less. Anything else is probably not worth that much in a side impact.

The good news is that the 914 has about an acre of crumple zone in the front and also in the rear. So if you can avoid getting hit on the door, you should be able to walk away from anything less than about a 70 MPH collision!!

--DD

rich,
if you try, you might be able to own part of VW for the air bags not coming out.(never again worry about porsche parts) HA! HA!