Insurance Institute announces that the Z (350) tops the most fatality list

FromG2Z · 06-09-2011, 10:46 AM

any one have any #'s on the fatalities for the 370z's from 09 onward? I'm curious.

Also, what was the star crash rating for the 350's? If it was a low ranking, then that could be partially to blame for the fatalities.... but I attribute it more to poor driving skills. High power + RWD + affordable used = tragedy.

shadoquad · 06-09-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FromG2Z

any one have any #'s on the fatalities for the 370z's from 09 onward? I'm curious.

Also, what was the star crash rating for the 350's? If it was a low ranking, then that could be partially to blame for the fatalities.... but I attribute it more to poor driving skills. High power + RWD + affordable used = tragedy.

I don't like crash ratings. It has made all cars fatter and less maneuverable. More likely to survive an accident, but less likely to brake or swerve in time to avoid one.

leighspped · 06-09-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

I don't like crash ratings. It has made all cars fatter and less maneuverable. More likely to survive an accident, but less likely to brake or swerve in time to avoid one.

SeattleLion · 06-09-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

I don't like crash ratings. It has made all cars fatter and less maneuverable. More likely to survive an accident, but less likely to brake or swerve in time to avoid one.

The Z isn't crash rated. The Insurance Institute doesn't test them because there aren't enough sold. Neither the 350 or 370 have been crash tested.

dad · 06-09-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

The Z isn't crash rated. The Insurance Institute doesn't test them because there aren't enough sold. Neither the 350 or 370 have been crash tested.

Wrong!
Google

SeattleLion · 06-09-2011, 03:12 PM

It seems that there are a couple of themes here:

The 350, in particular, is bought by inexperienced or reckless drivers. Ok, maybe that is true. However as pointed out, Mustangs are in a similar price bracket and are way safer in terms of both fatalities and insurance claims for collision, etc. So, if drivers are to blame, are we claiming that the 350 is a magnet for people prone to overdrive their skills?

The design is flawed. This is very interesting. Both the 350 and 370 are true rear wheel driven sports cars. While many complain about the VDC, it is way less aggressive than stability controls on other cars. The 370 sport (not sure about base) comes equipped with summer tires. These tires are less-than-sticky below 50 deg F and not incredible on very wet surfaces. Perhaps that contributes to the problem. I never drove a 350, but my 370 is not tail happy at all and is very difficult to drive into understeer with the VDC on. I tried hard to make it understeer when I took HPD school a couple of months ago. I had to push to 60mph before I could get it to slip. Even then, it recovered almost instantly.

Most of us have been driving 370's for a while. Nobody on this thread pointed out any obvious safety issues (at least so far). There has to be a reason for the 350 ending up as the car with the most fatalities per million registered vehicles. The 370 is certainly an improvement over the 350, but it is also smaller and more powerful. I've noticed that SUV's have a habit of trying to cross into my lane when they are right next to me. It's happened at least 5 times in the 9 months I have had my Z. Could it be that blind spot crashes on freeways is the killer? Anyone notice any consistent issues that could cause a fatal crash?

shadoquad · 06-09-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

It seems that there are a couple of themes here:

The 350, in particular, is bought by inexperienced or reckless drivers. Ok, maybe that is true. However as pointed out, Mustangs are in a similar price bracket and are way safer in terms of both fatalities and insurance claims for collision, etc. So, if drivers are to blame, are we claiming that the 350 is a magnet for people prone to overdrive their skills?

The design is flawed. This is very interesting. Both the 350 and 370 are true rear wheel driven sports cars. While many complain about the VDC, it is way less aggressive than stability controls on other cars. The 370 sport (not sure about base) comes equipped with summer tires. These tires are less-than-sticky below 50 deg F and not incredible on very wet surfaces. Perhaps that contributes to the problem. I never drove a 350, but my 370 is not tail happy at all and is very difficult to drive into understeer with the VDC on. I tried hard to make it understeer when I took HPD school a couple of months ago. I had to push to 60mph before I could get it to slip. Even then, it recovered almost instantly.

Most of us have been driving 370's for a while. Nobody on this thread pointed out any obvious safety issues (at least so far). There has to be a reason for the 350 ending up as the car with the most fatalities per million registered vehicles. The 370 is certainly an improvement over the 350, but it is also smaller and more powerful. I've noticed that SUV's have a habit of trying to cross into my lane when they are right next to me. It's happened at least 5 times in the 9 months I have had my Z. Could it be that blind spot crashes on freeways is the killer? Anyone notice any consistent issues that could cause a fatal crash?

Base model comes with summer tires, too. And they're really slick in winter.

Can't ignore that the Z has terrible rear visibility and is a smaller car than the Mustang, which makes it less visible on the road.

06-09-2011, 10:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
FromG2Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fields of Opportunities Posts: 1,406 Drives: '12 5.0, kona, 6MT Rep Power: 18	any one have any #'s on the fatalities for the 370z's from 09 onward? I'm curious. Also, what was the star crash rating for the 350's? If it was a low ranking, then that could be partially to blame for the fatalities.... but I attribute it more to poor driving skills. High power + RWD + affordable used = tragedy. __________________ 2012 5.0 GT Prem, Kona Blue, 6MT, HID, Brembo, 3.73 -- Ordered: 9/20/11, Born on: 10/20/11, Delivered 11/15/11"Marilyn" GT500 mufflers/flaps, MGW shifter, FRPP K springs, BMR panhard bar, Boss coil covers, 3DC spoiler, Llumar Tint (35% and 20%), 3M ClearBra

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06-09-2011, 03:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
SeattleLion Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 226 Drives: '13 Mustang GT Prem. Rep Power: 234	It seems that there are a couple of themes here: The 350, in particular, is bought by inexperienced or reckless drivers. Ok, maybe that is true. However as pointed out, Mustangs are in a similar price bracket and are way safer in terms of both fatalities and insurance claims for collision, etc. So, if drivers are to blame, are we claiming that the 350 is a magnet for people prone to overdrive their skills? The design is flawed. This is very interesting. Both the 350 and 370 are true rear wheel driven sports cars. While many complain about the VDC, it is way less aggressive than stability controls on other cars. The 370 sport (not sure about base) comes equipped with summer tires. These tires are less-than-sticky below 50 deg F and not incredible on very wet surfaces. Perhaps that contributes to the problem. I never drove a 350, but my 370 is not tail happy at all and is very difficult to drive into understeer with the VDC on. I tried hard to make it understeer when I took HPD school a couple of months ago. I had to push to 60mph before I could get it to slip. Even then, it recovered almost instantly. Most of us have been driving 370's for a while. Nobody on this thread pointed out any obvious safety issues (at least so far). There has to be a reason for the 350 ending up as the car with the most fatalities per million registered vehicles. The 370 is certainly an improvement over the 350, but it is also smaller and more powerful. I've noticed that SUV's have a habit of trying to cross into my lane when they are right next to me. It's happened at least 5 times in the 9 months I have had my Z. Could it be that blind spot crashes on freeways is the killer? Anyone notice any consistent issues that could cause a fatal crash?