My Q5 written off!

W

Wino

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I was hit from behind 2 weeks ago, while I was stationary in morning peak hour traffic, so hard that my Q5 3L has been written off. Accident assessor estimates the guy must have hit into me at about 70 to 80 km / h (he didnt see that the traffic had stopped). I was happily chatting to my wife, having just dropped kids off at school and didnt see it coming at all. Thankfully I was not injured other than sore legs and whip-lash, and my wife suffered a black eye and whip-lash as well.
My point of all this is that I realized how important it is is to buy the safest car you can afford. If I had been in a smaller car, the result would have been very different.

So now I am looking for a new car of the closest calibre to my Audi. I cant afford the exact same car, since I bought it at a bargain through my company.

So far I have only test driven the 3L Fortuner D. It just feels so thin compared to the Audi, and the whole driver interface seems to be so much less advanced. I know I cant compare directly, but overall the Fortuner shell seems thinner and more tin like compared to Audi. The only PLUS I find here is the height of the vehicle.

I am due to drive the new Kia Serento and the Trailblazer and the Volvo SUV.

Which would you say is the safer option from above cars?
Also a SUV or a saloon car, given that the safety features themselves are equal in this case - maybe a Q5 vs an A4/6.

Obviously the impact/collision point plays a role here, but how about a cross compare, say a Fortuner compared to a A6 or A4 in an accident.

Vague questions I know, but maybe some personal experiences would help me.

Cheers
 
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An SUV has no safety benefit over a smaller ''similar car'', basically meaning an A6 is just as safe as a Q5. Probably safer given SUV's tendencies to roll.

Get a higher specced car rather than a lower specced SUV.
 
Maybe just get a cheaper Q5?

The Fortuna is a farm bakkie with the back closed off. It had its own safety issues and is like #1 theft target in SA. I'd avoid it at all costs.
 
Think most cars are designed for high safety on the front.
 
Volvo would by far be the safest as that's kinda what they focus on. Why not look at the VW Touareg and Tiguan?
 
Happy Camper said:
Only douchebags drive Mercs. No exceptions.
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That's a massive generalisation. What a chop..

I'd agree with buying the highest specced car you can afford. A4/6's are very good as well as another Q5 - just a cheaper one?
Oh and please.. stay away from a Fortuna.
 
Ancalagon said:
Second hand Q5? Ie 1 year old?
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I'm looking at a 2013 Dec Q5 tomorrow - 2L as well as a highly specced A4 2013 - 7000km.
I was spoilt with the 3L - such incredible acceleration - 180 KW, combined with such comfort.

I was under the impression that a higher car (SUV) would be safer than a lower car - all safety features being equal thats why I'm not sure what to get.
 
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I would disagree with height being a safety advantage, but weight definitely is.

If they made two SUVs with the same safety features, but one weighed half as much as the other, the lighter one will get better fuel efficiency but be less safe. This is due to simple physics - transfer of momentum etc. Well engineered cars can deal with this to a certain extent by absorbing energy using crumple zones etc. But a heavier car means it will have to absorb less energy than a lighter car (all other things being equal). This will really have a noticeable affect when a Ford Figo crashes into a Land Rover Discovery - the Ford Figo may have relatively modern safety features, but being much lighter will put it at a serious disadvantage if the two were to crash. Probably not as much difference between A6 and Q5.

In terms of height, a taller car has a higher centre of gravity and is more likely to roll. However, a taller car makes it easier to see in the game reserve!
 
Brawler said:
Maybe just get a cheaper Q5?

The Fortuna is a farm bakkie with the back closed off. It had its own safety issues and is like #1 theft target in SA. I'd avoid it at all costs.
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Also, you'd have to go on an attitude adjument course. Fortuner drivers are the equavalent of previous generations BMW *******s.
 
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