95 GMC jimmy or 97 Sable which is safer?

[Colleen]

I've had a 97 Sable for some years now, but have always wanted a SUV. My DH bought me a 95 Jimmy last week and I'm not sure about it. It seems "ricketey" and when I went to carfax crash test reports it failed SO BAD! My old Sable (which still I have but need to sell now that we have the SUV) got GREAT crash test ratings. I'm so tempted to put the carseats back in the Sable and sell the Jimmy. DH wont be too happy because he had to sink $500.00 of new parts (he's a car mechanic) in the SUV this first week already. Plus I'm worried because it has a hatch instead of a trunk, and I worry about stuff (stroller, grocerys, DD sports equiptment) becoming projectile in a crash. Anyone else have Jimmys and are happy?

[southpawboston]

never owned either, but i wouls suspect the 95 jimmy to be much less safe in a crash than a 97 sable. the jimmy is a really "old-school" SUV-- body-on-ladder frame chassis, so no crumple zones. plus back then safety wasn't a big marketing tool like it is now, and SUVs didn't have to confrom to the same crash standards as cars, so my instinct would be that the sable is much safer. today, SUVs are still not required to be as safe as passenger cars, but because safety sells, the automakers have responded and made their SUVs much safer. that was not the thinking back in the mid 90s.

[Jeanum]

FYI, crash test scores aside, the '95 GMC Jimmy is a corporate twin to the Chevy Blazer and the owner's manual forbids installing carseats in the center position in the rear seat. The OP mentioned carseats plural, and I'm hoping it's just two children in seats so you can install their carseats outboard in the Jimmy. Fingers crossed you don't have a dilemma about fitting three carseats in the Jimmy. If so, the Sable would be preferable from the standpoint of allowing a carseat in the center rear seating position.

[Colleen]

Thanks, that what my mummy gut was saying too. This will be a lloonngg talk w/ DH tonight. Any suggestions on safe SUV? I also just desided it needs to be 2002 or newer (DH is going to love that part too) so it has LATCH.

[Colleen]

I only have 2 children, 4.5 yo 33lbs, and a 9.5 yo 55lbs. There car seats are not in the middle. I heard about the middle prob. somewhere else here today also. We are going to plan baby #3 in the next 2 years though....

[southpawboston]

LATCH is not necessarily safer than seat belts, so there is no need to buy a 2002 or newer vehicle just for that. LATCH was only intended to make proper carseat installation easier and more foolproof to the novice user, and hence indirectly more safe. it has proven not to make installation any easier than using the car's belts. belts are as safe as LATCH.

[scatterbunny]

I agree, Sable over Jimmy. My friend (with three children) had a Jimmy (well, they still have it, but it became the husband's commuting vehicle when they were able to afford a new vehicle) of about that year. She had a 10yo in just a seatbelt, a 4yo in a belt positioning booster (nevermind she was 30-something pounds and should have still been harnessed) and an almost-2yo who was 40 pounds and needed a new seat. At the time this was their only vehicle, so they had no choice but to put all three kids in the back so mom and dad could fit up front. Since the center seat says not to install a carseat she had her 10yo dd there, in just a lapbelt (NOT SAFE) and the booster and carseat on each outboard side. I talked to her about the pros and cons of both options and she decided to put her 2yo's carseat in the middle because it achieved a good install, so her 10yo could have a shoulderbelt. From what I was able to gather, the "no carseat" rule was because the center spot is so narrow that no carseat would install well there. Newer Jimmies and Blazers do allow a carseat in that narrow center spot.

Neither situation was great, but she felt safER having her oldest with a shoulderbelt and a good install on her son's carseat in the middle, versus having her 10yo in a lapbelt.

Thankfully now they have a minivan and can fit everyone (and then some) safely.

For what it's worth, LATCH is not safer than a seatbelt for installing a carseat, it is just supposed to be easier, and it isn't always easier.

[Colleen]

Even with that whole thing about Kyle Miller and seat belts failing? I thought latch was to prevent that? I'm still I little hung up over getting my 10 yo 52" 55lbs. a regent or parkway because of this. Shes currently in a eddie high back booster.

[southpawboston]

the kyle miller phenenon was a very isolated case of seatbelt failure. seatbelts are still proven to be very safe. the reason it is safer to harness children who would otherwise be ready for a booster is because some children may not "behave" properly and try to squirm their way out of a belt-positioned booster or shove the shoulder section behind their torsos. having a 5-point harnessed setup prevents those situations. however, if used properly, seatbelts are safe. you can find a general "5-step" rule to knowing if your child is ready for a booster. if you search, i'm sure you can find it (or scatterbunny will give a link to it :) ).

[Jeanum]

Right, it's the newer GMC Envoy and Chevy Trailblazer models (from 2002 and newer IIRC) that do allow a carseat to be installed in the center, if the carseat is narrow enough to fit between the closely spaced center seatbelt anchors. :) I don't think any version bearing the Jimmy or Blazer model names permitted it. The '95 Blazer manual says something vague like "do not install a child restraint in the center of the rear seat because the carseat would not perform properly," not exactly the most helpful or detailed explanation. :( Glad to hear the OP already knows of the issue.

To reassure the OP about the seatbelt vs. LATCH issue and the relative rarity of seatbelt failures, here's an article from SafetyBeltSafeUSA in response to the youtube Kyle Miller tribute video: http://www.carseat.org/Resources/650_YouTube.pdf

[Colleen]

Thanks for the video response. I do feel more confident about the safety of seat belts now. I decided I'm going to keep my safe Sable, and sell the new Jimmy ASAP. Now I feel bad selling the Jimmy to a family due to the crash rates :( and it doesn't help that DH dropped $500.00 on it this week, but our children are worth throwing that money down the drain. Thanks again!

[papooses]

Yikes, I ran far away from the older Jimmy/Blazers :eek: I had one for a while -- was sooooo paranoid about crashing in it :( The Sable is definitely the safer of the 2! When I traded in my Blazer for an Escape I felt much better -- it handled better, fit carseats better & had better safety ratings + better gas mileage....

FWIW, though, last I heard the manufacturer now OK's center carseat installation even in the older models so long as the seatbelt stays locked: mine had a retractable lap belt that did not stay locked, so a Belt Shortening Clip would have been necessary (bigger & stronger than a Locking Clip + used differently). If you must install a carseat in the center, call the manufacturer 1st & visit your local CPST for help.

[Colleen]

I also JUST ordered a Parkway booster instead of the Regent (in between posts, love multitasking!) because I think I can trust our selt belts, and shes 10 for cripes sakes! She said she would rather eat dirt than wear a 5 point harness at age 10. I dont blame her, but shes staying in that booster till she's married! :)

[scatterbunny]

Yes, I think a booster is perfectly fine for a 10yo who can be trusted to stay properly positioned, even if she is small. ;)

The unfortunate thing about the Kyle Miller video is that it made lots of folks think they can buy a seat like the Regent and keep it LATCHed until 80 pounds. Not true. Vehicles have LATCH limits, and so do carseats. The Regent must be installed with vehicle seatbelt after 48 pounds.

[scatterbunny]

Right, it's the newer GMC Envoy and Chevy Trailblazer models (from 2002 and newer IIRC) that do allow a carseat to be installed in the center, if the carseat is narrow enough to fit between the closely spaced center seatbelt anchors. :) I don't think any version bearing the Jimmy or Blazer model names permitted it. The '95 Blazer manual says something vague like "do not install a child restraint in the center of the rear seat because the carseat would not perform properly," not exactly the most helpful or detailed explanation. :(

Yes, my friend with the Jimmy knew what the manual said, but after I talked to some techs and discussed the risks with the mom, she decided she'd rather use a Futura in the center spot and let her 10yo have a shoulderbelt, than put the 10yo in a lapbelt.

I'm so glad they have a new van now! Dad drives the Jimmy, but he never has all three kids with him. In the rare case he might need to pick them all up at the same time (mom at work or whatever), the 10yo is about 5'4" and 120 pounds, so she can ride up front, in a pinch.

[Colleen]

Good News! DH said we could sell the Jimmy he bought last week! I expected some resistance, but he was like "sure" right away.:D He wants whats safest for the DD's too. (Love him!) I defentitly have to do some major research for next SUV down the road. Maybe an extended 3rd row one to help w/ roll overs. I'm thinkng Escalade, he's prob. thinking older Suburban. Oh well, I got my Sable back! We can all sleep tonight.

[skaterbabscpst]

fwiw, I have a 93 Suburban and I love it. It's a breeze to install seats in. The only downside to it is the lack of airbags and headrests (the latter not an issue for pre-seatbelt age kids), but newer models have both.

[Colleen]

Thanks. I just got my 10 yo 55lbs a Parkway, and the 4.5 yo 33lb is getting a Regent. (when they ever get back in stock) Would that work with the whole no head rest issue w/ the Suburban? If we get one it will prob. be a mid 90s.

[scatterbunny]

It'll be fine as long as they fit in carseats and highback boosters. After that, no.

[skaterbabscpst]

Yep, once they're no longr in boosters it will become an issue, but the Suburban has head rests in the outboard positions after '99.

[Colleen]

This may seem like a stupid question, but if the DD's cant sit there once they get out of thier high back boosters, who can sit there if they cant in a reg. seat belt?:confused:

[skaterbabscpst]

anyone not concerned about whiplash. :rolleyes: Basically, it's just not safe. All passengers should have head restraints, but the vehicle manufactureers are slow.

[scatterbunny]

Exactly. Everyone needs head support at least up to the tips of the ears to be safe.