If car seats expire, why not cars?

Cath3114 · Oct 24, 2011

I'm buying a new Chevy Malibu this week, so I was looking for crash tests on YouTube. I came across this - 2009 Malibu vs. 1959 Bel Air.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g[/ame]

Um, SCARY.

So, if car seats expire in 5-10 years due to safety improvements, degradation of materials, safety standards, laws, etc., why don't cars? Not necessarily talking about vehicles aged 20 years or less. I'm sure they're still relatively safe. I'm talking OLD OLD cars. Why is something like that still legal to drive? Seems like it wouldn't just be a danger to the driver, but to other motorists, passengers, etc.

I know I wouldn't ride in that deathtrap! ::shudder::

Guest · Oct 25, 2011

Prolly cuz a car seat is a (relatively) very inexpensive item. Cars are not. Plus, car seats can only be used by children and we tend to be very careful when it comes to safety and children. Cars cover a wide range of people, and most of them are older than small children. Plus, cars are vital for people to get on with their daily lives. Car seats do much, much less for people.

When you run a cost benefit analysis, it's easy to tell someone to throw away a $100 car seat after several years. When it's something that costs 20, 30, 50, 100 times that, and does so much more and is used by so many more people... well, the cost benefits run the other way.

P1ally · Oct 25, 2011

That raises LOTS of expiration questions.. Why don't houses expire? I know there's plenty of houses down here in southern california that won't survive "the big one" or a natural disaster of any sort.. I have more examples but my head hurts.

An Aurora · Oct 25, 2011

They don't expire but they do become obsolete due to changing standards and technology. Just like not all OHS seats are expired, yet we would never use one since we know they aren't safe and that there are better options out there.

ETA: that video reminds me of the test of the mid-90's Volvo wagon versus the new Renault. Volvos are considered safe cars yet it was completely annihilated.

Jennee · Oct 26, 2011

we have been talking about getting an antique car as a "toy" and keeping it nice for when dawson is in his 30s, I think I just changed my mind, I want something newer with safety features!

jeminijad · Oct 26, 2011

People resist being told that car seats expire. Can you imagine telling someone they have to junk such an expensive item that they spent their own money on, even though it isn't a legal issue (just because the manufacturer said so,) and buy a new one at great expense?

LuvBug · Oct 26, 2011

You'd be surprised how safe some old vehicles are- they are like tanks! Not all of them and probably not most, but not all new cars are honestly safe either, when compared to new ones with good design.

I feel like if cared for properly an old car can be just as good as some of the newer cars with less than ideal design and standard safety features.

There are a few brand new cars I would not ride in and would willingly ride in a cared for older car over them.

Also good choice on the Malibu. I totaled my 09 a couple months ago and replaced it with a 12, I loved how it performed in the crash!

Pixels · Oct 26, 2011

LuvBug said:
You'd be surprised how safe some old vehicles are- they are like tanks! Not all of them and probably not most, but not all new cars are honestly safe either, when compared to new ones with good design.

I feel like if cared for properly an old car can be just as good as some of the newer cars with less than ideal design and standard safety features.

There are a few brand new cars I would not ride in and would willingly ride in a cared for older car over them.

Also good choice on the Malibu. I totaled my 09 a couple months ago and replaced it with a 12, I loved how it performed in the crash!

Those are the same comments a lot of people made, BEFORE they watched the video.

Lea_Ontario · Oct 26, 2011

LuvBug said:
they are like tanks! !

That in itself is one of the detractions of an old car - being built like a tank does not help protect the occupants, it transfers the forces to them. That's why there are crumple zones in newer cars when there weren't any in old cars.

Brianna · Oct 26, 2011

:jaw: That makes me feel a lot better driving a Malibu!

If car seats expire, why not cars?

Cath3114

New member

Guest

New member

P1ally

New member

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

Jennee

New member

jeminijad

New member

LuvBug

New member

Pixels

New member

Lea_Ontario

Well-known member

Brianna

New member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics