Calling a 240z unsafe it unfair. No car is designed to withstand a 200kmh head on collision (100 kmh, + 100kmh head on = 200kmh into a concrete wall ).

If the car hadn't have caught fire they may have survived, who can say. The z didnt look too badly damaged, compared to other accident cars i've seen. If you look at the picture the passenger compartment is still inact and relatively un deformed, at least on the passenger side. The roof looks to have been cut off by by the fire department.

Another reason to keep a fire extinguisher in you car, if not for your own sake, but to help out someone else.

Calling a 240z unsafe it unfair. No car is designed to withstand a 200kmh head on collision (100 kmh, + 100kmh head on = 200kmh into a concrete wall ).

If the car hadn't have caught fire they may have survived, who can say. The z didnt look too badly damaged, compared to other accident cars i've seen. If you look at the picture the passenger compartment is still inact and relatively un deformed, at least on the passenger side. The roof looks to have been cut off by by the fire department.

Another reason to keep a fire extinguisher in you car, if not for your own sake, but to help out someone else.

Excellent points made there Mr C.

PS. another nz site states the english tourist was actually Welsh.

"It's not usual to be loved by anyone" da-da-dot-dahhhhhh :devious:

The R32 does not have any more safety features than the old S30, no airbag, ABS, etc.

Other than 20 years worth of chassis design?

Having a fire extinguisher is a very very good idea. But in reality, the organ sheer involved during a 200kph impact would have done the damage. The heart moves forward against the rib cage and the aorta partially sheers off. Your life ends via internal bleeding within 10 minutes usually.

How fragile we are!

I also doubt that that a human could remain concious after a 200kph impact either. So the fire extinguisher wouldn't be of any use.

Just terrible bad luck I'd say and I hope they didn't suffer. Terrible things auto accidents. I was first at the scene of a head on in the UK between a new Merc and a new MG. MG was a mess but Merc was hardly damaged. Speed limit on that stretch was 50mph, so a combined inpact of 100mph. Both drivers were released from hosiptal the next day with minor injuries....lucky they were in modern cars with airbags etc.

Of course the 240Z is less safe than modern cars, to think otherwise would be ignorant. But that's one of the risks you take to own a classic automobile. I feel sorry for all involved, and hope they weren't a member here on the boards. Please drive safely, dont do stupid things and watch out for idiots!

P.S. I couldn't help but notice it had fender mirrors, wonder how special a Z it was...?

I have to agree with Mr. C. and the 240 Kiwi.

I can't see anyone remaining concious in a prang that bad. Even wearing seatbelts and in a modern car, if the car has a head on at a cumulative total of TWO HUNDRED KMS PER HR, the chances of survival would be very, very slim, especially if the car bursts into flames.

While news of the accident is tragic, it's not going to stop me from driving "Precious" into Rockhampton tomorrow morning.

Rick.

To be fair the forces involved in this accident wouldnt really have equalled a 200kmh crash into a concrete block. In order for that to happen both cars would have to hit each other anc come to a complete stop.

Looks like they hit each other partially off center and spun off out of controll in the direction they were originally travelling.

"Of course the 240Z is less safe than modern cars, to think otherwise would be ignorant" -- Alfadog

Hey alfa you have been king of the ambigous statements.

So is 240z is less safe than a hyundai excel? or am i just ignorant

Some modern cars have safety equipment, like air bags, lots dont.

It was a 2+2, couldnt have been too special.

When your numbers up theres nothing you can do about it, enjoy yourself while your here - Drive a Z.

enjoy yourself while your here - Drive a Z.

A-men to that buddy.

Hey alfa you have been king of the ambigous statements.

U missed a U, and I'm doing a business degree so what do you expect??

Of course you have to take the comment with a pinch of salt. That's what broad statements are for - to give a view of something in general. To compare cars in different segments is unfair and proves nothing. You use the same class - for example, I'd rather be in a new 5-series than an old one, Statesman than Kingswood, 350Z than a 240Z, a Smart car than an Isetta.

Fact is, and you know it, safety technology has gone up in the last 30 years and as a result the large majority of cars on the road today are safer than what was on the road back then. That's all! I'm not being controversial... obvious if anything!

a Smart car than an Isetta.

Fact is, and you know it, safety technology has gone up in the last 30 years and as a result the large majority of cars on the road today are safer than what was on the road back then. That's all! I'm not being controversial... obvious if anything!

Sure, but alot of cars dont have the safey technology built in, such as air bags, abs, unless you are buying the more expensive models.

Infact cars these days are designed to crumple more than older cars, as the crumple zone help increase the deceleration time, reducing the force applied to the occupants. Older cars dont crumple as much, and so can exert higher decelleration forces on the occupants. which is bad.

But the crumple zones are designed for a head on collision. an offset head on collision apples more force to a crumple zone, compressing it more. And the cruple zones are designed for up to a maximum impact speed.

I'd rather be in a car with air bags for sure, but in speeds above 60Km/h id rather be in a car that didnt crush up around me trapping me in the car, and severing my legs.

I was next to a smart car in traffic a couple of days ago. Its was a for 2. A truck pulled up behind it, and I though to myself, those people would be dead in any kind of accident over 60K's.

Cars may be safer in some regard, but the weak link it the driver, and they just seem to be getting dumb and dumber.

Very sad story. My condolences to the families of the two people killed. We all know that 240Zs are very light, thin-metal cars that weren't exactly built like the Volvos of their time. I won't drive my two on the highway for that very reason.