Wrote car off yesterday & Just bought a Grand Vitara

tomstickland

It'll never catch on over here. Maybe they could lower the limit to 20mph everywhere (including the motorway). That'll make everything totally safe.

goldspanners

tomstickland wrote: »

It'll never catch on over here. Maybe they could lower the limit to 20mph everywhere (including the motorway). That'll make everything totally safe.

yes and the hospitals could give us incubation boxes lined with bubble wrap that grow with us too!:D

goldspanners

your 4x4 has a higher centre of gravity,when it goes into a skid,comes out of the skid,it grips the road, it will then topple over on its side.
no matter what car you have when it skids and you have lost traction it is very hard to gain control over it again.

Markyt

goldspanners wrote: »

your 4x4 has a higher centre of gravity,when it goes into a skid,comes out of the skid,it grips the road, it will then topple over on its side.

Mine has yet to do so, despite a 180 degree spin just after I bought it (at about 40mph, due to a dodgy tyre).

steve_r123

I take it that it isn't the brand new 2007 model Vitara is it? I'm not sure that they do the new one in 3-door?

If it's the older version then it only has a 3 star euro ncap safety rating, whereas the aygo/yaris (I'm guessing by you saying its tiny) both score 4 stars....... Bigger, doesnt always mean safer unfortunately:rolleyes:

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/suzuki_grand_vitara_2002/143.aspx

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/citroen_c1_2005/218.aspx (same car as aygo)

steve_r123

kimevans wrote: »

They do, its a 57. Its 3 days old!! (well it got its plate 3 days ago:D ).

Do you happen to know the ncap for the new ones?

Ahh ok then, thats a bit better at 4 stars then

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/suzuki_grand_vitara_2007/287.aspx

Inactive

steve_r123 wrote: »

Ahh ok then, thats a bit better at 4 stars then

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/suzuki_grand_vitara_2007/287.aspx

Am I missing something here?, that model has 5 doors, we are talking about a 3 door, which will be structurally different.

Oh and because a car has a 57 plate does not mean that it is guaranteed to be the latest model, some dealers have un-registered stock for months, even years in some cases.

Obviously the OP only wants to hear, what he wants to hear on this matter, so no point in adding anything further.:rolleyes:

deltic_2

If you drive sensibly and keep your car well maintained you are no more or less safe in the Vitara than any other car in real terms. Whilst all cars have different driving characteristics, all have been very extensively tested to ensure that they are safe and perform properly in all weather conditions and under normal, and some more extreme, driving conditions.

You were just unlucky when you had your accident. Many of us have had them and you just have to learn from it. Your lesson most likely is to be careful and drive slower on country roads on very cold days, to watch out for bends that could have black ice, and avoid sudden changes in driving pattern i.e. hard acceleration, braking, steering etc.

When driving a 4x4, the main thing to remember is that the handling of it will be a little different to a car and you will get used to that as you drive it. That said, if you changed your car to a different one, it's always the case.

Regarding rollovers, you have to do something very stupid indeed for that to happen and they are nearly always induced by extreme driver error caused by excess speed and extreme changes of direction of the vehicle.

tomstickland

I think, on balance, the Vitara vs previous car actually makes very little difference to your situation. The type of road you are driving on and the speeds involved mean that toppling the vehicle is unlikely. You will benefit from 4wd in muddy situations. Your biggest problem is the increased width of the vehicle, so that's the main thing to look out for. As to skidding on ice, you'll just have to put that down to an error of judgement plus a bit of being inhe wrong place at the wrong time that could have occured in any vehicle.

In terms of rebuilding your confidence you need to just get on with driving it. It's a pity that most modern cars have so little feel to them - a car that communicates will let you feel how slippery the road is and adjust the driving accordingly.

I drive to work on B roads and I sometimes have to follow people driving at 25mph becuase it looks like it might be ice when in fact it's all water.

epninety

kimevans wrote: »

The police woman said that, you should not accelerate faster nor break around a bend, especially a skid.
I don't remember breaking, but I probably did as its an instant reaction.

I'm just relieved no other cars were involved. I'm a bit worried about that now (with a 4x4) that if I were to have a crash I would really hurt someone else. I am a bit of a worry wart:o .

Go and do that 4x4 experience day. One of the best things you'll pick up is that the middle pedal isn't the all-purpose 'save me' button that many tarmac driver seem to think. You'll also lean a vehicle over to a scary angle and be amazed it doesn't fall over. At the very least your confidence in your car and your own ability will get a huge boost.

Alternatively a skid-pan course will give you the directly relevant skills, and make you feel safer on those country lanes.

Slight bias - I trained as an off-road driving instructor years ago, though mostly just for fun.