Cruisers save lives

[Corbet]

Corbet, I would disagree with this statement, purely because I have seen a Durango (large heavy vehicle) in a similar accident, at similar speeds, have the passenger compartment intruded upon, injuring the driver's legs. The fact that the LC did not have any intrusion into the passenger compartment makes ME feel like it, and its predecessors, are safer vehicles. The same may have been said of the Subaru, if that vehicle was able to retain its passenger space.

I'm not saying the Cruiser is an unsafe vehicle. In its class it generally leading the pack. But I constantly see folks thinking their truck is so much safer than a car. Sometimes it can be but over all is not. A unibody vehicle offers distinct advantages in an accident over our body on frame Cruisers. In most cases I'd rather be in my Subaru than my Cruiser in an accident.

 

[SWUtah]

I'm not saying the Cruiser is an unsafe vehicle. In its class it generally leading the pack. But I constantly see folks thinking their truck is so much safer than a car. Sometimes it can be but over all is not. A unibody vehicle offers distinct advantages in an accident over our body on frame Cruisers. In most cases I'd rather be in my Subaru than my Cruiser in an accident.

The objective is for the vehicle to absorb the energy of the accident versus the passenger. Most modern vehicles are built to do this. You can look at the insurance institutes results on different vehicles. But it's about physics. They don't test the LX/LC limited numbers sold in the USA. Based on build quality and built in crush zones I would pick a 6000 lb LX570 any day of the week over a Subaru. Just the added height of a large SUV or Truck can over come the built in crush zone of a car like a Subaru. Now if your talking single car accident into a solid barrier, then the unibody Subaru might have an advantage? But I'm concerned about other vehicles not running into a tree.

 

[GX-R]

Just FYI as per the ANCAP safety test, a 200 with the side + curtain + knee airbags gets a 5 star crash rating. Take away the knee airbags then its a 4 star rating. 100 series was 4 star.

 

[GX-R]

This is probably the worst LC 200 crash i have seen

 

[GX-R]

horrible LC 100 accident, good news is the guy survived and from what i heard he ''only'' suffered some broken bones and bruises.

 

[GX-R]

This is one of the first LC 200 wrecks ever. Happened in late '07 right after the official launch.

 

[Harry Flashman]

So a little more detail. I was driving between 35 and 40MPH. The person driving the car behind me was the paralegal for one of those heavily advertised ambulance chasing law firms. When the car came to a stop, I looked around, did a sweep to see if anything hurt, all good, and got out. She was already out of the car on the phone with 911, and she had a camcorder going. She asked if I was OK, cops on the way. My first thought was that I am definitely going to miss that staff meeting (I actually sent an email...ridiculous). Next was to get to the other driver to see if she was OK, but we were separated by moving traffic so I stopped walking. The next was that the insurance cos were going to figure out how to screw me, better take pics. I wouldn't say I was prepared to take pics, its just so easy with the phone, and frankly I didn't know what else to do.

As in the OP, the other car was a 2009 Impreza, and it fared very well, IMO. I am getting another LC because I think it will be safe in accidents involving vehicles when driven reasonably (ie not into barricades or dropped from altitude). My opinion, safety IS a reason to buy a LC for day-to-day use.

So status update; because of some of your posts, I have requested to be present for the damage assessment. We'll see. It should be in the next two days. Thanks for the info.

 

[Harry Flashman]

And the photo of the Cruiser torn in half is gnarly. What could possibly have done that?

 

[Corbet]

Now if your talking single car accident into a solid barrier, then the unibody Subaru might have an advantage? But I'm concerned about other vehicles not running into a tree.

I'm probably bias based on where I live as heavy traffic is not really present in Durango. I deal with poor road conditions far more often than traffic. So I probably think more about roll over and/or sliding off the road into a tree/rock than city folk. The situation down here I'll definitely give the Cruiser the advantage over would be hitting an animal. I'd hate to be in a Subaru-Elk collision.

There are other factors that come to my mind to when talking over all safety than just a crash test rating. Stopping distances and avoidance characteristics. Generally a car is better than a truck in these cases. I can't speak from personal experience on driving a 200 in poor conditions. But I know I have a much better chance in my Subie than my 80. ( avoiding an accident) Neither have the traction control systems of current model stuff. My wife's 2015 Subaru does but I have not driven it enough to have an option on it yet.

 

[SWUtah]

I'm probably bias based on where I live as heavy traffic is not really present in Durango. I deal with poor road conditions far more often than traffic. So I probably think more about roll over and/or sliding off the road into a tree/rock than city folk. The situation down here I'll definitely give the Cruiser the advantage over would be hitting an animal. I'd hate to be in a Subaru-Elk collision.

There are other factors that come to my mind to when talking over all safety than just a crash test rating. Stopping distances and avoidance characteristics. Generally a car is better than a truck in these cases. I can't speak from personal experience on driving a 200 in poor conditions. But I know I have a much better chance in my Subie than my 80. ( avoiding an accident) Neither have the traction control systems of current model stuff. My wife's 2015 Subaru does but I have not driven it enough to have an option on it yet.

From your sig you have a great 80 series. Wish I still had my FZJ80. Can't disagree with anything your saying in this post. Let's hope none of us wreaks are baby.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Corbet,
Please note that I do not disagree with you regarding the Subaru versus a normal car, but here in Idaho we have a TON of large SUVs and trucks.
But I also content that it is not simple physics either. It is a combination of physics and great engineering.

With that said, I feel safer in the LC/LX. My son was rear-ended in our 80 series by a 2011 Ford car. She had to be towed away and the 80 got a scratch that when assessed, gave me $60 for touch-up paint. (He said that he heard it more than felt it - mostly physics.)

These days, for my daughters I am looking at something even newer than the 80 series for the traction control / slide control / ABS (my old 80 has this, as it was a 95) / air-bags (also on the 80). I say all of this because I feel like the Cruisers have been a fairly safe vehicle for our usage. As GXR has pointed out, some accidents can happen and the injuries can be catastrophic. I am glad that the one in this thread was not.

Also note that I am not trying to say that the Cruiser, in any form, is the most safest vehicle ever to be manufactured, but just that I choose it because I feel it is safe. Very personal choice. The Subaru can be a similar vehicle. I have not owned one to know.

I do know that the Cruiser / LX is not a bowling ball though. Those things can take a beating!

 

[Harry Flashman]

The appraisal came in today. I was not able to be present, but no surprises. $40k in damage, including a new chassis. The recommendation is to call it a total loss, but the decision has gone to a director. His appraisal is $67.5k for the payout.

Being proactive, I called the other insurance company to let them know that they may want to get in there to save some $. I am prepared to file a diminished value claim, and hang on to the Infinity QX80 until a potentially repaired LC passes my inspection.

The only people I want replacing my chassis live in Japan.

 

[Archtaan]

The appraisal came in today. I was not able to be present, but no surprises. $40k in damage, including a new chassis. The recommendation is to call it a total loss, but the decision has gone to a director. His appraisal is $67.5k for the payout.

Being proactive, I called the other insurance company to let them know that they may want to get in there to save some $. I am prepared to file a diminished value claim, and hang on to the Infinity QX80 until a potentially repaired LC passes my inspection.

The only people I want replacing my chassis live in Japan.

I knew it was going to be close. $5000-$6000 less in damage and it would have been a definite repair. Some insurance companies will pay up to 75% of the value in repair ($50,625 in this case). Many are 51%.

With a diminished value claim it might make them change their mind but I cant guarantee it . Again it depends on the limits for total this company uses.

Typically a DV claim is 10% of the retail value less multipliers. You would get a 1 for major structural and would not lose anything for miles (20K is where mileage cuts 20% off of that)

$67,500 x 10% x 1 x 1 = $6750 for your damage and miles.

If you have 20K miles it would be

$67,500 x 10% x 1 x .80 = $5400

So you would be looking at $6750 in DV. Add that to the 40K estimate and you get $46,750 as the insurances due. So, if its a 75% total limit they will probably repair. If its a 51% you are golden.

Granted. The numbers I listed are totally arbitrary for different insurance companies and states. State Farm is 10% for DV. I no longer work insurance, its been several years so things may have changed. I am just a guy on the Internet

- Hoping they decide to total. Fingers crossed for sure.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

This just makes me hurt thinking about it. I am sorry that you are having to go through it.

 

[SWUtah]

Did they total your 200?

 

[Harry Flashman]

Did they total your 200?

So an update for everyone. They called it a total loss, and set the payout at $67.3k. What they don't do is include a reasonable number for the new tires that were on it. So, in the end we eat tires and depreciation. Because we eat depreciation anyway, not so bad. Glad to be getting through the process.

I purchased a 2015 (same everything) with 9000 miles on it yesterday for $69k. I am going to go ahead and plug Matt Eberle (MJ) at Erlich Toyota in Greeley. I went to five other dealers, and this one wants to sell Cruisers to our market segment. Fast professional, minimal upsell. Highly recommend. And the owner came out to chat about cruisers while I waited. Erlich is my new go-to. We may even see them show up on IH8mud.

So it's done. I'll get picts up someday.

 

[SWUtah]

Harry glad that worked out for you!

 

[Archtaan]

So glad to hear that. Im glad they decided to total, it would have never been the same. Post up pics!

 

[codyaustin5]

So an update for everyone. They called it a total loss, and set the payout at $67.3k. What they don't do is include a reasonable number for the new tires that were on it. So, in the end we eat tires and depreciation. Because we eat depreciation anyway, not so bad. Glad to be getting through the process.

I purchased a 2015 (same everything) with 9000 miles on it yesterday for $69k. I am going to go ahead and plug Matt Eberle (MJ) at Erlich Toyota in Greeley. I went to five other dealers, and this one wants to sell Cruisers to our market segment. Fast professional, minimal upsell. Highly recommend. And the owner came out to chat about cruisers while I waited. Erlich is my new go-to. We may even see them show up on IH8mud.

So it's done. I'll get picts up someday.

Wish I would have known you went to erlich. The manager lives a couple houses down and will hook us up. But sounds like you got a good deal anyways.

 

[Harry Flashman]

Arg! The new one has a 1" driver's side lean! The dealer has order the KDSS fluid and scheduled a full bleed and repressurization.

Goodyear ATA kevlars in 285/65 are imminent (had them in the last two vehicles) and I have my eye on that Ironman suspension Kreiten installed. Seems like just the right balance between maintenance and performance, for an unbumpered LC.