I was driving up the 404 near the 407 in Toronto and right beside me a big read SUV (don't know what kind, probably a blazer or something) tried a lane switch and then realized he was cutting someone off so he swerved back in a maneuver that seemed like nothing. Next thing you know he's tumbling side over side and ends up upside down.

I know that the SUV debate has been taken to passionate proportions but my only point here is that there should be some QUANTIFIABLE MEASURE of the tendancy of a vehicle to roll.

The skidpad rating of the RX 300 is better than that of the ES 300, but that is extremely deceiving.

Come up with the measure and use it in all car reviews and you will quickly see an end to the SUV trend as we know it.

Its not my nature to bash but I truly believe that SUV marketing has deceived people into thinking that they are safer vehicles.

nt

We come here to talk A4's...there is an off-topic forum for this stuff.

These inflammatory generalizations (you too Shabbis) are offensive.

steve

All I said is that consumers have the right to know a vehicles tendancy to roll over. If they are given FULL INFORMATION and still continue to make their free choices, I have no problem.

It's called CG, or center of gravity. The higher the CG, the greater the need for features to maintain vertical stability. This could be wheel base, it could be tire thickness, the track width; those sorts of things.

But CG would be a good number; but in some cases, by itself it could be misleading depending on features used to combate any toll tendancies due to a high center of gravity.


Chris Murphy
'98 A42.8QM Pearl

Insurance and legal implications. This is from the mouth of my cousin, a major insurance co. adjustment executive. The costs to own a SUV will be going up because of their liability, that is damage to other vehicles. Not hard to figure out.

If you own a vehicle that has a higher tendency to damage other vehicles and kill more people, you will pay more as you carry the responsibility.

If you think that's unfair, think Gun manufacturer lawsuits. Some have made it to court already and its just a matter of time before a case gets won. If you hit me with your SUV and maim me or kill my wife, I'll go after you for manslaughter and huge financial damages. You knowingly purchased a vehicle that you knew had a higher likelyhood of killing someone than a car. The SUV manufactures are liable as well, knowingly building these Killing machines.

Yes I read it. It had (1) no A4 content, (2) gave one instance of an SUV rolling over which (a) you couldn't even identify and (b) we can't even know if it was (I) in perfect working order or (II) modified in some way (suspension or otherwise), and (3) the driver, according to your description, did something stupid anyway.

I'm sure the anti-SUV contigent around here loved the post, but there is a (hopefully not small) number of people who come here to see A4 info without wading through this stuff!!!!

That's all I'm trying to say!
sheeeeeeesh

nt

nt

I don't think that rollover tendancy is something that we want the government to regulate.... do we? The marketplace will decide, and to date they have decided that the advantages that the buyer perceives in buying their SUV outway the disadvantages. We have a Jeep.... does it handle as great as an A4 - no, will it rollover more easily than an A4 - yes. But we like it. (and we like our A4).

Tom
1.8TQMS Silver/Ecru

CG height, the width of the track (average front and rear), and the skidpad rating. This would probably give a good idea of the vehicle's tendency to roll-over. Any physicists out there (or people more intelligent than myself), who could figure out an effective index?
Perhaps we could submit it to the major auto magazines to be included in their testing?

Antony
98.5 1.8T QMS
Brilliant Black / Onyx
APR 1.0 Bar
Neuspeed 22mm Rear Sway Bar
A8 17" Five Spoke Wheels

Better check your ego and your spelling.

s

That is the Audi content.

nt

Where are the spelling errors?

tighter = correct
well = correct
digger's (possesive) = correct
ass = correct
lighten up = correct
looser = correct

Help me out here... If YOU need help with spelling, check out http://www.m-w.com/

nt

Looser is the act of loosening, as in the reverse of tightening. A person who is eternally losing is a loser.

Oh, you're right. Sorry. I don't type the word "loser" or "looser" that often.