Auto Safety Lab : Safety of Japanese cars

Archive for the ‘Japanese Cars’ Category

When you’re looking for places to shop for a used Japanese car, you may want to resort to browsing the internet if you’re overseas. However, if you’re in Japan there are used car lots as well as auctions. It all depends on your locations as to which would work best for you.

The internet is a great tool to begin your search for a used Japanese car. You can find all of the most reputable car lots and see what people are saying about each one in the reviews. You can also look for where there will be auctions near you and what types of vehicles will be auctioned off so you know whether or not it will be worth your time.

If you’re in Japan, your best bet is probably a used car lot. If you go to an auction, you run the risk of paying entirely too much for the car you want out of fear of someone else bidding higher than you. It’s just not necessary to do that when you can probably find a similar car for a better price at a used car dealership in Japan. With that being said, you want to be sure the used car dealership you go to is a reputable dealership and not a lemon lot. So, ask your friends and family for any recommendations they may have for you from their own experiences.

However, if you do choose to go the auction route; give yourself a set limit. Do not overspend. Keep in mind there are plenty of vehicles available and you don’t have to pay double the value of a car just to get the one you want. Be smart with your money.

As you can see, there are definitely places to shop for a used Japanese car. You just need to decide which option is best suited for you. Sometimes there are also advertisements in the classified section of the newspaper. So, look and high and low and you will find what you are looking for.

With Mitsubishi being such a popular car manufacturer, it should be of no surprise that they have many popular used Mitsubishi models. Japanese used cars resellers note that popular models include the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Mitsubishi Galant, and the Mitsubishi Montero. All three of these used models are sold in great numbers all over. This is because of the ratings Mitsubishi as a manufacturer has gotten over the years. Each vehicle also has its own pros as to why so many used models are sold.

As with any vehicle, the ratings vary according to the year. However, the Mitsubishi Eclipse seems to have good ratings all across the board regardless of the year. The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a very sporty vehicle, which is what draws many of its customers. The Eclipse is known for his handling, reliability, and affordability. With all of these factors rolled into one, it’s no wonder as to why this used Mitsubishi model is a top-seller.

The Mitsubishi Galant is a well-known family vehicle. It is roomy inside, so regardless of the age of the children who may be riding inside; there will definitely be plenty of room. It handles well and rides smoothly, both of which are two pluses to those considering purchasing a used Mitsubishi Galant. With this being another vehicle manufactured by the well-known Mitsubishi, you can take comfort in knowing it is an extremely reliable vehicle.

Many families or individuals who prefer sport utility vehicles may be interested in the Mitsubishi Montero. It is an extremely popular sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi. It is safe, reliable, and reliable. These are just a few key points of the Mitsubishi Montero. These vehicles have more than enough room in the front and the back. They also have a lot of cargo room as well. As many people are aware, it is hard to find a fuel efficient sport utility vehicle. However, the Mitsubishi Montero is pretty easy on the gas mileage. All of these combined make this vehicle a great buy.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mitsubishi Galant, and Mitsubishi Montero are just three popular used Mitsubishi models. There are many others worth mentioning. However, these three are from three different classes of vehicles. This just goes to show that Mitsubishi can manufacture a great vehicle regardless of its class. Purchasing a used Mitsubishi would be a good decision for any consumer. Which Mitsubishi is right for you is all dependent on what you’re looking for in a used vehicle.

In Japan, they take great pride in knowing the safety of the vehicles being sold. The National Organization for Automobiles Safety & Victims’ Aid, more commonly referred to as OSA, examines the safety performance of vehicles currently available in Japan. They choose a selection of Japan’s best-selling cars starting with models from the year 1996.

In 2001 OSA changed their rating system to a complicated six-star system. With this new system they now test the full frontal, frontal offset, and side impact. They then combine the results of all three tests to come up with the overall rating. The overall rating ranges from one to six stars, with six stars being the best rating possible to attain. They also evaluate each test separately. This is to ensure that any shortcomings of the vehicle are presented in great detail. With this new system, the newer ratings have proven to be much more accurate than the old system.

In the full frontal collision test, a moving vehicle with dummies in both the driver’s seat and passenger seat drives with great force into a concrete barrier at a speed of 55 MPH. This is to assess the impact on the head and test as well as see the consequential condition of the vehicle. This is done to denote a head-on collision involving two vehicles of similar weight traveling at a speed of 55 MPH. The full-width frontal impact aids in the evaluations of seat belts and airbags.

In 2001 OSA started testing vehicles by adopting the Euro NCAP frontal offset impact test. In addition, they also perform the full-width frontal and side impact test. These are both done to better ease safety concerns of drivers.

For the Offset Frontal Impact test, two dummies are placed in the driver and passenger seats. The passenger seat then hits a damageable barrier at a speed of 40 MPH. This helps to evaluate the impact on the head, chest, legs, and any damages to the vehicle. The representation of this test is comparable to a head-on collision between two vehicles of the same weight-class traveling at a speed of 40 MPH. However, since only a portion of the vehicle’s body endures the collision, there is less of an impact on the dummy than in a full-frontal collision.

Later on in the year 1999, OSA began testing vehicles using the side impact test adopted from the Euro-NCAP and NHTSA side impact tests. With this test, a motionless vehicle with dummies in the driver’s and passenger’s seat is hit by a 2,090 lb trolley traveling at a speed of 31 MPH. The impact is centered on the driver’s seating position.

All of the above-named tests that are performed on vehicles in Japan only apply in comparison to accidents where all parties involved are wearing their seatbelts. Also, the results of each test can only be compared with occurrences between two vehicles within the same weight-class. Also, keep in mind if the speed of one or both vehicles is much greater than the speed from the tests then the consequences of the impact from that occurrence is not comparable to the tests performed.

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