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Comment by porkloin | Hacker News Reader

That's certainly true, but I do feel like there's a sweet spot in the 2005-2010 area where most "critical" safety features (improved airbags, traction control, ABS brakes) are almost certainly present, but none of the modern safety features that fall more into the "augmented sensory" category (merge/blindspot detection, early braking), which I'm happy to compromise on. I drive a 2007 SUV which does everything I need it to do and I'll probably continue to drive similar vintage vehicles until I finally switch to an EV when the charging infrastructure in my area has finally gotten off the ground.

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Biggest concern is that many cars of this era spectacularly fail on the front overlap and small front overlap tests, resulting in trapping, pinning, or worse. Older cars don't do any better, mind you, but the switch to unibody construction without the structural rigidity of the latest models can result in you becoming part of the crumple zones.

This.

I drive a 2007 base model Porsche 911. No GPS, manual transmission, built to crash with ABS, traction, airbags, cage.

Panther platform, extremely safe still is a very solid choice. Though most people don't particularly enjoy driving land yachts - a grand marquee is a fantastic choice.

Late 90's saab 9000's have TCS, ABS, Dual Air Bag, so your standard set of 2000's features, and are also very safe.

Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of good crash test data publically on older (older than 2004) cars.

If I didn't need a performance oriented car there would be a Lincoln Town Car in my driveway for sure. The mercury and lincoln are the sweet spots since many are available from older, responsible owners.

This, too. Those big Mercurys are just lovely to tool around in. I wish I had space for one.

I drive a 2007 SUV too for just this reason, and plan to move to an EV for the same reason. And there's another commenter in this thread who also has a 2007. Coincidence? I think not!

My wife drives a 2007 Ford Escape, still going strong at 194k miles, and I'm just praying it doesn't fall apart on us.

Right on. My gf is on her second 2008 Lexus and feels exactly the same way. It's a luxury ride but it doesn't try to take over for you.

2004 GX470 here. Horrendous gas mileage, but comes with ABS, stability control, full-time 4WD, and airbags. Of the modern safety systems, the one I'd really like to have is the blind-spot monitor. I have had rentals/loaners with collision detection systems (radar/camera) and they have all false-alerted on me and applied max brakes. I'm lucky I wasn't rear-ended as a result.

Airbags since 2004? What's the working age for such things?

Some automakers used to recommend replacement at 10 or 15 years old (my 1999 Mercedes had that on a door-jamb sticker). But from what I've seen, none of them are saying that anymore. Perhaps there was additional operational-life testing done. Or (more cynically) perhaps the automakers decided that replacing the 8+ airbags a modern car has after it's 15 years old, was something that no one was going to do because the cost would exceed the value of the vehicle by that point.

Love my 2005 IS300

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