cunning was just posting and asking about this earlier in the week.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed it "star" crash testing of the 2007 Solstice. Results are available at the safecar.gov web site. (This link may work: http://www.safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/4090.html )

The 2007 Solstice scored 4 "stars" for all applicable tests (no rear seat side impact score). Other scores for cars thay may also be shopped as roadsters, 4-4-3 for the 2007 BMW Z4, 4-4-5 for the 2007 Honda S2000 and 4-5-3 for the 2005 Mazda Miata (most recently tested Miata (which appears to be of a 2002 test)).

Never quite understood the way the "stars" are given out. The colors represent different test classes. Passenger Cars-Light are 2,000lbs to 2,499lbs. Passenger Cars-Compact are 2,500lbs to 2,999lbs. Each car earns a scored based on its own crash test which is converted to "stars". Even though the conversion is the same, the scoring is the same and the test procedures are the same, you can not compare cars that are in different catagories, or more than 250lbs apart in the same catagory. For example you can not compare the Solstice's better HIC or TTI scores in a more extreme crash of a heavier vehicle against the higher scores of the lighter Miata.

For example, all four cars were given 4 "stars" for the front crash driver's protection. But look at the Head Injury Criterion and Chest Deceleration scores.

Year..Car...................HIC.............Chest. ................Weight
2007 Solstice..............447...............49........ ............2934
2005 Miata.................531...............45........ ............2385
2007 S2000................606...............47......... ...........2545
2007 Z4.....................846...............46....... .............2978

Guess not all "stars" are created equal.



Lets go to the passenger side score for the Head Injury Criterion scores. Keep in mind that the 2005 Mazda Miata earned 5 "stars", to the other's 4 "stars".

Year..Car........."star"......HIC......Chest...... ...Weight
2007 Solstice......4.........318.........47............ 2934
2005 Miata.........5.........403.........44............ 2385
2007 S2000........4.........489.........46............2 545
2007 Z4.............4.........670.........47........... .2978



For the side impact the "stars" are given based on Thoracic Trauma Index scores. Here is the ranking and "stars" given.

Year..Car..................TTI........."stars".... .....Weight
2007 S2000................57.............5............. .2545
2007 Solstice..............59.............4............ ..2934
2007 Z4.....................75.............3........... ...2978
2005 Miata.................79.............3............ ..2385

But what is interesting here is to look at the Head Injury Criterion scores for the S2000 and Solstice. Keep in mind these scores are not used in calculating the "stars" given out. Mainly because only the most recent generations of crash test dummies receord these scores, so many cars do not have results for these tests.

2007 Solstice...............305
2007 S2000.................573



All in all a very competative job for the Solstice, at the front edge for these roadsters.

Do want to mention that even though it is not used to give out "stars", there are measurments of Femur Loads. The S2000 has really great scores in this area. The outer leg, driver's left and passenger's right took some high loads for the Solstice.

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INFORMATION POSTED ON SITE
Any GM Solstice Service Manual and Service Bulletin information found here on site, or Sales and Product information should be thought of as correct and accurate as of the date posted. After that any information or procedure should be confirmed as still correct with your dealership.

I suppose if I have to choose between coming out of a crash with a busted leg or a busted head...I'd choose the busted leg. If I also had to choose between a leaky differential or an unsafe vehicle, I'd choose the leaky differential. Glad to know GM did its due diligence completely in an area that really matters.

With a car that small, safety is a definite concern. For a second model year vehicle, this car is just as good or better as the others in the class that have been around at least 5 or more years.

Excellent job, GM.

And of course on this forum we have th ereal life anecdotal evidence of Sol drivers walking away from altercations with big honkin' SUV's.

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No, I do not work for GM or any subsidiary or supplier.

Based on above, I am assuming that lower scores are better, correct?

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Yes, the lower the score the better. The higher the "stars" the better.

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INFORMATION POSTED ON SITE
Any GM Solstice Service Manual and Service Bulletin information found here on site, or Sales and Product information should be thought of as correct and accurate as of the date posted. After that any information or procedure should be confirmed as still correct with your dealership.

I assume that is the case in all categories?

Thanks.

--Chemist (Obsessed with numbers )

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Yes. The lower the score for the Head Injury Criterion (HCI) (Frontal and Side Crash Tests), Chest Deceleration (in g's) (Frontal Crash Test), Femur Load (in lbs) (Frontal Crash Test), Thoracic Trauma Index (TTI) (Side Crash Test) or Pelvis Deceleration (in g's) (Side Crash Test), the better.

For the Frontal Crash Test, this is what the "stars" mean:
*****= 10% or less chance of serious injury
**** = 11% to 20% chance of serious injury
*** = 21% to 35% chance of serious injury
** = 36% to 45% chance of serious injury
* = 46% or greater chance of serious injury

So a 20% difference in "stars" can equal a 1% difference in chance of serious injury.


The percentages change a little for the Side Crash Test.

*****= 5% or less chance of serious injury
**** = 6% to 10% chance of serious injury
*** = 11% to 20% chance of serious injury
** = 21% to 25% chance of serious injury
* = 26% or greater chance of serious injury


The attachments are the charts for Head, Chest, Femur and Thoracic scores vs probability of injury.

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INFORMATION POSTED ON SITE
Any GM Solstice Service Manual and Service Bulletin information found here on site, or Sales and Product information should be thought of as correct and accurate as of the date posted. After that any information or procedure should be confirmed as still correct with your dealership.

Comparing the old Miata to the Solstice is useless, they are in different weigh classes. The test was for a 2002 Miata and the same crash data used for 2005 since there were no major changes.

Miata PC/L 2385 lbs
Solstice PC/C 2934 lbs

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Good info!! Thanks!

I went to the site and can't find the info on the Z4. The search comes up with nothing. Where are you getting the data. Can you provide a specific link?

Thank you for pointing out that the Solstice's better HIC and TTI scores were achieved in a more extreme crash.

Made a whole bunch of changes to the post to confuse everyone and incorporate your points.

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INFORMATION POSTED ON SITE
Any GM Solstice Service Manual and Service Bulletin information found here on site, or Sales and Product information should be thought of as correct and accurate as of the date posted. After that any information or procedure should be confirmed as still correct with your dealership.

Thanks for the info Small Dealer. This is really great to see since some low production vehicles never even get crash tested. I don't know if they'll ever do the same test on the GXP but I would expect similar results unless the slightly lowered chasis has a negative effect on crumple zones (due to the engine mount drop distance). But witht he 2.0 being smaller than the 2.4 I don't really know if there's more or less room in the engine box.

Thanks,
BSM

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BSM
Airy, 2007 Solstice GXP Cool, Loaded-Onstar

It sucks they had to wreck a Mean. I mean, aren't those more expensive?
Great to know the car's not a killer; though we've got first-hand knowledge from a few unfortunate members who made it out rather unscathed.
Good stuff SD, thanks!

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