NCJ Number
31557
Date Published
1976
Length
18 pages
Annotation
FIELD TEST RESULTS ON THE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, USEFULNESS, AND OPERATING COSTS OF THE FOLLOWING 1976 SEDANS: DODGE DART, PLYMOUTH FURY, PONTIAC LEMANS, MERCURY MONTEGO, CHEVOLET NOVA, AND FORD TORINO.
Abstract
THE SIX-PART TEST INCLUDED A SLOW AND HIGH SPEED PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING EVALUATION; ELECTRONIC MEASURING OF ACCELERATION, BRAKING, AND EMERGENCY AND STEADY-STATE HANDLING; A 72-MILE MILEAGE LOOP; A RATING OF HUMAN FACTORS AND SPACE UTILIZATION; A MEASUREMENT OF VEHICLE HEAT; AND AN EVALUATION OF RADIO INSTALLATION ADAPTABILITY. TABULAR RESULTS ON EACH CAR ARE PRESENTED. THE CHEVROLET NOVA SCORED HIGHEST IN THE INSTRUMENTED PERFORMANCE PHASE AND ALSO ATTAINED THE HIGHEST OVERALL SCORE OF VEHICLES SUBMITTED FOR TESTING. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF BASIC LIFE CYCLE COSTING, A DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUMENTED PERFORMANCE TEST, A LIST OF EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS DISCREPANCIES, AND A COPY OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY 1975-76 SHERIFF VEHICLE PURCHASE SPECIFICATIONS.