How does one destroy the frame of a volvo ?

One of my co-workers totaled the frame of her volvo. I thought that was impossible because I thought the volvo frame was re-enforced. Isn't volvo suppose to be the safest car on the road?|||It's pretty easy. In fact, that's the reason why Volvos are so safe. The frame is the main part of the crumple zone. As it is destroyed, it absorbs some of the force of the impact, so that you body doesn't have to.|||I am an experienced auto body repairer. This whole notion that Volvo is the safest or the strongest car is nothing more than a myth, an urban legend, continually perpetuated by people like the people on this site, who answer questions when they have no real first hand knowledge of the situation. One of the LAST cars I would buy, for a whole list of reasons that I can vigorously defend in a court of law, or any where else, is a Volvo!|||Frames are any car, or truck, can be damaged all depending what they hit, or hit them.





As for Volvo, they have 2 architecture (soon 3-EUCD for the S80). There's the C1 platform, which is shared with the international Ford Focus, Mazda3, Mazda5, which underpins the Volvo S40, C70. Which leads it's segment in government crash testing.





Then there's P2, which underpins everything else from S60, to the XC90 SUV. P2 is also "D3" in Ford language. Used in the new Ford 500/Fresstyle, Mercury Montego. That platform also leads it's segment in government crash testing aswell.





The XC90 has an added twist, it's the only SUV that you can roll a few times, and the roof doesn't cave in, it's made from Boron Steel which is a stronger metal that whats commonly used. Supposedly in U.S. government testing, the roof pillars must withstand 2.5 Times the weight of the vehicle, which isn't very much. The Volvo designed for swedish standards, exceed that many times over, since Europe has stricter standards.





You can research Volvo's site and learn more, even pictures and movies showing more information on that.





Granted, force, energy, weight, and size play a role. You can't expected to hit a Ford F-150, in a Volvo S40, and expect no damage. Obviously, the frame will bend in mostly any accident, it all depends what type, and with what.





One "car" you don't wish to hit is a Ford Crown Victoria/Town Car, or Grand Marquis. It's Body on Frame architecture, which means, like most pick-up trucks and real SUV's, the body is anchored onto a frame. IN other words, DON'T HIT a Crown Vic, it's strongly built like a truck.





And most importantly, the structure is most of the story. But everything from airbag deployment, padded doors/armrests, laminated windshields/windows, also add to the mix.





Volvos, along with MB have built their reputations on safety since their beginning. Their founded thrived on building the upmost safest vehicle possible.





Ironically from an article I read months ago, it went on to say that Ford has the highest number (production output) of safest vehicles in product, and has had it for years. IN other words, when they build 800K F-150s just of ONE vehicle, will obviously eclipse MercedezBenz sales numbers as a whole. Now just add all the other vehicles they build...which are rated tops in many segments.





Then as particular models goes, MB, BMW, Volvo have the most models which reach the highest ratings in government ratings in their luxury class.





Of course, as more and more vehicles are reaching the top of their segments, the government must legislate new testing methods that make it harder, to acheive even tougher standards.





Hope this helps.|||nothings impossible its easy to total hit something hard enough