C.R.'s headlight ratings ....

[Papa Bear]

I just got my latest C.R. in the mail and was looking at the new small cars listed.
Why do so many vehicles have poor/fair/ weak ratings while a few have good ratings ??
What is involved in designing and building a very good headlight assy. ??

Just wondering.

P.B.

 

[eljefino]

Style when turned off trumps design when turned on.

All those swoopy lines lead to poor reflectors.

I prefer glass over plastic lenses too for longevity.

 

[JHZR2]

I agree with eljefino.

Ive found that european cars have far better lights than US/Japanese cars.

There is a site and person - Daniel Stern Lighting and Consultancy that derives the physics and why many lights are ineffective. Very interesting.

The patterns for many DOT approved lighting solutions are horrible.

 

[firemachine69]

If there's one thing I love about my Yaris, it's the headlights. The stockers are brighter than the 9007 Silverstar Ultra's I have in my Sunfire!

 

[qship1996]

Thats because Silverstars suck.

 

[firemachine69]

Light-years ahead of the GM junk.

 

[Westerly]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
I just got my latest C.R. in the mail and was looking at the new small cars listed.
Why do so many vehicles have poor/fair/ weak ratings while a few have good ratings ??
What is involved in designing and building a very good headlight assy. ??


P.B.


European specifications allow for a longer beam and more precise aiming of the light on the road. while all the same not dazzling oncoming drivers.

It is difficult to make an excellent lighting unit using the [censored] DOT (USA) standards. '

You will find that these models when equipped with E code (european spec) lights are far superior in every way.

 

[Jonny Z]

What are those rated as good from CR?

The current Mustang has the weakest headlights I have seen in ages...

 

[sciphi]

Agreed, GM headlights are pretty bad at lighting the road.

Um, you can get better headlights by adding a harness and re-aiming. At least in older cars, not sure about newer ones with bulb sensors.

 

[Papa Bear]

Ratings:
Very poor 1/5 .... Honda Fit, Nissan Versa.
Poor 2/5 .......Toyota Yaris, Chev Aveo
Good 4/5 .....Suzuki SX4

 

[Papa Bear]

When I was driving as a teenager, you could get a sealed beam headlamp for $1.50 (and everyone used the same lamp)

Perhaps we should return to that scenario where there is a very good headlamp (glass) assy. and all manufacturers designed around it.

Then all vehicles would have good headlights and the replacement cost should be cheaper ....

 

[sciphi]

That might mean weight penalties. But many composite headlamps weight a lot, too.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Agreed, GM headlights are pretty bad at lighting the road.


The GM headlights in my saab are the best lights Ive used, including those from the likes of MB, BMW, etc.

The only better are a set of Cibie rounds with special bulbs and harnesses, really set up right, but they are $$$$$

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
When I was driving as a teenager, you could get a sealed beam headlamp for $1.50 (and everyone used the same lamp)

Perhaps we should return to that scenario where there is a very good headlamp (glass) assy. and all manufacturers designed around it.

Problem was, sealed beam lights definitely were not good in any way (other than that they were glass)

 

[sciphi]

The lights on my Buick were pretty bad before better bulbs and a relay harness. Now the lows are almost as bright as the highs, and don't blind oncoming drivers.

 

[John K]

A few years back many were critical of Chrysler headlights.....

 

[Jonny Z]

I think the four lamp setup typically outperform the two-lamp dual filament setup.

 

[Jonny Z]

Originally Posted By: John K
A few years back many were critical of Chrysler headlights.....


The lights were no more dim-witted than their executive staff.

 

[Papa Bear]

They had many half-vast ideas ...

 

[RacerE7773]

I can't stand how gm has the dims turn off when you click the brights. My '03 impala lights up ok, but I sometimes wonder what it would be like with all 4 lit up.