Good Argument/Write Up.
The use of the plastics and foam definitely help to prevent damage at lower speeds. In your case both vehicle got away without any serious damage and with a steel bumper it would have been different.
As speed increases the foam bumper will no longer uncompress and the damage continues forward into other components.
The dynamics changes quite a bit as speed increases> Lets put it this way I would rather have additional strength in the bumpers, and not have to use them, rather than find out what happens when I don't have them. eg: Jeep Arb Front bumper hits Honda, who get to drive away? Even though I Put the PB-400 up front I don't think that would change the air bag or crumple zone, but would prevent some damage to the front of the Liberty.
SO is it a good idea to look for for a rear bumper guard, probably not a bad idea.
Good day day,
First thing I'm gonna say is... How long before this thread gets locked.
I think you are a little too paranoid about getting rear ended! I can understand though as I live in Richmond, B.C., and I too have been smoked a few times by those excellent drivers from the Far East. However, you are still in a fairly large vehicle which is alot safer than a Chevy Aveo!
Then there is the "Stronger rear bumper" issue. Sure, up to certain speeds it will defiantly help in a rear end collision, but, should a vehicle hit you at a hight rate of speed 100km and up, then that bumper will just be driven further into the back of your vehicle.
And if you had something like a Setina product for the rear it would more than likely concentrate the impact onto a smaller surface area creating a more focused blow and as a result driving it and the mounting surface behind it more directly into the gas tank.
Incidentally, the products Setina manufactures are for law enforcement vehicles. They are mainly used as a push bar to aid in getting vehicles off to the side of the road. Of course we all know however that those "push bars" are used to preform the infamous P.I.T. maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique) and they take quite a hit after doing so and the police vehicle also tends to receive damage to the front and side fenders.
Having several friends and a brother-in-law who is now retired from the RCMP, I've seen many photographs of what happens to their cruisers when things get nasty. As well as other vehicles involved in crashes.
If you feel this venerable to a rear end collision... Buy a Bradly armored vehicle, paint it Acid yellow and safety orange and strap a couple of hundred flashing strobe lights to it.
Then, if you get hit at Mach 9 , the vehicle won't receive any real damage at all.
Mind you, you on the other hand will be like the contents of a raw egg that has been violently shaken!
Your only other recourse would be to fit a foam filled fuel cell such as those made by ATL for example.
(Cheers)
Ryan