Used car safety ratings

[Crocodile]

What's everyone's view about used car safety ratings. Is it a high priority when you go out looking for cars to buy for yourself or family members.
In Australia we have our own ANCAP safety ratings are cars can score the following ratings:
1 star - very poor
2 star - poor
3 - marginal
4 - good
5 - Excellent
Needless to say many drivers including young first car buyers drive 1 star rating cars such as a 1994 Toyota Celica or 2000 Holden Commodore/ Ford Falcon.
Even current Ford Mustang scored 2 stars and the recently converted to RHD Camaro could pose problems here.
Also we have a big classic car culture which certainly has very poor protection.
Interested in a variety of views about this if you have an opinion.

 

[movdqa]

If you're really worried about safety, get a Mercedes Moog, or a ford F-650.

 

[Crocodile]

If you're really worried about safety, get a Mercedes Moog, or a ford F-650.

I'm not worried personally ( I currently have a 1 star and minus 100 safety rating car) but am interested in finding out what people think about this topic. My guess is that more women with families tend to be more safety conscious compared to men ( but that may be incorrect ) whereas many young guys ( and some women) will choose their car based on some other parrameter such as style, performance or even image. Others will look at resale, quality and reliability as factors.

 

[Turbo-87]

Safety is really only going to matter to the family man or the parent looking for a good first car for a child. I am a lifelong "car guy" and I have never heard anyone talk about how safe their car is or that being a factor unless they are talking about a first car for a kiddo. Reliability, resale, total cost of ownership and performance are conversation topics. Part of it is that most cars today are MUCH safer than cars of the 80's which parents of today were driving at one time. Even a 1 star of today would be considered safe in the 80's.