Date:         Thu, 18 Oct 2001 21:20:25 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Near Death Experience in the Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

i think i'll drive slow in
>the fast lane...mostly just to piss people off...not
>really for safetys sake.

It's not speed that kills. It's incompetence.

>please...everyone...drive safely...be aware that there
>is barely anything in front of you in case of a head
>on collision...and...wear your seat belts...it's the
>least you could do...thanks

These are NOT unsafe vehicles. They are very solidly-built, and listees
have described accidents in them which show extremely impressive strength
of this body. Take a look at the head-on offset impact test (60mph combined
speed) with a Volvo 7-series tankwagon. The Volvo doesn't win...

www.oz.net/~sneakers/crash.htm

It'll open your eyes.

On top of everything else, the good suspension design, low center of mass
and 50/50 mass distribution are a good recipe for good handling. If swerves
seem wild, this is because you are sitting high up at the end of the
pendulum, which makes maneuvers seem extreme.


Andrew Grebneff
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Phone: 0064 (3) 473-8863
Fax: 0064 (3) 479-7527
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator, shell collector, Macintosh and VW & Toyota van nut
1984 Volkswagen Type 25 Caravelle GL (to be fitted with Subaru EG33 engine etc)
1986 CE80 Toyota Corolla DX diesel 1.8 sedan
1989 CE96 Toyota Corolla DX diesel 1.8 van
1989 CT170 Toyota Corona Select 2.0 diesel sedan
1992 CXR10G Toyota Estima Lucida 2.2 turbodiesel (=narrow-bodied Previa)