Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 14:31:29 -0400
Reply-To: Kenneth Madsen <ncc0778@CORP.ATTCANADA.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Madsen <ncc0778@CORP.ATTCANADA.CA>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Crash Test Ratings Not So Good -- Re: Near Death Expe
rience in the Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Chances are you will not duplicate the crash into a perfectly straight
concrete/steel wall as done by the NHTSA.
I bet my bottom dollar if I were to smash head on with a 5" lowered decal
plastered H*nda C!v!c with the coffee can muffler and fake HID lights, I'd
be the one coming home just in time for Corn Flakes!!!
Ken Madsen
87GL
Toronto
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Clark [mailto:superfly@SPECULATION.ORG]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 2:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Vanagon Crash Test Ratings Not So Good -- Re: Near Death
Experience in the Vanagon
I strongly agree that the driver's awareness and ability is central to
safety, BUT I don't know if I can agree with the following comment: "These
are NOT unsafe vehicles." Relative Vanagon safety appears to be dependent
upon where you are sitting in the vehicle at the time of impact.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), the DRIVER of the Vanagon has a greater than 45% chance of
sustaining life-threatening injuries from a frontal collision (a
single-star, "POOR" rating). This test is performed by driving dummies head
on into a concrete barrier at 35 mph.
By contrast, the same (frontal) collision in an '87 Volvo 740 is rated at
"EXCELLENT", five stars, a 10% chance of life-threatening injury for the
driver.
And then, on the other hand, you get written testimonials like Adam Brooks'.
So what's the deal here, people? Are Vanagons as bad as their crash test
ratings say they are? Thoughts anyone???
Take care everybody, drive safely.
Don
'87 Syncro
PS [ Go here for more info about Volkswagen crash tests:
http://www.crashtest.com/volkswagen/ie.htm ]
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Andrew Grebneff
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 5:20 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Near Death Experience in the Vanagon
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)
