Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 2001, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 20 Oct 2001 15:10:58 +1000
Reply-To:     Ian Astbury <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ian Astbury <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Subject:      crashing....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

G'day all,

Only get to read occasionally at the moment, but followed the recent crash posts with interest. I think it is important to compare with other similar vehicles. Front control vehicles are obviously going to be deficient in front crumple zones. One of the prices to pay for the very efficient use of space.

However, in such company the vanagon-transporter-caravelle excels (in my humble opinion). In Aus at least, the only other vans available in the 80's were those of japanese origin, these were cheap, generally reliable, and made good workhorses, at least in dry environments. Didn't have quite the same reputation in europe, but they had other options. The VW here was VERY expensive, a combination of tax policies and exchange rates.

In the face of such competition, safety has been an important decision in me purchasing VW's. My current caravelle cost as much as a Toyota half the age. But if I have to make a sudden correction, misjudge a dirt bend, or fail to see a large whole in the road, the handling gives me an edge in recovering/avoiding. Were the worst to happen, then I would also be better off.

btw, the previous owner had 5 daughters. He brought her because his wife had rolled the previous one 4 times after hitting a kangaroo and then a drainage ditch on a dark highway. They all walked away. Anecdotal evidence, but he is an ambulance officer. Yes, they were all wearing lap-sash seatbelts, and using a luggage barrier.

Veronika(my caravelle) is fitted with a good 'roo bar' and hella 2000 spots to reduce the risk af a repeat. The spots are aimed to illuminate the shoulders of the road about 200m ahead, where they usually wait before jumping out about 5m in front! All my families cars are fitted with aluminium bumper replacement roo bars, and living in an infested area, they have saved a lot of damage. Relaxed speeds mean they haven't yet been really tested yet. Similar to deer accidents, kangaroos often cause injury by coming up and thru a windscreen. A good bar is designed to catch or deflect the animal to reduce this risk. The idea is to protect the occupants and the radiator to keep the vehicle derivable. Very useful in slow and major accidents too, but can make matters worse in a medium crash by bending a chassis, and reducing the crumple, transferring the force to the (seatbelted) passengers necks. Not to pedestrian friendly either. A badly designed bar is very bad in a heavy accident, as it simply bends at the base, and folds down over the drivers/passengers legs, trapping them. Seen it happen, not pretty.

Gotta go, leave early and not have to rush! Stay safe, and enjoy the view.

Ian.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.