Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 15:57:16 -0500
Reply-To: Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Crash Test Ratings Not So Good --
In-Reply-To: <p04310101b7fa189ab985@[142.103.139.103]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I follow your logic. Look at this:
Head Impact:
Volvo: 200 G
VW: 42 G
Chest impact
Volvo: 65 G
VW: 30 G
That's off the site (http://v-dub.musa.com/volvocrash.html) I don't know
how accurate it is. But it seems that the Volvo absorbed most of the
Vanagon's inertia. So, it seems that if you are going to crash your
Vanagon, crash into something softer that offers lots crush space. I am
sure the Volvo would be safer than the Vanagon if both had to be run into a
solid wall at 35 MPH.
Just my .02 Zloty.
Chris.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Tobin Copley
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 2:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Vanagon Crash Test Ratings Not So Good --
At 9:46 PM +1200 10/21/01, Andrew Grebneff wrote:
> >It all depends on crush space in the front, and the
>>Vanagon doesn't have much.
>
>The T3 is designed solid, with only a small crush zone to soften initial
>impact. After that the solid structure stoutly resists bending. That "S"UV
>(what's sporty about a tank that's so clumsy it can't avoid itself?) is
>unlikely to come in and get you.
That's right. Your own Vanagon will get you first. Remember: it's
the second collision that counts. The first collision is just bent
metal; the second is flesh and bones against the restraint system (or
worse, the inside of the car).
Why all the focus on a car that doesn't get bent up in a hard crash?
Bending is good--it means energy is being absorbed so I don't have to
absorb it myself. I'll be happy pay my insurance deductible if it
means I can walk away from a totalled car. I'm happy happy happy to
have my car torn to shreds in a hard hit--just as long as the
passenger compartment remains intact. I don't care what the wrecked
car looks like--what matters to me is how well the occupants faired.
Mass can be good, occupant height can be good, but it's keeping the
passenger compartment sound and the delta V *for the occupant* that
matters. If my car totals itself absorbing energy on my behalf, I
couldn't be happier.
Just my CDN$0.02,
T.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin Copley Bowen Island, BC, Canada 49deg 23'N-123deg 19'W
'82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
'97 son Russell =============
'99 daughter Margaret /_| |_L| |__|:| clatter
1995: 'Round US, Mexico, Canada 15,000 mi {. .| clatter!
1996: Vancouver to Inuvik, NWT 7,400 km ~-()-==----()-~
Previous buses: '76 westy deluxe (Daisy), '76 westy standard (Mango)
http://www.sfu.ca/~tcopley/vw/