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Date:         Mon, 22 Oct 2001 12:20:34 -0700
Reply-To:     Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Crash Test Ratings Not So Good --
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <v01550106b7f841d91ded@[203.96.99.146]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

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/


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