Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:13:44 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Are they still making the bus/Vanagon anywhere these days?
In-Reply-To: <46197fdf.163352c7.247f.ffffa9b5@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Around here, in the Canadian municipality with the highest auto theft rate,
people leave their cars running with their $200 anti-theft keys in the
ignition while they make a moccachino at the corner gas station.
I can't see the key making any difference!
As with air bags, another major insurance company initiative, the cost of
taking the responsibility out of the driver's hands and putting it into the
regulators' is not an easy thing to measure.
When I was a kid, the cars were weak and the drivers were adequate, but it
seems that nowadays the cars are really advanced and driver training hasn't
kept up. I hear at least twice a week about a 'rollover' on Hwy 1 outside
of Vancouver and I'd swear that I never heard of a single one from
1971-1999.
Call me cranky, but I'm blaming video games and weak licensing/enforcement
regimes for the dumbing down of modern drivers.
Jake
On 4/8/07, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Is there any evidence as to whether those "smart keys" actually reduce
> auto
> theft?
>
> I don't much like them either - but presumably the insurance companies,
> ever
> mindful of their bottom lines, save money if we have to buy them, hence
> their interest in pushing for such legislation. If they really do
> significantly reduce the chances of theft, then I suppose I don't really
> mind paying for the key. It is better than the major hassle of having the
> car stolen!
>
>
> Joy
>
>
> ****************************************************************
> Joy Hecht
> now living in a real house in northern Virginia
> and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
> now living in the driveway and resting after two and a half years
> lugging Joy and her stuff around...
>
> For musings about life traveling in the van or living in one place:
> http://www.joyhecht.net
>
> ****************************************************************
>
>
> :::-----Original Message-----
> :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> :::Of Greg Potts
> :::Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 7:41 PM
> :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> :::Subject: Re: Are they still making the bus/Vanagon anywhere these days?
> :::
> :::Hi Volks,
> :::
> :::Here in Canada, The insurance companies managed to successfully lobby
> :::for a law introducing a requirement for all new vehicles to now be
> :::equipped with a theft-deterrent system. That means that a new "smart-
> :::chipped" key for your ignition now costs $120 at the dealer, and you
> :::can't get one elsewhere. Replacing an ignition system costs over a
> :::grand!
> :::
> :::Nobody asked *me* if I wanted a $200 keychain with my latest company
> :::car.(2005 Malibu) Replacement keys for my Baywindow or Dad's
> :::vanagons are still less than $10 each.
> :::
> :::Sure, you get what you pay for... the problem is that we are getting
> :::a lot of extras we didn't ask for and can't say no to.
> :::
> :::
> :::Happy Trails,
> :::
> :::Greg Potts
> :::1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
> :::www.pottsfamily.ca
> :::www.busesofthecorn.com
> :::
> :::
> :::
> :::
> :::On 8-Apr-07, at 5:16 PM, Kim Brennan wrote:
> :::
> :::> I'm not being a nay sayer, I'm being a realist. The Loaf and Vanagon
> :::> were good for their era. The fact that they can continue to be
> :::> reliable 20-30 years later, says a lot about their initial design.
> :::>
> :::> But the market and vehicle requirements have changed. Maybe for the
> :::> worse, but those are requirements that have been imposed upon us by
> :::> politicians. Those politicians responded to constituent demands and
> :::> lobbying efforts.
> :::>
> :::> You get what you pay for.
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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