Date:         Tue, 9 Jun 1998 01:09:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Bruce Ralphs <bar@ISLANDNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Bruce Ralphs <bar@ISLANDNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: Beetle crash test -> vanagon?
Comments: To: Tom Carrington <tcarrington@RELITECH.COM>,
          Vanagon Listserve <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

>I came across this while browsing. It's the crash test footage from the
>new Beetle. I was suprised at how well it held up!
>
>http://www.hwysafety.org/crash/sm4dr/beetle.htm

So was I.  Now the only stupid thing is...I want one:  TDI Auto with roof
in yellow!

Nearly bought a TD Golf 3 weeks ago but will wait for the above mainly
due to the crash tests being so good.

RE Vanagon:

Anybody really know how good the Vanagons are in frontal crashes...have
heard surprisingly good RUMOURS.

My wife was T-Boned in our Westy by a '91 Caddy Seville last June at the
back of the sliding door and into the rear wheel.  Spun her 270 degrees
on dry pavement.  Caddy had to be towed as hood buckled up 2 feet at
front right and engine damaged...westy drove home after replacing
shredded tire and wrecked rim, albeit with a noisey CV joint.

No lasting effects, good repair.  The main frame cross-member (if you
call it that) must've taken most of the impact because our damage was
really minimal comparitively.  Auto tranny and drive train was fine
except for the CV joints that side.

Any other experiences/comments?

TIA, Bruce



----------------------------------------------------------

Bruce Ralphs, Victoria, BC                 '85 Westy, auto, 142K
250-727-7617                               '91 Passat, 95K
250-727-7685 fax                           '83 GTI,  256K