I think the only thing I would be concerned about is the legs.

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 3:30 PM
Subject: Re: Vanagon safety and design?

Honda and Toyota, Hell!

I've been in two collisions with my '85 Westy, One totaled a Dodge Ram
pickup and the other wiped out the entire side of a Ford F-150 Crew Cab.
Neither my fault, by the way.

Damage to my van?  Bent front quarter a bit  'bout a thousand dollars in
body work each time.  No structural damage; not even a broken grille.

I'll stick with the Vanagons, thank you.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carrington, Tom" <tcarrington@RELITECH.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: Vanagon safety and design?

> I'm glad to hear that you have such a well informed agent.
>
> My insurance company (USAA) gives the Vanagon a "safe car discount" or
some
> such thing on my policy. Why don't you call another insurance company for
a
> rate quote, and ask them for liability only on a 90's Caravan and a '85
> Vanagon. Insurance rates are partly based on injury losses for a vehicle
> type, so a lower rate may indicate a safer vehicle.
>
> Vanagons are supposedly safer when colliding with passenger cars since the
> driver sits *above* the crush area. Probably not as safe when you drive
> head-on into a 6' tall concrete wall....but how likely is that?
>
> And yes, Vanagons do "fold up like accordions" when hit...BY A MACK TRUCK!
I
> feel sorry for any Honda Accord  or Toyota Camry that takes it on!
>
> And what is up with the "everything is run by cables" line. Almost every
car
> on the market uses cables for their emergency/parking brake, just like the
> Vanagon. The only additional cable I know of is the throttle cable, which
is
> run inside a protective conduit. You just need to make sure the rubber
seals
> on each end of the tube are in place to keep things sealed up.
>
> TomC
> tcarrington@relitech.com
> http://www.relitech.com/tomc
> http://volksweb.relitech.com
> 85 Vanagon Crew Cab
> 82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
> 65 Notchback
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jennifer Jones [SMTP:jj1@MAIL.TDS.NET]
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 3:22 PM
> > To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject:      Vanagon safety and design?
> >
> > Hello - I will update further on this in another message, but I am just
on
> > the brink of buying an '85 Westy with 75K original miles, in excellent
> > condition (haven't seen it in person, but was sent about 5 pictures and
it
> > looks immaculate), for $6500.  I'm planning on having the owner take it
in
> > for a compression test, leak-down test, and maint. inspection.
Anyway...
> >  was just on the phone with my insurance agent to see about rates for
the
> > Westy.  He spent about 20 minutes trying to talk me out of buying it!
> >
> > His main issue (along with lack of power and crappy gas mileage) was
> > safety
> > and design.  He said Vanagons just fold up like an accordion when hit.
He
> > basically said the design was terrible and that it was analogous to he
and
> > I went going into a garage and building a car.  He specifically
mentioned
> > the how everything was run by cables that run underneath the car, and
that
> > these are susceptible to corrosion, etc.
> >
> > Anyway, given that eventually I want to use the camper for touring (as
in,
> > musical) and want to tow a small trailer with equipment behind, he tried
> > to
> > talk me into getting an early '90s Dodge Caravan with a 3.0 L engine.
Said
> > the they got great gas mileage, were very safe, and had a lot of power.
> >  And, that I could convert the inside into some kind of camper.
> >
> > Now, it must be said, he didn't change my mind - I want this Westy !  I
> > also think Dodge Caravans have about as much character as a cardboard
box.
> >  But, he did give me an interesting perspective.  It must also be said
> > that
> > he's just the agent, not the underwriter, he so isn't in charge of
whether
> > they'll insure the van or not.  It's possible they won't (guess they're
> > afraid of people living in 'em - he he :)).
> >
> > I hadn't heard that about the safety, or about Vanagons being poorly
> > designed.  Obviously, since we're all on this list, we don't have the
same
> > opinion., but I was curious as to people's response to his views...
> >
> > Thanks, JJ
> >
> > (soon to be :  '85 Westy!)
>