When we hit Bambi in our '88 last Christmas Day, ride height would have made
no difference! We nailed it with the right headlight.  Grill, lights and
sheet metal damage, radiator and A/C  condensor ruptured, and passenger door
crunched shut.  First estimate $5,600 "might have to total it".  Yikes.  OK
I'll accept a used radiator, condensor and passnger door, will that help?
Between this and our FLABS (friendly local auto body shop) who said that if
we could let him take his time, he could do outside normal scheduling and
cut the labor costs. This guy restores breadloaf busses and is sympathetic.
Got it down to $3,600 and kept our van.

Gary

----- Original Message -----
From: John McLean <jaymac@INTERNETCDS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 2:37 AM
Subject: Re: Lowering a Vanagon

> > So what am I missing here?  Why would I want to lower my van?  To
improve cornering?  If that's the goal, seems like a Scirocco or Corrado
would be more to one's liking.  Personally, I'm diggin' on my '85s high
clearance (lots of gravel roads here in the Northwest).  A nice change from
my Corolla.
> >
> > Greg Baskin
> > Eugene, Ore.
> > 85 Westy
> > 79 Corolla
>
> I also have a 99 Corolla.   It drags over just about any speed bump.
However,  about 3 weeks ago I hit a deer on Highway 42 while driving my
Vanagon and suffered no damage of any kind.  The deer ran out from the
shoulder on the left side and I hit it doing about 45.  It went right under
my front
> bumper and between the wheels front and back.   I felt it go under and
drag on the undercarriage.  I went back to look and it was dead.  When I got
home I looked everything over and could find no damage and in fact the only
evidence of what happened was some fur on the left side tie rod.   I think I
> like my Vanagon up where its at too.
>
> John McLean   87 Vanagon   GL     ( Tenmile, Ore. )
>