Thanks for the report, it was refreshing.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian Astbury" <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 10:10 PM
Subject: crashing....

> G'day all,
>
> Only get to read occasionally at the moment, but followed the recent
> crash posts with interest.
> I think it is important to compare with other similar vehicles. Front
> control vehicles are obviously going to be deficient in front crumple
> zones. One of the prices to pay for the very efficient use of space.
>
> However, in such company the vanagon-transporter-caravelle excels (in my
> humble opinion). In Aus at least, the only other vans available in the
> 80's were those of japanese origin, these were cheap, generally
> reliable, and made good workhorses, at least in dry environments. Didn't
> have quite the same reputation in europe, but they had other options.
> The VW here was VERY expensive, a combination of tax policies and
> exchange rates.
>
> In the face of such competition, safety has been an important decision
> in me purchasing VW's. My current caravelle cost as much as a Toyota
> half the age. But if I have to make a sudden correction, misjudge a dirt
> bend, or fail to see a large whole in the road, the handling gives me an
> edge in recovering/avoiding. Were the worst to happen, then I would also
> be better off.
>
> btw, the previous owner had 5 daughters. He brought her because his wife
> had rolled the previous one 4 times after hitting a kangaroo and then a
> drainage ditch on a dark highway. They all walked away. Anecdotal
> evidence, but he is an ambulance officer. Yes, they were all wearing
> lap-sash seatbelts, and using a luggage barrier.
>
> Veronika(my caravelle) is fitted with a good 'roo bar' and hella 2000
> spots to reduce the risk af a repeat. The spots are aimed to illuminate
> the shoulders of the road about 200m ahead, where they usually wait
> before jumping out about 5m in front!
> All my families cars are fitted with aluminium bumper replacement roo
> bars, and living in an infested area, they have saved a lot of damage.
> Relaxed speeds mean they haven't yet been really tested yet. Similar to
> deer accidents, kangaroos often cause injury by coming up and thru a
> windscreen. A good bar is designed to catch or deflect the animal to
> reduce this risk. The idea is to protect the occupants and the radiator
> to keep the vehicle derivable.
> Very useful in slow and major accidents too, but can make matters worse
> in a medium crash by bending a chassis, and reducing the crumple,
> transferring the force to the (seatbelted) passengers necks. Not to
> pedestrian friendly either.
> A badly designed bar is very bad in a heavy accident, as it simply bends
> at the base, and folds down over the drivers/passengers legs, trapping
> them. Seen it happen, not pretty.
>
> Gotta go, leave early and not have to rush! Stay safe, and enjoy the
> view.
>
> Ian.