Purely a guess, here. The difference in the outcome is based on
differences in the test procedure. I have no clue into how the US or the
Swedes test, but here are two scenarios

e.g.: crash your van at 45mph into the back of a stationary Chevy
Impala, and you will probably be okay, or just loose your lower legs.

e.g #2: Crash your van into the back of a large delivery truck, and the
hardened part of the Vanagon will under-run the hardened part of the
truck, and you better have your life insurance paid up..

From historic, walkable Mount Olive, NC,

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
Alliance: www.ntara.com
Home: www.MountOliveNC.info

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Dan Snow
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 1:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Vgon Crash Tests

So I was looking at crashtest.com the other day. According to the US
government, the Vanagon earns the worst possible rating for head-on
collision safety. According to the Swedish insurance company that
provided
those cool pictures of the Vanagon vs. Volvo crash-test, the Vanagon has
the
very best crash safety rating. Right up there with 600SEL Mercedes and
Volvo
M1A2 tanks. I guess I'll choose to believe the Swedes, if only cause it
makes me feel better. Maybe it's all the extra insulation and
soundproofing
they put in Swedish Vanagons...

Daniel Snow
'82 Diesel Vanagon

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