> > According to the National Highway Transportation Safety
Administration
> > the
> > Vanagon rates lowest (1 point) on a 4 point scale for Frontal
Impact
> > Safety, refernece:
> > http://www.crashtest.com/explanations/archive/crash.htm

which is a bit odd, since my insurance company, USAA, gives me a
"safe-car" discount on my 91 and 88 buses. seems their data shows
that by sitting up higher than the wheels, the vanagon has fewer
and less severe medical injuries in daily-driving accidents. i
prefer to think that sitting up high gives me better visibility
to avoid accidents. :)
and no big ol' engine and crumple zone in front of me keeps me
worrying more than some moron in a GGGUV (gigantic gas-guzzling
utility vehicle) who's chatting on his cell phone ... paranoia in
traffic is a life-saving attribute.
;)

joel