Here's why I love you folks on the list. And I don't care what anyone says, 
this group is far more than a tech support group...

Dave voices his wife's concern about the Vanagon safety and there's seems to 
be an almost resounding "get rid of the wife!" LOL!!!!!!!

And here I am thinking "That IS a possible solution." But that's coming from 
a guy who everyday thinks about getting rid of his apartment and all this junk 
to live in his Westfalia. I can't help thinking some of the best days I've 
had are when I was between apartments living in my bus with a few changes of 
clothes and everything else in storage. Arguably the elation was because it was a 
departure from the norm. I had the advantage of knowing I had all that stuff 
in storage and soon would move into a place with a shower. The point being, 
why not get rid of it all; the wife, the kids, the house, the stuff, and so on.

Anyway Dave, I wouldn't break up the family just yet. 

Truth is, in my opinion, your wife has something of a point--something. The 
Vanagon definitely has a higher center of gravity than some passenger cars (and 
that Ferrari idea is a real winner!!LOL!!)

Anyway, this whole thread started to crack me up. 

My feeling is the Vanagon does a decidedly different feel onthe road than 
most other vehicles I have driven. The large windshield that comes down sort of 
low in front of the driver and passenger could make one feel 
vulnerable--especially in the passenger seat. The dash is kind of low and doesn't offer the 
psychological comfort of a high dash over your legs cocoon feel that you might get 
in a passenger car. A nice grab handle is great to make you feel safe in an 
old style beetle--but are you?

And then you're sitting over the front tires so the feeling of turning is 
weird. As the bus dips in a turn you've gotta feel a bit different than when 
you're back behind the front wheel. 

I would say a modern car with side and front impact air bags is safer.

I don't know Dave's wife, no matter what the guys at the pool hall say. And 
I'm not willing to condemn her to being concerned about the safety of the 
Vanagon. 

But here's the thing you have to know about women...

That last was just a joke for you ladies out there.

Anyway, here's the thing, I think. We're not as safe in the Vanagon as you 
might be in the new Mercedes, necessarily. There are a lot of factors to 
consider of course. But let's say we're not as safe as a low car with air bags, for 
the most part. 

Here's my advice to Dave and everyone else. SLOW DOWN. Or wait, I mean, we're 
in a Vanagon for crying out loud. Is it possible to slow down any more? 

OK. So here's my advice: put a little more distance between you and the car 
in front of you. Learn to accept passing cars with passengers and drivers 
giving you the finger as sign you're doing something right in this world. Slowing 
down and letting life happen instead of trying to get to the next destination 
as fast you can. Because we all know on the road of life there are only 
passengers. Any of us who think we're in any kind of control at all are kidding 
ourselves. Maybe, slow down in the curves. 

Now, as for you Dave. You've got a diesel. I'm not sure you can go any 
slower. Thinking about it, I think it's time to get rid of the wife.

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA

In a message dated 12/16/2004 7:31:39 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
docproteus@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

> So now that I�ve got the van all fixed up and have put time and money into
> it, my wife is telling me that she is concerned that the van is unsafe for
> our kids to ride in it.  Now before I go on I should note that it�s and 83
> diesel 1.6 and I have personally checked all seatbelts and seat tracks, etc.
> to assure her (and me) that it�s safe.  She�s mainly worried about tipping
> over.