>
> There was a 20/20-type show that showed and compared vehicles (seems
> like they did have a VW in there -- a jetta maybe?) in how they
> performed on the 'standard' head-on test and on a second 'off-center'
> test.  Very foggy memory says that there was one vehicle that you'd have
> a couple scratches and walk away from a straight head-on  into a brick
> wall, but that very same vehicle if you hit something off-center would
> nearly kill you.
>
As a sideline to this, go to the IIHS web site
(http://www.hwysafety.org) and check out their crash test ratings.  They
have many cars and vans there with photos and some quicktime videos of
offset crash tests.  Seems Jettas didn't do so great but Passats were
very good.  Unfortunately I couldn't find anything old enough to apply
to us.

They also rated the bumpers on the New Beetle very highly :-)

--
Sean Bartnik
Fredericksburg, Virginia
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon L Westfalia
1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/myvan.htm
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/tech.htm