Simple. The velour upholstery generates strong static electricity charges
that work to repel any object left on the seat. Note that German engineers
sloped the floor between the drivers and passengers seats to help deflect
any objects placed here  as far away from the reach of the driver as
possible.

The reason for this is that the Germans believe your attention should not
be distracted from driving - particularly when you are struggling to see
beyond the standard SAE rectangular headlamps. <g>

Dan Resler wrote:

> If while driving you place a envelope or piece of paper on an empty
> passenger seat in your Vanagon, does it end up on the floor after a
> few miles? I've noticed this phenomena in my van.
>
> So I've done some tests. If I place a standard legal-size envelope at
> the back of the seat, it will fall off the front after 18-20 miles of
> Interstate driving. And this will happen with just about anything
> relatively light.
>
> But why? I mean the seat is slanted such that these objects are
> actually defying gravity. And what is it about the vibrations of a
> vanagon that causes the movement to always be towards the front of the
> van? It's not braking/acceleration - this phenomena happens even if
> you maintain a constant speed.
>
> Enquiring minds want to know.
>
> dan
> --
> Dan Resler                         email: dresler@vcu.edu
> Dept. of Mathematical Sciences
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> Richmond, VA 23284-2014 USA