"McMike" (mcmike)
03/11/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: Vanagon
1
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"McMike" (mcmike)
03/11/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: Vanagon | 1
| 22 |
Welcome to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Part one of a one part series to explain that while the Vanagon may not be up to modern standards, it's safer than you think.
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This subject has popped up dozens of times over the years on the multiple message boards I post to.
I want to get a Vanagon, but my wife says they are death-traps. Is it true?
That question is usually the thread starter. Some poor guy wants to pick one up for one reason or another, and his wife vetoed it - stating that everyone in the front seat would die in a head-on collision. We (the Vanagon community) always reply to these pleas with assorted images and links (like the ones below) to help him convince her that for an 80s vehicle, it's quite stout. In fact, it's better than some 80s vehicles.
Unfortunately, about half of these want-to-be Vanagon owners never post again. We assume because she came up with another reason once her genius "death trap" reason didn't pan out.
Here are three videos that VW produced in the 80s to put people at ease about the things. I can only assume they put these together because the forward seating position was scaring potential customers away.
Here are some other images of some head-on collisions, that show that the OMG!! VERY DEATH!! MUCH CRUSH!!! is not 100% accurate. All the drivers/passengers these images below walked away from the accident and the foot wells are still in tact, and no severing of limbs has occurred.
This one is of the Minivan vs Minivan accident I used in the lead shot. It was an offset head-on 45mph accident. The owner of the van took the photos.
Thread from the bottom and lead shot:
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. Rest of the images came from the rather depressing 14 page thread
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- are are accounts of members who have been in, or knew of vehicles and owners who have been in accidents.
And before anyone posts !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of the orange double cab, that was a test of the facility. They loaded up an old DOT truck bed with thousands of pounds.
Conclusion: Is the Vanagon a safe car? Compared to today's standards? No. Compared to anything else sold in the 80s? Yes.
Even the Volvo was used in testing at some point.
I just want to be clear that it's "not safe" because it's a 30 year old car, not because of the seating position*.
Full disclosure: I have been daily driving Vanagons since 1993. I have even rear-ended someone at 45 mph, and still have both my legs. In fact, I had it fixed and drove it for another 12 years. I like them so much I bought another one, and have no problems driving an airbag-less, ABS-less, TPMS-less, ESP-less car in everyday Washington DC traffic.
*If the
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doesn't kill you first.
jkm7680
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:01 |
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I've seen a silver one on fire, I wouldn't buy one.
Jagvar
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:04 |
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Is this you, by any chance?
Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:06 |
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"The best part of the Corvair van is that you're always the first person at the scene of an accident." —Jay Leno.
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McMike
> Jagvar
03/11/2014 at 11:08 |
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Nope, that's an 88 Wolfsburg. The '87 didn't have the side skirts.
This is me.
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Jagvar
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:09 |
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Oh my, that's pretty!
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McMike
> Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/11/2014 at 11:10 |
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That's funny.
505Turbeaux
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:11 |
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As usual, I am going to repeat it. If you change your fuel lines and the plastic fuel connector through the firewall, you are doing yourself a great service.
do you remember all of the hoopla when someone posted in a VW forum the pic of the 2 dead kids in a burned out T3? Must have been 10 years ago now. Jesus that was a shock. I think suppliers had a run on fuel line after that popped
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McMike
> 505Turbeaux
03/11/2014 at 11:16 |
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Yup, here's that connector.
Someone out there made metal ones at some point.
Some just use a length of hose, and a grommet.
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505Turbeaux
> McMike
03/11/2014 at 11:17 |
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yeah I have seen the metal ones. I thought Go Westy still had those for sale. If not they should
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McMike
> 505Turbeaux
03/11/2014 at 11:25 |
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Van-Cafe will send you one for free with the purchase of a $39 cookie.
Slave2anMG
> Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/11/2014 at 11:54 |
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JACU - I've got bonifides.
> jkm7680
03/11/2014 at 12:28 |
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You're not the only one. If I saw a silver one on fire, no way would I pay good money for it. Now a yellow one on fire might be worth a few bucks...
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jkm7680
> JACU - I've got bonifides.
03/11/2014 at 12:41 |
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I was eating lunch a with a buddy at Arby's and it conveniently happened directly outside. It was some good entertainment. Nobody was hurt, but it was burned to a crisp.
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JACU - I've got bonifides.
> jkm7680
03/11/2014 at 12:47 |
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Loves me a good Arby's Wolfsburger.
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jkm7680
> JACU - I've got bonifides.
03/11/2014 at 12:51 |
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The Volkswagen Wolfsburger edition haha.
Glucklich21- master of the cones
> McMike
03/14/2014 at 12:26 |
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I've always wanted one of these. How's the towing capability? I could see brakes and suspension being upgraded first.
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McMike
> Glucklich21- master of the cones
03/14/2014 at 13:00 |
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Towing? Shit, it can barely pull itself up a long grade.
I wouldn't hook up more than 1500lbs without trailer brakes.
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Glucklich21- master of the cones
> McMike
03/14/2014 at 13:22 |
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That's fine. It's an improvement over pulling with my E30. Nothing says sketchy like a harbor freight utility trailer being pulled by a 22 year old bimmer down the highway.
I've always wanted one of these with a real engine and a proper suspension and brake setup to match. Dunno why my brain is wired to like square German cars of the 80s. It's never been all that practical or cost efficient.
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McMike
> Glucklich21- master of the cones
03/14/2014 at 13:37 |
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As with any fanbase, there are always those few owners that have more money and skill than the rest of us.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php…
drh3b
> McMike
11/10/2017 at 00:37 |
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.
LWRhodes
> McMike
02/09/2018 at 15:28 |
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Convert to Electric Drive. Add solar panel for as much as 16 miles per day range.
Hellenic Vanagon
> McMike
08/29/2018 at 18:49 |
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Please have a look: http://www.vwsyncro.eu/p/blog-page_18.html
The Syncro Heresy