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 XXX-1.8T
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 posted on December 22nd, 2003 at 09:16 PM |
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I Saw Something That Made Me Think On The Weekend
Hey guys on the weekend i witnessed a bad accident. This stooge in a 4wd went thru a redlight clipped a magna spun 180c and then his ass hit head on a
Holden Astra then spun 180c the other end mid air and landed over a median strip lucky no oncoming cars were going the other way:o. I was standing at
a petrol station watching this unfold like a horror movie. For sure i thought someone would have died but ran there to help (was expecting to see
carnage for sure)
Thank god everyone in the Astra (family of 5 was ok) 4wd driver and magna drivers were ok too:bounce
But then made me think if i was in Shazza i wonder what would have happened to me? I love my car no matter what and if its my time its my time but im
just interested to know:
Whos had accidents in the VW's?
And what happened structurally to the car?
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56astro
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| posted on December 22nd, 2003 at 09:25 PM |
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Look at my web site and you'll see the results of a beetle roll-over.
Was also in a slow-speed roll-over in a fast back, at night. One mate in the back pretended he was dead and made us all freak out a bit!
VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 22nd, 2003 at 09:35 PM |
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how did ya rollover take a corner too fast?
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 07:29 AM |
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its good to see not many people have had prangs in their VW
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Grunk
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 08:26 AM |
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In the early 70s when I was just a pup, a few of us in bugs and vans went bush north of Mount Isa. My mate tore around us on a narrow station road,
got sideways on a cattle grid, hit the bearers, then kept just spinning in 360s through the scrub, taking out trees and bushes on the way. I'm
amazed it didn't roll, but every panel was damaged and the car was totalled. My mate was OK surprisingly - no seatbelts or anything then, but he
drank and cried all night. We went back and pulled out the motor and the plates in the morning and left the poor, battered bug where it was in the
bush. Probably still there today. Nowadays I'm the one that cries when I think about it, because I sold him that bug for $115 and it was an
early 50s oval with working semaphores. But hey - s**t happens.
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 08:42 AM |
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cool story man u should go try hunt for it poor little bug 
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56astro
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:39 AM |
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Costa
The rear left was a bit flat, and a bit of inexperience were contributing factors.
Dad wasn't impressed!
:cry
VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:44 AM |
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i like to give Shazza a bit of sideways action but after ur story dont think i will anymore:jesus
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karmannghia60
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:48 AM |
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I am in denial about front end crashes in any aircooled VW. If I was in a Beetle, KG or T3, it will catch fire on the tank will explode. If in a T2 I
would lose my legs. Scary, I don't want to think about it
Raf
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:51 AM |
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shit thats scary stuff is it true but?
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VWCOOL
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:01 AM |
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NEVER assume you're safe because you have right of way. Always look for other idiots who haven't seen the give way sign, red light etc
Pay your debts, CxxT
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wacked1
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:11 AM |
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was just pondering the same question last night, thinking of the flat nose kombi I have. has anyone been hit in the front in a kombi? what
happened?
drive safe:jesus |
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11CAB
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:15 AM |
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I saw a Kombi at Valla a few years ago that hit a cow on the highway at Byron.....the front was all smashed in, but inside was still ok......it even
had a sticker on the dash...... "Milk, are you getting enough"...hahahha
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab
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Doug Sweetman
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:24 AM |
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Ummm, actually in my experience its not true. Surprisingly.
Two examples - one my own experience, and the other a bloke from america.
Mine first - About midnight one november about 5 years ago, after going up to see my then girlfriend (now wife) after she had had some car problems, I
was driving back down mounts bay road in perth. Its a dual carriage way, with a 60 limit, lots of curves, and not wonderful lighting. Anyways, I look
down to turn the CD up, look up and find that some stupid german woman had run out of fuel in her old 626 Mazda, and just parked in the RIGHT hand
lane, and stayed sitting in the car. At any rate, I jump on the skids, lock up the wheels and career straight up the back of her at around about 40
clicks I think (based on the skid marks only being about 10m long). I hit her about 50 / 50 offset. The rear end on the mazda pushed in, the chassis
bent in the middle and the car was a total writeoff. Couldnt drive it home. She was ok, just a bruised knee.
My 67 beetle had one front guarg almost torn off, crumpled down on the left front wheel. The bonnet was pushed back about 6 inches, causing the front
three quarters to buckle, and making it impossible to open the passenger door. The spare wheel was imprinted into the fuel tank. The fuel tank was
basically squashed about 6 inches, the top buckling up and the front becoming flat, with the imprint of a 15" rim in it !!. The tank didnt leak a
drop, and we actually used the fuel from that tank to start the new motor when we rebuilt the chassis into a baja. The tank had deformed incredibly -
like i said, 6" is a lot, and didnt spill one drop of fuel.
I bent the steering wheel (cheep aftermarket sports one) with my hands, so had sore wrists for a while. The worst that happened to me was whiplash. I
had highback seats and lap sash seat belts, but they werent inertia reel belts. My back still has tender spots from time to time, but thats only
because I never got around to physio properly.
Oh yeah, and the subwoofer box flew out from behind the back seat and put a big dent in the roof. Just lucky it wasnt my head !!
The other one I am thinking of, you can find on the superbeetles only website, look for plumbugracer's crash. Basically he hit a stationary car
on a racetrack (it was in a smoke cloud) in a 72 S bug racer at about 90mph. He suffered a few serious injuries - broken wrists, ribs and facial
injuries where his belts stretched and he hit the windscreen - but he is fine now as I understand.
I believe that beetles, safety wise, are actually pretty good when compared to other cars of their vintage.
Kombis I'm not convinced.
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:50 AM |
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thats good to hear u made it out ok.
I was thinking would beetle steering wheels bend in a collision and secondly would the windscreen pop out if ur head hit it as windows in bugs with
new rubbers are easy to pop out
Its good to know about these things I also heard kombis are really safe too:bounce
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VWFOOL
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 11:35 AM |
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vws in accidents
ive often pondered this as im sure we all hav, and im glad u asked the question costa as i was too scared to.
everyone tells me the tank will explode if hit in the front, and its a scary thought...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One man's junk...
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franko
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 11:37 AM |
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yea, have same safety cocerns in my bus but have come to terms with it because:-
(comparing to v6 commodore ive driven)
1.i dont drink and drive at all in the kombi because i like to concentrate on the engine sounds,revs and general well being of the car.as opposed to
point and shoot style commodore which requires zero concentration.
2.SPEED the kombi does not accelerate fast enough to get into a dodgey situation before you even know it unlike the commodore which is always trying
to get away on you.($600 worth of speeding fines/10000K)
3.driving defensively.as some one else said, be aware of everyone else.because the kombi is a bit slow, i try to drive with others in mind,that is
letting people in, letting them pass when safe etc.in the commodore its every driver for themselves and look out if youre in my way!!
i reckon these things together make it alot safer for me to drive the kombi anyday!!
if its a kombi and its going too slow, just relax its having a go!
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XXX-1.8T
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 11:45 AM |
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i too drive defensively, i try to keep a good distance in dry and wet between me and the vehicle as drums are a little differnt to the discs in the
Audi .
Also fire extinguisher i carry all the time just in case but i think the the fuel tank at the front is safe as its made of thick metal
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Cam
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 11:51 AM |
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VW's do NOT catch fire in front end crashes. The spare tire, bulkead and even fuel tank act as accident support. German car companys have been
doing crash testing (incl VW) since stepping off the back of WWII. You can even find photos of splits being run down embankments into offset walls and
ovals on tracks with rockets strapped to the back.
Why in all of this it took them to '68 to make a collapseable column is beyond me tho :jesus
The only reason why a beetle would catch on fire in a frontal collison. Is if your fuel line is'nt long enough and your accident is severe enough
to pop up the tank (which some offset collusions do do, I believe part of the design as well?) But if you have'nt got a collapsable column or
highback seats you're considerably cutting down your chances of survival or lack of serious injury anyway.
If you're interested in increasing side on collision resistance. Look at having the base of your A and B pillars strengthened. I've seen a
couple of 6V beetles (rust free at that) with the base of the A pillar sheered off after being hit by a large vehicle.
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Cam
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 11:53 AM |
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OH! And if you want VW accident testimonals, talk to Richard who owns Herbie about his 100MPH flip at the thunderdome Go Volksies! Just not swingaxle when the springplates bend out under hard cornering it's likely to end in :cry and upside down ones at
that.
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scooter
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 12:03 PM |
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Ive been hit by a car twice riding my pushbike, last time through the windscreen, was exciting just like the movies. You would think that would put me
off.... no way i just love riding my bike.
I also own a motorbike, an apparently lethal Bus and a sensible air bagged commodore.
The moral of the story. Relax enjoy life and watch out for all the other nutters !!!
Cheers
Scoots
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Cam
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 01:20 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by scooter
The moral of the story. Relax enjoy life and watch out for all the other nutters !!!
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Amen to that, dude :thumb
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HotRodMatt
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 03:26 PM |
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The sister of a friend of mine spun her super into a telegraph pole at high speed after avoiding a wandering truck.
The pics below tell the story... she got out of the car with only bruising and the shifter in her hand.
Notice the engine which was torn out of the car!
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Rota_Motor
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 05:08 PM |
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hey guys, this is danielle not ryan.
i dont know if anyone heard about this.
in adelaide a few years ago my highschool principals daughter was involved in a beetle roll over on the beach, was a convertable as well. there were
others in the car as well and i dont know how they faired but her daughter died.
from memory i think it was a soft patch in the sand that caused the roll over and i dont think they had there seatbelts on.
so there is a hint or 2 if on the beach take it easy and just wear your seatbelt. |
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Menangler
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 08:03 PM |
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I saw a chop top beetle that ran into the rear of another car, the dash folded down onto the driver and passengers knees.
My wife took a 35km/h rail way crossing at 60 MPH in an old '67 beetle, needless to say it didn't make it around, it swapped ends and hit a
solid steel barrier, the drivers seat came out of its runners, (seat belts don't work when the seat is flying around) she ended up in the back
seat. The engine and gearbox were pushed 6 inches forward, but she walked away with out a scratch.
And I had roll over in a 1500 Beetle, the worst thing was fighting with all the floor mats, and the dirt that came off the floor, I was left hanging
upside down by the seatbelt, of cause I clicked it and hit the roof with my head and cricked my neck. The car was fine, a bit wrinkled, no windows
broke, we pushed it back onto its wheels, topped up the engine oil and drove it home.
FAHRVERGNUGEN;
Description of a pleasurable sensation,
Experienced when a car and it's driver are in mutual harmony, A unique driving experience, Pleasure, Satisfaction,
A feeling experienced by Volkswagen Drivers.
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type82e
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 08:44 PM |
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I was late for work one morning in the rain doing about 80 in a 60 zone and lost it around a bend jumped a rock wall and ended up in a small tree.
it bent the rear axle and pushed in the front guard we put a new axle tube and axle in it and another guarda d she was right again
marcel
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56astro
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:00 PM |
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Beetle fuel tanks catching fire ..............
The only cars I've seen catch fire after a prang are the ones in the Hollywood movies. With all the MVAs I've been to at work I have yet to
see a car catch fire as a result. Fuel cells self-exploding after a prang - it's a fallacy (unless fuel is ignited by an ignition source).
VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa
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Grunk
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:22 PM |
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Judging by what Dave says and my own experience (in earlier post) I'm convinced that the VW reputation for catching fire in a prang is undeserved
and protection within the cab seems reasonably OK - BUT if you're pushing it (hooning hmmmm?) and the rear end lets go, it really lets go.......
:o
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Cam
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 09:31 PM |
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Yeah, top chops are bad news unfortunately :cry
There was a late night emergency reality TV show on, based out of an LA hospital. They went live to a freeway on an elevated freeway. A beetles
accelerator had jammed open on a bend and jumped a guard rail. The rescue crew were absailed down. It was a '68 1500 and none of the 4 occupents
were wearing belts. Stupid US laws One rear seat passenger died when
she came out of the rear side window. But the others were fine, two only needed a short stay in hospital. Unfortunately the emotional damage was far
worse . The rounded structure of the the heater channels, pillars and roof
runners make for great strength if things go pear shaped.
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modulus
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| posted on December 23rd, 2003 at 10:24 PM |
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More food for thought
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety data provides an interesting insight into swing-axle vs. multi-joint rear ends; the URL
is
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/807489.html
and a summary of one of the conclusions is:
| Quote: |
Before 1969, the Volkswagen Beetle with the swing axle suspension had an even higher rollover rate than would be expected for a car of its size.
Redesign of the suspension and wheels during model years 1967-69 brought the rollover rate down to the expected level, saving 280 lives per year.
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Of course, the "280 lives/year" needs to be seen in the light of non-compulsory safety belt usage.
The other interesting observation is the "accelerator had jammed open" quoted by Cam. I'm not sure if it's up-to-date but the
minimal CAMS regulations for any sort of semi-serious motor sport such as sprints, club-trials etc. used to include some interesting items [mynotes]:
- a blue triangle to mark the battery location [1]
- two independent means of holding the bonnet down [2]
- metal tyre valve caps [3]
- chrome-plated wheels specifically forbidden [4] and
- two independent throttle return spring arrangements [5].
[1] all the better to stop your electric fuel pump
[2] obvious, but who has it on their beetle?
[3] prevents rapid pressure loss from valve failure- plastic caps just blow off
[4] chrome-plating seriously weakens wheels
[5] stuck throttle are common enough for this standing regulation
What's good for club racing is probably also good for street cars; some of this stuff can be done in 5 minutes for 50 cents.
hth
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