TheSamba.com :: View topic - The big Vanagon failures, wrecks and fires thread!

Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:47 pm

The "community" here is something I think can benefit all, especially those who have been involved in a vanagon related loss. While it pains me to hears about those serious crashes/blunders/thefts etc., it also gives myself and others a chance to make a difference both to our future and to those that have experience the loss. Who better to help out in those scenarios? Each one of us thinks all too often about what we would do when some incident takes place, tossing away years and hundreds of hours of work, thousands of dollars and our close Vanagon friend.

Being a father of 3, I spend a lot of time reviewing "incidents" to ensure I have done all I can to keep myself, my family and our Vanagon safe. I get the majority of my info from the Samba.

I am not down with a bummer thread, but I think the one being proposed is a powerful teaching tool, covering the causes, effects and ramifications of the different perils of the Vanagon. Look for opportunities to make you and your Vanagon stronger. Learn from the most painful experiences others have been through, and don't let their knowledge and lessons go to waste. Listen to those in the community who choose to share and let them know you appreciate them sharing, and empathize with their feelings. I for one have so much to continue to learn about my Van. My wife finally appreciates the Samba as well (miraculous) because the wealth of information that is consistently helpful and improves van ownership experience. This community is more than brag stories and simplified helpful tips people. The are friendships being made constantly, new trips forming, people helping strangers with mechanical issues, great products being created and sold. Some stories about hard lessons learned...that is what we do around here!

No disrespect to previous posters.

Thu Nov 18, 2010 4:26 pm

joetiger wrote: I had a '79 Rabbit, yellow with black interior, 5-speed, rare and perfect. Sold it to a guy and less than a year later saw it in a u-pull-it-yard. The front end was completely smashed and it was stripped of everything of value. I only recognized it by a couple of cracks in the dash and the flat-black rear hatch decal around the window. I almost threw up.

Okay! Back to Happy Vanagon Threads!

I got one better. I JUST sold my Dodge Neon two months ago. This baby had all kinds of go-fast gear in it, and I had enjoyed driving it in Germany for the last two years. The guy I sold it to has already killed it. Beyond repair. I think of the time and money I put into it. You were right- I almost threw up. The kicker is this- he tried to get me to fix it!

Anyway, happy times with Domo are straight ahead! I just replaced the waterpump, so he should stop pissing cooland. This thing looked very nasty and very original!

Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:24 pm

I can't believe this thread took 2 pages to get to the first picture past the original poster...

I'm in the camp of "you learn from the mistakes, not the successes" and "forewarned is forearmed"

I ain't got much, but do wonder why this spot seems to be a magnet for idiots in the parking lots...

Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:31 pm

Quote: I can't believe this thread took 2 pages to get to the first picture past the original poster...

Yeah, I was about to say ... someone post something already!

Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:55 pm

82WestyMan wrote: I can't believe this thread took 2 pages to get to the first picture past the original poster...

I'm in the camp of "you learn from the mistakes, not the successes" and "forewarned is forearmed"

I ain't got much, but do wonder why this spot seems to be a magnet for idiots in the parking lots...

Oooooooh, the Humannnityy

your hubcap made me cry like a little girl

:P

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:13 pm

PNWesty wrote: Quote: I can't believe this thread took 2 pages to get to the first picture past the original poster...

Yeah, I was about to say ... someone post something already!

Fine. Here.

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=...CH_RESULTS

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:15 pm

Here's one. Vanagon fared way better than the deer. Luckily he was a small fellow.

He took out the grill, bent the bumper and the sheet metal below the grill and deposited a golf ball size/shaped turd on the front of the luggage rack. It stuck there for two days until I could get home from my camping trip.

BTW, that hot looking blue Syncro Westy in the background might be up for sale soon. :wink:

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:18 pm

Surely the appropriate sized bumper of the blue syncro should have been used for the deer hunting expedition. :shock:

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:21 pm

Holy crap, levi. Be careful what you ask for, huh?

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:22 pm

syncrodoka wrote: Surely the appropriate sized bumper of the blue syncro should have been used for the deer hunting. :shock:

Yeah, I took a knife to a gun fight. :lol:

Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:23 pm

There are some personalities that like to look at 'broken cars' and others that don't, each with their own noble reasons.

Since we have a nice forum with individual threads I say for those who are interested then let er rip ... uh ... I mean post 'em up. Those who aren't like me can simply move on to other threads.

There's no mountain to be made out of this molehill.

Enjoy.

Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:10 pm

I don't have any pics, but I would love to see some. And as with every other thread on here; DON'T open it if you don't want to!jeez.

Remember; One has the right to be offended. But that right does not extend to silencing those who offend you.

Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:22 pm

FNGRUVN wrote: syncrodoka wrote: Surely the appropriate sized bumper of the blue syncro should have been used for the deer hunting. :shock:

Yeah, I took a knife to a gun fight. :lol:

Did you see James Coburn in The Magnificent Seven.... :shock:

Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:32 pm

I've posted these before, but if we're showing carnage....

This is from a U-pull-it yard a few years back, a later-model Westy that looked like it had previously been in pristine condition. It smelled really, really bad in there.

Here's a nice one from South Africa:

The classic Volvo Decapitation from Vanagon.com:

Tree crash in Seattle (www.wikimedia.org)

Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:00 pm

The very last T3 ever made, in S. Africa, after a car-carrier rolled over carrying the VW museum's display cars back from a show.

Fri Nov 19, 2010 1:09 am

we have specific carnage threads on the Jeep forums that are ALWAYS fun!

I guess maybe the syncro guys will understand....

Fri Nov 19, 2010 1:27 am

Syncroincity wrote:

The very last T3 ever made, in S. Africa, after a car-carrier rolled over carrying the VW museum's display cars back from a show.

I can only hope the driver was fired, shot, publicly humilliated, ect.....

Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:47 am

82WestyMan wrote: I ain't got much, but do wonder why this spot seems to be a magnet for idiots in the parking lots...

It's my understanding that the damage shown is almost always done by the driver of the vanagon. Most (non-vanagon) peolpe dont realize that you (in the most literal way) need to swing out farther than you do in a normal car, since you are essentially where the hood ornament would be on a normal car (forward of the front wheels). When you turn in when you (the driver) are in the same position as you would be when turning in in a normal car the rear of the van will take a tighter line than expected since the front of the van is barely clear of what ever you are turning around. Think of it this way if it were a normal car you would be driving from where the middle seat is.

Also I the one time I let my (ex)girlfriend drive my van she managed to tag a telephone pole in that very spot, I just let her drive around my block,and I was in the van. I started to say something but it was too late. It did not contribute to her being an ex though, at least not consciously.

Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:36 am

I forget when and where I originally got these pictures but remember these vans are not ideal race cars out of the box:

Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:48 am

This has been around the block but it's a classic: