Carnage- or is it vanage?

[mikemtnbike]

You were warned.

On Sunday 12/26/21 at 10am, an uninsured driver ran a red light and hit me, and Frankie, dead-on.

Miraculously, I was mostly physically ok at the time and have no known issues now except maybe some mild upper back pain. I'm super aware that things pop-up later and am being patient with that side of insurance.

Emotional trauma? Lots of that, but anyway...

Here's another picture that shows the damage from a different angle.

Obviously, she's totaled. The back corner took a good smack too when the Lincoln spun around with escaping inertia. The other guy was unhurt at the scene, by the way. He was also less than honest, thank goodness for witnesses.

Again,anyway...

Make sure you have adequate uninsured coverage!

The whole process has been really difficult, but I will say that the property side of my insurance coverage eventually worked out well (although no sum truly replaces the loss).

Here's Frankie taking the sad sad ride to CoPart last weekend.

The van has a fully rebuilt 2.1 with about 8k on it, an automatic rebuilt about 15k ago, Schwenk springs, stainless pipes, three good CLKs and who knows maybe the driver's front can be repaired, a top, and lots, lots more. I hope somebody from here sees it on auction and buys it.

This has, as noted above, been rough emotionally for my wife and I. Our van has brought us so much joy over the past 8 years of ownership, we had big dreams for the future, and Frankie had been running like a champ for a long while. Even the motor rebuild was just because a spark plug hole stripped and I said f it all in. Check out my gallery to get an idea of things we've done and places we've been- and that's just a sampling.

We're super fortunate in other ways, though, and before I had a clue what was really going on with insurance, we went ahead and bought this.

What the heck is that?

It's a pretty low mileage, mostly clean 1995 Eurovan Camper. The price was fair, the distance was do-able without flying, and the main drawback to the vanagon for us has always been Kassi (my wife) really does not like the seating position on the highway. Cab forward and high in the air does not work for her once speeds and traffic volume go up. She feels MUCH safer in the Euro and it's super fun to drive. It was 300 miles home through the Appalachians and I was pulling 70mph at half-throttle over some pretty good grades, even with the 5-cylinder. I can't wait to continue our dreams in a new escape pod.

It's not perfect, at all, and I plan to try and bring some life to the Eurovan forum, if you ever visit there. Check it out soon for an exciting pictorial of removing an entire camping interior woo-hoo!

I'd like to take this moment to express my great appreciation for this forum. It is one of the best places on the internet. Simple, mostly kind, and a bottomless well of knowledge, thesamba Vanagon forum has also enabled me to become a much better mechanic which has translated to greatly increased handiness and basic problem-solving skills overall.

Simply, I still hope to meet many of you in real life someday and I will continue lurking and posting here.

Here's three photos I saw in my gallery that I wanted to post because they made me happysad.

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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[sanchius]

Ouch, every Vanagon owners nightmare.
Dashcam, dashcam, dashcam, I can't say it enough.

So glad to hear you feel OK, I thought I was OK too, but I wasn't.
Looking at the depth of the metal intrusion, I would assume I had a non-impact concussion and start from there.

Read this: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8533968#8533968
_________________
The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - In Hoosierland (2023-now)
Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
Your gold star membership keeps this awesome list going!

[dobryan]

Ouch! So sorry.

Glad you got right back in the game.

I hope our paths cross sometime.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[bobhill8]

Wow Mike, that just sucks. Like Dobryan said, way to get back on the bike and start riding again, even if it's a different rig. Best of luck down the road. If you make it up to MA in the Euro, I've got a spot in the yard for a stopover. Take care.
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1986 Westy
1971 Squareback

[Ahwahnee]

So sorry to hear of this. We took a front hit in 2020 but thankfully were able to have it correctly repaired. They are really built to take a collision and protect the passengers.

X2 on the dash cam. I have one in all my vehicles. I'm willing to bet if an intersection collision occurs I will have been the one with the green light.

[shagginwagon83]

https://www.ashevillevanlife.com/past-events-blog/2018-asheville-van-life-rally

Mike, I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you're in great spirit.

Just purchased a dash cam/rear camera mirror for my van.
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[GoEverywhere]

Ohh man, thats the stuff of nightmares right there. At least you're ok thats the important part.

[mikemtnbike]

Thanks for the kind words all!

I don't know how to do that thing where you reply to multiple quotes, but....

Sanchius- I will get one for the Euro and my car, agreed. It would've saved a lot of hassle where my insurance was not willing to accept the police report until they interviewed witnesses themselves.

Dobryan- I still plan to come to Buses on The Canal, hopefully y'all are open-minded to short-nosed brethren.

Ahwahnee-My A pillar, B pillar, and whole front end were seriously bent. When I opened the top at home (to remove my bars), I had to use a pry bar to get it to close back-up. I really don't know how I could've salvaged this van, except maybe as the back half of a vanalong.

bobhill- thanks!

brandon- hope to see you soon, with a new toy to tour.

GoEverywhere- Every time I looked at the van in my carport, or pictures now, I am still amazed I am ok. A true testament to the strength of these vans if ever there was one.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[djkeev]

My Brother has an Eurovan Weekender.
He absolutely loves it!
He has had it for a mighty long time, 20 years or so?

Good luck with your new ride!

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[joetiger]

I'm so sorry, Mike. Glad y'all are okay.

Congrats on getting back on the horse with a EV!
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[Jake de Villiers]

Wow, that really sucks! Good to hear that you are not too damaged and are taking it well.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[VAEV1993]

So sorry! Hate to see this. Glad you are OK!
Congrats on the EV, looking forward to seeing you in the EV forum!
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1993 Weekender - Hula
2002 Golf TDI
2017 Golf Alltrack

[Abscate]

They don’t have the panache of a T3 but they are dreamy fir power and HVAC

THe T4 forum is full of wankers , though
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[4Gears4Tires]

That's really sad man. Sucks.
_________________
'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[jimf909]

Thanks for the photos and the story. I'm sorry to hear of this very unwelcome happening in your life - what a lousy thing to happen. Here's hoping all goes well with the Eurovan!
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- Jim

[xoo00oox]

https://www.copart.com/lot/33553482/salvage-1991-volkswagen-vanagon-bus-sc-spartanburg

Here is, for sale at Copart

[dabaron]

this thread sucks.

glad you are ok and it will be sad to see you go. congrats on the EV, when is Buses on the Canal?

boo.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic

[Corwyn]

I don't mean to be a vulture and I am extremely glad you walked away safely. Are you parting it out? I have been look for this wheels for years. Sorry for your loss . . .
_________________
'90 White Westy ("White Lightning")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[4Gears4Tires]