Should I worry about safety?

mmmcmax · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject: Should I worry about safety?

Hi All. I'm new. Thinking about buying a 1970 microbus...However my girl and my parents are worried about safety...probably not for me but for my 7 month baby. I'm not intending to go hell for leather on the road but can the 1970 take a knock or two...or will it crumble (the one i'm looking at looks fairly solid)!

Cheers

VWBusrepairman · Samba Member Joined: July 06, 2004 Posts: 4726

when it's your time to go, no vehicle will save you. Live a little and get the bus and make sure the infant is restrained correctly and hope for the best. Those child seats are affective in saving children.

Get the bus and welcome aboard!

jtauxe · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

We've had long and contentious discussions about this in the past. Use search to find them.

My personal opinion is that buses ain't safe. If you want safe, get your parents to help you buy a nice new minivan with airbags and everything. Then get a bus for fun.
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mmmcmax · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject:

parents buying me stuff...I wish.

Anyway...found probably the most scary discussion about crashing...don't read if you want to keep driving. I am beginning to feel very very scared and put off (pussy i hear you cry)

this is the link

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54606

60's Burnout · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject:

Buy a motorbike and ride that. Then they won't be bitching about the bus. Live at Leeds? How far away?

Glenn · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

A 70 is a Bay... not a Micro Bus.

It's safe until you get into an accident, so don't get into one and you'll be OK.
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busdaddy · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject:

Funny someone should bring up motorcycles, You have to drive a bus like it's a bike (like you are invisible to other motorists) No bus is completely safe no matter what year, the 70 has the bonus frame rails under the front so it's a little more solid than an earlier one but the bottom line is you must drive it defensively, be aware of the road and assume everyone is going to try to hit you and your odds will improve dramatically.

You could get T boned by a monster suv in a new minivan and the outcome wouldn't be much different, why not drive the cool vehicle.

Get the bus, how can you deny your kid the opportunity of being dropped off at school in the coolest ride in the lot. Give my kids the choice and it's the bus any day.

And think of the coin you'll save on speeding tickets.
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fusername · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

I could be very wrong, but i don't belive the reinforcement came in untill 73, with the introduction of Y braceing. Basicly the trick to surving in a bus is DONT GET HIT HEAD ON. you're much better off rolling off the road and into the trees on your side than hitting the car infront of you head on. I do belive amskeptic put it quite succinctly when he said
"These cars will do the glancing blow-triple rollover-backwards through the hedge-up the embankment-down the ditch-collect a few mailboxes-take out the fence type crash with aplomb.
Anything But Head-On. "
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noino1966 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

is there any major improvements between the last of the bays and the early (say 71) bay...

Bart Dunn · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

In this thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103567
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noino1966 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject:

does anyone want to swap a 71...for a post 73?

60's Burnout · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

busdaddy · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:

After having spent WAY too long welding under a 70 and having looked at countless donors I can say for sure that the frame rails have an added Y that goes out to each door post, 69 and earlier don't. 73+ have the added bumper like structure welded to the front behind the bumper but underneath they are the same.
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noino1966 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

mmmcmax · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:57 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the tips and links guys...just woken up in the UK and seen all your comments.

So the 70 Deluxe Micro has this Y frame underneath??

I was originally going to get the bus lowered as part of the deal...is this a bad idea???

Tylinol · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:58 am Post subject:

VWBusrepairman · Samba Member Joined: July 06, 2004 Posts: 4726

mmmcmax · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:24 am Post subject:

I'm not talking real low...just one spline at the back and an adjustable bar up front.

After reading all the safety stuff you feel like never leaving the house...damn it I'm a snowboard that blast down reds at full pelt...no airbags or safty cages for me there!

Gonna call the bloke up this afternoon and put my deposit down!

Its a 1970 deluxe bay window microbus - 7 seats - anyone got anything bad to say???

noino1966 · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

mmmcmax · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:48 am Post subject:

only talcum powder. The French Alps are only a couple of hours away...mind you the snow is the worst its been for years.

1970 deluxe bay micro bus - anyone got comments?


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