[T3] Questions on Other Cars....

[bobsnotch at aol.com]

I have to agree with Dave, on the safety devices and such. During the winter months, I drive a 99 Honda Accord with a 5 speed. While it does sit lower than I like, it's not too bad getting in and out of. It does have dual air bags, and a decent amount of room inside. Yes, it's a bigger car than my VW is, but then so is my son's 98 Civic. His 08 Civic is almost as big as my Accord. However, I use the Honda more like a lot of people do, in that it's just a tool to get from point A to point B and back. It has scratches in the paint, dents and other stuff (rust) in the body, but then I only paid 500 for it. Yeah, the winter tires I put on it cost almost that much, but are needed in a state that gets snow and ice in the winter. It's a winter car. I bought it to keep my VW out of the salt. My 99 did come with "wheel covers" though, not alloy wheels like it has now. I am however thinking about going back to the stock wheels, as I have them in the shed.
As for glass lenses on head lights, I agree with you. I've seen enough vehicles with fogged lenses that I often wonder how much they can see with them on.

Bob


-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Hall <dave at hallvw.clara.co.uk>
To: type3 <type3 at vwtype3.org>
Sent: Fri, Feb 15, 2019 7:09 am
Subject: Re: [T3] Questions on Other Cars....

You can't ignore the safety improvements that have taken place, with crumple zones to absorb impacts, though I agree with the comments on added complication of radio operation.

The sloping fronts are a feature of fuel-saving aerodynamic design, as well as less dangerous to pedestrians if they are hit.
Air-con, fitted almost universally these days, reduces the need for vent-wing windows.

Non-glass lenses speak for themselves, and ride-heights are another consequence of reduction of drag.

I don't know why the colours have to be drab - but that's gradually changing, too.  The Jetta we hired for the last invasion was a beautiful bright metallic Pacific blue and returned 40 mp(us)g on the highway on gas, about what our old '99 diesel Jetta wagon still gives on a motorway.  The modern TSi engines are good performers, and married to the DSG autobox in our Polo and Golf SV are serving us well as we move into old age!  Why don't more people have autotrans in the UK?  

So, I'm liking our new cars, but not giving up on the old ones yet.  My (project) '59 Beetle turned 60 yesterday.  After owning it most of its life, I hope I can last long enough to finish it and drive it again! 

So drive your 40-year old cars carefully and defensively, so you never need to rely on their less-modern safety features.

Dave
UK VW Type 3&4 Club

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org <type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org> On Behalf Of J. Jonik
Sent: 15 February 2019 04:19
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: [T3] Questions on Other Cars....

What's with the New Cars?  (Question from an over-40 year Squareback owner.)
- No easy radio turn dials so you don't have to take eyes off the road.- No wing vents, so you don't blow hats off those in back seat to get some air....or vent cig smoke.
-  Many newer cars slope down in front, as if ready to dig into an embankment.- No "sacrifice" bumpers, easier and cheaper to replace/repair than the whole front or rear end.- No front bench seats. (Not that T-3s have them.)
- No glass headlight lenses...which don't cloud up like the new designer-shaped plastic versions.- Many are so low to the ground that one couldn't get over a curb, steep driveway, or bump in a lawn.- No hubcaps...replaced by "spoked" stylish, , silvery, expensive wheel rims.- No colors to speak of.  Most cars are colorless gray, white, black, "silver", or dull reds, greens, etc.- No proper size spare tires to just change to if needed.- And....most cars are oversize, taking up parking space, hard to find parking, and impossible to push out of snowdrifts, etc.
These are not "volks" (people-friendy, people-fixable) 'wagens".    
 
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