Re: Rental Car Woes

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a note dated 5/20/97 Phil Payne writes:

<<We have the suburban assault vehicle plague here, too>>

Speaking of that plague-it has been in the news of late that cars weighing
less than 3000 pounds are far less safe these days because of so many
suburban assault vehicles on the road. Since my current q of choice is a
little (<3000#) 4kq I was a bit worried since I do cart my kids around on
road trips in it. OTOH, My first 4kq got hit real hard when my ex-wife made a
left turn in front of someone doing 50+ in a 25 zone. The car took a direct
hit in the rear passenger side door (requiring major surgery after which the
car was sadly never really the same.) The hit was hard enough that the car
was launched about 20 feet yet the damage to the structure was minimal (as
far as back seat passenger safety.) My 86 GT was totaled by a "friend" who
was borrowing it and decided to go street racing with a buddy in a adnoh
(idiot.) It was pretty trashed but he walked away (and a mechanic buddy
bought the salvage and restored it.) What I'm saying is that in spite of
their small size and weight, smaller Audis are damm safe cars!!!! I still
worry though when I see 2.5 ton 'burban projectiles darting around as if they
were appliance-like small cars. Here in Santa Cruz CA there are even "tuned"
ones being done by a local tuner-frightening!!! While I have nothing against
a SUV in the appropriate application, I do think there are better
alternatives for the masses and those of us who choose to drive smaller cars
would be safer! SUV rant mode off...and sorry about the waste of BW.

Mike Veglia
85 4ksq (dodging darting SUV's as best as it can!)