Re: [US bumpers=safer! was Re: US bumpers=ugly ]

[Jim Jarrett <jarrett@rpa.net>]

At 7:34 PM -0400 9/21/01, Cathy Boyko wrote:
>
>Not that my opinion is wanted...If you live in the land of salt, those innards
>of the NA bumpers are one solid welded mass of rust, no matter how good they
>look outside, so of no additional help in an accident. The extra weight is
>another big MINUS IMHO.


Let me put a different spin on this:

My Rabbit convertible has Euro bumpers.  They look cool as hell, they 
snug in the lines of the car just like Scirocco Euros do.

They are also mere decoration.

In April, just after a whole gang of listers left here after helping 
me install my cams, I went to put the good wheels on it.  Finished 
that, kicked the board chocking the front wheels out of the way, and 
went to put it away.  I had forgotten to set the e-brake or put the 
car in gear.

The car rolled about 5 feet forward and smacked into the doorframe of 
the garage right on the support.  The car was moving MAYBE a couple 
of feet a second.

The bumper twisted, shoved back, caused the BBS body kit to separate 
from the body, and smashed the signal light.  This is barely moving, 
and it did all that damage.  If I ever, God forbid, get into a more 
serious accident, the car is toast.  These fenders will do NOTHING to 
protect the car.  The frame is gonna twist, it's gonna take the full 
brunt of the impact.  The bumpers I pulled off while much heavier, at 
least had pneumatic shocks that would have eaten that small amount of 
force just fine.

So I discount any claims of extra weight or no change in safety.  If 
you put Euros on, you are doing it for the looks, and taking on the 
risk and responsibility of what happens if you do get into an 
accident.  Realize that.  I'm not saying don't do it, they DO look so 
much better, but you do run more of a risk of doing damage to your 
car that may not be repairable.


/===============================================================\
| Jim Jarrett,Rochester NY      '93 Passat GLX, '84 Scirocco    |
| mailto:jarrett@rpa.net         '81 Rabbit Convertible 16v     |
|                                                               |
|    Any problem can be solved with the proper application of   |
|   Force, Heat, Chemicals, or Money.                           |
\===============================================================/



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