Both of these topics have me interested.  I have an '04 Element and an 83.5
Westy. Last weekend my whole family was in the element and we came really
close to being broadsided at a light at 50 mph. The other driver never saw
the red light.  I'm still getting chills thinking about what would have
happened if we were hit in the Element.  I was thinking maybe we would have
fared better in the Vanagon, I don't know.  My question is though, are the
newer (1986+) Vanagons safer than the 80-85's?

Thanks,
Bryan

(Feel free to cc me, I'm in digest mode...)