Customer Reviews

Small--on safety: The designed-in dangers of the Volkswagen

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This is a very persuasive book in which Mr. Nader is trying to get you to take every single aircooled Volkswagen off of the road forever. There are solid facts about old Volkswagen's safety shortcomings. However, some of these appear to be missing exact facts(which worked in favor of Mr. Nader) The handling characteristics seem a bit exaggerated to me. I love how he goes on and on for pages about a defective gas cap. I think it is worthwhile for an aircooled Volkswagen owner to read this. I would advise, however, to take it with a grain of salt. As I think it is one-sided in many places and maybe some factors are not explained.
Plus how can a man hate cars so much yet never have been behind the wheel of one? :)

This is the book that did for the Volkswagen what "Unsafe At Any Speed" did for the Corvair. Ralph Nader had a significant role in the creation of this book, although he is not given author credit. It is a tell-all on the safety problems inherent in the design and engineering of the VW Beetle and Transporter. It is not good news for the VW enthusiast, which I am one, but it has caused me to drive it much more safely and carefully.

First Read this book in middleschool while trying to find a car to drive. Did wind up getting a bug and yes, blew off the road. Just wanted to re-read it since I am now (25 years later) looking for another bug.

(I've red this book very long ago, and since I've red also other books by Ralph Nader on this topic, I'm not sure if the part on the Ford Pinto is in this one)

Ralph Nader has obviously been payed by Ford Motor Co.!!!!

His critics of the Ford Pinto (alibi-car!), was only a maneuver dictated by Ford, for turning away suspicions from the one who started the secret war against all rear-motored cars!

The fact is, that rear-motored (oversteering) cars are at least five times safer than the front-engined (understeering) ones! And the (original!) VW-beetle is the safest car on Earth!!

Why have almost all rear-motored cars vanished, if much safer than the front-engined counterparts? The cars producers have found out, through secret statistics, that the more accidents there are, the more cars they sell!!!! And if someone is injured or dies because of their deadly traps, "well", -tough luck-!!!!!!!!

Do you remember what Preston Tucker said about the maker of the front-engined cars?........ Well it's actually -worse-!!!!!!!!

(Now you know!)

Renato G.F. Naso