SportWagen on its Roof

[Spoiled]

what happened to your airbags????

Sipn- I'm no expert, but if I was in an accident that caused enough force to roll my vehicle so that it landed on its' roof, and not one of my airbags deployed....I'd contact NHTSA. I'd also copy that with an email and pics to VWOA.
I once witnessed a kid (maybe 8-10 yrs. old) ram a grocery cart into the side of his mothers Subaru Forester in the stores parking lot, the side-impact airbag deployed. The cart put a dent in the door, but barely.
FWIW.

 

[HaveBulldogWillTravel]

Sipn- I'm no expert, but if I was in an accident that caused enough force to roll my vehicle so that it landed on its' roof, and not one of my airbags deployed....I'd contact NHTSA. I'd also copy that with an email and pics to VWOA.

Airbags only deploy when enough force is applied to one or more sensors. Obviously, not enough force in the right spot to trigger a deployment. This is not uncommon and certainly not worthy of report.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Sipn- I'm no expert, but if I was in an accident that caused enough force to roll my vehicle so that it landed on its' roof, and not one of my airbags deployed....I'd contact NHTSA. I'd also copy that with an email and pics to VWOA.
I once witnessed a kid (maybe 8-10 yrs. old) ram a grocery cart into the side of his mothers Subaru Forester in the stores parking lot, the side-impact airbag deployed. The cart put a dent in the door, but barely.
FWIW.

I would defiantly be inclined to report the Subi to the NTSB as airbags deploying when the should not is extremely dangerous and could cause an accident.

In the pictures of the JSW, I saw virtually no damage to front or sides of the car so I would assume there was not enough force to the front or sides to deploy the airbags. The OP came out of it without even a scratch so most likely, the airbags would have not done anything to protect the driver. I'd say they "worked" as designed.

 

[GoFaster]

Sipn- I'm no expert, but if I was in an accident that caused enough force to roll my vehicle so that it landed on its' roof, and not one of my airbags deployed....I'd contact NHTSA. I'd also copy that with an email and pics to VWOA.

VWoA will correctly respond that the car did exactly as it was designed to do.

There was not a deceleration in any of the directions that the airbag system is designed to protect against (frontal, side) which was severe enough to warrant deploying the airbags.

Evidence: the driver was substantially uninjured. (and that is good to hear)

Modern "smart" airbag systems intentionally DON'T deploy unless the impact is severe enough to warrant their use. They take into account impact severity and direction, and they take into account which seating positions in the car are occupied and how much the occupants weigh, and they take into account whether the occupants are wearing their seat belts.

It works better this way. Think about a situation where a vehicle takes a minor hit and then gets deflected and takes a major hit. If the airbags deploy at the slightest provocation - and they only work once! - then they will deploy uselessly at the initial minor it and be unable to provide any protection in the subsequent major impact. If the deployment is delayed until an impact occurs in which they are actually needed, the end result is a more favorable outcome.

This, by the way, is another reason to wear your seat belt. Airbags can do very little to prevent people from bouncing everywhere inside the vehicle in a rollover situation or possibly being ejected.

 

[SipNFuel]

Hi all, I'm back to add a couple of comments. Thanks again for all the kind words.

First, apparently I did not walk away unscathed after all. After a couple days of persistent headache I was diagnosed with a concussion. I don't remember hitting my head, and likely it was just from my brain bouncing around in my skull. I suppose no amount of safety in a vehicle (aside from automatic bad driver avoidance) can prevent that.

Secondly, yes it was totalled due to unforeseen engine damage from running while upside down. In the end, my payoff amount doesn't really matter as it all goes to the bank and GAP covers the rest (so glad I bought the GAP coverage). The insurance laws really favor the insurance companies...go figure. If someone had asked me Monday morning if I would give them my car and let them take over the payments...I would have said Hell NO. But that is essentially what happens.

Third, and sadly, I'm not going to be able to get into another TDI at this moment. Had to get something in a hurry to resume my business...and within a new (lower) price range. I am quite happy with my choice, a 2008 Audi A3 2.0T FSI. Yes, it was cheaper than any 2009 or 2010 Sportwagon TDI I could find...and it included the certified warranty and Audi Care. Perhaps a TDI swap is in its distant future.

 

[ninedee_golf_tdi]

Just curious as to what the buy back might have been. If you turned it off quickly, then how did it get damaged to the point of being as bad as it apparently is ?

 

[TouringMan]

I'll take the wheels!

DANG! Ya beat me to it...

Seriously, the fact that you are OK is what is really important!

 

[SipNFuel]

The buyback, per the adjuster, is the highest of three quotes from salvage dealers. In Virginia, only the owner could buy it back, and I didn't want to take any chance so I didn't pursue. I think the engine damage was more of a concern rather than a fact. The insurance company didn't want to take the chance that they would get into more repairs than the payoff amount.

 

[ashutoshsm]

WOW!

Glad to hear you're fine, relieved the JSW holds up that well, Panoramic Sunroof discussion notwithstanding. Be glad yours isn't a 2011 like mine - finding one without the roof was comparable, but more difficult, than finding a 6-legged unicorn-leopard hybrid. I gave up!

Wish you well with the CPO A3 - it was one of my top alternate choices.

If I'm ever in your neck of the woods (not unlikely!), I'll buy you a beer (or a latte!), and listen to your story in person

 

[Cooper]

I had a 2010 without a sunroof.

I've grown tired of drying out the floors of VWs.

There was an issue, and the dealer put me in a new car. It took a little while to find a 2011 for me, as I didn't want a sunroof.

 

[oilhammer]

.

I've grown tired of drying out the floors of VWs.

.

Why? Because it took more time to just keep the drains clean? Oh wait, it actually takes LESS time.

Owned Volkswagens with sunroofs for 20+ years, even some from the '70s, never a wet floor for me! I clean the gutters on my house, too.

 

[IMAAaron]

it was totalled due to unforeseen engine damage from running while upside down.

I'm especially curious about this for my own selfish reasons, but am curious about the wheels too - I assume they belong to the scrapyard now?

I'm really sorry about the concussion but the ubiquitous "things could be a whole lot worse" may be in order.

 

[Scratcher]

Wow, glad you're ok!

For your car, deal with your own insurance and not directly with the other party's. Your insurance will assume ownership of the car once they pay you off on it, if it's declared a total loss, which I assume is funded by the other party's insurance. Then they'll sell the car to some body shop or junk yard. So you may be pleasantly surprised at what they offer you for it, again if it's declared a total loss. You could prepare yourself for negotiations on the payoff by collecting for sale adds for nearby similar model/year, but they're going to do that anyway and show you what they find.

As far as recovering other expenses incurred as a result of this incident, I'd guess you need to find a good lawyer.

Good luck!

Maybe different insurers do things differently but my sons car was totaled a couple of months ago and we were allowed to take the car after they settled. We actually got more than we payed for the car which helped cover the cost of the repair. The car is still insured by the same company and is back on the road none the worse for its escapades at the hands of a now very reformed young driver

 

[l3it3r]

Shame to see those wheels go to waste

Glad you're mostly ok, a concussion sucks for sure though!

 

[smosh]

Maybe different insurers do things differently but my sons car was totaled a couple of months ago and we were allowed to take the car after they settled. We actually got more than we payed for the car which helped cover the cost of the repair. The car is still insured by the same company and is back on the road none the worse for its escapades at the hands of a now very reformed young driver

sounds like it's worked out OK for you guys, but a totalled vehicle usually has a 'salvage' title and even fully repaired is generally worth much, much, much less than similar with a clean title.

(looking through 'totalled' threads while I await the insurance company's verdict on my damaged Golf...)