From: utzoo!decvax!genrad!linus!allegra!eagle!harpo!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!uw-june!emma
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.misc
Title: Re: Corvair advice
Article-I.D.: uw-june.450
Posted: Wed May 11 09:38:24 1983
Received: Sat May 14 00:53:52 1983
References: <1055@dvamc.UUCP>

Relay-Version:version B 3/9/83; site harpo.UUCP
Posting-Version:version B 2.10 5/3/83; site uw-june
Message-ID:<450@uw-june>
Date:Wed, 11-May-83 09:38:24 EDT
Organization:U. Washington, Computer Sci

The early Corvairs used a swing-axle rear suspension, which was prone
to lifting in corners.  This was very similar to the Volkswagen of the
time.  Later, (sorry, don't remember off hand when) they went to a
different type of suspsnsion, which corrected the matter.

The early Corvairs had a differential tire pressure recommended--higher
pressure in the back than the front.  If the tires were properly
inflated, they were perfectly safe.  Unfortunately, some jerk with
initials R. N. wanted to get some easy notoriety, and wrote an
atrocious book entitled "Unsafe at Any Speed" purporting to demonstrate
that they were dangerous, and specifically prone to rolling over.  The
mere fact the nobody else has ever been able to find any statistical
evidence that they were any less stable than other small cars of the
day did not deter him, and also did not keep sales from collapsing.

Other comments--you 102,000 miles in a '65 high mileage?  What do you
want?  In 18 years, 300,000 would be slightly above average!  Also, the
car has done its depreciating.  Don't expect the owner to want to take
a loss on a year's use.  One question I would have is why he wants to
sell after only a year, though.
-Joe P.