Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 20:58:26 EST
Reply-To: Skyraider0113@CS.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ron Semko <Skyraider0113@CS.COM>
Subject: Re: Wasserboxer reliability
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I've had my 1984 Vanagon for 4 years, going on 5, and I have literally put
about 100,000 miles on it (I bought it with 170,000 miles on it.)
My opinion is:
For a 16 year old vehicle I am amazed at how well it has held up. Since I've
had it I have replaced the CV boots (not the joints, just the boots), the
radiator, a couple of coolant hoses, the fuel injection hoses, and have had
the 4 speed transmission rebuilt, and cleaned all the ground connections.
I've also replaced a couple of other things like the mirrors, and the sliding
door handle, and the bumpers. I've done the capacitor fix, and replaced the
throttle body switches, and the muffler ( I need to replace the exhaust pipes
soon), and replaced the driver and passenger window gaskets.
I found a pristine interior in a 1987 wrecked Vanagon, bought it and
installed the whole interior (including the headliner and the material that
covers the metal between the side panels and the headliner) into my 1984.
And, that's about it.
I just traveled to and from Charleston, S.C. with a group of Cub Scouts, and
Boy Scouts in a caravan of 15 vehicles (mostly new "mini" vans, and SUV's). I
rolled along with them all the way averaging 65/70 miles per hour. No
overheating, or problems of any type on the 6 hour one way trip. I would
drive my Vanagon to California tomorrow if I needed to, because:
I am intimately aware of my Vehicle. I have been under, and in, and through
my whole unit. I have the experience of knowing it's strong and weak points
(and all vehicles have both strong and weak points). I am confident that if
it does break down, I can fix it (with the help of my bently, and the wisdom
of this list).
I'm not a mechanic, I'm a director of sales and marketing at an RV Resort. I
do have some mechanical skills, but I have more confidence than skills. I
have seen and read, and heard, and from many listmembers their problems and
solutions, and this more than anything else, has given me confidence.
It is my opinion, based on experience, that our so called wasserleakers are
well engineered, well built, vehicles. I mean come on here it's 16 years old
with over 250,000 miles on it, what does one realistically expect? I believe
that for the year and mileage, I have both an economical, and reliable mode
of transportation.
Ron Semko
Orlando, Florida
| 
