Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 06:36:08 -0500
Reply-To: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject: Good Bye - Traded Westy for Kia
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi All,
It is with great regret that I write this. After 7 years of residing on
this list, I am leaving. Its been a rough 9 months or so as far as VW's are
concerned. You might recall that in September, my 93 EV MV set itself on
fire. It took more than four months to get the insurance company to total it.
At the end of January I purchased an '87 Westy. It seemed like the ideal
purchase, low mileage, former California van, hardly used as a camper, etc.
Now that spring has arrived I've been trying to get the camper ready for
our first camping expedition.
Yesterday, after soliciting and receiving advise from the list on how to
get the gas fridge to work, I spent 4 hours trying to get the damned thing
to light. IT WILL NOT LIGHT!!!
Is it too much to ask to have cold beers available when I drive?? I mean
come on now!
My next shock to reality came while I was under the 87 trying to putter
around with the propane tank I noticed that the heater boxes on the engine
are shot! How the hell am I supposed to have heat when I'm driving.
Then came the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back....the reduction
boxes on the rear axle were gone! I don't mean broken...I mean GONE...like
not there.
That scared the crap out of me!! I decided then and there to get rid of the
Westy. There is a new Kia dealership that opened in town two weeks ago,
and they have been advertising new Kias for $1 above sticker. So half an
hour later I was at the Kia dealership bargaining with some
wet-behind-the-ears saleskid.
After much intense negotiation, I parted with $3000 cash and my Westy and
drove off with a brand spanking new Kia Sephia and a smile on my face. The
dealership is stuck with an 87 Westy that doesn't have a working gas
fridge, bad heater boxes and missing axle reduction boxes. Boy did I stick
it to them!
So, my friends, in closing I'd like to say the past 7 years has been an
experience...I've enjoyed meeting a few of you in person...but its time to
move on. Maybe there is a Kia list that is as friendly as this list. I
can't wait to put a Kia list sticker on the back of the Sephia!
In closing I'd like to say farewell, safe travels, and most importantly
enjoy today - April Fools Day!! :-)
Ric
PS. Kia...doesn't that stand for Killed in Action???? ;-)