Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 08:42:26 -0400
Reply-To: Jim Cain <jcain@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Cain <jcain@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Love/ Friday ramble
In-Reply-To: <200004210236.TAA11630@hawk.prod.itd.earthlink.net>
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I have had my '85 Westy for a little over a year and put about 18,000
miles on her/him (haven't decided yet) on top of the original 65,000
of the PO. I realize that this is low mileage for a 15 year old car,
that is why I bought it.
So far I have had no breakdowns, but had to do some normal
upkeep/maintenance. Tires, battery, breaks, shocks, front wheel
bearings, muffler/cat, so I have spent some cash and time.
I also realize that with 80,000 miles and 15 years, I have to expect
some problems to crop up. I just hope that they are close to home
and/or a good shop.
I intended the Westy to be a travel recreation vehicle, but domestic
circumstances have made it my daily driver for now. As soon as I can
sell the house and get my share of the proceeds, I will get another
something to drive around and save the Westy for what it was intended.
This is my 4th Westy and 5th VW van.
1) I started with a brand new 1970, fire engine red Westy that I
purchased in Stuttgart, Germany. Brought it back to US while I
attended Graduate school and sold it when I returned to Germany.
2) Promptly bought a used 1971 Westy, baby blue, which I drove to
Turkey where we lived for two and a half years and did almost the
whole country. We returned to the US and drove from Key West to
Seattle via Denver, Tuscon, San Diego, LA, and Mt. Hood. On the way
back, stopped at the Grand Canyon, San Antonio, New Orleans. Had a
great 10 week trip. Sold it in Ft. Lauderdale.
3) This time to Naples, Italy where I got another '71 but, not a
Westy. I built a bed, shelves and storage space. Installed a LP
fridge and stove, and drove all over Italy, shipped it over to
Turkey, and drove back through Greece, and the former Yugoslavia to
Germany, then back to Naples. Shipped it to Bahrain, where she
stayed when I left.
4) Bought a 3rd '71, another Westy in white, in Atlanta and kept it
for about 12 years, with very little travel/excitement. Bad days in
Blackrock :-(
5) Yea! retirement and my present companion, 1985 Westy. Been to
the Florida Keys twice, and a great 7 week trip to Texas, Rio Grande
Valley, Big Bend, Davis Mountains, the Hill Country. Hope to make
this a permanent relationship. I hear of 200,000 plus miles on other
85 vans, and will try to make this one last at least that long.
So, the bottom line is that YES I DO LOVE MY WESTY!!! Did I forget
to mention my parents drove their 1968 Westy from Geneva, NY to the
Southern tip of South America in 1973? Must be something about the
blood/genes...
Jim in Atlanta
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