Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 06:56:37 -0800
Reply-To: Eric Henry <erichenry12@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Henry <erichenry12@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: '84 Vanagon -- Thinking of buying
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Jon,
A couple points from someone who was in your shoes a few short months ago
and made the decision to purchase a 83 watercooled Vanagon.
1) In your first post, you note that you can operate a harpsichord. This
would make you already familiar with fun-to-own, yet mechanically
problematic equipment.
2) Get out your calculator when you weigh the pros and cons of other
vehicles. You're right in wondering about dollars you'll spend beyond the
$1,800 purchase price for the Vanagon. Yes, you'll spend some money for
stuff. But you will with any vehicle. Maintenance is much cheaper when you
can do things yourself, which brings me to ...
3) I didn't know beans about the internal combustion engine a few months
ago. But, with a couple books (at the suggestion of listmembers) and some
great list advice and help, I've already done a few minor projects. Very
satisfying. Makes you appreciate what you have. And, if you own it outright,
well, you'll feel downright smug driving your good-running Vanagon when you
pull up next to someone in a $25,000 car on which they're paying 10%
interest and authorized dealer hourly repair rates. You'll think to yourself
"Hmm, I could buy 12 Vanagons for the price of that car."
4) Look around on this list. If you get the Vanagon and don't like it, I'll
bet there's someone who'd take it off your hands. ;-) I wish the same were
true for the other "bargain" car I'm trying to sell. Anybody in the market
for a 1986 300ZX in need of transmission and brake work? I'm trying to move
next week and am faced with taking it to Kansas. Maybe I'll check with some
of those sophisticates over on the Quattro list, sounds like a vehicle
they'd appreciate ...
Eric Henry
83 Vanagon "This car"
84 Tercel 4wd wagon "That car"
P.S. I keep seeing people write about having an 83.5 Vanagon. What the heck?
Is that what I have?
----------
>From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: '84 Vanagon -- Thinking of buying
>Date: Sat, Oct 28, 2000, 7:45 PM
>
> Jon,
>
> I have no particular opinion on the bug, but the van sounds like a pretty
> good deal.
>
> Anytime you are buying a vehicle of advanced years, you can anticipate some
> occasional repairs. You might luck out and drive it two years without a
> single mishap, or you could blow the engine two hours after you pay for it.
>
> The only real disadvantage to the Vanagon is the unfamiliarity of mechanics
> with its design. Even VW dealers would just as rather never work on them.
> Unlike practically any other car on the road, the Vanagon is a design unto
> itself. It does not share many parts with other vehicles, and there really
> weren't many made. Consequently, parts are either more expensive than
> you'd expect, or are dealer only items (more expensive than they have any
> right to be!).
>
> One other odd thing about the Vanagon design is that, if it speaks to you,
> you will fall in love with it and no other vehicle will quite satisfy you
> ever again. Just like a beautiful but heartbreaking woman, you will lavish
> your Vanagon with gifts, like water pumps and tranny mounts, and it will
> repay you by leaving you high and dry, searching for another gift to please
> her/it. And you will simply obey, because you know that when she/it is
> happy, you're getting the best you've ever had or ever will.
>
> Jon; if it feels right, go for it. If not, run away.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jonathan Lee" <jrlee@MAILANDNEWS.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 8:08 PM
> Subject: Re: '84 Vanagon -- Thinking of buying
>
>
>> Thanks to everyone for their advice. I'm almost convinced not to buy the
>> Vanagon, though I *REALLY* liked driving it. :-( If it just weren't going
> to
>> be my primary vehicle . . . Maybe someday.
>>
>> Now, a new question. What think 'ye of a '67 Beetle with a newish engine
>> (20,000 miles on it)? Any dire, eminent emergencies waiting to happen
> with
>> that one? It'll be driven across the Bay Bridge 3 days a week if I buy it
> .
>> . .
>>
>> (Sorry for the slightly off-topic question)
>>
>> best,
>> Jon
>> ---
>> Jonathan Rhodes Lee
>> jrlee@mailandnews.com
>
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