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Date:         Sun, 11 Mar 2001 07:39:10 -0800
Reply-To:     Alan Ruffalo <aruffalo@SPRYNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alan Ruffalo <aruffalo@SPRYNET.COM>
Subject:      Are Vanagons more trouble than they are worth.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Scott Solomon's email made a good point about replacement cost of a Vanagon in this subject's factor. I have owned my 88 Westy since it was new. I have put about $7500.00 in it in the last three years because it would cost close to $50,000.00 to buy a vehicle that can do the same things. The nearest vehicle to a Vanagon that I would own is a Trek 190. However, the Treck lacks one component. You can't haul a large piece of furniture in a Trek. We camp in our Vanagon and we use it to haul all of the large boat gear back and forth to the marina to maintain our 36 foot sailboat. It will even hold my 14 foot windsurfer inside. We use it to haul tools and repair equipment to maintain all of our rental property here in Southern California. Since my wife and I have owned the 88 Westy - we have never had to rent a truck to haul a piece of furniture. You know - we didn't wait around the house all day for the delivery truck to come. Supposed to be there by noon and shows up at 7:00PM. By the way - is that just a California thing or does it happen everywhere? One time we purchased a sod lawn at the local Home Depot and hauled it home to the yard in 3 trips. Please don't "flame" me for the sod lawn - I put a piece of plastic sheeting inside to protect the interior of the van. The Vanagon will carry an amazing amount of large material. You can't find another vehicle that will do all of these things. I enjoy this list very much - all of you folks are great the way you share information.

Best regards,

Alan Ruffalo 1988 Westy ( I love this vehicle) 1999 S-500 Mercedes ( I hate this vehicle) 2001 Toyota Avalon 1944 Wife 1968 Daughter 1969 Daughter 1998 Grandson


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