Date:         Wed, 9 May 2001 16:00:31 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Subject:      Re: is your Vanagon your main/only vehicle?
Comments: To: Greg Vaughn <Greg@GregVaughnPhoto.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I average 15,000 miles a year on my '84, and it is my primary car.  Even
with the new engine and two subsidized head replacements this has been
the cheapest car to own I have ever had.  I'd guess less than $.15 per
mile, including gas, insurance, repairs and the cost of the vehicle.

20,000 miles a  year is a lot for any car, and with any vehicle that is
over 10 years old you are going to have higher repair expenses.
Ancillary equipment like starters, alternators, water pumps, etc., are
designed for 100,000 lives on any car for instance.

Your broken crank is unusual, and suggests that the engine was not
properly rebuilt, or at least the crank was not checked for cracks
before it was reused.

Add up the cost of repairs, insurance, and a new engine and then do the
same analysis for a new vehicle, including the cost of borrowed money
and depreciation and then decide if it is worth it to you.

With careful maintenance it should be an economical car to own,
especially since it gets reasonable gas mileage for its size, and runs
on regular gas.  Just wait until gas hits $3.00 or more a gallon.
--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
'65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)

Personal mechanic for:
'70 MGB GT (Daughter's)

Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
'72 MGB GT (Was daughter's, now son's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
'68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT