Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 11:50:38 -0400
Reply-To: dieselwesty <dieselwesty@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: dieselwesty <dieselwesty@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Diesel?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
No Maynard, you have not gone over the edge here, these are the things a
future Diesel Vanagon owner must ponder. Trying to get gas at those Big rig
gas places like Travel America can be a real pain in the ass and messy
because those truck gas pumps really blow that diesel into the tank FAST.
Bryan Belman Pt. Pleasant, NJ
1990 Audi 200 Turbo (Money Pit)
1982 Westy 1.9l NA (Swap is done)
1970 Type1 Std. Beetle (Bahama Bug)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Maynard Southard" <echomhs@GIS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: Diesel?
> Joe:
> Diesel Vanagons are strange beasts. I have developed quite an affection
for
> them (I'm working on #3 now.) They are terribly underpowered, but a
patient
> person can deal with that. They are loud, not so much because of the
diesel
> engine, but because of the high RPM at highway speed. Around town they
are
> just fine. They get excellent fuel economy (25-30mpg) for such a large
> vehicle, and they have all the cargo versatility of gas Vanagons. The
diesel
> engine and parts are readily available from used and new sources. There
is
> plenty of room in the engine bay - no real accessibility problems.
>
> Emotion IS important to this decision! You must love your Diesel Vanagon
to
> get the most from it. You must relish the clatter from the engine bay.
You
> must smile contentedly when you pull up to the diesel pumps next to the
big
> rigs, especially when someone comes running up to you to tell you that you
have
> made a mistake and that the GAS pumps are over on the other side. You
must
> talk to your baby, encouraging it as you slowly climb a moderate hill
together
> and then coast down the other side, perhaps hitting the 65 mph mark on the
> down-slope.
>
> Common sense will talk you out of this vehicle. But then, common sense
will
> talk you out of many of the joys in your life. Listen to your emotions.
Don't
> buy it if it doesn't fit you and your style. Don't buy it if you want
power.
> Don't buy it if you are in a hurry and the slow lane bugs you. Don't buy
it
> if you like to just drop your vehicle off at the Tune-Up Tech or the Ji**y
Lube
> and pick it up after lunch.
>
> Sorry if I've gone over the edge here. As you can probably tell, emotion
is a
> good part of my reason for having my Diesel Vanagons (or perhaps it is my
> excuse). To each his own. Good luck in any case.
>
> Maynard Southard (OvO) '79
> '82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
> '82 Vanagon GL Diesel
> '93 EV GL "Klinger"
> '00 Golf GLS TDI "WooHoo"
> '84 Jetta GL TD "Donor"
>
> On Thursday, October 04, 2001 2:29 PM, joseph Trussell
<joetruss@HOTMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> > Anyway, I have a question--I went and looked at an '84 non-Westy Diesel
> > Vanagon yesterday. The body is kinda dinged up and it needs a paint
job,
> > the interior's trashed (rips, tears, stains galore) but the diesel
motor
> > was just freshly rebuilt and looks fantastic and runs smoothly. The
glass
> > is good, good CV joints, good exhaust, okay shocks. It needs tires and
some
> > serious TLC, but everything mechanically looks solid. The guy is asking
> > $1400 for it. Because I have absolutely no experience with the diesel,
I'm
> > wondering if this is a good price? Are there any specific things I
should
> > be looking for in regards to the diesel? Is the performance dropoff
really
> > significant?
> >
> > I kinda like this van, and I can see myself driving it, which leads me
to
> > believe that if I'm left to my own advice, I'll make a decision based
upon
> > emotion and not common sense. Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Thanks
> > in advance!
> >
> >
> > Joe T.
> > '85 Scirocco Wolfsburg (Still no Vanagon, but enjoying the list anyway!)
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