Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 22:08:13 -0400
Reply-To: Maynard Southard <echomhs@GIS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Maynard Southard <echomhs@GIS.NET>
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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