Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 20:22:57 EST
Reply-To: TStone8359@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Stone <TStone8359@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Down and out in MD; now: Back in IL
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
Glad you are back and safe. Here are a few more thoughts:
1. The Vanagon diesel setup is fairly conventional even though the vehicle
is not. I would think that in the land of big diesel power (Peoria), there
would someone who would be willing to work on the engine and fuel system and
maintain it for you. The rest of the vehicle is the same as other Vanagons.
While they are not plentiful, they are fairly straightforward and the VW
dealer or other VW shops can work on them. Remember Downs Import that I told
you about earlier will work on them if you can't find someone local.
Remember that you would have had this issue whether you broke down in MD or
not, so don't let your recent experience cloud your judgment.
2. I have rented U-Hauls and trailers for such things. I have broken down
in a major way twice so am "experienced." You CAN do it yourself, but it
would be nice to have someone along to help get it loaded, etc. This is not
cheap. I'd say in the $3-700 range, depending on how successful you are at
finding good prices on the rental units. It would be best to drive out in
another vehicle with an accomplice, pick up the rental units there, load up,
and drive both back. There are other possibilities if you know someone with
a big (powerful) pickup. You rent a trailer or tow dolly here, drive out,
load the van and drive back. This would be in the $1-200 range for rental.
Another possibility is to have it shipped back, but I don't have experience
in that method.
3. While there is a certain amount of appeal to having Karl do the work, he
is not the only one who can do it. A problem with having him do it is if he
does the work and you pick up the van and try drive home, any kind of problem
means that you are broken down on the road again and then you WOULD be
wanting to get rid of it. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with
Karl's work at all, only that doing something soon is better than waiting,
and having the work done local to you keeps you and the shop physically close
so if there are problems, they can be addressed quickly and cheaply. I have
done enough work on cars to know that my confidence in the vehicle and in the
quality of my work improves greatly after a couple of thousand mile test
drive.
4. I think that in the long run, you will be more satisfied with a vehicle
with more power. There are many on the list who will disagree and many who
will agree. But YOU have to choose. If you are always going to use it in
"blue highways" mode, then the current setup is OK. But if you will have to
depend on it to get you places with time constraints, the current setup can
lead to frustrations and the risk of trying to push the vehicle beyond what
it is safely capable of. Of course, this means more $$$ and adds to the
pleasure of trying to find someone to work on it. The more unique the
vehicle is, the more challenging it will be.
5. I would go over in your mind what got you to the decision to buy this
particular vehicle in the first place. Most of the factors which lead to the
decision are probably still true. Your eyes are open a bit wider to the
possibilities of bad things happening, but the vehicles are reliable once you
get the bugs fixed and you won't find many alternatives out there. I
wouldn't give up on the dream yet.
Take care
Tom
'71 Westy, '85 Westy, '91 Carat
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