Date:         Thu, 8 Nov 2001 15:15:40 -0800
Reply-To:     pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: 1.8T or 30000US for a vanagon
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Sure enough, those turbochargers do get hot.  But thirty grand for a vanagon
that's not reasonable at all.

What if ...

You wanted a 1989 Syncro Westie with say 100K on it...18000US
and SA wheels and tires ... 1000US
and SA Overland brakes ... 700US
and a 3.3l SVX motor ...    11000US
and a rebuilt transaxle ...      1000US

18000+11000+1000+1000+700 makes the 1700US savings a bargain and you still
have a ten year old car you need to work on.

An interesting ten year old car but just the same.

But what if you wanted to duplicate the capabilities.  200lbs ft of torque,
syncro full time 4wd, all the drawbacks and benefits of a full westfalia.
This costs easily another 5000$ on the used market for a total of 37000US or
so.

So ... save five thousand frogskins on the deal and fix up your syncro.

17MPG if you live in Idaho, 15 if you live in Califunia, cruise at 75 with
passing power to spare in 3d gear.  Granny up grades that leave all but the
range rovers and unimogs behind.  Ever try to sleep in a range rover or camp
inconspicuously at Wal-Mart in a Unimog?

Fishing cabin, mountain cabin, ski cabin, 4WD Bed and Breakfast anywhere you
like in air conditioned comfort without looking like a "camper".  Shorter
than a Ovlov station wagon, more fun than a ford fiesta, not nearly as fast
as the average crotchrocket ricebike, not nearly as slow as a 1982 Vanagon L
Diesel Westie, not as ugly as an SVX, not as good looking as a Lusso, easy
to find in your average parking lot.  Q-ship extraordinare for those who
think VW buses are slow.

Bessie, the charolais camper, not your ordinary roadcow.

pensioner