Date:         Fri, 12 Apr 2002 09:08:11 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: What TYPE of person drives/buys a vanagon?
In-Reply-To:  <20020411.183313.-417491.8.wilden1@juno.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

We drive a Westfalia b/c there is a WHOLE lotta more utility in these
vehicles than the typical sport utility could even dream of having.

Not too many vehicles that can host a dinner party, sleep 4 or 5 folks, and
still park in an average parking lot.
Good (reasonable) gas mileage, reasonable dirt or gravel road performance
with 2WD, easy to maintain with some studying, and it rides good. 300K
miles is not uncommon for the well cared for vehicles.

Now what kind of PERSON drives one of these? Somebody with more than just
average intelligence, somebody who doesn't care what the newest vehicle is
on the block, somebody who likes a bit of adventure (so will we get there
and back without any additional repairs?), somebody who values a
(relatively) compact vehicle that can still serve as home in a variety of
weather conditions. Somebody who typically has stuff to carry and people to
take with them.

What does the "outsider" see in us?

Strange music, clothes, food, goals, and motivations. Some out there
opinions. Also seems quite common to find owners with a "I don't care what
anybody thinks attitude". A wonderful person to share conversation with -
lots of interesting things to talk about - places, experiences, etc.
Naturally all of us get placed in the same category as the hippy wannabe kids.

Oh this is the Vanagon list... Wrong group... <grin>

Chris M. <Busbodger - "TEAM SLOWPOKE">
Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649
scm9985@tntech.edu

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
'65 Beetle - Type IV powered
'99 CR-V AWD station wagon
'81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion