Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 12:24:15 -0400
Reply-To: Derek Krueger <vanagon@DRKRU.COTSE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Krueger <vanagon@DRKRU.COTSE.NET>
Subject: New to List and Trip Report (LONG)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hello All -
I am new to this list (been lurking for over two months) and have not
previously posted. I am the new owner of a 1984 Vanagon Westfalia
Wolfsburg Edition w/ Tiico conversion. You may know this vehicle as it was
for sale on ebay a short time ago (
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=1824104150&r=0&t=0 ). I have been looking for a Vanagon
camper for some time and the vehicle, time, price, etc. was finally right.
Although the place (NC) was a little far from Minnesota, where I am from, I
knew that if I was going to find a vehicle that meet my requirements I
would most likely have to leave the Midwest.
And leave the Midwest I did...
My Dad and I flew out from Minneapolis last Friday at landed in Greensboro,
North Carolina by 6:30 PM. We were greeted at the Airport by Tom, the
gentlemen I was buying the van from. We then took the van out for the road
test and inspection. The process took us about an hour and a half and
everything was better than I had expected, which was great considering I
was a bit uneasy about buying a van, site-unseen, over the Internet. We
completed the inspection and went out for Pizza with Tom - the now PO of
the Vanagon. We went back to Tom's house to pick up the extra seat and
awning. As my dad and I departed, the whole family gathered to watch their
family friend leave. You could clearly see on their faces they would miss
the van, whom had been a close traveling companion.
My dad and I drove straight back from NC to MN. The trip lasted over
twenty-one hours and covered almost 2000 miles. The Westy performed
flawlessly (well, as flawlessly as an 18 year-old moving billboard can).
She flew through the Mountains as we left North Carolina, making short work
of the steep grades. We were able to take on the worst of the mountain, in
the dark, going 75 (that's MPH, not KMH :) with comfort and ease. She
performed well through the night with hardly a break, only stopping to give
her gas and us caffeine. We hit Chicagoland just as a downpour started and
traffic got real bad. She handled the bumper-to-bumper, stop and go
traffic for two hours with nary and wine or wheeze. We finished the rest
of the trip, battling 40 mile an hour wind gusts and rain all the way back
to Minneapolis. The trip and the van could not have went any better.
However, there is always room for improvement. One area is engine and road
noise. Now I must admit, I am quite spoiled as my daily driver is a 2002
Passat, but I think there is some room for improvement here. I am already
planning my dynomat (sp) install. Also, as the Tiico is known for adding
some extra noise I would like to address this as well. The exhaust has
already been custom fit, along with some other work, but I would like to
look at that engine mount I have read about. The other area that needs
some work is the ride/suspension. I don't believe anything has been done
with this in the recent future so I am going to be doing some research to
improving the ride via new shocks and springs (input appreciated).
She goes in for her initial check-up tomorrow AM to a shop called Good
Carma here in Minneapolis. They (the mechanics, who drive Vanagons) are
quite eager to see her.
Sorry this was so long.
Thanks for yout time,
Derek
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