Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 01:01:52 -0400
Reply-To: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject: Re: My blue 91 GL for sale in PA....WHY?
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Herb wrote:
> Just brought my first Vanagon home and the wife hates it, and
> I mean really hates it. She refuses to ride in it. So
> unfortunately it has to go.
...
WHOA!!!!! Don't jump to conclusions here!
As one who believes in happy and harmonious married life, I just have to
chime in here with what I believe are a few pertinent questions....
How long have you owned it? As in how many days?
Are you a one vehicle family?
Does it meet YOUR needs and wants?
Does she only ride in it with you or does she need to drive it also?
Do you influence what she drives?
Got kids?
Haul things?
NOW...here's my two cents worth.
You bought it...you're smart!
If you want to keep it TRY THIS...
Teach her to first only detest it...
Do the following without fanfare.
You can do it even as you talk about POSSIBLY selling it.
Let the van show itself.
Immediately...
Clean it up ( you need to do this to sell it, anyway).
Most ladies that I know don't want to ride in a dirty car!
Don't spend all your waking hours on it, but tweak the things that need
attention (remember...getting it ready to "sell").
ASAP...
Load up your kids (or the neighbors' or your nieces and nephews, etc.) and
take them to the DQ, Mickey D's or some short drive... they'll come back
raving about it. Make sure she hears them... you may have to bribe them ( DQ
isn't a bribe ...is it?). BTW dogs have nearly the same effect...'cept they
can't rave.... "See their tails are wagging."
Since the AC's not working...do this in the cool of the evening.
After a few days...
Load three clean garbage cans, boxes or other bulky stuff in the middle
section and go to the grocery for her ( with or without her and/or the kids)
but make sure you load all the groceries into the back hatch (above the
engine)... then make sure she helps you unload the groceries. NO stooping
and ducking into a trunk. Easy reach in and see all the other stuff it can
carry, too. Since you don't have the rear cushion...put a large blanket or
rug back there to keep the things from sliding around and to quiet down the
engine noise.
After a few days...
Offer to roll up a rug and have it cleaned (or do some other task that
requires moving a 12 foot long object).
After a few days
Offer to clean out a room or some other such task that would require filling
up the van to show it's utility.
The resultant hidden messages are that you can use the van to be the cool,
helpful guy that you really are and the wonderful guy that she was smart
enough to marry!
And THEN, if she still hates it, write back!
--
Stephen
Chillicothe OH