Date:         Sun, 3 Nov 2002 06:15:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Joanna Strohn <joanna@DREAMRUNNER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joanna Strohn <joanna@DREAMRUNNER.COM>
Subject:      Introduction - Thanks/Questions
In-Reply-To:  <000701c28219$60aeb1d0$78676441@p550>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Many thanks for the warm welcome! Porn? Ohmygosh...never thought of that!

Tonight I mentioned I was thinking of a bus to a neighbor. First comment was
"those can rollover". Really pissed me off ... ANY vehicle can rollover.
Then he came back, apologized, and said "You need a Westfalia, not just a
van". I think he's anticipating the pleasures of a van along on camping
trips ... LOL!

To respond to some of the comments and to ask about a particular vehicle...

One of the local independent shops told me about a customer selling an '89.
I've had a couple of comments with the owner's wife and we like each other.
Turns out we graduated from the same high school and were there for two
years in common. Haven't seen it yet but the story is that they picked it up
in Germany in '89. Drove it around there for 6 weeks. Had it shipped back to
the US. About 110K miles. Odometer just went out but they will fix that. No
head gasket problems (talked with the shop owner). Picky owners, regular
maintenance, good referral from the shop. They were asking $10,500; got an
offer of $9K yesterday; I said I might consider $9,500. Planning to see it
today and take lots of photos. Also planning to ask if they'll take it to
another independent who will check it out for me for about $50.

I'm going to take the checklist along with me. In the meantime ... any
comments on this van? Things I should ask about? Look out for? Price OK?

Jim Arnott - I'd just as soon not get grease under my acrylic nails. Costs
over $20 to get them redone. That just means I usually wait until I need
them done before destroying them!! I have changed the oil on my motorcycles,
installed a CB, and done a few other things but I'm not a wrench. I wish I
had the talent but I don't so I usually find someone with the "gift" to do
the work on my vehicles. In addition to the dealer (I agree ... dealership
service can be very iffy. I prefer an independent shop.) there is a higher
priced independent, a lower priced independent and a guy just starting a
business as an independent. The higher one gave me a recommendation on a
vehicle and I'm going to ask that it be taken to the second for a going
over. Your suggestion sounds great but I don't have the time, space or
inclination for a project at this time.

Bob Stevens -- Thanks for the links. You're right ... tons of help here!
I've never been to Moab but it's one of many places I'd like to visit (and
revisit).

BenT -- Read on ... I may have found a van.

Scott -- Thanks! I found The Samba ... good resource.

Edward -- You got to 60? Wow! 55 with a tailwind was good for us! I see the
"Compleat Idiot" is still in print ... I remember when I finally,
reluctantly, had to toss my copy. My kind of book. I can relate to newer
model envy ... I made the mistake taking a demo on a GoldWing 1500 when I
had an 1100 ... sigh. Took a while but I finally got my 1500. Name:
DreamRunner (smile).

Dragonbear -- Thanks for reemphasizing a warning I've heard a couple times
now ... buyer beware. The van I'm looking at has been maintained by one
independent shop in town. I'm going to ask the owner to take it to the
second independent shop. It will cost me about $50 to have it gone over but
I figure that is well worth the money to find out about any hidden problems.
That checklist is fabulous!!!!

Stan -- Your busses are fabulous but I must have air conditioning. I'm a
desert rat (we don't need no steenkin' AC) but my Bulldog needs the comfort.
Cool window AC on your site! Did you really intend to describe "true 75 mph
cursing speed"? LOL! Best to you on the care of your parents; it's
definitely a 24/7 duty.

BillN - A neighbor! Private email winging your way.

zolo - I guess I'll just have to take a deep breath and plunge into the
waters if I find the right vehicle.

machfive -- my disagreement with most newer vehicles is that they are
totally lacking in personality.

unca joel -- Do we really have to grow up? I'm ready to have that happy
childhood! Thanks for your most excellent comments and all the great
inforamtion! Lots for me to consider. Not mentioned in my introduction was
the extremely COLD winter day I was driving from Milwaukee to Chicago. Hit a
patch of black ice. Swerved toward the median, corrected, turned. Forever
will be imprinted on my memory the image of the slats of a cattle truck a
couple feet in front of my face. Time does slow. I thought of the people I
loved; regretted my son would grow up without a mother; felt sorry for my
boss having to search for my replacement. I was at peace. By all the laws of
physics I should have impacted the side of that truck. Slats ... recognition
... then the next memory is of heading down the interstate in the opposite
direction to traffic. I should have been dead. Not a scratch on me or the
bus. When I got home that night there was a photo in the newspaper of a
horrible accident where a woman was killed ... almost the same spot a little
bit later in the day. It wasn't my time. In many ways, I figure every day
since has been a gift. Took me years to get somewhat comfortable driving on
ice and snow again.

Loretta -- Flag would be a great test for the new bus but not over the
holidays. Let me know if you'll be in the southern part of the state at any
time.

Malcolm -- Great resources! Thanks!

The looks like a GREAT GROUP!

  -- Joanna in Arizona