Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 08:29:48 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: gutless AND unreliable...(C'mon Volkswagen!!)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I know this posting started out as a WB subject.
I've got to throw my 2 cents in here, most of you knew it was just a
matter of time before I got into it.
I bought an 83 Air Cooled Westy in 1995, blew the engine in 8000 miles.
(blew the rings off #3 piston, locked tranny in 4th gear, drove home 278
miles in 4th gear.)
After I built another engine and replaced the tranny I ran it absolutely
trouble free for five years and 150 K before I built and installed
another engine.
When I say trouble free I'm saying failures of mechanical parts. Things
like brake pads, shoes, CV boots, tires, a better radio and some interior
upgrades from other vans is about all I did.
In July 2001 I started restoration by replacing known to still be good
parts with new parts in the rear axle bearings, CV joints, everything
relating to the brakles, a newly rebuilt engine and the list continues on
into every rubber boot, every rubber hose, just anything that could age
or wear out was replaced and so forth.
That is no more that what I'd expect to do on any 20 year old vehicle.
Get the big expenses out of your way and you'll have smooth sailing and a
dependable vehicle.
I've had excellent dependability out of my Westy.
I've never had fear of taking a 2000 mile trip and I've done more than a
few.
If I had the free time I'd be on my way to EB right now after just
checking the oil.
Stan Wilder
On Mon, 31 Mar 2003 08:28:41 EST Bryan Jones <ALOHADREAM@AOL.COM> writes:
> I just had to throw in my two cents.
> Reliable Vanagons seem to be about as rare as people who smoke and
> live to be
> 85. Sure there are a FEW out there, but it is not the norm. Oh, and
> by the
> way, things have not got much better over the years with VW
> reliability. I
> own a New Beetle (at one time I owned two) and they are plagued with
> all the
> same pain-in-the-A. problems. You would not believe the number of
> repairs I
> have had with these "New" Volkswagens. Seems like when you buy a VW
> you need
> to be prepared to make your car payment and set aside an equal
> amount each
> month to keep the thing running.
> That said, I still love the design, marketing, and drivability of VW
> products
> (when they are running). It's just too bad that one of the largest
> auto
> manufacturers in the world can't seem to make a reliable vehicle
> after all
> these years.
>
> Bryan Jones
> '91 Westy
> New Beetle
> '63 356 Porsche
>
>
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