Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 08:28:29 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: gutless AND unreliable...(C'mon Volkswagen!!)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
How does your 85 GL perform?
I had an 85 GL for several years. Drove the snot out of it. Had 205,000
miles on the original engine when I sold it and it was running strong.
Only big things in the beginning were a power steering rack rebuild and
a power steering pump replacement. After that just routine maintenance.
I consider brake jobs, wheel bearing repacks/replacements, tune-ups, etc
to be routine. The van is a machine and movable parts wear. I did have
the tranny rebuilt at 200,000 miles. I have at times wished I still had
that van.
The 88 GL I now have has been far more problematic. I have most
everything up to snuff now, and have very few problems with it, but it
was a PITA in the beginning. Mostly, because of neglect by the PO.
Within the first year, I went throught a tranny rebuild, an engine
replacement ( I went back with a stock WBX, which still performs well at
40,000 miles). In the 5 years I've owned it, besides the engine and
tranny, it's gotten new front wheel bearings, new CV's, new clutch
(twice), new clutch seals twice, brake master cylinder, clutch master
cylinder, two brake jobs, complete exhaust system including new cat and
O2 sensor, new speedometer, new speedometer cable, replacement of all
engine compartement fuel lines and coolant hoses. Right now it looks
like a new power steering rack will be coming up shortly, and possibley
a new power steering pump..
Even with all this I have no plans to dispose of the vehicle. I'm not
particularly hung up on the Vanagons, but it meets my needs perfectly as
does no other vehicle currently on the market. If anything, I may add
another Vanagon to my collection of one. Probably a variant of the basid
Vanagon. maybe a Multivan or even a Westy. The Syncro sounds intriguing,
but I have no real need for one as I never go where it's 4-wheel
capabilities are required. In 30 years of Alaska living I never had need
for 4-wheel except a couple of times. So the expense of 4-wheel was
never justified, and less so today, where I now live.
So, me and the two-wheelers, we be mates!!
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Baxter wrote:
>And there lies the rub. If my next daily driver is another VW, I've given
>my partner permission to strangle me. We've just been though another winter
>of constantly frozen door locks and frozen parking brake with the Passat. A
>defective ignition switch (at 51,000 miles?) and what looks like a defective
>coil pack causing check engine light to burn constantly for the last four
>months.
>
>Add to that that I can only tell how much gasoline is in the car when it's
>in a good mood and the intermittent power window motor that tends to
>malfunction only when rain is pouring in the (stuck) open window, and it's
>pretty easy after a 30 year history of VWs with similar, or more aggravating
>problems, that the Honda Accord is looking like a more attractive option.
>
>Don't get me wrong, I love VWs. I just don't always know why! Now that I
>don't live someplace with a delicate climate (Iowa), I need a somewhat less
>delicate car.
>
>Donald Baxter
>'85 Vanagon GL
>'96 Passat GLX
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Andrew Grebneff" <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 3:38 AM
>Subject: Re: gutless AND unreliable...(C'mon Volkswagen!!)
>
>
>
>
>>>screw Japanese cars.. they suck!!
>>>
>>>
>>Why... because they're so reliable? Some people just don't get it, do
>>
>>
>they?
>
>
>
| 
