Date:         Wed, 25 Jun 2003 13:26:07 -0700
Reply-To:     wilden1@JUNO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: SUV Bashing)  was Think Positive to start your new year
Comments: To: afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I enjoyed my 83 Westy for the eight years I owned it.
It never let me down.
The secret was to spend $6000.00 on new parts that might be failing and
with the eventual 315,000 miles on that meant everything that held
grease, moved, rolled.
Having had my hands on about ten 80-83 Westy and Vanagons over the eight
years I had every plastic plug, nut cover, perfect sun visors, perfect
sheet metal, it was near to being concourse condition with the exception
of my gauges and oil coolers ................. shame Texas is a giant
Vanagon / Westy void in the universe.

Stan Wilder


On Wed, 25 Jun 2003 12:03:36 -0600 Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
writes:
> > After these comment I suggest you go find a Chevy / Dodge / Ford
> (orother)
> > list.  Obviously you do not belong on this one.
>
> Easy there.  Its good to take a look at reality every once in a
> while,
> otherwise we forget the real reasons we own vanagons.  Yes our
> vehicles
> suck mechanically and there are better vans out there but we
> continue to
> put up with the crap because we love vw's.  Stan's right about
> everything
> he said especially the part that it really really sucks if your
> only
> vehicle is a vanagon.  Vanagons are a hobbyist car not a reliable,
> practical form of trasportation.
>
> Andrew Fox
> 86 Westy
> 87 Westy
> 98 Ford E-150 Cargo Van
>
>
> On Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Eric Zeno wrote:
>
> > After these comment I suggest you go find a Chevy / Dodge / Ford
> (or other)
> > list.   Obviously you do not belong on this one.
> >
> Eric
> >
> >
> > Stan Wilder wrote:
> >
> > >That is exactly as I figured ................... good as a Chevy
> Van with
> > >a futon rolled in the back.
> > >Except that with the Chevy / Dodge / Ford (or other) you can take
> your
> > >boat, tow a spare car, tow a travel trailer, run the air
> conditioner when
> > >you're going up hills and fighting head winds and still get
> better gas
> > >mileage. Also with a Chevy / Dodge / Ford you can buy, sell, tow
> dead
> > >Vanagons back home with you.
> > >The last time I hauled five people and all our gear on a weekend
> camp out
> > >I nearly broke my leg when we were going up hill and I opened the
> door
> > >and stepped out because everybody on the highway was flying past
> me like
> > >I was stopped. I wasn't sure we were still moving.
> > >My condolences to anyone that drives a Vanagon of any year for
> their only
> > >source of transportation.
> > >LOL!
> > >Nobody ever wants to make the Vanagon again or any thing close to
> it.
> > >
> > >Stan Wilder
> > >
> > >
> > >On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 13:04:33 -0700 mark drillock
> <drillock@earthlink.net>
> > >writes:
> > >
> > >
> > >>Vanagon GLs sleep 2 in comfort with room for stuff. With the
> bed
> > >>down,
> > >>4'x8' building materials can be carried. With the center seat
> out,
> > >>massive amounts of additional stuff can be carried while either
> of
> > >>the
> > >>previous 2 scenarios takes place. If you need to transport
> heavy
> > >>items
> > >>the floor level is much lower than any other vehicle and makes
> > >>loading
> > >>and unloading a snap. I have many times transported an engine
> and
> > >>tranny
> > >>while still having room for 5 people or the option for 2 to
> sleep
> > >>without removing the heavy items. No other vehicle comes close.
> > >>
> > >>Mark
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>Stan Wilder wrote:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>Please elaborate on what you might possibly find potentially
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>outstanding
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>about a seven person hauler Vanagon.
> > >>>I know about the features of the Westy, but I'm dead serious
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>curious
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>about anything outstanding about the standard Vanagon.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
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> > >
> >
>
>