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Date:         Thu, 20 Nov 2003 08:57:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macgroup@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macgroup@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: One van for two people
Comments: To: Damon Campbell <damoncampbellvw@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Well, what can I say. The Westy is a special purpose and highly versatile vehicle. You can use it for commuting, traveling, camping, and hauling more stuff than you'd ever imagine. It is hard to drive (lack of power steering in the '84 is a biggie), and my wife hates driving ours too, but she'd never not have a camper. If you think you'll have kids someday you'll be glad you have it, it makes travel with the little ones a lot easier. If you get rid of it and want something like it later you will have few options, and most will be very expensive.

If all it costs you is insurance to keep it, it may be worth it because it really is irreplaceable. If you really need to cut expenses, cancel the insurance and don't drive it. Just start it up once every couple of weeks or so and warm it up.

BTW, be careful with that big engine, Larry (Roadhaus) Chase has apparently blown up his 2.2 big bore twice now (lasted about 25k miles each time), and gone back to stock. It might be okay in a passenger Vanagon, but the extra weight of the Westy (and his is a Syncro too, even more weight) makes you use the extra power all the time, and that puts more stress (heat in particular) on an inherently weak design. The Subaru conversion makes more sense.

Good luck!

Stuart MacMillan '84 Westy w/2.1, owned since '86, lots of family trips!


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