Date:         Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:45:33 +1300
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: umbrella question about reliability
In-Reply-To:  <20040124181602.57269.qmail@web80205.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>if the vanagon i have (1984) is rebuilt carefully and
>thoroughly, is there any need to worry about
>reliability?  what i'd like to do is overhaul the
>engine and take it out on the road for various and
>sundry reasons.  i'm not looking for an "around town"
>vehicle, and i wanna make sure that i'm not about to
>start throwing money into a bottomless pit.

Luck of the draw, really. Some T3s will no doubt be quite reliable
over time. Others will be an endless source of trouble.

I wish the T3 was a Toyota... then it'd have everything (ergonomic
controls, quality electrics & switchgear... and RELIABILITY). But
it's not. So it would be best to be prepared for your engine to still
give trouble, and lots of electrical niggles. Then, if it proves to
be relatively trouble-free, you can be pleased.

A rear-engined VW van is the ONLY European car I would consider,
because they just have something... all right, quite a few somethings
(character, handling, looks, practicality, room etc). The older vans
(T1, T2) can even be quite reliable...
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
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A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
Q: Why is top posting frowned upon?