Date:         Mon, 22 Mar 2004 16:17:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon Mania
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi everyone:

It never ceases to amaze me at how well these vehicles hold up.  How many 18 year old anythings do you see on the road around you?  Even with over 130,000+ miles on the broken odometer, they just keep on going.  And for some reason, they keep us wanting to keep them going!  Yes, they break down once in a while and get cranky now and then, but we just chalk it up to old age and wear, fix the problem, and keep on going!  But the payback in fun and memories is priceless.  Why is it that these vehicles have never really made it in collector circles?  There were around 4440 vanagons imported to the US in 1989.  How many of those were Westfalia Campers?  How many of those are still on the road today?  Their resale value never follows the used vehicle valuation references like Edmunds.  Yet I have never seen one on Speed Vision being auctioned off in any of the antique auto auctions.  What gives?  I wouldn't part with my old Westy for anything.  Problems, fun, memories, and all!

Tom Miller
89 VW Vanagon Westfalia Camper
What my brother refers to as my "Gonnafalia"