Date:         Mon, 26 Apr 2004 08:42:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Bike Florida <bikeflorida@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bike Florida <bikeflorida@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Brand Newbie
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Greetings fellow list members I am Jerry, I live near Daytona Beach Florida.
I recently acquired a VW van which I have been longing every since I grew up
enough to realize that sports cars are really that practical.

Although I really like the older busses, living in Florida and taking road
trips I needed something water cooled, with air conditioning. So on my
regular search of the local auto trader I found a very nice 87 Half-camper,
I think this is called a weekender? I literally bought it from an old lady,
her husband died, he was the original owner, it is in wonderful shape, there
has been body work, but the interior is perfect, even the factory curtain
kit was under the rear seat, still sealed in the plastic. She also gave me a
big folder with every receipt for service done to the van since new, it has
201K miles on it now, the engine was replaced by the dealer about 70k ago,
the transmission was overhauled and the clutch replaced 4K ago, it runs like
new, and there are no leaks, and it has new tires, so I figured at $2500 if
I run into some problems, I may be a bit ahead of the game.

Somebody should have told me about the access behind the license plate.

Here are my questions thus fat.



Is 16.5 MPG normal for city driving.



Is it save to cruise at 4000 RPM on the highway, (This is exactly 70mph in
my van in 4th gear). Higher?



My headlights are a bit floppy on the outer edge, meaning if you push on the
outside edge, they will push in about an inch on the side and spring back
out.



I figure it is completely appropriate to relax you grin once and awhile to
wave at other bus owners, is this normal practice for all VW owners? Ie
Jettas, New Beetles ect..



Everywhere I go, I get the 'cool van' from somebody, I got a new stereo
system installed at circuit city, and the install guys were really digging
it, my pre-teen daughter and all her friends dig it, I had to drive two old
ladies home from work. yep they were digging it too, pretty much everywhere
I go. I can only assume this is common.



That's it for the questions, the day I got it I tried to set the digital
clock and stuck a ball point pen in too far, now the hours won't stop
rolling, they have been rolling for about 5 days now. My best friend dubbed
it the "Time Machine" due to this.

I would like to post a picture to share, tell me where and how.



Jerry

87 "Time Machine"