Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 19:14:49 -0700
Reply-To: Philip Chidlaw <pchidlaw@MCN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Philip Chidlaw <pchidlaw@MCN.ORG>
Subject: Re: State of the List... State your ages!!!!!!! :<)
In-Reply-To: <45.b4c82de.2dce9bbb@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I'm 46 and co-own an 87 westy with my 39 or 40 yo wife. My first VW. We
picked it up about 2.5 years ago solely to fill a theoretical niche for
a non-tent camping option for quick local weekend getaways with our 2
young daughters. We wanted to try more to capitalize on the remoteness
of this place without getting as rained soaked or wimping out over dark
clouds. I originally lobbied for the idea, citing that one time (before
kids) when we made tent camp at night on the edge of the Alvord Desert
on top of an ant colony.
It's turned out ok. It is a minor luxury for us in principle if not
financially. The westy lives in our garage waiting for us to come out
and play. We've put all of 6k on the odometer in 2.5 years. Once we
drove as far as Bryce Canyon. Last summer we spent a great week camped
on the shore of Buck's Lake in Plumas County. We plan to repeat that
trip this June.
I am still not a fan of the VW brand though. Ironically, we sold my
wife's aging Honda wagon for a new Jetta TDI wagon 10 months ago, making
us an all-VW family if I don't count my all-expensed company rig, which
I don't. Again, the TDI purchase was over non-brand attributes and the
current slim selection of fuel efficient replacements for her Honda
wagon, so I steered us toward a VW dealer with barely seconds to spare
before the diesel car ban in CA and New England.
Philip Chidlaw
Gualala
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 1:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: State of the List... State your ages!!!!!!! :<)
In a message dated 5/8/04 3:06:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET writes:
> > I have noticed that as the younger crowd joins in
> > there's a lack of spelling ability; grammar notwithstanding... but
that's
> > my pet peeve.
> That's a good rant stranger, so let me add my singleminded
observation.
>
> This list attracts a certain idealistic youthful component who
identify the
> Vanagon as a vehicle of escape and freedom. Probably an extension of
the
> hippies in the '60's.
> On the other hand, some of us appreciate the German design and other
more
> tangible aspects of the machine.
>
>
i think it would be a cool thread to see the average ages of people on
the
list...and why you like vw vans, or why you bought your van..and if you
used it
for your your family, or just yourself.. ive been on the list since
the mid
90's when i was in my early 20's.. and i just rolled over the big Three
Ohhh
(big three ohh sh*t im still single) not long ago and i am as furthest
away
from any "hippy" culture stereotypization <--is that even a word? ) as
you can
get.. i just like vw vans because they're vw's.. im also a part of
that
go-fast annoying loud exaust and lowered GTI crowd that many of you hate
too.. :<)
why do i like vw vans? because they look cool and you can carry big
stuff in
them. lame answer, but thats pretty much it :<) am i into camping?
nope.
not one bit. i think i slept in my current van once..because i had to..
LOL
..well id probably be more into camping if i had someone to camp
with..(no pity
party please!!) ive owned plenty of Westys before, but would never want
one as
my own to keep. Anyway, ive owned just about every year vw van from '67
on
up to 91.. the interest has turned into somewhat of a hobby over the
years, and
ive parted out various vans over the years to fix someting i had at the
time,
and then sell what i dont need.... the accumilation of vw van/bus parts
comes and goes (have big barn, will accumilate schtuff) and i go to all
the east
coast shows i can, sometimes showing one of my cars (i just have 2 vws
myself)
or setting up at the swap meet selling stuff i dont need.. when you
are
single, you need something to occupy your spare time, so the vw hobby
does that
nicely :<) (hmmm maybe that IS why im single LOL) and to ben's earlier
remark..
no i am not a 'dealership' ..i have a real job (doesnt pay much, but it
is a
real job LOL).. the 3 or 4 vw parts i sell a month is hardly enough to
survive
on LOL maybe i chould change my email addy to chrisT@aol.com .. funny
thing
the "vw" in my email address doesnt even stand for volkswagen... :<)
so anyway, tell us how old you are..and what got you into vw's...and
what you
use your van for... should be a good read!
chris
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