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Date:         Sat, 3 Jul 2004 15:38:00 +0000
Reply-To:     joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Trusting Your Machine
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Great topic...

My old '85 seemed to be held together by sheer will alone; it had a laundry list of problems that I could never really afford/have time to fix. The first time I drove it from Denver to Shreveport to see my family, they were shocked that I'd driven it 1100 miles, and more shocked that it had made it. In a family of strong automotive opinions (Dad-Ford, Brother-Toyota, other brother-A1 VW) they gave me a ton of crap for trusting my old Vanagon, and it became a challenge from then on to prove them wrong at any and all occasions...

I ended up driving that thing across the country over six weeks in summer 2000 with leaky heads, Torn CV boots, and Clutch slave cylinder that was hit and miss, virtually no shocks, and several other things that I'm forgetting at the moment. But, the thing just kept on running, my trust grew, and I laughed at the nay-sayers. I did have a couple of hiccups here and there (hitting the starter with a hammer occasionally, unable to get it out of gear when the slave cylinder would lose pressure, etc.) but I personally feel that Vanagons are tanks, and they treat us well considering what a lot of us ask of them.

I did have a stripped oil drain plug on the eve of a long cross-country trip in 2001 and had to end up renting a Taurus instead. The thing drove fine, but I found myself completely bored out of my skull on the road. I wasn't occupied by listening for new noises, doing full checks at gas stations, and pulling for myself to make it to my destination.

That new car took all of the fun out of getting there. I think that if you have the opportunity to give yourself a little bit of adventure in the form of a trusty but tempermental old Vanagon, then you should!

Joe T. Denver '85GL 'action van'

>From: Michael Rule <mikerule@UFL.EDU> >Reply-To: Michael Rule <mikerule@UFL.EDU> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Trusting Your Machine >Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 18:57:34 -0400 > >Hi Ya'll, > >Silly Question, but I thought it would be an interesting survey- >and one that is simply opinion-based, so no one can accuse right >or wrong answers- but hey- feel free to tell me not to post >useless drivel like this if you're so inclined! > >This may apply more to the pre'86 models, but all years seem >significantly quirky enough that anybody might "feel my pain"... > >Obviously there are plenty of brave Volks who travel all over in >their Groovy Vans, accumulating fun times and memories... but I >gotta tell ya, I'm a bit terrified! > >Reading the constant issues that seem to randomly arise in these >machines makes me VERY hesitant to got much further than St. >Augustine's or Tampa Beach (from Gainesville, 1-2.5hrs), for fear >of some horrific random tranny/ head-gasket blow-out, faulty >fuel-line-induced fire, silent coolant loss, lite-switch blow-out >turning my dash into a brown puddle of goo... I mean, short of >rebuilding EVERYTHING, when does one begin to feel comfy and >cozy?? > >Please bear in mind, this is sorta tongue-in-cheek griping! I am >admittedly neurotic and anxiety-driven (hah!), altho I have >already spent about $3K prepping the vehicle to Be Travel Worthy >(thanks the The List, the Vendors, Vanagonauts, and more Listees >personal communications than I can name)... but I'm wondering if >the initial ownership has made anyone as batty and conflicted-- > >"Sell and buy a newer one?" > >"Go back to my 66 Olds and hiking/camping equipment?" > >"Medication??" > >"Forget the motorized things, those Luddites had it good?!" > >--as I feel after 5wks of ownership of an 84 Westy? > >Cheers, >Mike > >--------- <:3~ --------- > >Michael Rule >UFL / UFSCC >Transgenic Core Facility >CB-033 >352.392.4210 >http://transgenics.ufscc.ufl.edu > >The trick is to listen to what the experiments tell you - >and to not be fooled by the myths of authorities -- >Constantine Spyropoulos (1928-1984)

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