Date:         Thu, 1 Jul 2004 18:57:34 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Rule <mikerule@UFL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Rule <mikerule@UFL.EDU>
Subject:      Trusting Your Machine
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

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)