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Date:         Thu, 1 Jul 2004 21:34:04 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Trusting Your Machine
In-Reply-To:  <40E4A030.9000401@bellsouth.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

After I bought my 88 GL, the first thing to go was the speedo cable. No biggie, just one of those things, BUT, the next thing to go was the tranny. Had to rebuild it. That was 6 years ago. It wanted to be a little stiff going into first so I changed over to Redline MT90. Never a lick of trouble since .......6 years of trouble free service. Thats good. The next thing that went in about a year after purchase was the engine. Burned a piston on a long trip coming b ack from out west. Could not get it repaired locally, so rented a U-haul truck and auto-trailer, and hauled it home. Rebuilt the engine, never a problem since. Now has 60,000 on it. So each time around it bets better. The two really biggies are out of the way. Nothing else costs that much.

I told my kids when my days were done to slope the end of my grave pit, and just strap me in the van and roll it into the hole. I'd be happy!

Regards,

John Rodgers 88 GL Driver

John Rodgers wrote:

> Each time I have a breakdown, I trust my Van more. Why?? Because it's > one more thing that I know that will not fail next time, because I saw > that it was fixed/repaired correctly. Sometimes by the Bentley, > sometimes better than the Bentley for my purposes. Nevertheless, each > malfunction results in one more step towards perfection. May never get > there, by my machines reliabiltiy increases with each breakdown because > that particular failure is not likely to happen again. > > And you are right - it's the move towards a completely rebuit machine > that makes one feel more secure, and that becasue of your own knowledge > of what has broken, what has been fixed. > > Regards, > > John Rodgers > 88 GL Driver > > Michael Rule wrote: > >> 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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