Date:         Wed, 4 Aug 2004 11:03:50 -0600
Reply-To:     bhs73@SPYMAC.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Edwards <bhs73@SPYMAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: diesel conversion
In-Reply-To:  <6C7AA739-E5D1-11D8-BC34-000A95ABA42A@pottsfamily.ca>

>> This is bad advice.

>Why?

I only say that because not one person on this list has ever recommended
that someone buy a Westy, and then take off on a trip around the country
for a year. Its been said many times how bad an idea that is. Regardless
of the other option, if someone here ever asked if they should buy a westy
and just take off, the answer would be a resounding "no."

Plus, what about all the posts over the years about how much a Westy will
cost in the first year? That mantra has been repeated a hundred times, and
yet when so many folks here told Skip to just go buy another westy and
drive it away, suddenly, you would have thought we were driving new SUVs
that are ready to go right out of the box. I only said it was bad advice
based on what I have read here, over and over again. If those
recommendations were  all bogus, I guess I can take back  my comment, and
I would be tempted to go buy one of those "ready to go" Westy's myself <g>


>I can't see the odds of problems with a newly acquired vanagon being any
>worse than with Skip touring all over the country with a converted
>driveline. Sure, the mechanic doing the conversion is competent.... but
>40,000 miles later when something goes wrong at the opposite side of the
>continent it won't be so straightforward to get it looked after.

40K miles?  :-)  When he has a problem, he owns a diesel vanagon, not
exactly an unknown entity. If he was creating a frankenvanagon it might be
different. Its converted, but its not unique like putting in a corvair, or
a subaru. At least its something any VW mechanic could deal with.

>down to the selection process... Skip can determine the level of risk he
>is comfortable with when he lays down his cash on a replacement. And this
>way Skip will  have more cash in the bank and he can get places quicker.

From all he has written, cash is  not the issue, (how would that be?
<g>)so why is everyone else so worried about the cost, if he isn't? He has
read many times here that it will cost a lot of money, so that is his
choice. If he can afford it, what is the problem with spending it? :-)  He
isn't creating a new kind of vanagon.

What is the general estimate from folks on how long it would take to sell
a Westy with no engine, and how long to search for a another one that is
ready to go around the country? Those transactions don't happen overnight.
Depending on where he is, are there any vanagons for sale in that price
range that he would like to own? It could take a month just to do those
things.

>No, I don't. My original advice to Skip was a p-mail suggesting he keep
>the vanagon air-cooled. For some unstated reason he doesn't want to do
>that.

I have told him much the same, but he doesn't want the air cooled option.
<shrug> I still want to know where all these $7K Westys are located that
are all tuned up, new tires, great engine, and no problems to be had, just
waiting to be bought, and driven carefree around the country. That is the
point I was trying to make.

>Hey, anyone who sets out for a year adrift on the interstates is bound to
>have an adventure. My hat's off to Skip, and I hope it works out too.

Either way, its gonna be interesting to watch it play out.

Hey, if nothing else, he stimulated a lot of conversation and thinking <g>

Again, I sure wish him well too.


Mark