Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 22:48:25 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Vngns ARE junk!
In-Reply-To: <20050310031542.18966.qmail@web40904.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Anthony,
Agreed. The most expensive auto repair I have ever paid for was to
replace a cylinder head.....
(Wait for it)
...on a 1986 Dodge Caravan.
That was in 1995, when the vehicle was not yet 10 years old. The
mechanic had to order the replacement part from a wrecking yard way out
in Wisconsin, because there were none to be had any closer. Here in
rust-inflicted Ontario the first-generation dodge caravan is every bit
as rare as a vanagon.... and worth a lot less when you do find one.
Any "old car" is going to be maintenance intensive. But if you keep up
with scheduled maintenance, the costs quickly swing to the owners
favour. The hard part is getting past the first year where all the
hidden costs of the PO's neglect come out and bite you in the @$$. But
that's no different in the Vanagon than it is with any other used car.
Wanna talk automotive disasters? Try discussing the 1989 Eagle
Premiere. ....DON'T GET ME STARTED.... That vehicle is not even of
interest to a "Collector".
Happy trails,
Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato** LY3H
1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
http://www.busesofthecorn.com
On 9-Mar-05, at 10:15 PM, Anthony Zygmunt wrote:
> my 2 cents.
>
> Tel me that a 20 year old caravan runs problem free.
>
> All older cars require maintanance!
>
> Ask someone with a 20 year old 305 in their GMC van
> about head gasket problems.
>
> Vanagons are far from perfect. They do require work.
> That is why a users' group like this exists.
>
> Hey, if you don't like working on cars, then I would
> not sugest that you buy a 20 year old one. They
> require work, any thing that old does, not just
> vangons.
>
>
> Tony Zygmunt
>
> 81 Vanagon
> --- "Chris S." <mrpolak@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>>> • COMPARED to a Dodge Caravan or any number of
>> other
>>> off-the-shelf transportation appliances, the
>> Vanagon
>>> is indeed a sinkhole of coins.
>>
>> Please, do compare the Vanagon and its reliability
>> to anything
>> else designed in the late 70's. Do compare it to
>> other 20+year
>> old vehicles. Let's draw relevant conclusions.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris S.
>>
>> '84 Westy -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/vws/hershey/
>> '01 NB TDI -> http://www.knology.net/~vw/Beetle.jpg
>>
>> 1-888-VW-PARTS <- Recommended Expert Vanagon Part
>> Source
>>
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