Date:         Wed, 9 Mar 2005 12:16:29 EST
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: '86 full Westy for sale...$2000...
Comments: To: rrecardo@WEBTV.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 3/9/05 7:22:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,
rrecardo@WEBTV.NET writes:


> <<Sheesh! I've been driving a Vanagon for 5 years and have never found
> one of these allegations to be true!
> In fact, this has been the most reliable, economical and environmentally
> conscious vehicle I have ever owned.
> -- Gnarlie>>
>
> You have to get out of Emerald City and discover reality.
>
> The poppies on the way in are clouding your thought process Gnarlie.
>
> While I found the disclaimer a bit curse, it most certainly isn't far
> off, here in the real world.
>

you have to put things in perspective.   i also own a '89 ford van E-250
351W gas hog.
the only reason i own this van is to:
-haul crap in (lots more room than in a vanagon)
-tow stuff with (tow vanagons, boats, trailers, etc)

thats the only reason i own it.

i also own 12 vanagons.. 4 of which are runners, the other 8 are for parts.
i have an 89 vanagon carat as well.   i have put alot of money into this 89
carat, as well as my 89 ford van.  ive definately put more money into my carat
than my ford van, but my carat needed heads when i got it, so that was the
majority of the money right there.

which is more reliable?  the 89 carat or the 89 ford van?   theyre both 16
years old.
i wouldnt consider one more reliable than the other..  i do  know that if i
broke down in my ford in Bumblef*ck Tenessee, i would be able to have the
repair done quicker and more cheaply (on the average) than if i'd have broken down
in the vanagon.. but  that can be said with any foriegn car.  and you all know
this..

as far as gas mileage..the ford van SUCKS..  the vanagon sucks as well (yes,
you know this!)  but not as much as the ford.   when i want good gas mileage i
drive my vw cabriolet :<)

basically, it all boils down to how well you maintain your vehicle.   a
poorly maintained vehicle will not be reliable.

but we all know this already, so why are we even talking about it? LOL

chris