Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 10:44:13 -0800
Reply-To: Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Vngns ARE junk!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Whenever one hears such bold and absolute statements,
before deciding whether it is true or not, it is
perhaps wise to ask oneself, "Compared to what?"
• COMPARED to a Dodge Caravan or any number of other
off-the-shelf transportation appliances, the Vanagon
is indeed a sinkhole of coins. Even during their
heyday of the mid 80s, Vanagons were relatively rare,
with an engine used in no other vehicle, so finding
qualified and affordable mechanics was always an
expensive and difficult proposition. Today it's nearly
impossible.
But time stops for no car. Roll into your local
dealer's service bay with an '80 Vanagon -- or an '80
Mustang -- and watch the blood drain from the face of
the kid with the computer probe. Doing one's own work
is crucial to affordable Vanagon ownership; remove the
service tech from the equation and things look a lot
brighter. An OEM rear brake cylinder for a '90 Vanagon
is the same part as for a '72 Bus, and The Bus Depot
sells it for $14.95. A third-party aftermarket one for
my '92 Dodge Colt, from a similar source, costs twice
that.
If my daily driver broke down as often as it seems
many Vanagons do, I'd have been fired from my job and
divorced by my wife long ago. Watercooled VWs have
always had overly complicated and unreliable
electronic systems, and having owned four VWs of this
era, I suspect the Vanagon is worse than most in this
respect.
Frankly (donning flame suit here), without the
Westfalia Camper package, I don't know why any
reasonably cognizant person without special needs
would own a Vanagon. Which leads me to ...
• COMPARED to a Class-C motorhome or other campervan,
the Vanagon Westy is a sublime gift from the Teutonic
gods, conceived in the crucible of Woden's mind and
forged by the hands of mystical Rhineland dwarves.
Offering snug, dry warmth, the convenience of a full
kitchenette, and the elegant ease of setting-up and
breaking camp, the Westy is the perfect compromise
between pup-tent camping and a large and expensive RV.
Alongside such a large road-condo motor home, or even
a used Sportsmobile, the Westy is far lower in initial
purchase price, maintenance and insurance costs, and
is very economical to fuel. With the onboard
electrical generators, satellite TV, and hot-and-cold
running showers found on many large RV’s, one could
easily spend more time fooling around with the various
household systems than enjoying the outdoor
experience. The Westy is far simpler to operate.
If you think a crosswind is a trial of nerves in a
Westy, try a Class-C motorhome or fifth-wheel trailer.
And many of these larger rigs are not allowed on main
roads in certain premier travel destinations such as
Zion and Glacier NPs, not to mention the rough and
solitary backcountry gems we've had the pleasure to
enjoy in our 48-hp diesel Westy. The only thing nearly
as pleasurable as enjoying a hot cuppa fresh-brewed
coffee while watching the sun rise over a remote
desert campsite is re-fueling later that day; I often
giggle like a schoolgirl when the tank is topped-up
and I realize just how little my adventure is costing
me.
• In answer to my own rhetorical question: it depends.
If you simply want to haul plywood home for your
roofing project, or carry a pile of your larval-stage
offspring to Chuck E. Cheese, for heaven's sake get a
Honda MPV or a Toyota Sienna or something else
approved by Click and Clack.
If instead you want something kinda funky and
possessing of a certain cheeky charm, and are willing
and able to do most of your own maintenance, and have
a backup means of transport, by all means enjoy your
Vanagon.
If you wish for all of the above, PLUS complete travel
independence, versatility, low purchase and operating
costs, and an earthy means to experience the sights
and spirit of this great land ... well, there really
IS no alternative to the Vanagon Westy.
http://www.vanthology.com/1Layout/Journeys/journeys.html
Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
__________________________________
Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/
