Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 12:08:15 -0800
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: chill out andy!! LOL..:<) Re: '86 full Westy for
sale...$2000...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I've never had anything happen to me mechanically in my Vgon that hasn't
happened in other vehicles. So far, there isn't anything I can't do myself
to the van that I could do on any other vehicle I've had.
I think it's pretty simple: The more work you do in the driveway, the less
work you'll do on the side of the road. Yeah, you'll have to overcome the
ravages of age and previous owners, but I don't see that as being any
different from any other older vehicle. Get it in good condition and keep it
there, you'll be fine. Brings to mind the saying 'the harder I work, the
luckier I get'.
Mine gets better gas mileage than any other vehicle I currently own outside
of my motorcycle.
I think that with the right tools, know-how, a good roadside plan for backup
and the resource of this list, the Vanagon becomes an eminently logical
choice for certain needs. No vehicle can fill every need and this one does
better at covering the bases than any other I've owned. For one thing, it's
one of the few vehicles I've seen that my wife and I can both drive in
normal comfort, which is saying something.
It's also almost uniquely modifiable and upgradeable.
And it comes with this list. That's worth a bundle right there. I'm suppose
other vehicles have lists like this, but I don't know of 'em.
I know people that pay three, four, five hundred a month, every month for
years on end on a car payment- they trade in or roll over a lease every few
years and it never ends. I don't get that. I'd have a hard time believing
that any sane person would be sinking that kind of money into their Vgon, or
need to. You could invest that money and retire early.
Apparently some people keep these vans out of what you could almost call a
fetish, but to me they just make sense, given my circumstances.
So there's the rest of the story.
Cya,
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Demarest" <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: chill out andy!! LOL..:<) Re: '86 full Westy for
sale...$2000...
> Actually, we all need to chill out on this one...
>
> Andy, you are right to warn prospective buyers that they are getting a
> classic, *not* a maintenance-free 21st century machine. Some expectation
> control is good, so you don't have an irate buyer beating on your door
> eight days after they drive it away.
>
> But.... it's not because it's a Vanagon... it's because it's *OLD*.
>
> 1970's technology, assembled no later than 1990 (at least the ones
imported
> into the US), and suffering the twin beatings of time and mileage ever
> since. No ABS, No airbags, primitive fuel injection... yeah, modern cars
> are safer, burn cleaner, and many get better mileage (sadly, there are
> still plenty that get worse mileage, most of them SUVs). Don't blame it on
> the Vanagon, any car with the same age and ancestry is going to have
> reliability issues, and require some of TLC to keep it on the road.
>
> Tim
>
> At 10:18 AM 3/9/2005 -0700, Andrew Fox wrote:
> >You're right Chris i do need to chill out, just thinking about vanagons
> >makes me mad as hell. I hate them, i think they are a useless waste of
> >money and time and are unsafe and bad for the environment. I wish i
> >did'nt feel that way but I do. I firmly believe my feelings are based on
> >facts though. I dont have any problem with owning a vanagon as a car
> >collector, they are very fun cars though as long as you can be honest
> >about its shortcomings especially when addressing newbies.
> >
> >Just to set the record straight, the newer american vans get as good or
> >better than gas mileage than vanagons. In my case the 98 ford E-150 gets
> >19 mpg that's with a 4.2 L V-6 and many times the power of the 2.1L
> >waterboxer/auto tranny which gets 17 mpg on a good day. People with the
> >big diesel vans report mileage in the mid 20's and if you really want to
> >be nice to the earth the dodge sprinters get around 30 mpg with the
inline
> >5 cylinder diesel. Note that all of these vans are bigger and weigh more
> >than vanagons and get as good or better mileage. Also i ride a bike to
> >work and around town only use the van for trips so my $2000 will last me
a
> >few years for gas. The honda comercial a few years back when the beat up
> >air cooled bus plastered with save the earth stickers pulls up to a civic
> >hybrid at a light comes to mind here...
> >
> >Andrew
> >
> >
> >On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 JordanVw@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > In a message dated 3/9/05 11:32:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> > > afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > > hey you dont have to agree with my opinions (unless you want to buy
my
> > > > van) and im not a member of the list im just using it to sell a van.
I
> > > > firmly believe that vanagons are not practical for real life use, i
think
> > > > most of you are car collectors and that's fine i just dont want some
poor
> > > > sap to think "hey look theres a car you can drive around every day
and
> > > > sleep in". Yeah if you spend thousands of hours and dollars and
> > maintence
> > > > maybe, then youll have an unrealiable unefficient deathtrap to drive
> > > > around and sleep in, hello you can sleep in a station wagon or tent
or
> > > > youth hostel or friends house too. So yeah i think vanagons are
> > > > rediculous but to each his own i just dont want to sell this vanagon
> > thing
> > > > to unsuspecting regular people without letting them know the truth
and i
> > > > think all of you should be more forthcoming in expressing what
vanagons
> > > > are really about to everyday people. Its a car for car collectors,
it
> > > > is'nt practical at all by todays standards.
> > > >
> > > > Andrew Fox
> > > >
> > > > Oh yeah and you who think this van is such a fabulous deal and will
> > but it
> > > > sight unseen are nuts! Its only in VW la la land where 20 YO cars
sell
> > > > for tens of thousands of dollars. The rest of the population out
there
> > > > see it as a 20 YO beat up van, if you want to find a deal dont look
here
> > > > or on thesamba look in your local classifieds where the normal
people go
> > > > to sell their vans.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > andrew, buddy, chill out there..your'e gonna have an annurism... :<)
all
> > > this "anti- vanetism" is just shooting yourself in the foot.. LOL
> > > just cool off alittle, keep your bad experiences to yourself, and your
van
> > > will sell much faster.. dont you think? eh?
> > > then you can take the proceeds and use it for gas money for your
Ford.. :<)
> > >
> > > chris
> > > who, also owns a big ass E250 Ford van with a 351W gas hog motor..
12mpg
> > > wheeeeeeee!!!! :<) i dont drive it more than i have to.. surely
not for
> > > pleasure!!
> > > but it can haul vanagons quite well :<)
> > >
> > >
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