Date:         Tue, 24 May 2005 14:15:12 -0400
Reply-To:     terrapincampers@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim King <terrapincampers@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Did I buy the Right Vehicle? Am I hearing all the bad.
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

 I'm really enjoying reading about everyone's Vanagon experiences.
Have you noticed a running theme here? We all love our vehicles!

When I blew my transaxle last summer, I briefly considered selling my rig.
After a few short, and very uncomfortable camping trips without by beloved Westy, I quickly realized that it needed to be back on the road ASAP. I was also fortunate enough to have a buddy lend me his Westy whenever needed, until mine was back rolling again.

  There is a comradery among Vanagon owners that is hard to describe, or explain.

Be prepared: YOU HAVE BOUGHT IT, THEY WILL COME!

You will attract folks like yourself who have always wanted one, and those who claim to have never ever seen one before... this continues to amaze me, what planet are these people from?
But, the diehard Vanagon enthusiasts are the ones who will seek you out at the mall, campground, music festival etc. to compare notes, or just check out what you're driving, and what mods you've made.
They'll also be the ones who will thankfully offer to help if you do get stuck, and hopefully you will be able to return the favor.

  Back 15 years ago along with my then "wife to be" got to an event where VWs had "Circled the wagons" to camp, I noticed the water cooled models were kinda shunned by the air cooled VW folks. We were even light heartily mocked in our shiny new looking camper for being rich yuppies or NARCs (incorrect on both counts!) That thankfully does not seem to be the case anymore. On the other hand maybe it's just because the vanagon is not as new shiny, and we're a lot older and freaker looking now.

Good luck with your new toy, and enjoy all the new friends that you are about to make.

Jim King
86 Syncro Westy (Terapn)


----- Original Message -----
From: Adam Thacker <87westy@THACKER.CA>
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:55 am
Subject: Did I buy the Right Vehicle? Am I hearing all the bad.

> I have wanted one of these van's for years and looked around for 2
> months to
> get one in good condition in my price range (87westy) I would love
> to take
> this thing across country but now after reading this list I am
> unsure if it
> will make it without me crossing my fingers the whole time. Am I
> hearing the
> worst of the worst? I am reading a lot of problems with these
> van's now and
> I am nervous I don't know if I can take this thing out of the city
> or trust
> it on a long trip. Engines blowing, CV Joints, Bearings, Hoses
> Popping etc.
> Can people please provide me some positive stories of trouble free
> ownershipand trips with regular maintenance? Am I hearing all the
> bad news only?
> Thank you your comments are welcome.
>
> ./athacker
>
> 1987 Westfalia
> http://www.thacker.ca/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=1987-
> Westfalia