Date:         Tue, 16 Aug 2005 13:24:30 -0400
Reply-To:     David Bohannan <fjazzbass@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Bohannan <fjazzbass@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Very Long...What am I,
              nuts? New 85 and Philosophy of Car ownership...very long
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All,

As I am sure those that saw my email last week or so remember, I just
pulled a 150 dollar vanagon from IL to FL. I ended up getting a flat
bed to put it on so as to not injure anything considering I knew
nothing about this vehicle and only drove it about 3 miles at max
speed of 30 or so...

My question is related to the Vanagon in general as a vehicle and the
philosophy I should approach in owning 2 of these vehicles. Is it
worth keeping and working on or should I pass it on to someone who may
have more time/money to deal with it...and just keep the 2 vehicles I
have...

The new one, which has not yet proven itself seems to have an oil
leak, (2 drips on the driveway from center of pan) need some new
exhaust components but other than that, it is pretty stinkin'
straight. Very little rust, and not your normal northern style
either...it must have been garaged for winters...

My philosophy has always been to have older cars, have multiples so
that when one goes down, you have 2 more to drive etc...this makes it
easier for planned outages as well...The problem with that here in FL
is that the cost of insurance is pretty high and having old vehicles
that you know are going to be out of service for certain times seems
kind of wasteful.

My other vehicle besides the 2 85's is a Ford full size van...crappy
mileage etc...I may sell it depending on the reviews from this list.

I am sort of in a quandry about what to do. I am in the position where
if I don't spend any more money on this thing that I am only 300 bucks
in the hole and it paid for itself in what I could pack in it for the
move from IL to FL.

I love these old vans, but I am afraid I am not being as wise as I
should be for dollars to dollars...I just did the heads on my other 85
and ended up costing a fair chunk of change...Nothing forced me to do
this, but I did it because I saw a tiny leak and knew what I had and
wanted to invest in having it for a longer period of time...what
should my attitude be with the new one? Run the new one into the
ground because I can? Help! Just need some good stewardship advice!!!

Dave
85 GL "Baby Bus"
85 "Nameless until I hammer this out"