Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Wed, 24 Aug 2005 12:14:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Franklin Wood <adventureracers@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Franklin Wood <adventureracers@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Euro Highness ...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I think the newer Vanagon/Eurovan highness is unique to the person. I own a 93 Eurovan and wave at Westys/Buses/Eurovans all the time. Doesn't mean they wave back. When I see someone broken down, I make an attempt to help them no matter what they drive. If someone has a "highness" because of what they drive, then they have bigger issues. As long as someone who has car payments shows you respect, they deserve the same too. It's when they don't, that makes us crazy. Envy is just plain silly. We just need to lose the attitude cause we are all in the same boat.

Franklin in Seattle --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Stan Wilder Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 11:53 AM Subject: Re: Euro Highness ... I'm not jealous or envious of anybody that has a car note for a new / newer car.My neighbor has two new cars and a $600.00 a month insurance bill on their $120,000.00 dollars worth of cars.I don't even care to know about the amount of the leases or notes.I've been debt free for almost 20 years other than just current utility bills and minor credit card for gas, new blue jeans and meals out.I keep credit card active for airline tickets and such that nearly demand acredit card for ID purposes. I saved up for my Porsche and every other car I've bought since 1986.Walking in with a pocket full of cash to buy cars or other expensive itemsscares people so I still keep my money in the bank and buy with checks orbank drafts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Zoltan" <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 1:07 PM Subject: Euro Highness ... > I share the same feelings and intention what Stan has. I also have to add> that between the older and newer van owners, the bread loaf, vanagon,> eurovan, I sense a kind of cast system. The new ones may look down on the> old ones and the old ones envious of the new. Now, this may not beaccurate> and applicable to all, of course. But this is some natural reaction as it> is between poor and wealthy. I don't think, I am alone to have this> feeling.> As for myself, I don't feel envious of a Eurovan or a fancy Syncro Westy.I> know, how much trouble it is to keep it going. I feel emphatically. Ilove to see a nice old well kept westy rather. My respect goes to that guy.But > I feel no envy to any. I often would like to ask them if they need help> with their upkeep.> As for giving help, I help them all. > Once I stopped with my old breadloaf to a '87 Westy that had the > transmission busted. I offered him to replace his with one I had but he> quickly said "I don't think so" and I stopped there and just took him where> he wanted to go. I did not like his manners. And the way he behaved and> said good bye was close to aloof. I kind of felt sorry for him and let him> be and be gone.> One other stands out in my mind still today; I was in Anchorage, parking> roadside when I noticed a newer Westfalia standing at the light on theother> side. He had to see me fifty yards away. When he started crossing, hejust> kept on looking forward ignoring my hand signal to stop, pushing the> accelerator deeper, obviously not wanting to help. It was a white one, a> tall guy with brown short hair. Somehow, I thought, one expects help tobe> given where help is the least available.> But not all of us are equipped with the nature of giving help, or wantingto> help.> When I was standing on the side of the road once, with my golf clubs on my> shoulder hitch hiking to the next town, I could not help noticing how> unwilling the people were. And who stopped? It was a Mexican with a big> smile and a big family. Coming back to camp the same way, standing frontof> the golf course, hundreds of cars passed on that country road looking> stiffly ahead. And who stopped? It was a Mexican apple harvester with a> big smile and a big family with a beaten Honda. He would not take mymoney> either. Felt offended. I had to apologise. > So, beside it is the person behind the wheel, it is also the culture ofthe> nation, giving too much emphasis to economic differences and identifyingone> without money as a dufus while one with one as a genius.> One reason we like to be in this online club is, we know that there mustbe> paupers and millionaires on the list, but we all have the same problems with the Vanagon and we don't advertise our differences. And on the road well> wave and wave back. The later and the earlier model owners may hesitatefor> opposite reasons. > I just smile and be amazed how human we are with all our little butfixable> faults.> Vanagon or Mercedes, it is the same reaction between the owners.> The Euro owners may think they have every reason to be aloof it they think> the reason is the amount of money they paid for the car.> We pride ourselves in how little we pay for the car and the reapairs. And > we are the winners by being able to fix it ourselves, be safer on our> vacations by that, and never feel motherless behind the wheel whensomething> is wrong with the car.> Aloof or meek or not giving a rats arse is just the way humans react to> differences.> I guess, it is enough for today.> Zoltan


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