Date:         Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:27:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Wil Haslup <whaslup@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Wil Haslup <whaslup@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: what's an '80 L worth?
Comments: To: Greg Potts <Greg@pottsfamily.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <619501E9-62AE-429C-B13D-09C3E4CF11BF@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Greg Potts wrote:
> Hi Will,
>
> If you've driven a $450 van for 8 years on $1500 in maintenance then
> you've had a great run. Sounds like you could probably get another  five
> years out of it if you threw another grand or two at it.  What  are you
> gonna get from spending that $2K elsewhere? Someone elses  hand-me-down
> heartache, that's what. But if you put the $$$ back into  your own van
> then at least you know what you've got, and it keeps you  from repeating
> "first year hell" with something else.

Yeah, that's the logic that's kept me going but the last couple years
have been such a PITA in other areas that the little stuff is getting to me.

> The aircooled vanagons might be underpowered, but in my experience
> they're easier to work on and cheaper to maintain the the WBXs. Run a
> leak-down test on that motor to confirm its health, if it's OK then
> bang out the dents and have it painted and throw a radio in it.  Unless
> there are structural issues you haven't told us about then it  should
> last long enough to justify the extra expense.
>
> That's my $.02, YMMV.

Agreed on most counts....

I just don't have the cash to do what's needed as you suggest...dents
and paint on a van aren't cheap.  I've got the radio but the PO left me
a mess of some hacked up wiring that needs sorted out.

No structural issues that I'm aware of yet...just nagging details and
the worry of what I'm going to have to fix this week but you're
right...most of us have that no matter what we drive.

I guess it's a matter of getting life to cooperate in other areas and
the minor distractions of my van won't seem so tough.


--

Wil

"Every generalization is dangerous, especially this one."
-- Mark Twain